Best Booking.com Channel Manager
Automatically update your rates and availability with Rentals United, a Booking.com Premier Partner.
The Rentals United vacation rental channel manager allows you to effortlessly manage your Booking.com listings. It automatically updates your rates and availability in real-time, so you can avoid double bookings and sell your units at the optimal price at any given moment. Listing new properties is easy with our unique Content API Push.
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Benefits of managing your Booking.com properties via Rentals United
1.
Premier Partner
Our connection quality and service have earned us the recognition of Booking.com Premier Partner.
2.
Automatic Upload
We automatically update your rates and availability on Booking.com in real-time.
3.
Pricing Preference
Choose between price per night, occupancy, LOS, refundable and non-refundable rates, markup and more.
Choose the best Booking.com channel manager
- Enjoy the peace of mind provided by a 100% reliable connection
- Access priority support from Booking.com and get issues resolved quickly
- Take advantage of the latest Booking.com features and updates
- Work with multi-unit clumps or individual listings
- Select any pricing model you want for each of your properties
- Receive ongoing training and become an expert at optimising your listings
- Boost your visibility and conversions via the Booking.com Promotions API
- Get tailored listing optimisation tips via the Booking.com Opportunities API
Key Info
| Category | OTA |
| Service Release Date | 2014 |
| Headquarter Location | Amsterdam, nl |
| N of Rentals United properties connected | 30,000 |
| Minimum properties required | 1 |
| Website | Visit now |
| Pricing model | Commission-based |
| Commission | 12-21% per booking |
| What is synced | Availability, Pricing, Content, Bookings, Opportunities, Promotions |
| Onboarding time | Map existing account: 25 minutes with an Onboarding Specialist, 24 hours if self-onboarding. First-time new inventory push: 5 days (if you have all the content). Following pushes: 24 hours. |
| Minimum requirements | Minimum content quality required. Learn more. |
How our Booking.com Channel Manager Works
- Learn how to navigate the Rentals United platform with a guided tour led by one of our Implementation Specialists.
- Prepare your content. Our Implementation Specialist will help you understand all the requirements and guide you through the signup process.
- Upload your properties to Rentals United. Add them manually, via PMS or API sync. Go to ‘Services’ and add Booking.com.
- Follow the checklist with detailed instructions depending on the connection type you choose.
- If you don’t already have one, create a Booking.com account.
- Once your properties have been synced, your rates, calendars, bookings and cancellations will update in real-time.
- Receive your first booking.
- Charge the guest’s credit card or allow Booking.com to handle the payment, depending on your location. In the former case, the guest's credit card details will be saved in Rentals United for 10 days.
- Arrange arrival directly with the guest using the Booking.com messaging platform.
- Booking.com will invoice their commission monthly and email the guest for a review after check-out.
The Origins: From a Student’s Vision to an Online Trailblazer
Geert-Jan Bruinsma, a Dutch student at the Universiteit Twente, founded Bookings.nl in 1996. Four years later, a merger with Bookings Online created Booking.com, with Stef Noorden as the CEO. The strategic union rebranded the company and positioned Booking.com for explosive growth.
In 2005, Priceline Group (now Booking Holdings) acquired Booking.com for $133 million, integrating the platform with ActiveHotels.com. The acquisition supercharged Booking.com’s expansion, leveraging Priceline’s resources and reach. In just six years, the company’s contribution helped transform Priceline’s $19 million loss in 2002 to a $1.1 billion profit in 2011.
Pioneering the Digital Accommodation Marketplace
From 2010 to 2012, Booking.com became a digital accommodation leader by launching mobile apps across iPad, Android, iPhone, Windows, and Kindle Fire. The strategic move ensured a seamless user experience for the burgeoning mobile travel market.
Further solidifying the company’s brand, Booking.com embraced the catchy “booking.yeah” moniker in advertising from January 2013 onwards. A 2020 Supreme Court ruling validated the company’s trademarked name, acknowledging “Booking.com” as a distinct identity separable from the generic verb.
In recent years, Booking.com has expanded its offerings. In 2023, Booking.com tested the AI-powered travel planner AI Trip Planner based on ChatGPT. In the same period, Booking.com partnered with World Travel Holdings to foray into cruises as a new travel vertical for U.S. customers.
Key Milestones in Booking.com’s Journey
- 1996: Geert-Jan Bruinsma founded Bookings.nl
- 2000: Bookings.nl merged with Bookings Online to form Booking.com
- 2005: Priceline Group acquired Booking.com for $133 million
- 2010-2012: Booking.com launched mobile apps across platforms
- 2013: “booking.yeah” advertising campaign launched
- 2020: Supreme Court validated “Booking.com” trademark
- 2023: AI Trip Planner and Cruises vertical launched
Meet the Executive Leaders Steering Booking.com
Talented executives have played pivotal roles in Booking.com’s meteoric rise:
- Darren Huston: Appointed CEO in 2011, he served as Booking Holdings’ President and CEO from 2014 until resigning in 2016.
- Gillian Tans: Succeeded Huston as Booking.com’s CEO in 2016 before resigning in 2019.
- Glenn Fogel: The current CEO, Fogel took the helm in 2019 after Tans’ departure.
The Game-Changing Business Model Powering Booking.com
Booking.com operates under an agency business model, earning commissions from hotels and vacation rental property managers for each booking made through the platform. The model has several key advantages:
- Incredible Choice: Booking.com provides over 28 million reported accommodation listings worldwide, including 6.6 million homes, apartments, and unique stays.
- Low Rates and Price Match Guarantee: Booking.com secures competitive rates and offers a price match guarantee to customers.
- Instant Confirmation and No Reservation Fees: Bookings are instantly confirmed, and Booking.com charges no reservation fees.
- Secure Booking Process: Booking.com facilitates secure transactions daily, prioritizing privacy and user protection.
- 24/7 Global Support: Multilingual customer support is available round-the-clock.
From the accommodation provider’s perspective, Booking.com offers a global marketing platform to reach new customers and grow businesses efficiently.
Booking.com’s massive marketing budget, investing billions annually in performance advertising across search engines, travel websites, and digital channels, allows the company to outbid individual hotels and property managers for prime ad placements. Booking.com’s marketing prowess, combined with a user-friendly platform tailored for conversion optimization, creates a powerful virtuous cycle attracting more customers and listing partners.
Why Booking.com’s Business Model Triumphs
- Unrivaled Accommodation Choice: Booking.com has over 28 million listings, including 6.6 million unique homes and apartments, offering travelers an unmatched selection of stays worldwide.
- Low Rates and Consumer-Friendly Policies: Booking.com secures competitive rates from partners and offers a price match guarantee, instant confirmations, and no reservation fees.
- Agency Model Advantages: Booking.com mitigates financial risk and cash flow constraints by avoiding inventory ownership. At the same time, Booking.com’s commission-based revenue aligns incentives with accommodation partners.
- Massive Marketing Muscle: Booking.com’s multi-billion dollar annual marketing budget allows the company to outbid individual hotels and property managers for prime ad placements, driving a steady stream of customers to its high-converting platform.
- Global Reach and 24/7 Support: Booking.com is present in over 70 countries and offers multilingual customer support, catering to a truly global audience of travelers.
- Innovative and Diversified Offerings: From AI-powered travel planning to cruises, Booking.com is continuously expanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Booking.com make money?
Booking.com operates under an agency business model, earning commissions up to 25% on vacation rental bookings made through its platform. Booking.com also generates revenue through a merchant model by purchasing room inventory in advance and reselling it to travelers.
How does Booking.com provide value to accommodation partners?
Booking.com offers a global marketing platform for property managers to reach new customers and grow businesses. Higher commissions often translate to better search rankings, incentivizing partnerships with industry leaders.