Did you know that Booking.com also allows you to book short-term rentals? Booking.com has been focusing on Airbnb-style vacation rental apartments on its marketplace over the past couple of years. When it comes to advertising your home among well-known hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott, it’s critical to understand how the platform works and the distinctions between Booking.com and Airbnb.
While the distinctions may seem unclear at first, keep in mind that many hosts go the extra mile and offer their properties on alternate sites to earn more revenue. We tell you that the work you will expend to comprehend Booking.com will be well worth your time and labor!
Here are some significant distinctions between Booking.com and Airbnb, as well as answers to frequently asked concerns to help you raise your occupancy rate!
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How do Airbnb and Booking.com guests differ?
Along with the numerous ways of verification, Airbnb has two-way reviews, which allow you to post feedback for your visitors. Although this is a really important feature for holding your visitors accountable for their conduct, Booking.com does not provide it. While you may read the ratings of prospective visitors on Airbnb before accepting a request, guests on Booking.com do not have any reviews.
As you are probably well aware, Airbnb guests are keen to ask questions before booking your space. Occasionally, you will answer dozens of inquiries about your home (including discount requests) and still get news that the client has booked another property. I recall being disappointed countless times when it occurred to me. In contrast to Airbnb, Booking.com confirms bookings without previous guest contact.
Additionally, keep in mind that visitor expectations for your establishment may vary. Given that, Airbnb visitors are aware they would be staying in someone’s home; their expectations will be appropriately high. Whereas, Booking.com clients are more likely to anticipate hotel-style amenities like 24-hour check-in, complimentary towels, and toiletries. If you meet those qualifications already, you are good to proceed.
How much am I going to be charged?
Each transaction is a two-way street between two parties: the visitor and the host. While Airbnb charges both parties, Booking.com does not. On the other side, it charges hosts a percentage of the overall booking fee, which they must reimburse at the month’s end.
Therefore, if you choose to offer your property on both platforms, you must account for this distinction. Otherwise, you risk earning less money than you anticipated. I am certain that Booking.com’s commission-free model benefits guests and raises booking rates.
How can I Resolve a Payment Dispute?
On check-in day, Airbnb collects the money on your behalf and pays you through the payout method you choose. On the other hand, if you use Booking.com, you are normally responsible for the payment method. When someone books your space, Booking.com will provide you with a credit card number to guarantee the reservation. This information is only available for ten days after the reservation’s creation.
In the event of a no-show (no one arrives on the day of check-in) or a last-minute cancellation, you are responsible for recouping any potential income. Consider a reservation made many months ago that your visitor canceled at the last minute. Since you will no longer have access to credit card information, you will wind up with an empty property.
How is the cancellation policy implemented?
Although Airbnb has begun to adopt more flexible and free cancellation policies (and, in certain cases, requires hosts to do so), cancellation rates are quite low since visitors pay when they rent your space. When establishing your Airbnb listing, you can select one of three basic cancellation policies and determine whether you will still get the booking money in the event of a cancellation.
In contrast to Airbnb, the majority of Booking.com properties do not demand prepayment and provide free cancellation, which benefits visitors but is inconvenient for hosts. Although you have the option of a non-refundable booking, visitors prefer the refundable alternatives.
While it’s logical that cancellation rates are greater on Booking.com, this also implies that you should modify your calendar often to ensure that your Airbnb and Booking.com calendars are identical.
However, by advertising your home on Booking.com, you may generate additional cash from vacant nights and avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.
Booking.com vs. Airbnb
Pros
- Additional bookings for available days
- Increased visibility
- Bookings that need less prior communication
- Increased booking rate
Cons
- Payment processing is complicated.
- There are no guest reviews.
- Increased rate of cancellation
- Synchronization is a constant need.
Once you have decided to offer your property on Booking.com and go live, you will want to ensure that you are not overbooked on the same days. Consider two visitors who arrive on the same day at the same property. It would be a nightmare to have one from Airbnb and one from Booking.com.
Lodgable automatically synchronizes the calendars of Airbnb and Booking.com. This implies that once you get a booking on Booking.com, those days are automatically removed from your Airbnb calendar (and vice versa as well).
Last Words:
Given the disparate commission structures between Booking.com and Airbnb, using Lodgable enables you to update your prices from a single calendar, and your nightly rates will be updated accordingly across Airbnb and Booking.com, ensuring that you always select the desired amount regardless of the source of the reservation.