A Host’s Guide to Successfully Listing on Booking.com

With the U.S. vacation rental market expected to reach nearly $20 billion by 2024, it is no surprise that an increasing number of people are looking to leverage the financial benefits of renting out vacation properties. 

If you have an apartment, condo, single-family home or townhouse that you’re interested in renting out to guests, Booking.com can help you find promising prospects who will be ecstatic to stay in your space. To maximize your reach, you’ll need to know a few best practices to ensure your profile is attractive and that you’ve included all the essential information potential guests will want to know.

Learn more about getting the most out of the listing and scoring more bookings for your property on Booking.com below.

Understanding Booking.com

Before you begin sharing your listings on Booking.com, you’ll need a little background on how the platform works. Booking.com is an online travel agency that functions as the intermediary between you and your potential guests. 

Unlike similar accommodating booking sites, the person who lists the rental property is in control of the following:

• Rates
• Rental policies
• House rules
• Availability
• Check-in and check-out times

Booking.com is solely responsible for receiving the reservation and payment from the guests. The platform does not function as a contracting party, meaning it does not provide any legal agreements between you and the people staying at your short-term rental space. Instead, any contractual agreements will be between you and your renters. 

Once you list your property on Booking.com, you can use the site to promote your space. Once someone rents your property, the payment will go through the platform and at the end of the month, you’ll receive an invoice for the commission you owe. Unlike Airbnb or Vrbo, Booking.com does not charge both the renter and the host. Instead, only property owners pay a set percentage of the reservation fees from their guests, typically between 10%-25% of the total fees. 

Why List Your Property on Booking.com?

Booking.com is a great site for hosts looking to rent their properties in an efficient and effective manner. 

If you are considering whether or not this platform is right for you, explore the reasons why so many people love it below:

• Passive income: Hosts can enjoy making additional income with very little ongoing effort or active work by posting their rental properties on Booking.com. Passive real estate investors can also capitalize on lower tax rates on their rental property’s long-term capital gains. 
• Instant bookings: The platform utilizes an instant booking model that makes it easier for hosts to maximize occupancy with ease. If someone cancels their stay, new guests can reserve your property in minutes. 
• User-friendly: Booking.com is incredibly easy to use for both hosts and potential guests. Its interface is simple, registration takes less than 20 minutes, and it offers robust customer support. Plus, guests can also use the site to book flights, secure car rentals, or get tickets for nearby attractions. 
• One monthly payment: Another benefit of utilizing Booking.com for your property rentals is the easy payment process. Hosts receive an invoice at the start of each month with the total commission owed for every stay throughout the previous month, making bookkeeping easier to manage. 
• Forgo landlord hassles: Listing your property on Booking.com is a great way to skip the hassles of being a landlord, such as dealing with unpredictable tenants or high property management expenses. You can use your home as a short-term rental instead.

Booking.com makes it simple to capitalize on the booming vacation rental market, which is growing rapidly with a projected compound annual growth rate of 4.7% from 2023 to 2030.

How to Become a Booking.com Partner: The Registration Process

Before you can start listing on Booking.com, the platform requires you to go through a brief registration and verification process to become a Booking.com partner. 

Explore this quick step-by-step guide for creating a Booking.com partner account: 

1. Go to Join.Booking.com.
2. Select Get Started.
3. Enter your email address to create a partner account.
4. Input your first name, last name and primary contact number.
5. Create a secure password.
6. Select Create an Account. 
7. Choose a username. 
8. Go to your email and find the verification email from Booking.com.
9. The final step is to confirm your email address. 

Once you’ve successfully confirmed your email address, you can begin listing your property on Booking.com.

How to List Your Property on Booking.com

After completing the registration process to become a Booking.com partner, you’ll finally be able to create and manage your property page. Follow this quick step-by-step guide to learn how:

1. Go to Booking.com.
2. Select Sign In in the upper right corner of your screen.
3. Enter your account credentials.
4. Go to your account page. 
5. Select Add new property.
6. Choose a property type from the available options.
7. Follow the prompts and fill in all your property details. 
8. Select Save.

Once you complete these registration steps, you’ll need to wait for Booking.com to make the property visible to prospective guests on the site. The platform will review your property page and share a confirmation email once the listing is set up for the public.

In some cases, you’ll need to provide additional information to verify the property on Booking.com. If there are no issues with your listing, you can then utilize the Extranet, the platform’s administrative dashboard, where you can control different facets of your account and property listings. Here, you’ll be able to set up and manage different users if you work with a property manager, employees or partners. 

What to Include in Your Property Listing

With the number of vacation property renters finally surpassing pre-pandemic rates, Booking.com can help boost your listing’s visibility and connect with the right people. After registering, you’ll want to ensure you include all the most relevant details on your property page to start attracting prospective guests. 

Explore the key information to include below.

Property Description

Booking.com uses automatically generated descriptions for its property listings, so you’ll need to make sure to input accurate, updated information about your space and facilities into the Extranet. 

This is where you’ll share the basic information needed to attract guests. Be specific about the property type room amenities and layout. Many guests are looking for a particular type of rental property with enough space to accommodate themselves and whomever they are staying with. They need to know about the property type, room availability and the amenities, such as:

• Free WiFi 
• Swimming pools
• Fitness facilities
• Air conditioning 
• Balcony
• Appliances
• Flat-screen televisions
• Sauna facilities
• Linens

Be sure also to include whether or not your property features self-catered units where guests can prepare their own meals. 

You can use the property description to highlight your key selling points. If you are posting different properties, such as multiple apartments, include information about what makes each unit special. 

Rooms and Amenities

Booking.com makes it easy to differentiate different units or multiple rooms at your property. You can give each space a customized name and adjust the maximum occupancy. The site makes it easy to update room amenities, bed options and nearby bathroom information. 

By being as specific and honest as possible about the room type and amenities, you can reduce the likelihood of unhappy guests who feel misled by your property profile.

Photos

The photos you include on your property page are incredibly important to the success of your listing. They should be high-quality and taken in the best light. Prospective guests will judge your space based on their first impression of these images.

Be sure to capture the unique features that make your home or apartment special, and always share photos that resemble what your space looks like in person. Upload the best images you capture. Booking.com does not allow you to select the image that appears in search results, so it is important that all your photos are beautiful and capture your unit effectively. 

Personal Profile Information

Your host profile on Booking.com allows you to share some personalized information about yourself that could help you attract new guests. In addition to general contact details, you can share why your property and neighborhood are special. You can control what elements are displayed to the public, so don’t fret about anything too personal, like your date of birth or address, going onto your profile. 

House Rules and General Guidelines

There is also a section on your property profile to share house rules, such as:

• Check-in and check-out times: Hosts can highlight the timeframes for guest arrival and departure. You can also include other important details like any required identification guests should bring with them.
• Cancellation policy: Having clear cancellation policies is key. Highlight your rules for when a guest cancels and if you request prepayment for some or all of their stay. 
• Age restrictions: You can include age limitations for guests, child policies and the minimum age for check-ins. 
• Payment methods: Most payments will be made through Booking.com, but you should share other acceptable options, such as Visa, Mastercard and cash payments for any extras they may pay for during their stay.  
• Pets: If you allow guests to bring pets with them to your property, be sure to mention the types of animals allowed, the number of acceptable pets and if there is an additional cleaning fee. 
• Party and event hosting: Hosts should mention whether or not guests can have events, gatherings or parties on the property. 
• Smoking: Share your property’s smoking policy and if there are any designated spaces for smokers.
• Quiet hours: Some municipalities have strict quiet hour rules that guests must adhere to, so be sure to highlight these times in your listing.

5 Key Tips for Optimizing Your Property Listing

Explore the following tips for making the most of your Booking.com property listing to attract more guests.

1. Have a Professional Take Your Photos

Having high-resolution photos of your property is highly advantageous for boosting your property listing on Booking.com. Consider hiring a professional photographer to get snapshots of your space. They will know the right angles and lighting to make your vacation home pop in your online images. 

2. Upload at Least 5 Images to Show Property Details

Prioritize uploading at least five high-quality images to your property profile. Guests typically want to see as much of the space as possible before booking their stay. Ensure you include images of the bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms. These spaces are often most important to people when they are browsing for a place to stay. 

3. Use a Property Management System or Channel Manager

Booking.com can integrate with your channel manager or property management system through the Extranet to help you gain greater control and oversight of your listings. These tools can help you effectively avoid double bookings, especially if vacation homes are posted to other platforms like Vrbo or Airbnb.

4. Get Creative with Your Listing

In addition to sharing great images of your property on booking.com, you’ll also want to add a little extra spice to your Booking.com page to help your listing stand out from the crowd. Remember that your guests always have alternative places to manage bookings, so you have to differentiate your location from the rest.

Some of the elements of an attractive listing include a powerful, eye-catching headline and a lively description that paints a beautiful picture of your space to prospective guests. 

5. Use Your Location to Your Advantage

In addition to sharing detailed information about your property and facilities, be sure to include what nearby attractions your guests can enjoy while staying at your place. Showcase nearby shopping, restaurants, or other fun activities that attract guests, such as a nearby boardwalk, farmer’s market or landmark.

Your location can be a huge selling point and help you earn the greatest return on investment for your property on booking.com, so don’t be afraid to share a little about your neighborhood.

Frequently Asked Questions About Booking.com

Check out these frequently asked questions about working with Booking.com:

1. Can You List Property Availability on Booking.com and Other Vacation Rental Sites?

Yes! Property owners can use a multi-channel strategy for getting guests to book their rentals. This means you can post your listing to Booking.com along with other listings on Airbnb and Vrbo. However, you must ensure you have the right tools and access controls to provide accurate availability information on each platform to avoid double bookings or missing an opportunity to rent. 

2. Is Booking.com Responsible for Refunds?

If your guest cancels their reservation to stay at your property, you may wonder if you, as the host, are responsible for dealing with refunds. Luckily, Booking.com will take care of getting the individual their money back. However, guests must cancel their stay within the permitted cancellation period to receive their entire payment. 

3. Can Hosts Contact Their Guests Through Booking.com?

If you need to reach out to an upcoming guest to sort out the planning process, inquire about future availability or enhance their guest experience in your space, you can utilize the Extranet to get in touch. All you have to do is log in, select Reservations and scroll until you see “Conversation with guest.” There is a template provided to you, and you can use the Extranet inbox to communicate back and forth securely. 

4. What Other Services Does Booking.com Offer?

Booking.com is a go-to destination for all things travel. The site includes the following booking services:

• Accommodations
• Flights
• Flight and hotel bundles
• Car rentals
• Cruises 
• Attractions
• Airport taxis

You can easily manage and access all of these services from the website, making it one of the best ways to secure your bookings and plan a great trip. 

5. Can You Offer Discounts and Set Prices on Booking.com

On Booking.com, you are in charge of the price you set for your property rental and can access it through your administrator account. If you need to change the price or want to offer discounted bookings, you can do it all from the convenience of your profile. 

It is normal for a baseline price for a listing to fluctuate throughout the year, so you can raise your rate during the busy season and lower it when things slow down. Also, consider your amenities. If you add something new to your property, like a jacuzzi or garden, you may want to charge more. 

Start Accepting Bookings Today

With the insights above, you can manage and master your Booking.com property listing and start renting your space to excited guests who cannot wait for the chance to enjoy your vacation home. By ensuring you’ve included the most important details and great photographs of the property on booking.com, you can start generating extra cash and feel good while doing it.