--- title: "How to get an OpenAI API Key for Host Domination Concierge AI – Virtual Assistant" url: https://hostdomination.com/en/how-to-get-a-api-key-openai-for-host-domination-concierge-ai-virtual-assistant/ date: 2026-10-16 modified: 2026-10-16 lang: en author: "Marco Livio" description: "Do you want to use ChatGPT and OpenAI's artificial intelligence on your WordPress site To automatically answer your guests' questions? With Host Domination Booking Engine – Concierge AI Virtual Assistant..." categories: - "Concierge AI - Virtual Assistant" - "Host Domination Booking Engine Guides" image: https://hostdomination.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/come-ottenere-una-api-key-openai-per-host-domination-concierge-ai-virtual-assistant-1.webp word_count: 1946 --- # How to get an OpenAI API Key for Host Domination Concierge AI – Virtual Assistant Do you want to use **ChatGPT and OpenAI's artificial intelligence on your WordPress site** To automatically answer your guests' questions? With **Host Domination Booking Engine – Concierge AI Virtual Assistant** You can add an intelligent virtual assistant to your site, capable of providing information about the property, answering frequently asked questions, helping guests consult availability and direct them to booking. To activate OpenAI's AI-generated responses, you need to obtain a **OpenAI API Key**, which is a personal key that allows the plugin to communicate with OpenAI's AI models. In this guide, we explain how to create your API key, set up OpenAI, control costs, and connect the service to Concierge AI on WordPress. ## STEP 1 – Log in to the OpenAI platform First, visit the official platform dedicated to OpenAI developers. [**Open OpenAI Platform →**](https://platform.openai.com/) You can log in using your OpenAI account or create a new one. If you already use ChatGPT, you can use the same credentials to log in to the API platform. **Important:** ChatGPT and OpenAI API are two distinct services. Even if you have a ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscription, your use of the APIs is billed separately. You don't need to purchase ChatGPT Plus to create an API key. ## STEP 2 – Open the API Keys section Once logged in, go to the API Key Management page. [**Directly open OpenAI API Keys →**](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys) This section allows you to create, manage, and revoke the API keys used by your applications. If you have multiple OpenAI projects, be sure to select the one you want to connect to your WordPress site. You can also create a dedicated project, for example: **Host Domination Concierge AI** Using a separate project can make it easier to control consumption and manage credentials. ## STEP 3 – Create your OpenAI API Key Within the API Keys page, locate the button: **Create new secret key** Click on it to create a new key. If prompted, complete the available information: - **Name:** Enter a recognizable name, such as `Host Domination Concierge AI`. - **Project:** select the correct OpenAI project. - **Permissions:** Configure the permissions necessary for the plugin to work. For an initial configuration, you can use the default permissions provided by the platform, then check if it is possible to restrict them to the endpoints actually used by the assistant. Confirm the creation of the key. OpenAI will generate a personal secret key. ## STEP 4 – Copy and store your API key After creation, OpenAI will show the generated key. The key is composed of a sequence of characters that identifies your access to the API. **Click on the copy button and keep the key in a safe place.** Please note: for security reasons, OpenAI only shows the full value of the key at the time of creation. If you lose your key and haven't saved it, you'll need to generate a new one. Never share your API Key publicly, don't embed it on pages visible to visitors, and don't send it via insecure email or chat. You'll use it in the next step to set up Host Domination Concierge AI. ## STEP 5 – Set up OpenAI credits and billing Before using the virtual assistant, it's important to verify that your OpenAI account has usable API credits. OpenAI APIs are not included in ChatGPT subscriptions and have dedicated billing, generally based on consumption. To manage payments, open the Billing section of the platform. [**Open OpenAI Billing →**](https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/billing/overview) If your account doesn't already have credits or an active billing method, you may need to add a payment method and purchase prepaid credits. For new accounts with prepaid billing, OpenAI indicates a minimum initial purchase of **$5**, with a default amount of $10. ### Beware of automatic refill While setting up credits, check the option **Use auto-reload**. This feature allows you to automatically purchase new credits when your available balance falls below a certain threshold. If you want to manually manage purchases and avoid automatic refills, turn off the option before confirming. You can also configure usage limits and alerts, keeping in mind that spending controls and meters can have delays in your application. The credits purchased have an expiration date set by the OpenAI conditions. For more information, see the [Official prepaid billing documentation](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8264644). ## STEP 6 – Connect OpenAI to Host Domination Concierge AI on WordPress Now that you've got your API Key, you can connect it to your virtual assistant. Log in to your WordPress site's admin panel. Follow these steps: - Open **Host Domination Booking Engine**. - Access the section **Concierge AI**. - Select the tab **AI Assistant**. - Find the setting **AI Provider**. - Select **OpenAI (GPT-4o mini)**. - In the field **OpenAI API Key**, paste the generated key on the OpenAI platform. - Turn on the option **Enable Concierge AI**, if it is not already enabled. - Click **Save Settings** to save the configuration. Concierge AI is now configured to use OpenAI as the provider of intelligent responses. The model envisaged by the integration described in this guide is GPT-4o mini, designed to process text requests with generally low usage costs compared to higher-end models. The API Key is managed on the WordPress server side: it should not be shown directly to site visitors. ## STEP 7 – Customize your virtual assistant To offer useful answers to guests, it is not enough to connect OpenAI. It is essential to configure the information that Concierge AI will use to learn about the accommodation. ### Property & FAQs Open the section **Property & FAQs** and enter the most important information about your property. For example: **What time can I check in?** Check-in is available from 14:00 to 18:00. For late arrivals, please contact us in advance. **Are pets allowed?** Yes, we accept small pets for an extra charge of €20 per stay. **Is parking available?** Yes, there is free public parking available nearby the property. **What is the maximum number of guests?** Our apartment can accommodate up to 4 people. **Is Wi-Fi included?** Yes, Wi-Fi is free and available throughout your stay. This content is just an example: replace it with the real information of your structure. The more accurate the information entered, the more useful the virtual assistant will be for your guests. ### Booking Links In the **Booking Links** You can configure the links that the Assistant uses to direct guests to bookings. For example: - Bookings page of your site. - Availability calendar of Host Domination Booking Engine. - WhatsApp link for direct requests. Concierge AI can help guests search for availability and direct them to the booking system, but it does not create reservations itself and does not process payments directly in the chat. ## STEP 8 – Verify that OpenAI is working properly After saving the settings, go back to the tab **AI Assistant**. Locate the section **API diagnostics** and click on: **Test API connection** The system will perform a check of the connection and API configuration. This test can consume a small amount of OpenAI credits. If the connection is working properly, you can open your WordPress site like a regular visitor. Locate the Concierge AI floating button and try to type: **"Hello! What time can I check in?"** Or: **"Do you have availability for two people next weekend?"** The assistant will use the configured information and available features of the Booking Engine to process the response. ### A multilingual virtual assistant Concierge AI can respond to guests in different languages, using the selected AI provider. For example, a guest can write in English: "Is parking available near the apartment?" Or in French: "À quelle heure puis-je arriver ?" The assistant can respond in the language used by the guest, based on the information configured. The language of the chat interface is a setting that is distinct from the language used to generate responses. ## How much does it cost to use OpenAI with Concierge AI? **Host Domination Concierge AI is a free add-on**, but requests made to OpenAI models use the resources of your API account. The cost depends mainly on: - AI model used. - Number of requests received. - The amount of text sent to the template. - The length of the responses generated. - OpenAI fees applicable. OpenAI measures the consumption of textual models through tokens, which represent units of text processed in and out. There is therefore no universal fixed monthly cost for all sites: consumption depends on actual usage. You can consult the updated prices directly in the [OpenAI API official pricing page](https://platform.openai.com/docs/pricing). ### How to control costs Host Domination Concierge AI includes setting **Daily site-wide limit**, which allows you to limit the maximum number of AI requests handled daily by the site. A limit per visitor is also available. These settings help contain consumption, but they do not replace the billing and spending controls available on the OpenAI platform. You can start with a low daily limit and gradually increase it as your business needs. ## Frequent problems and solutions ### OpenAI key not working Verify that you have copied the API key correctly and that you have selected OpenAI as the provider in your Concierge AI settings. It also checks that the key belongs to the correct project and has the necessary permissions. ### A 401 error appears An authentication failure can indicate an invalid, revoked, expired, or misused key. Check the key in the OpenAI platform and create a new one if necessary. ### A 429 error appears This error can be associated with request rate limits or quota issues available on your account. Check project limits, billing status, and any error details. ### I created the API key, but the service is not responding Check that your account has usable credits or an active billing setup. Also make sure that the WordPress server can communicate with OpenAI services. ### Do I need to own ChatGPT Plus? No. You don't need to purchase ChatGPT Plus or Pro to use OpenAI APIs. You can go directly to the API platform and set up separate billing for it. ### Can I use Concierge AI with OpenAI for free? The Concierge AI add-on is free to use. However, OpenAI requests may incur usage fees, and free credits are not guaranteed. If you would like to evaluate a provider with a free API plan, you can also check out our [guide dedicated to Google Gemini](https://hostdomination.com/en/how-to-get-free-google-gemini-key-api-for-host-domination-booking-engine-concierge-ai-virtual-assistant/). ### Can I replace the API key at any time? Yes. You can generate a new key on the OpenAI platform, enter it in the Concierge AI settings, and save. Once you've verified that the new key works, you can revoke the old one. You don't need to reinstall the WordPress plugin. ## Guest safety and privacy Setting up AI requires a focus on data protection. Your OpenAI API Key must remain private and not be exposed in the site's public code or visitors' browser. Guest questions and the recent context of the conversation are transmitted to the selected AI provider to generate the responses. It is therefore important to update the privacy policy of the site, avoiding sending unnecessary personal data and verifying the conditions applicable to the processing of information. ## Your OpenAI virtual assistant is ready! Now you can use **Host Domination Booking Engine – Concierge AI Virtual Assistant** to offer your site visitors intelligent assistance, directly through WordPress. Thanks to the integration with OpenAI, the assistant can answer frequently asked questions, provide information about the property, help guests consult availability and direct them to direct booking. All this through a free and customizable add-on, connected to your API account. **Don't have Concierge AI installed yet?** **[Discover Concierge AI – Free Virtual Assistant →](https://hostdomination.com/booking-engine-addons/)** **[Download Host Domination Booking Engine Free →](https://wordpress.org/plugins/host-domination-booking-engine/)** --- *Guide updated in October 2026. OpenAI API interfaces, pricing, models, and terms of use may change. Always consult the official documentation before activating the service.*