To successfully send and automate emails from CiiRUS to guests, owners, and staff, you must configure the Outbound Email Settings. You can use either your own Mailchimp Transactional Email account or CiiRUS's Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp, which is completely free to use.
Prerequisites for email configuration:
Prior to configuring your outbound email settings, it's essential to have a business-appropriate email address. This entails utilizing a custom domain email (e.g., info@yourdomain.com or reservations@yourdomain.com) instead of generic ones like Gmail or Outlook (e.g., yourname@gmail.com).
If you use GoDaddy to host your domain, please click here to learn how to set up a professional email address. If you need further assistance setting up an email address, please submit a Help Request.
Email options
You have three options for delivering emails from CiiRUS:
Use CiiRUS Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp. This is the recommended option for automated emails and is completely free for you to use.
Use your own Mailchimp Transactional Email account.
Use the legacy server. This option is deprecated and doesn't support automated emails.
We encourage all users to use one of the Mailchimp options. Using the legacy server increases the risk of your emails landing in the recipient's spam folder.
To configure the email settings, go to:
Log in to your CiiRUS Account: Access your CiiRUS dashboard.
Navigate to Account Settings:
Go to
User & Account Settings.Select the
Outbound Email Deliveryoption underAccount Settings.
Choose the Free Transactional Email Service:
Select the option labeled,
Use CiiRUS Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp (Free).Enter the email address you wish to use for sending these emails.
Save Your Configuration: Click
Saveto confirm your changes.
Use CiiRUS Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp
CiiRUS Transactional Email is a free service that ensures the deliverability of your emails. It's powered by Mailchimp's Transactional Email server, which is a purpose-built, high-volume email distribution solution. This option provides safeguards to prevent blacklisting and tracking in the CiiRUS system so you can see which emails have been sent per reservation and whether they were successfully delivered.
This service can be used to send system-generated notifications, such as booking confirmations and automated statements, ensuring compliance with email authentication standards.
The set up is very simple, and just requires your domain information.
To set up the service, log in to your CiiRUS account, navigate to User & Account Settings, and select the Outbound Email Delivery page under Account Settings. Choose the option labeled Use CiiRUS Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp (Free) and save your changes.
Please click here to read the article on adding the records to your domain.
To configure your domain’s DNS settings, log into your domain registrar account, access the DNS configuration section, and add the records displayed in your CiiRUS dashboard. This step ensures email authentication and proper delivery.
We understand that configuring DNS records can be a bit technical, and we want to make your transition to CiiRUS Transactional Email as smooth as possible.
If you need assistance with setting up your DNS records, our friendly CiiRUS support team is here to help. Simply initiate a conversation from the Messenger on your CiiRUS account or visit our help center to chat with one of us. We'll be happy to guide you through the process and ensure your emails are sent without a hitch.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Emails Not Delivering: Ensure all required DNS records have been correctly added and propagated.
Incorrect From Address: Confirm that the email address entered in your CiiRUS settings matches your configured domain.
Mailchimp Subscription Errors: Verify whether you are using the free CiiRUS-powered option or if Mailchimp Transactional is required for your configuration.
If further assistance is needed, consult the CiiRUS Help Center or contact customer support.
Use your own Mailchimp Transactional Email account
If you prefer, you can use your own Mailchimp Transactional Email account and link it to CiiRUS. Like the CiiRUS' email service, using your own Mailchimp Transactional Email account provides safeguards to prevent blacklisting and tracking in CiiRUS so you can see which emails have been sent per reservation and whether they were successfully delivered.
However, you'll need your own Mailchimp account and the add-on feature for transactional emails. The prices for Mailchimp vary depending on the subscription you choose. You can find more information here: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/
Why would you choose this option over the free version that CiiRUS offers?
You might prefer to have your own Mailchimp account so you can enjoy all the benefits and features that Mailchimp offers, such as email templates and design, campaigns, marketing tools, and more. You can find more information by visiting the Mailchimp website. Additionally, if you use your own account to send emails, you'll be able to log in to see further email tracking and analytics.
To choose this option, please submit a help request via the CiiRUS Help Center and a member of our team will help you configure the settings.
Which option is best for me?
If you currently utilize either the CiiRUS Default or SMTP server, we highly recommend transitioning to CiiRUS Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp. This migration will improve deliverability, mitigate the risk of email blacklisting, provide tracking and analytics and reduce the likelihood of your emails ending up in your guests' junk folders.
If you currently manage your email communications through your own Mailchimp account, you can certainly continue using it. However, if cost savings is a consideration, you have the option to switch to CiiRUS Transactional Email, powered by Mailchimp, while maintaining the same level of quality and efficiency you're used to.