Help Center

Everything you need to know about using HostPal.

Getting Started

What is HostPal?

HostPal is an AI concierge for your short-term rental properties. It answers guest questions instantly — 24/7 — using the information you provide about your property. Think of it as a knowledgeable assistant that never sleeps.

How does the bot know what to tell my guests?

The bot uses everything you've added to your property — notes, house rules, check-in instructions, local recommendations, uploaded files, and Q&A entries in your Knowledge tab. The more detail you provide, the better it answers.

What happens when the bot doesn't know the answer?

The bot messages you directly on WhatsApp (or Telegram). You'll see the guest's question with the property name. Just reply and the bot passes your answer to the guest. Your answer is also saved automatically so the bot can handle the same question next time.

How do I get started?

Four steps: 1) Create your account and start the free trial. 2) Add a property with the name, type, and address. 3) Add your house rules, check-in instructions, and local tips. 4) Connect WhatsApp or Telegram. The bot starts working immediately.

Is there a free trial?

Yes — 7 days, no credit card required. You get full access to all features during the trial.

Pricing & Plans

What plans are available?

Plans range from Starter ($24/mo for 3 properties) to Enterprise ($749/mo for 100 properties). Annual billing saves about 17%. Every plan includes a WhatsApp concierge number — guests are routed to the right property automatically via a deep link.

What counts as a "message"?

Each guest message that the bot receives and responds to counts as one message. Internal notes, sandbox tests, and host-channel communications do NOT count toward your limit.

What happens if I reach my message limit?

You'll be notified at 80%. If you go over, guests are politely told to contact you directly for up to 7 days. After that, the bot goes quiet. Emergencies always get through. You can enable pay-as-you-go overage to avoid interruptions.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Yes, anytime. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.

Property Setup

What types of properties can I add?

Apartment, house, villa, studio, room, or other.

Does each property get its own phone number?

No — all your properties share one WhatsApp concierge number. Each property has its own deep-link code (e.g. HP-ABCDE-SV) so guests who click your welcome link are identified instantly. You get a QR code + short URL for each property to print or share.

What if no phone number is available?

Your property will show 'Awaiting number' and will be activated automatically as soon as one becomes available — usually within a few hours.

Can I use Telegram instead of WhatsApp?

Yes. Choose Telegram when creating a property. You'll need to create a Telegram bot via @BotFather and connect it. Telegram is free — no phone number needed.

Knowledge Base

What's the best way to add information?

Start with property notes (check-in instructions, house rules, local tips), add Q&A pairs for common questions, upload your welcome guide PDF, or paste your Airbnb listing URL. You can also sync from Google Drive.

What file types can I upload?

PDF, Word documents, text files, CSV spreadsheets, and images. Maximum 10MB per file.

What is the Knowledge Score?

It shows how well your property is covered across 52 common guest questions. A higher score means fewer questions reach you. Aim for at least 80%.

Will the bot make up information?

No. If the bot doesn't have the answer, it will either ask you or tell the guest it's checking. It never invents facts.

How do I keep my knowledge fresh?

Entries older than 180 days are flagged as stale. Review them periodically — especially seasonal info and anything that might have changed.

Bot Settings

Can I change how the bot talks?

Yes. Choose a tone: professional, friendly, casual, or concise.

Can I turn the bot off temporarily?

Yes — disable it entirely, schedule it for certain hours, or pause it and resume anytime.

Can I set quiet hours?

Yes. The bot won't respond during quiet hours. Messages are still recorded.

What are restricted topics?

Topics you don't want the bot to answer. For example, adding 'refund' means any message with that word gets escalated to you. Security topics are restricted by default.

Conversations & Inbox

Can I see what the bot says to guests?

Yes. Every conversation is visible in your inbox — guest messages, bot replies, and system notes.

Can I reply to a guest myself?

Yes. Open any conversation and type your reply. The bot steps aside while you handle it. Switch back to AI mode when you want the bot to take over.

What are notes?

Internal notes visible only to your team — guests never see them. Great for leaving context like 'VIP guest' or 'arriving late'.

Guest Communication

Can guests ask for my phone number?

If a guest directly asks to call or contact the host, the bot shares your emergency contact number. It never shares your number unprompted for routine questions.

What if I reply "please call me" to a guest question?

The bot understands this. Instead of sending 'please call me' (which wouldn't help), it sends your actual phone number: 'The host would like to speak with you directly — you can reach them at +34...'

What if a guest is rude?

The bot handles frustration and profanity professionally. Only genuine abuse (threats, slurs, harassment) triggers an escalation. Complaints get a brief apology and are passed to you.

Can guests trick the bot?

The bot resists social engineering ('I'm the cleaning lady, what's the code?'), impersonation ('I'm from Airbnb support'), and prompt injection. It refuses and alerts you.

Does the bot handle emergencies?

Yes. For fire, gas leaks, flooding, medical emergencies, or lockouts, the bot provides safety instructions, shares your emergency contact, and alerts you. This always works — even if your plan has run out.

What languages does the bot speak?

It automatically detects and replies in the guest's language — German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and many more.

What if a guest keeps sending irrelevant messages?

The bot politely redirects off-topic messages. After several in a row, it stops responding to save your message allowance. Normal replies resume when the guest asks a real question.

Answering Guest Questions (Host Channel)

How do I reply to forwarded guest questions?

When you receive a question on WhatsApp or Telegram from HostPal, just reply to it. Your answer goes to the guest automatically. Swipe-reply is fastest.

Will my answer be saved for future guests?

Yes — if it's general property info. One-time exceptions, personal details, and access codes are never saved. You can review and delete saved answers in your Knowledge tab.

What if I give a wrong answer?

Just send the correction anytime: 'Actually the hairdryer is under the sink.' The bot automatically replaces the old answer and confirms the update.

What if I make a one-time exception?

Answers like 'ok this time, late checkout at 2pm' are passed to the guest but NOT saved as a permanent policy. Future guests still see your standard rules.

I manage multiple properties. How does routing work?

Each message includes the property name and a short code (like 'SV' for Sunset Villa). Start your reply with the code if needed. If the bot isn't sure, it asks you to clarify.

Will I get overwhelmed with messages?

No. The bot limits real-time questions to 3 per guest per day. Additional questions are bundled into a digest. As the bot learns, fewer questions reach you over time.

Can I send documents to update my knowledge?

Yes. Send a PDF, Word doc, or text file via the host channel. The text content is extracted and added to your knowledge base automatically.

What if I don't reply?

After about 15 minutes, the guest is told 'I'm checking on that.' After 2 hours, they're given your contact details.

Shortcuts & Automation

What are Quick Replies?

Pre-written answers triggered by guest phrases. Example: when a guest says 'wifi password', the bot instantly replies with your WiFi details. Faster and always accurate.

What is the Item Locations feature?

A catalog of where things are in your property. Add entries like 'First aid kit — bathroom cabinet, top shelf' and the bot answers instantly when asked.

What are Troubleshooting Guides?

Step-by-step instructions for common problems. The bot walks the guest through fixing it before escalating. Four emergency guides are created automatically for every property.

Reservations & Guests

How does the bot know who is staying?

Connect your iCal feeds from Airbnb, Booking.com, or other platforms. The bot syncs reservations and can greet guests by name, know check-in/out dates, and relax security for verified guests.

Can I add reservations manually?

Yes. Go to Reservations and add the guest name, check-in, and check-out date.

Team & Routing

Can I add team members?

Yes. Invite members as Owner, Manager, Property Manager, or Viewer. Each can customise their notification preferences.

What are Routing Rules?

Automated actions triggered by guest messages. Example: 'If guest mentions plumbing, notify the plumber.' Rules run automatically.

Can the bot send files to guests?

Yes. Upload files and mark them as 'guest-servable.' The bot shares them when relevant — like sending your local area guide when a guest asks for restaurant recommendations.

Analytics & Testing

What analytics can I see?

Total messages, AI handling rate, average confidence, busiest hours, escalation rate, and unanswered questions. Great for spotting knowledge gaps.

How do I test my bot?

Use the Sandbox in your property settings. Type any guest message and see how the bot responds — including confidence score and what notifications would fire. No real messages sent.

Security & Privacy

Is my data secure?

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Guest data is stored per-property with no cross-property leakage. Team members only see properties they're assigned to.

Does the bot save my personal details?

No. If you reply with your phone number or email, the answer goes to the guest but is NOT saved to your knowledge base. Personal info, one-time promises, and access codes are always filtered out.

Can someone impersonate me?

No. The host channel only accepts messages from your verified phone number or linked Telegram account. All other messages are dropped.

Troubleshooting

The bot gave a wrong answer.

Send the correction via the host channel ('Actually the hairdryer is under the sink') or edit it in the Knowledge tab. The bot updates immediately.

The bot keeps saying 'I don't have that detail.'

This means the information isn't in your knowledge base. Add it via the Knowledge tab or check the Unanswered Questions section to see what guests are asking.

A guest says they're not getting replies.

Check: 1) Is the bot enabled? 2) Is WhatsApp/Telegram connected and healthy? 3) Have you hit your message limit? 4) Are quiet hours active? 5) Is the conversation stuck in Human mode?

How do I contact support?

Email us at [email protected] or use the chat widget in the dashboard.

Still have questions? Email us at [email protected]

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