After a couple of months working hard on it, we are happy to announce the release of version 1.6 of our booking system plugin HBook. This new version of HBook is a very important one as it includes two new main features: credit card payment with Stripe and iCal synchronization.
Stripe: accept online credit card payment in a secured environment
Stripe isn't just easy to use for businesses, but it simplifies checkout for customers as well. It accepts almost any credit or debit card - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover - and payment in more than 100 currencies. Stripe handles sensitive information for you and credit card details are not stored on your server. Safe and secure!
If you choose to offer several online payment methods to your customers, Stripe and Paypal Express Checkout (which was already included in HBook) are a very good match. You would boost your sales conversion by letting your customers pay either with a Paypal account or directly by credit card. How convenient is it! Do not forget that this is the last step of the booking process. You do not wish them to navigate away, right?
iCal synchronization:
show real-time availability even if you offer your rooms in different places
HBook can now be linked to your other iCal calendars (AirBnb, HomeAway, 9flats, Google Cal, Outlook...). You do not need to continue to keep an eye on the accuracy of your availability calendars and to enter a booking or block dates on several places when you receive a new reservation. Didn't we tell you that our aim is to make your life easier!
Let us explain to you how a "two-way synchronization" works:
1 - Hbook updates availability with the bookings you receive from other sources - as Airbnb for example.
2 - Your availability calendars - as your AirBnb calendar for example - are updated automatically with bookings received on your website.
In other words your calendars communicate bookings between each other.
These are the main improvements for version 1.6 of HBook plugin. We hope it will drive more customers to your doorstep!