Reminder notifications for unanswered booking requests

Problem statement

Hosts can miss booking requests from platforms like Vrbo, Airbnb, and Booking.com because there's no reminder system when a request remains unanswered. This is especially problematic for Request to Book reservations that have strict response deadlines (e.g., Vrbo's 24-hour window).

Current workaround

Hosts must manually monitor their Inbox or rely solely on the initial notification from the platform or Hospitable. If that notification is missed or overlooked, there's no follow-up alert before the request expires.

Impact

• Lost booking opportunities when requests expire unanswered
• Risk of listing suspensions or penalties from platforms (e.g., Vrbo suspending listings for "host-initiated cancellations" when requests auto-expire)
• Reduced response rates and host performance metrics
• Missed revenue, especially during high-demand periods

Proposed solution

Add reminder notifications (email, SMS, or in-app) when a booking request has been pending for a certain amount of time without a response. For example:

• A reminder at 12 hours for Vrbo RTB requests (well before the 24-hour deadline)
• Configurable reminder timing for different platforms and request types
• Multiple reminder options (e.g., first reminder at 50% of deadline, second at 80%)

Unlock

Hosts would be able to respond to all booking requests on time, avoid platform penalties, capture more bookings, and maintain strong performance metrics without needing to constantly monitor their Inbox.