Recently, there has been a trend among Airbnb hosts to open accounts on other channels as well – a welcome move in itself.
However, many hosts encounter unexpected issues, leading to disappointment, and sometimes harming themselves or their guests.
Posts of this kind can be found all across the web.
As a service for Airbnb hosts who wish to open an account on Booking.com or who already have but have not yet fully mastered the platform,
I would like to highlight the main differences between the two. I will intentionally not cover everything, but rather focus on the
GO/NO GO factors for hosts. A bit long – but worth the read.
Background
Airbnb was founded on the idea of the sharing economy – host someone in your living room, earn some extra money,
and perhaps meet interesting people. Over time, sublets and apartments used exclusively for rentals were added.
Booking.com, on the other hand, is the world’s largest tourism platform (by far) – created for hotels.
In recent years, as Airbnb grew, the lines have blurred. Many apartment owners now advertise on Booking, while
property owners such as apartment buildings and even small hotels also list on Airbnb. This trend is only expected to grow,
and both platforms are adapting to user needs. Still, there are differences worth noting:
Who are the guests?
Today, boundaries have blurred, but differences remain. On Booking, guests can book without prior registration or verification.
On Airbnb, at a minimum, guests must complete registration with a verified phone, email, and payment method.
Hosts can set stricter conditions – requiring a profile photo, verified ID, or even past positive reviews.
This means the chance of fraud on Airbnb is lower, and hosts can accept higher-quality guests.
In short: if you host at home, guest screening is critical – and Booking does not provide suitable tools for this.
Booking confirmation
On Booking, hosts cannot choose whether to accept a reservation – bookings are confirmed automatically and binding.
On Airbnb, hosts can approve or decline requests, giving them flexibility. Airbnb also offers Instant Booking,
similar to Booking, but only for guests meeting conditions defined by the host.
Calendar synchronization
Since Booking works with instant confirmation only, hosts listing on multiple platforms must ensure reliable calendar synchronization
to avoid overlapping bookings (overbooking). Canceling a Booking reservation usually forces the host to cover the cost of relocating the guest.
On Airbnb, cancellation affects the host’s Superhost status for a year.
Bottom line: reliable calendar sync is mandatory when working across platforms.
Payments
On Airbnb, payments are collected from guests, and hosts receive funds minus Airbnb’s fee.
Booking offers a similar option but also allows hosts to charge credit cards directly.
This requires the ability to process international cards and handle issues such as blocked, insufficient, or even stolen cards.
In this case, the host assumes full responsibility for collection – Booking does not assist.
Security deposits
Both platforms allow collecting damage deposits. However, deposits can be a barrier for guests unsure about who is behind the property.
On Booking, if the host handles credit card payments, managing deposits and refunds is entirely the host’s responsibility.
Dispute resolution
Rarely, disputes arise between guests and hosts. Airbnb provides a structured process: one side submits a claim,
the other responds, and if no agreement is reached, Airbnb acts as the final arbiter.
Many claim Airbnb tends to side with guests, but at least a process exists.
On Booking, disputes are left to be resolved between the parties – the platform does not intervene.
Conclusion
There is no “good” or “bad” platform. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Airbnb provides more peace of mind for hosts with guest screening and payments, while Booking offers exposure to a larger audience
but less control over who you host. Each host should carefully weigh the factors before deciding where to list.
Of course, there are many more differences, but I focused on those that directly affect the decision to open an account on either platform.
*** Most of what applies to Booking also applies to Expedia.
Submitted as a service to the host community 😊 Good luck!
