What does it mean?
OCTO serves as an alternative API specifically designed to connect your TourCMS account with a select group of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). While the primary TourCMS API remains a widely adopted and versatile option for various integrations, OCTO offers a dedicated pathway for OTAs who have specifically implemented this interface. As of May 2025, TourCMS utilizes the OCTO API to connect with the following agents:
If you, as an operator, wish to work with any of these OTAs, it's important to be aware that this connection relies on the OCTO API. Consequently, there are specific configurations and settings within your TourCMS account that you'll need to consider. The following sections will detail these essential points to ensure a smooth and successful setup for working with your chosen OCTO-connected agents.
What should I do?
Please review the below prior to enabling connection on TourCMS to an agent using OCTO specifications.
All content should be in English
Mandatory fields include: Long Tour name, Short description, Long description, Included, Excluded, Experience/highlights, Essential information.
Geocodes
Accurate geocoding, using Google Place IDs, is essential for your products to be correctly displayed and booked through OCTO-connected OTAs. To check and update this information, go to PRODUCTS > TOURS > DESCRIPTIONS & IMAGES > KEY INFORMATION. Ensure that both the start and end locations for each distributable product have a full Google Place ID loaded in TourCMS. For a comprehensive guide on working with Google Place IDs, please see this support article.
Booking.com will be unable to connect to products without a valid Google place ID linked on Geocodes. The loaded Google place IDs will populate the Departure point and End point on Booking.com’s webpage of your product.
Voucher information
To manage booking redemptions effectively with OCTO-connected agents, please configure the relevant settings in the PRODUCTS > TOURS > SETUP >OPERATIONS / SUPPLIERS section of your TourCMS account. Scroll down to find the voucher options.
- You can either utilise the QR codes automatically generated by TourCMS for each booking - QR Code under voucher format and per booking under voucher quantity.
- If you have a connected subsystem managing this process, ensure the appropriate settings are reflected on every tour ID in TourCMS. The specific method of redemption will ultimately depend on your operational processes as a supplier. For more information on this topic, please, visit this support article.
Mapping your tours for OCTO Distribution
To get your tours ready for distribution via OCTO, kindly contact our Support team here. Please include a list of the TourCMS tour Unique IDs you intend to distribute through these channels. The TourCMS team will need to map each product individually, taking into account its specific setup – whether it's a single departure, offers multiple start times per day, has various options, or a combination of multiple start times and options.
To identify your Tour IDs, navigate within TourCMS to PRODUCTS > TOURS > SETUP:
Note: products not mapped for OCTO are not visible to the OCTO connected agent.
Content
Booking.com retrieves product content directly from the following TourCMS fields.
Here is an example of a Booking.com webpage for reference.
Please ensure all information is accurate and adheres to the required formatting—such as using bullet points for lists. You may use basic HTML tags like <strong>, <em>, <ul>, and <li> to style your content. However, please note that HTML is strictly prohibited in the Short Description, Receipt Information, and any single-line content fields.
From TOURS > DESCRIPTIONS & IMAGES > KEY INFORMATION:
Geocode and geocode label - Start Point and End point (Google place ID is important)
Tour tags
From TOURS > DESCRIPTIONS & IMAGES > TEXT DESCRIPTIONS & VIDEO:
Tour Long Name
Short Description - this field automatically becomes your product’s short description on Booking.com right under the product name. You need to maintain it as short as possible - max 1 sentence or 10-15 words. It needs to capture the essence of the activity and create an incentive for booking.
Experience/ Highlights - Please format this section using an HTML bulleted list. Booking.com will display this section in their Why to Visit.
Included - Please format this section using an HTML bulleted list. Booking.com will display this section in their Why to Visit.
Excluded - Please format this section using an HTML bulleted list. Booking.com will display this section in their Why to Visit.
Voucher redemption instructions (to be used post booking on customer vouchers).
Essential information - Booking.com will add this information to Additional information on their webpage.
Long Description - This field will appear at the top of Booking.com’s webpage of your product. Please, ensure the content is engaging and describes your product well. Aim for up to 120 words in 2-3 paragraphs.
From TOURS > DESCRIPTIONS & IMAGES > IMAGES:
Images - The first one is the cover, the rest Gallery on Booking.com. Please try to load bigger images if available. Please note that a minimum of 3 images is required by Booking.com.
Image should be without branding, logos, watermarks or contact details. The supported formats are jpeg, jpg, and png. The dimensions for the best quality are 2500x1600 pixels.
Image Description - Please fill in a description of each image loaded in TourCMS.
From TOURS > SETUP > RATE TYPES:
Label 1 from rate types - Booking.com uses Rate name, Label 1 and age fields. Please ensure all are filled in on TourCMS.
Cancellation policy
Please ensure each tour ID on TourCMS has a valid cancellation policy linked to it.