Minut Messaging brings all guest communication into one place. View conversations, automate replies with AI, send scheduled messages before and after reservations, and see the full guest journey in one timeline. This article is an overview: each section links to its dedicated article for the full details.
The four parts
Inbox
All guest conversations in one place - noise alert messages, scheduled messages, and guest replies, grouped by reservations. Available to all hosts and property managers. No additional setup required.
From the Inbox you can reply with text and images, search for a guest by name or email, and use AI reply suggestions where AI guest chat is available. You can also start or continue a conversation from the Messages section of a guest's detail panel.
Autopilot
An AI assistant that answers guest questions using content you provide. Replies automatically, escalates when it doesn't have a confident answer, and learns from real conversations over time.
Guest Journey
A single timeline view of every message Minut will send across a guest's reservation — check-in, during the stay, and check-out — all in one place. This is where you add and manage scheduled messages.
Arrival messages are available to all organizations. They are controlled by a toggle in the profile and are off by default.
The shortcode picker includes {{wifi_network}} and {{wifi_password}}, which fill in the Wi-Fi name and password saved for the unit. If a message contains a shortcode that can't be filled in (for example, no Wi-Fi details or no access code yet), that message is not sent. It isn't retried later, so make sure your unit details are complete before the send time.
Guest journey messages can be up to 1,525 characters. The rest of the 1,600-character limit is kept free for the automated-message notice Minut adds when the message is sent. Longer messages can't be saved, and an existing message that's over the limit must be shortened before you can rename it or turn it on or off.
Noise alert messages
Automated messages sent to guests when noise exceeds your threshold — via SMS, WhatsApp, or Airbnb inbox. Configured in your Noise Preset, separate from scheduled messages.
Inbox does not require Autopilot. You can view guest conversations and reply manually without setting up Autopilot at all. Autopilot is an optional layer on top - enable it when you are ready to automate replies.
Get started
Open Messaging
Sign in to web.minut.com → click Messaging in the left navigation. Complete the onboarding if this is your first time.
Connect reservations
Connect Airbnb or a PMS so reservations sync automatically and Inbox threads are created when conversations start. Or add reservations manually under each unit, or in bulk via the Reservation Importer.
Set up scheduled messages
Go to Guest experience → Guest journey to add time-based messages — pre-arrival, welcome, and checkout reminder are a good starting set. See Guest Journey
Inbox is already usable at this point - no further setup needed to view and reply to conversations
Optionally set up Autopilot
Go to Messaging → Autopilot → Knowledge and add content about your units — check-in details, Wi-Fi, directions, house manual. Once your Knowledge base is ready, enable Autopilot in Autopilot → Settings. See Autopilot
Using a smart lock? When you link a lock that can create access codes from the web app, Minut offers a ready-made check-in message with the guest's access code, scheduled one day before check-in by default. You can edit it, accept it, or decline it; if you decline, you won't be asked again for that lock. Linking the same lock again reuses the existing message instead of creating a duplicate.
Message channels
Scheduled messages and noise alert messages are sent through the same channel. The channel is configured per integration - not per message.
To change the channel: go to Integrations → Airbnb or Guesty → Settings tab. Options include SMS, Airbnb inbox, Guesty inbox, or both simultaneously. If no integration is connected, messages are sent via SMS or WhatsApp where available.
The active channel is shown beneath each message in the Inbox thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a subscription to use Messaging?
Yes - Messaging is available on all plans with an active Minut subscription. Inbox and scheduled messages are available to all hosts and property managers. Autopilot does not require a separate signup.
What's in the WhatsApp welcome message sent when opening a conversation?
When Autopilot is on and a WhatsApp channel is active, a welcome message is sent to guests approximately 1 hour before check-in:
Default Welcome Message: "Hi there, we hope you're looking forward to your stay at [property name]. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to respond to this message and we'll do our best to help you."
How is Autopilot different from Scheduled messages?
Scheduled messages are time-based - they send at set times regardless of what the guest does. Autopilot is reactive - it responds to questions guests send you. Both can be used together, and both are independent of each other.
Who can see guest conversations?
All team members with access to the rental unit in Minut can view and reply in Inbox. Each member can customise their own notification preferences in Account → Notifications.
Which PMS integrations also import listing content into Autopilot's Knowledge base?
Airbnb, Smoobu, Hospitable, and Hostaway sync listing information in addition to stay and guest data. All other supported PMS integrations sync reservations data only - add Knowledge content manually for those units.
See the full list on the Integrations page
Where do noise alerts appear?
Noise alert messages appear in the Inbox conversation thread for the relevant stay - alongside scheduled messages and guest replies - so you have the full context in one place. See Inbox.
Can I test Autopilot without contacting real guests?
Yes - use the Preview panel in Messaging → Autopilot to test how Autopilot would respond to specific guest questions before it goes live.
See Autopilot