> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tryecco.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Schedules

> Set up and send WhatsApp, email, and OTA messages for guests around each booking.

**Schedules** holds the messages your guests receive during their stay, such as a welcome message, check-in instructions, the house manual, or a feedback request. Each message can go out on **WhatsApp**, **Email**, and the booking portals (**OTA**).

Select a single property, then open **Schedules** in the sidebar. The top of the page shows the property’s channels.

## Create a message

**1. Start**

Select **New template** to open **Create message**.

**2. Name & when**

Give the message a name, for example *Parking reminder*, and choose **When to send** it: in real time when something happens, such as a new booking, or at a set moment, such as one day before check-in. Choose the **Time of day** in local time, so guests never receive messages in the middle of the night.

**3. Text & apartments**

Write the text and choose which apartments receive it, or keep **All apartments**.

**4. Create**

Select **Create message**. A new WhatsApp message starts off and turns on once WhatsApp approves it.

## Manage a message

Each message shows when it is sent, whether it is **Active** or **Inactive**, and the status of each channel. Open it to:

* **Edit message** — change the text for each language;
* **Edit timing** — change when it goes out;
* **Edit delivery** — choose the channels it is sent on;
* use **Send now…** to send it to a guest immediately;
* use **Send test** to send a test to your own email or WhatsApp number;
* **Delete message** when you no longer need it.

### Send a message now

Use **Send now…** when a guest needs the message before its scheduled time.

**1. Choose Send now**

Open the message and select **Send now…**.

**2. Select the guest**

Choose the guest and reservation that should receive the message.

**3. Review the recap**

Check the recipient and message details carefully. This sends a real message, not a test.

**4. Confirm**

Confirm the send. Ecco checks the reservation again before delivering the message.

> [!NOTE]
>
> To check a message without contacting a guest, use **Send test** instead.

### Different texts for different apartments

Select **Differentiate by apartment group** to write a specific text for some apartments. Under **Recipient groups**, select **Add group**, then choose **Which apartments receive this message**. **Base content** is used automatically for every apartment not assigned to a group.

## Channels

**WhatsApp**

WhatsApp must approve every message before it can be sent. Select **Send to WhatsApp**, then **Send for approval**. The status updates on its own while **WhatsApp is reviewing**. If WhatsApp does not approve the message, select **See why**, fix the text, and send it again.

> [!NOTE]
>
> While WhatsApp is reviewing, messages that also have an email version are sent by email only. WhatsApp turns on automatically once approved.

Messages containing an access code are delivered in two steps: WhatsApp sends the approved message, and the code arrives after the guest taps it.

**Email**

Emails use the sender and branding set in **Configuration → Email**. See [Email](/how-to-use/email).

**OTA**

Under **Booking portals**, choose where the message can be sent and select **Save portals**. The **OTA delivery** status shows whether the message is **ready** on the portals; select **Check status** or **Apply updates** when Ecco asks you to.

### Images

Select **Upload image** to add a JPEG or PNG image of up to 5 MB to a message, then save the message to use it. Uploaded images have a public link.

## Group access messages

The **Mews group access** card prepares the message sent to a group’s contact person (the Owner) when several Mews reservations belong to the same group. The Owner receives one email and one WhatsApp message, with a PDF that lists each room and its access code.

Select **Edit copy** to write the PDF headings and instructions, the Owner email subject and text, and the Owner WhatsApp text. Check the **Group email preview**, then select **Save draft**. Ecco generates the PDF with rooms and codes at the moment of sending.

Sent group emails appear in [Email](/how-to-use/email#group-emails).


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