You want to find the best hotel affiliate programs and maximize your passive income with such programs.
Yes, you can do it!
The worldwide hotel market is expected to reach US$410bn in 2023, making it a potential industry. 81% of the market’s total revenue will be produced through online sales by 2027. Thus, it’s great to jump into the market as an affiliate!
This article will provide a detailed view of the top 11 popular hotel affiliate programs with specific features and reviews. So, whether you are a newbie or a seasoned person, you can pick the most suitable programs and unlock your earning potential.
Let’s dive into it!
11 Most Common Hotel Affiliate Programs With Generous Commissions (2024 Update)
Booking.com
Booking.com is a well-known website for reserving hotels and homes, flights, and rental cars. They’ve got over 28 million accommodations and transportation options for more than 60 places.
The Booking.com affiliate program offers generous earnings for affiliates, ranging from 25% to 40% of accommodations. Just keep in mind that they don’t have a cookie-saving feature. This means you must persuade your audience to book every time they click.
The program will pay out monthly once you hit the EUR 100 threshold. You can choose to receive your money through PayPal or bank transfer.
You can join the affiliate program via the website of Booking.com. The registration requires an active website with unique travel-related content and a steady amount of daily visitors for months.
- Commission rate: 25%-40%
- Cookie duration: session-based
- Payment method: PayPal, Direct Bank Transfer (USD, EUR, GBP)
- Payment threshold: EUR 100
- Good commissions for affiliates
- Plentiful offers to start promoting
- Two options for payment
- Trusted platform with high-traffic
- Not a high commission rate
- The cookie period is session-based
TripAdvisor
The TripAdvisor affiliate program is a top choice for affiliate marketing in the hotel niche. Here, you have two options: earn through pay-per-click or pay-per-sale. You can get a commission of 50% of the booking revenues or simply get paid when your audience clicks on TripAdvisor’s hotel booking buddies.
While TripAdvisor offers many travel services like restaurants, flights, cruises, and car rentals, its affiliate program is all about hotels. So, if you target hotel bookings, you are in the right place. You can sign up as a TripAdvisor affiliate through the Awin or CJ Affiliate network.
If you go with Awin, you can pick how often you want to get paid, once or twice a month. The minimum threshold is €/£/$20. On the other hand, if you choose CJ, payments roll out on the 20th (for all currencies) and the 28th (for USD, EUR, and GBP). Both networks give you a bunch of ways to pocket your earnings.
- Commission rate:
Pay per sale: At least 50% of revenues
Pay per click: depends on factors like the given booking partner, hotel, seasonality, and length of stay.
- Cookie duration: 14 days
- Payment method:
Awin: Domestic payments, International Wire, Payoneer, SEPA, BACS, ACH
CJ: Direct Deposit, Check, Payoneer
- Payment threshold: €/£/$20 for Awin
- Include a pay-per-click mechanism
- High revenue sharing for sales
- Low minimum payment amount
- Two networks with various payment methods
- No API is available through the program
Expedia
The Expedia affiliate program is a solid choice in the hotel world. The network includes big names like Vrbo, Stayz, Abritel, and more. It provides you with links, widgets, and banners for promotion.
Commissions can vary depending on which brand you’re promoting, but you could pocket up to 6% for every booking you bring in. The cookie length, the time between a click and a potential commission, varies from 7 to 30 days, decided by the specific brand.
You can join the Expedia affiliate program via its website. When joining, you will be paid monthly via PayPal or Electronic Funds Transfer provided your account reaches £20/US$30/€30 per currency.
- Commission rate: up to 6%
- Cookie duration: 7-30 days, depending on the sites
- Payment method: Electronic Funds Transfer, PayPal
- Payment threshold: £20/US$30/€30
- Many categories to choose
- A lot of well-known brands are available
- Different payment methods
- Support with links, widgets, and banners
- Not a high commission rate
Agoda
The Agoda affiliate program is another option we want to recommend. It is a famous brand for hotel booking, so you can take advantage of its reputation. Plus, it has made things super convenient for audiences by offering its website, app, and promos in 38 languages.
Regarding promotion tools, Agoda offers you hotel ads, text links, and other customizable tools. You can easily integrate such items into your site when joining this affiliate program.
The program will pay you a commission of 7% of booking revenue. Its cookie duration is short, only one day, making it a drawback of the program.
You can apply for the program via the brand’s website. The application will be via the brand’s website. It’s free and simple, but a website is compulsory. It will process the payment on the 15th of each month if your account reaches $200.
- Commission rate: Up to 7%
- Cookie duration: 1 day
- Payment method: Direct Deposit
- Payment threshold: $200
- A well-known brand in the niche
- Available in 38 different languages
- Provide many supporting materials
- A good revenue sharing
- A short cookie duration
- The minimum payout is high
InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG)
You can also consider the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) affiliate program to make money with hotel reservations. With a large number of 17 brands and over 6000+ hotels spread across more than 100 countries, InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) has a wide range of options to promote.
IHG offers affiliates a commission rate of at least 3%, which is not high compared to other programs in this niche. Regarding cookies, it provides 14 days, giving you a good window for potential earnings.
For cashing out, it offers payment through Direct Deposit, Check, and Payoneer, making it convenient for affiliates worldwide. Make sure your account reaches the payment threshold of $50 for Direct Deposit or $100 for a Check.
Whether you run a travel site, a blog, a content site, or even an organization or fundraiser, you can participate in the program. And here’s a neat twist – you don’t need a website to get started.
- Commission rate: at least 3%
- Cookie duration: 14 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, Payoneer
- Payment threshold: $50 for Direct Deposit, $100 for Check
- Include many famous brands
- Have hotels in various countries
- A good cookie duration
- Don’t need a website to join
- Not a high commission rate
Travelocity
The Travelocity affiliate program is a great option for anyone looking to dive into the world of hotel bookings. This online travel agency, owned by the Expedia Group, has existed since 1996. It boasts an impressive 12.4 million monthly unique visitors, which means a massive audience to tap into.
You can sign up for the program through Commission Junction (CJ). Travelocity offers a commission rate of up to 4%, which helps you to improve your earnings. Plus, they keep the cookie active for a generous 45 days for you to earn from your referrals.
The program offers various payment methods, including Direct Deposit, Check, and Payoneer. Payments roll out on the 20th (for all currencies) and the 28th (for USD, EUR, and GBP).
- Commission rate: Up to 4%
- Cookie duration: 45 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, Payoneer
- A generous cookie window
- A long-lasting brand for years
- Have a massive audience
- Many available payment methods
- Its commission is not really high
Red Roof Inns
If you want to find a pet-friendly hotel affiliate program, the Red Roof Inns program is a nice choice. The brand is a pet-friendly hotel chain where travelers can have their pets without restrictions or additional fees.
The program offers a 3% commission rate, which is not quite high. However, its cookie term is great, up to 30 days. So, you will have a month’s window to earn from your referrals when joining.
You can join the program via CJ. Here, you will find a wide variety of text links and banner ads for your promotion. There are also coupons and discount offers for your visitors to keep them stay longer.
Red Roof Inns pays you via multiple methods, including Direct Deposit, Check, and Payoneer. If you are a top performer, the brand will also offer exclusive promotions to sweeten the deal.
Just one thing to note – group bookings aren’t currently commissionable. But if you target a pet-friendly hotel affiliate program, the Red Roof Inns affiliate program is quite a good choice!
- Commission rate: 3%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment method: Direct Deposit, Check, Payoneer
- A pet-friendly hotel chain
- Provide a nice cookie term
- Have many promotional materials
- Exclusive promotions for top performers
- It doesn’t pay commissions on group bookings.
BlueBay Hotels
The BlueBay Hotels affiliate program should be your pick if you target hotels in Spain. It has eight high-quality properties across Spain, including the Balearic Islands, Canarias, and the Costa del Sol. These hotels range from 3 stars to 5 stars.
The brand has an average booking value of around 1000€, promising appealing earnings for affiliates. BlueBay Hotels also brings promotional codes and offers, making it easier to attract your audiences.
When there are sales via your affiliate links, you can earn affiliate commissions, which count up to 4% of the sales. The cookie is also great, with 30 days for tracking.
You can participate in the program via the ShareASale network. You will have many payment options here, including Check, Direct Deposit, Wire, or Payoneer. The minimum threshold is $50.
However, if you join, remember that the program offers commissions only for the eight properties in Spain. The remaining properties in other countries won’t be commissionable. So, don’t forget to promote the right ones!
- Commission rate: 4%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment method: Check, Direct Deposit, Wire, Payoneer
- Payment threshold: $50
- Many great properties in Spain
- Have a high average booking value
- A long cookie duration for affiliates
- Many payment methods with a low threshold
- Not have commissions for properties out of eight properties in Spain
Plum Guide
Plum Guide is also a remarkable hotel booking platform that owns an affiliate program. The brand has a huge number of 15,000,000+ vacation homes listed online. So, if you join its affiliate program, there are many options for your promotion.
As an affiliate, you can earn 7% for each sale referred. This commission rate is great compared with other competitors in the same niche. The program also offers an extensive cookie term lasting for 90 days.
The requirement for joining the Plum Guide affiliate program is a reputable website. If you meet it, you can join via the platform Partnerize. Here, you can enjoy the brand’s dedicated support.
The brand also has many payment methods for cashing out earnings to affiliates. You can choose between Wire Transfer, Check, Credit Card, or PayPal, which is quite convenient.
- Commission rate: 7%
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Payment method: Wire Transfer, Check, Credit Card, PayPal
- A large number of vacation homes
- A great commission rate
- Provide an extensive cookie term
- Many payment methods for affiliates
- Need to have a reputable website to join
HostelWorld
The HostelWorld affiliate program is the next name in our list of the top hotel affiliate programs. The brand has properties scattered across 179 countries, allowing you to have various options to promote.
You can enjoy a commission rate of 40% when enrolling in the program. The rate is impressive, right? Moreover, the cookie duration is 30 days, giving you enough time to convert clicks to sales.
You can join the program via Partnerize. The registration process is simple and free, with no ongoing costs. When joining, HostelWorld will provide you with a toolbox of links, feeds, creatives, and even integration solutions, supporting you in promotion.
The brand will pay you via bank transfer with a payment threshold of $200. It promises that you can receive money quickly in any of the 60 currencies.
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment method: Bank Transfer
- Payment threshold: $200
- Have properties in various countries
- Offer an impressive commission rate
- Have a long cookie duration
- Many marketing materials and tools
- Only pay via bank transfer
Trusted Housesitters
If you want to find a program for house-sitting stays and pet-sitting for travelers, it should be the Trusted Housesitters affiliate program. It’s a reputable brand with high rates in this field, so you can easily promote its services.
A notable feature of the affiliate program is the commission rate. It’s as high as 40% of the order, helping you to maximize your earnings. The brand also offers a long cookie duration of 30 days, giving you a good term for converting referrals.
Trusted Housesitters has an impressive conversion rate of 15-18%. Its average order value is also high. With £120 per order, you can believe in the potential of the program. To support you in promotion, the brand provides lots of banners, text links, and social media creatives.
The network Awin hosts the program, so you can join it there. It will pay you through multiple payment options, including Domestic payments, International Wire, Payoneer, SEPA, BACS, and ACH. And the best part? The payment threshold is quite low, just €/£/$20.
- Commission rate: 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payment method: Domestic payments, International Wire, Payoneer, SEPA, BACS, ACH
- Payment threshold: €/£/$20
- A reputable brand with high rates
- Share a generous commission rate
- Offer a great cookie window
- High conversion rate and average order value
- Many payment methods with a low threshold
- Applications are reviewed weekly instead of daily
How Do Hotel Affiliate Programs Work?
Hotel affiliate programs will pay commissions to affiliates promoting hotels’ products and services. Usually, affiliates will have the commissions after the referred customers complete their stays.
The workflow will be as follows:
You register to be an affiliate of a hotel business and promote its products or services. The promotion can be via text links, banners, or any type of content with affiliate links included on your channels.
Your audience follows your content and engages by clicking on your affiliate links, directing them to the hotel business’s offerings. After consideration, the audience makes a reservation for a product or hotel room.
You will earn an affiliate commission based on the affiliate partnership terms. The brand usually calculates it after the customer checks out, not the initial booking. You can check and track your earnings via the relevant network or system.
Why You Should Promote Hotel Affiliate Programs?
There are many reasons for jumping into the hotel affiliate programs. Below are the common ones.
Large market
The worldwide hotel market is expected to reach US$410bn in 2023, which is an impressive number. Moreover, the number of users in this market is expected to amount to 1.33bn users by 2027.
These numbers show the great potential of the hotel industry. It’s a large market with worldwide earnings as you can promote hotels around the world for international tourist travelers. The field has a huge audience, bringing various opportunities for affiliates.
Many trusted brands and hotel options
When you participate in hotel affiliate marketing, you will see various reputable brands there. Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, or many names like these will be available. Promoting such brands will also help to increase your trust.
The affiliate programs in this field also offer many properties around the world to promote. Whether your audience prefers boutique hotels or luxury hotels, whichever locations they like to stay, you can also find options to suit their demands.
Simplicity in expertise
Entering certain affiliate niches, such as technology or e-commerce platforms like Shopify, demands in-depth knowledge. However, if you are looking to start with affiliate programs in the hotel industry, you don’t need an extensive background. With just basic knowledge and a passion for sharing your travel experiences, including staying ones, you can get going.
Effortless sign-up
Most affiliate programs in the niche offer a hassle-free and cost-free registration process. You can easily sign up through either the brands’ websites or third-party affiliate networks.
The sign-up process involves straightforward information filling, making it a swift and uncomplicated procedure. Normally, they do not require minimum traffic; thus, starting is very easy.
Lucrative commission opportunities
The hotel industry has many high-commission affiliate programs. For instance, the TripAdvisor affiliate program promises a minimum of 50% commission on bookings, while Booking.com offers a substantial 25-40%.
These percentages stand out when compared to affiliate programs for physical products on e-commerce platforms like Amazon (1-20%) or Etsy (4% to 5%). So, if you’re looking for attractive commission rates, the hotel niche is certainly an enticing option.
What Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hotel Affiliate Program?
When seeking the best hotel affiliate programs, it’s crucial to assess their compatibility with your target audience, as well as factors like commissions, payouts, and cookie duration.
Audience Compatibility
Consider your audience’s preferences and needs. Ask yourself if the product or service aligns with their interests and demands. For instance, if your content caters to budget backpackers, affiliating with a luxury brand may not be a good choice.
Understanding your audience and staying within your niche while selecting affiliate programs will facilitate better consumer outreach, resulting in increased clicks and conversions.
Commission Rates
Commission policies vary across affiliate programs, and every affiliate seeks a favorable rate. To find the best fit, compare commission rates among various programs, such as those listed above.
Payouts
Opt for affiliate programs that offer various payment methods for your convenience. The most common options include PayPal and direct bank transfers. You may find Payoneer and Check as popular payment methods in the programs.
Be mindful of payment thresholds outlined in the program’s terms, as higher thresholds, like $500 or more, can make revenue collection less convenient.
Cookie length
A longer cookie duration is advantageous, increasing the likelihood of securing more sales. Prioritize programs offering extended cookie lengths for maximum effectiveness in tracking and converting leads.
FAQs
What hotel affiliate program offers the most lucrative commission rates?
Many affiliate programs in the hotel industry provide high commission rates. Some names to be mentioned here are the Booking affiliate program, the HostelWorld affiliate program, and the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
How to earn money from hotel affiliate programs?
You should promote and recommend hotels’ products and services to earn money. When you refer a paying customer to the hotel brands, you can earn a commission per their policy. Creating engaging content like detailed reviews or specific guides can be an efficient way to attract clicks.
The article has provided you with the top hotel affiliate programs, their workflows, the reasons for choosing them, and even the factors for consideration when selecting. We believe that it has brought fundamental knowledge for you to get started in this field.
So, if you’re ready to explore the world of hotel affiliate marketing, let’s take your first step!
