MCP Server

Vanio publishes an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that gives any compatible AI assistant — Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, OpenClaw, or any MCP client — full access to your vacation rental operations through 40 tools.

Quick Start

1. Get your API key

Go to Settings → API Keys in your Vanio dashboard and create a new key.

2. Install the MCP server

npm install -g @vanio/mcp-manager

3. Configure your AI client

Claude Desktop — add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vanio": {
      "command": "vanio-mcp-manager",
      "env": {
        "VANIO_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

ChatGPT / HTTP clients — start the server in HTTP mode:

MCP_TRANSPORT=http VANIO_API_KEY=your-api-key PORT=3007 vanio-mcp-manager

Then connect your client to http://localhost:3007/mcp with your API key as a Bearer token.

Transport Modes

Mode	Use case	Auth	Multi-client
stdio (default)	Claude Desktop, local AI apps	VANIO_API_KEY env var	No
HTTP	ChatGPT, web apps, shared servers	Bearer token per request	Yes

HTTP Endpoints

• POST /mcp — Send MCP requests (requires Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>)
• GET /mcp — SSE stream for server notifications
• DELETE /mcp — Close session
• GET /health — Health check

Tools Reference

Reservations (3 tools)

Tool	Description
list_reservations	Search reservations by guest name, confirmation code, or listing. Returns summary with guest info, dates, and pricing.
get_reservation	Full reservation details including pricing breakdown, guest info, payment status, and portal link. Query by ID or confirmation code.
get_current_reservations	Today's active reservations (currently checked-in guests). Filter by listing, status, platform, or date range.

Timeline & Communication (4 tools)

Tool	Description
get_timeline	Full chronological feed: guest messages, internal notes, AI decisions, payment events, automation triggers, smart lock activity.
get_guest_messages	Guest conversation history with AI categorization (intent, sentiment, priority) and response times.
get_internal_messages	Internal team chat: notes, @mentions, AI agent responses. Not visible to guests.
get_ai_decisions	AI agent activity log showing reasoning, executed actions, and sources.

Messaging (4 tools)

Tool	Description
send_internal_note	Post internal team note on a reservation (not visible to guest).
send_internal_message	Post to internal team chat with optional @mentions. Use @vanio to trigger AI analysis.
send_guest_message	Send message to guest, auto-routed to the correct platform (Airbnb, Booking.com, email, SMS, WhatsApp, website chat).
reply_to_guest	Reply in an existing guest conversation thread, maintaining context.

Tasks (5 tools)

Tool	Description
list_tasks	Search tasks by status, priority, category, date range. Returns cleaning, maintenance, inspection, turnover, and other operational tasks.
get_task	Full task details with checklist, comments, attachments, and time tracking.
create_task	Create a new operational task with optional checklist and assignment.
update_task	Update task status, priority, due date, title, or description.
complete_task	Mark task as completed with optional completion notes.

Guests (3 tools)

Tool	Description
search_guests	Find guests by name, email, or phone. Returns matching profiles with booking stats.
get_guest_profile	Full guest profile: contacts, flags, booking statistics, notes, and average rating.
get_guest_reservations	Guest booking history with links to dashboard items.

Smart Locks & IoT (6 tools)

Tool	Description
list_devices	List all IoT devices (smart locks, thermostats, noise monitors) for a property.
get_access_codes	List all access codes for a smart lock device.
create_access_code	Generate a new access code — time-limited to reservation dates or custom start/end.
delete_access_code	Remove an access code from a smart lock.
lock_device	Remotely lock a smart lock.
unlock_device	Remotely unlock a smart lock.

Payments (2 tools)

Tool	Description
get_reservation_payments	Payment history for a reservation: charges, refunds, and payment method details.
list_payments	All payments across your account with filters for status, type, listing, date range.

Commands & Actions (5 tools)

Tool	Description
execute_command	Execute any command in the Vanio command system by topic and event.
charge_guest	Charge guest via card on file or payment link.
refund_payment	Issue full or partial refund with optional reason.
assign_item	Assign a dashboard item to a team member or group.
complete_item	Mark a dashboard item as handled or reopen it.

Knowledge Base (5 tools)

Tool	Description
list_kb_articles	Browse KB articles by property and category.
get_kb_article	Full article content.
create_kb_article	Add new KB article (check-in instructions, WiFi, house rules, parking, etc.).
update_kb_article	Edit existing article title, content, or tags.
search_kb	Search knowledge base using vector similarity for intelligent matching.

Listings (2 tools)

Tool	Description
list_listings	All properties in your portfolio with name, ID, location, and status.
get_listing	Full property details.

AI (1 tool)

Tool	Description
ask_vanio	Ask Vanio AI anything about your operations. Synthesizes answers from knowledge base, reservations, tasks, payments, and more.

Example Conversations

Morning briefing:

"What check-ins do I have today? Are all the cleaning tasks completed?"

Your AI will call get_current_reservations and list_tasks to give you a complete status update.

Guest issue resolution:

"Guest in unit 4B says the door code isn't working. Can you check the lock and send them a new code?"

Your AI will call list_devices, get_access_codes, create_access_code, and send_guest_message to resolve the issue end-to-end.

Operations review:

"Show me all unpaid reservations checking out this week"

Your AI will call list_reservations with date filters and cross-reference with get_reservation_payments to find outstanding balances.

Security

• API keys are validated on every request
• Rate limiting is enforced per key
• Keys can be revoked instantly from the dashboard
• HTTP mode uses Bearer token authentication
• All actions are scoped to your account — no cross-tenant access

Environment Variables

Variable	Required	Description
VANIO_API_KEY	Yes	Your API key from Settings → API Keys
MCP_TRANSPORT	No	stdio (default) or http
PORT	No	HTTP server port (default: 3007)