How does Booking.com work for hotel owners and property managers? Booking.com is one of the largest online travel agents (OTAs) that caters to an international audience in over 220 countries. It’s been around since the late 90s and has expanded to service a variety of hosts. The site allows you to list any accommodations, including:
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Villas
- Hostels
- Bed and breakfasts
- Vacation homes
- Guesthouses
- Apartments
If you are a hotel owner or property manager, you can easily boost your online presence and booking rates with this platform. To help you take advantage of what Booking.com has to offer, we’ve put together a guide on everything you need to know to get started.
Creating a Listing on Booking.com
Getting listed on Booking.com is as easy as completing a form. You must first create a partner account to get started. Next, you’ll register your property, complete your profile, and add the additional necessary information.
Monetize Your Empty Space!
Make money and attract new customers by renting your storage space. It’s easy and free!
Register Your Room or Property
After creating an account, you will need to provide your property’s details. This information includes the number of rooms available, types of facilities provided, and property photos. Next, you will upload sign Booking.com’s agreement.
Booking.com will review the registration information before sending you a confirmation email with a unique login name to their administration dashboard called the Extranet. Access to the Extranet allows you to update your property details, including availabilities and rates.
Complete Your Profile
Comprehensive profiles attract more bookings. Booking.com automatically creates the property description using the information you provide about your location and facilities. For this reason, it is crucial you complete this step accurately and with all essential details. Taking the time to indicate all the services you provide can help guests know what to look forward to and increase bookings.
You also want to upload quality photos that show the exterior and interior of your listing. Even if you don’t have access to professional photo services, smartphone uploads can still give guests a good idea of the space. Examples of photos you can include are:
- Decor
- Surroundings
- Security features
- Amenities
- Anything highlighting your selling points
Detail Rates and Fees
Providing varying rates for different occupancy types can help your listing appeal to diverse types of guests. Booking.com has an option to include non-refundable rates if your guests cancel at the last minute. However, you will still need to pay a commission on these unless you waive the cancellation fee.
You can set a charge for cleaning fees per night of stay or person staying. Additionally, you load your rates to increase visibility and attract early birds. Booking.com also allows you to request damage deposits for extra security and a way to report the incident to them.
Set Up Rules and A Cancellation Policy
There is no general cancelation policy available, meaning you can customize one for your property. For example, you may want a strict 7-day cancellation policy. In this case, be sure to create a prepayment so you can charge your guest 7 days before their arrival.
You can also set your own house rules that guests must agree to before staying. As mentioned above, you can report guest misconduct if something goes wrong.
Commission Fees
It’s free to create a listing on Booking.com. However, it is a commission-based platform, so you will have to pay a percentage for each reservation. This commission fee averages 15 percent but can range between 10 percent and 25 percent, depending on your location and property type.
The commission is charged on confirmed stays after your guest checks out and pays. Booking.com will charge commissions for non-refundable or partially non-refundable no-shows and cancellations. Scenarios, where you don’t have to pay commission are:
- Waived cancellation fees for non-refundable bookings.
- Correctly marked no-shows where you waive the cancellation fee.
- A credit card is marked invalid because you weren’t able to charge the guest.
Booking.com’s Payment System
Booking.com facilitates guest payments in a way that suits the needs of your property and guests. It allows external payment services so that guests can use different methods such as:
- Regular or virtual credit cards
- PayPal
- AliPay
- WeChat Pay
The variety of payment methods allows you to attract international travelers and statistically reduces your cancellation rate. You can give guests the option to pay through Booking.com or to you directly. Online payments through the website are sent to you by bank transfer or virtual credit card. As a host, you can also use Stripe to get paid through Booking.com.
Benefits of Using Booking.com
A major benefit of Booking.com is it provides a one-stop shop for travelers. Guests can book accommodations, flights, and car rentals all in one place and usually do. They also attract guests by providing a loyalty program that offers travel rewards. 75 percent of nights booked on the site are by guests with 5 or more previous bookings. With over 100 million users per month on Booking.com, you get to access this global customer base.
Booking.com provides attractive partnership perks that increase the visibility of your accommodations. Examples of the perks include:
- Promoting you on search engines.
- Ensuring your property is on Google Maps.
- Partnering with airlines.
Another feature for certain property types is the ability to sync your calendar with other sites you list on to prevent double bookings. You can also easily transfer information from existing listings to save you time on new listings. Last but not least, if you have any questions, you can also access 24/7 support by phone or email in over 43 languages.
Become A Stasher Host Today!
Listing your accommodation on Booking.com is free and easy to do. While they take a commission rate, multiple benefits make up for it, including access to a network of customers globally. By being a Stasher host, you can provide a valuable amenity to your customers or improve your yield management by providing non-guests with a place to store their bags. Increase exposure to your accommodations and customer service, so travelers are more likely to book with you for their future trips.
Hi! I am George and I am the Content Lead for Stasher.com. I love travel, writing, making music and meeting new and interesting people.