Vacation Rental Host Guide: How Does Booking.com Work?
Summary
This iGMS article is a comprehensive guide on how Booking.com works for vacation rental hosts. It covers commission structures, cancellation policies, and how to create and optimize your listing, and compares it to Airbnb. Hosts should review the commission structure and cancellation policies on Booking.com to understand potential costs and manage their bookings effectively.
Key Insights
- •Booking.com's commission fees range from 10% to 25%, varying based on location, property type, and use of programs like Genius or Preferred Partner, which increase visibility but also commission rates.
- •Booking.com's global reach exposes properties to an international audience, attracting over 100 million monthly users.
Action Items
- ✓Consider both flexible and non-refundable rates to cater to different guest preferences and maximize occupancy, being mindful that even if a guest cancels, you will pay a commission.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Review your commission rate on Booking.com via the Extranet to understand how much you're paying and identify if you're enrolled in programs adding extra fees.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Ensure your property description on Booking.com is complete and accurate, as it is automatically generated from your listing details; use the host profile for additional information.Effort: lowImpact: medium
Tools & Resources
- →Booking.com Extranet: The article mentions Booking.com's Extranet for host management.
Watch Out For
- ⚠A common mistake is not considering that Booking.com charges commission on all reservation costs, including cleaning fees.
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