How to get started
Open the Guidebooks section from the left sidebar.
Click Create Guidebook.
Choose one of the three creation paths below.
Path 1: Start with an online listing
Best for: Getting a guidebook set up quickly from an existing Airbnb or Booking.com property listing.
Select Start with Online listing.
Click Start with URL.
Paste your Airbnb or Booking.com listing URL.
Click Continue.
Review the imported property details — the system will match your listing content to Touch Stay's template structure and create categories for any content that doesn't fit an existing template section.
Choose whether to re-use the imported content as-is or generate fresh content.
Click Create.
Your guidebook opens pre-filled with content, photos and property details pulled from your listing. You can edit everything from here.
💡 Tip: If your listing contains content not covered by the standard Touch Stay template (e.g. a specific "Pet Policy" section), the system will create a new category for it automatically. You can rename or reorganise it afterwards.
📖 Learn more: [How to import a guidebook from Airbnb or Booking.com (new Hub)] (link to future article)
Path 2: Clone an existing guidebook
Best for: Adding a new property that's similar to one you've already set up — same layout, same local area content, similar house rules.
Select Clone existing guidebook.
Choose the guidebook you want to copy.
Click Create.
Your new guidebook is created as a copy of the original. Here's what happens:
Content type | What happens |
Guidebook-specific content | Duplicated — you get an independent copy you can edit freely without affecting the original |
Shared content (from the Account library) | Stays linked — both the original and the clone point to the same shared content. Edit it once in the Account library and both guidebooks update. |
This means you get a ready-made guidebook instantly, and any shared content (like local area guides or standard house rules) stays in sync across both properties.
After cloning, open the new guidebook and update the property-specific details — name, address, cover photo, check-in times, and any guidebook-specific content that differs from the original.
Path 3: Start from scratch
Best for: Building a guidebook with a completely clean slate, or when your first guidebook is very different from your existing ones.
Select Start from scratch.
Your new guidebook is created using your account template — the standard category and subcategory structure that was generated when you created your first guidebook.
Click Create.
Your guidebook opens with the template structure in place but no content filled in. Start adding your property details, content and photos from the Guidebook Content tab.
💡 Tip: If you've set up Guidebook defaults, your new guidebook will automatically inherit those settings (contact details, check-in/check-out times, branding, timezone and more). You can override any of them on the new guidebook at any time.
📖 Learn more: [Guidebook defaults – set once, apply to new guides (new Hub)] (link to future article)
What happens when your guidebook is created
Regardless of which path you choose, your new guidebook:
Opens in the two-pane editor (content tree on the left, live guest preview on the right)
Has its own guidebook tag created automatically (named after the guidebook)
Inherits your Guidebook defaults unless you override them
Has all its topics set as guidebook-specific by default — you can promote any of them to shared content later via the Account library
From here you can work through the four tabs — Property info, Guidebook Content, Appearance and Settings & Features — to complete your setup.
📖 Learn more: [The new Hub – overview & navigation (new Hub)]
After creating your guidebook
Here's a suggested order to get your new guidebook guest-ready:
Step | Where |
Set your property name, contact details, address and timezone | Property info tab |
Set check-in and check-out times | Check-in & Wi-Fi access tab |
Add your content — arrival instructions, accommodation info, local area recommendations | Guidebook Content tab |
Upload your cover photo, logo and set your colours | Appearance tab |
Configure meta title, PIN access and other features | Settings & Features tab |
Share your guidebook with guests | Share Guidebook button |
📖 Learn more: [Guidebook Essentials]
What's different from the legacy Hub?
Legacy Hub | New Hub |
One creation flow — click + Add guide, enter name/address, choose tags | Three clear paths — import from listing, clone an existing guidebook, or start from scratch |
Separate process for "up to 5 guides" vs "more than 5 guides" | One unified flow regardless of how many guidebooks you have |
Must choose tags during creation to get content into the new guide | New guidebooks inherit Guidebook defaults automatically; tags are optional |
No import option — start from a blank guide every time | Import directly from an Airbnb or Booking.com listing URL |
No clone option — manually recreate content for similar properties | Clone a guidebook in one click; shared content stays synced |