AI Agents can now respond to OTA messages.

For many hotels and vacation rentals, OTAs are the lifeline of new bookings. In fact, studies show that 60–70% of bookings for independent properties come through OTAs like Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and Expedia. That means a huge share of your guest communication is happening outside of your website, often buried inside OTA platforms.

And when those guest messages pile up? Delayed responses can quickly turn into missed bookings, unhappy guests, or negative reviews.

That’s why we’re excited to announce: Akia’s AI Agents can now respond to OTA messages directly from your Akia inbox.

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“Don’t OTAs already have auto-replies?”

Most platforms offer templated, trigger-based messages (e.g., send check-in info the day before arrival, auto-reply with check-in times). Helpful, but limited.

Akia’s difference: Agents aren’t templates. They’re contextual responders that can understand the actual question, reference your property and Property Management System data, and take the next best action.

Real-world examples of how Akia’s AI Agents work.

• Chandler messages on Airbnb that he is locked out at 11:47 PM:
  Agent verifies reservation details, pulls the right lockbox/entry steps for that specific unit, and sends the steps or a code. If the issue continues to persist, the AI Agent can notify staff. 
• Monica inquires on VRBO if a unit has a heated pool: Auto-reply with the available property amenities.
• Joey reports an issue with the bathroom on the Booking.com extranet: Create a maintenance task and notify staff. 

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OTAs are about to get even bigger.

In our recent blog, we talked about how Booking.com and Expedia are now integrated directly into ChatGPT 5. That means travelers can simply ask ChatGPT for a place to stay and book it instantly through an OTA.

OTA bookings are only going to rise. And if that’s where the guests are, that’s where the conversations will be too. Properties need a way to keep up.

Manage OTA messages inside Your Property Management System.

For properties that already use Akia Everywhere Chrome Extension, this update is even more powerful.

With the extension, you can:

• See notifications in your PMS and respond to guests instantaneously
• View reservation information alongside messages 
• Reduce the clutter from tabs opened on your screen

The takeaway.

By enabling Akia’s AI Agents to respond to OTA messages, we’re making sure properties stay ahead:

Faster responses → happier guests.
Less platform-switching → less staff stress.
Unified Inbox → total visibility and control.

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