About Booking.com

Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies. It is a part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG). The platform’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. It offers more than 28 million total reported accommodation listings, including apartments, homes, and hotels, and is available in 43 languages.

Booking.com Affiliate Program Overview

The Booking.com Affiliate Program allows partners to earn commission by promoting millions of properties and travel services to their audience. It is known for its high conversion rates due to global brand recognition.

Feature Description
Industry Travel and Tourism
Product Type Accommodations, Flights, Car Rentals, Attractions
Affiliate Program Type CPS (Cost Per Stay/Sale)

Booking.com Affiliate Program Offers

Booking.com provides a robust set of tools to help affiliates integrate booking options seamlessly into their content.

Feature Description
Promotional Materials Search boxes, Banners, Deep links, Map widgets, WordPress Plugin, API
Affiliate Cookie Duration Session-based (The user must complete the booking before closing the browser)
Accepted Traffic Source Content websites, Blogs, Social Media (with approval), Travel Apps
Accepted Countries Global (220+ countries and territories)
Explicit Content Strictly Prohibited
Religious or Political Content Generally Prohibited/Subject to brand safety review

Booking.com Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The commission structure is “tiered,” meaning the more bookings you generate per month, the higher the percentage of the company’s share you receive.

Feature Description
MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) No
Commission Rate Starts at 25% of the commission Booking.com earns from the property
Commission Structure Tiered (25%, 30%, 35%, 40% based on stayed bookings per month)
Payout Frequency Monthly (Paid 30-60 days after the guest checks out)
Payout Methods PayPal, Direct Bank Transfer (Wire)
Minimum Payout €100 (or equivalent in other currencies)

Suitable Affiliates for Booking.com

This program is highly versatile but works best for those who can provide context to a travel destination.

  • Bloggers: Specifically travel, lifestyle, and digital nomad bloggers who write destination guides.
  • TikTokers/KOLs/Influencers: Travel creators who share “best places to stay” or “hotel tours” and use “Link in Bio” tools.
  • KOC (Key Opinion Consumers): Real travelers sharing honest reviews on niche forums or social groups.
  • YouTubers & Video Editors: Creators making cinematic travel vlogs or “Top 10 Hotels” countdowns.
  • Livestreamers: Travel streamers who explore cities in real-time and recommend accommodations.

Booking.com Affiliate Software

Booking.com primarily uses its own in-house affiliate management software called the Booking.com Partner Centre. This platform provides detailed analytics, link generators, and performance tracking.

Note: While they have an in-house platform, Booking.com is also available through third-party networks like CJ Affiliate and Awin for affiliates who prefer managing multiple programs in one place.

3 Alternatives for Booking.com Affiliate Program

If Booking.com’s session-based cookie or commission structure doesn’t fit your needs, here are three major competitors.

Comparison Factor Agoda Affiliate Expedia Affiliate (VRBO) TripAdvisor Affiliate
Description Strongest presence in Asia; very similar to Booking.com. Huge inventory including flights, packages, and vacation rentals. Pays for “click-outs” to hotel partners, not just completed stays.
Average Bill $150 – $300 $200 – $500 N/A (Pay per click/lead)
Entry Fees Free Free Free
Withdrawal Threshold $200 $50 $50
Payment Frequency Monthly Monthly Monthly
Commission 4% – 7% of sale value 3% – 6% of sale value 50% of the click revenue
Conversion High (especially in Asia) Medium/High Very High (Lower intent, higher volume)
Marketing Materials Banners, Search box, API Widgets, Deep links Banners, Badges, Links