Have questions? Here you’ll find the answers most valued by our partners, along with access to step-by-step instructions and support.
FAQs
Work with us
Click the "List your property" button in the main menu to start the quick and easy process. When it's time to create your property listing, be as detailed as possible to attract the right guests for you. Click here to see how it works.
Thankfully, no! You do not need to sign up for all Expedia Group brands separately. When you partner with us, your listing will appear on some of the world’s leading online travel brands, including Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz, Wotif and more. Collectively, our sites cover virtually every aspect of researching, planning and booking travel. Leisure and business travelers with various tastes and budgets rely on our sites for all their travel needs.
Absolutely! We'd be delighted to showcase your property to the millions of travelers who regularly book their trips through our sites.
Yes. A two-way connection between our systems makes it easy to keep your rates, availability and reservations automatically up to date.
If you don’t have a connectivity channel manager, and you’re a partner, you can sign into Partner Central and explore our Global Connectivity Guide to help you identify the channel partners that specifically support your market. If you're not a partner yet, sign up for free today!
It's okay. We'll automatically save the information you've entered, and you can come back and finish whenever you're ready. If you have trouble, we'll reach out to help.
Photos ignite the imaginations of travelers, allowing them to visualize staying with you on their next trip. We recommend including four photos per room type (including the bathroom), and one of each of the key areas (amenities) that make your property special (the common spaces, pools, dining, etc.). They don’t need to be professional photos—well-lit smartphone photos will work, but they should have a minimum resolution of 1,000 pixels. Review our photo guide for more detail.
No, you don't need to work with a connectivity provider or have a connectivity solution in place to effectively list your property with Expedia Group. However, having worked with over a million properties globally, we know manually managing your inventory can take up a lot of time. A connectivity channel provider creates a two-way flow of information between your systems and ours, so reservations, rates and availability update automatically. Displaying accurate inventory maximizes the impact of your OTA listing and reduces the risk of overbooking.
Yes! Most of our Expedia Group partners are small properties looking to grow their business. We work hard to provide easy-to-use tools, promotional opportunities and support to ensure you're successful.
An online travel agency (OTA) is a consumer travel website specializing in the sale of travel products, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, vacation rentals, activities and more.
Expedia Group operates several OTAs, including Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif and more. We additionally provide tools, capabilities and insights for our travel suppliers, helping them compete and build profitable businesses.
Expedia Group
Welcome! Thank you for joining Expedia Group! Your success is our top priority. Find best-practice tips for new partners here - you'll be attracting the best guests for your property in no time!
Our easy-to-use platform, Partner Central, will be the primary location for managing reservations, loading inventory, changing rates, and keeping your listing up to date. Many partners opt to use a connectivity provider to link our systems and automatically perform daily tasks. They log in to Partner Central to leverage our more advanced tools including competitive set analysis, real-time market pricing, and other marketing programs. If you have any problems, our local teams are ready to help.
Yes. Expedia Group partners have access to a suite of tools and data insights that help you develop and execute a profitable revenue management strategy. We're constantly innovating and publishing best-practice guidance to support your success.
An online travel agency (OTA) is a key part of your distribution strategy. If your goal is to reach more travelers and attract those who will be happiest at your property, an OTA can help.
At Expedia Group the breadth of our travel supply attracts travelers who are researching, planning, and booking travel. They often plan far in advance, stay longer at your property, and spend more. In addition to helping you fill your rooms, we provide tools and market insights to help you provide outstanding guest experiences and grow your business.
We're one of the world’s leading travel marketplaces, with an extensive brand portfolio that includes both globally recognized and locally relevant travel brands, including Expedia, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, and more. Learn more in our About Us section.
Yes. Learn more about how Expedia Group benefits partners like you by clicking your language below:
Reservations
No. To keep your workload to a minimum, we automatically email the guest to confirm the reservation.
You can easily cancel a reservation on behalf of a guest in Partner Central. If a cancellation fee applies, you can charge the linked Expedia Virtual Card on the cancellation date.
Yes. The Messages tool in Partner Central allows communication with guests before they arrive and we're happy to include check-in instructions with your property listing.
Yes. In fact, we encourage you to make changes to your listings and keep them up to date, as it will help you stay competitive. These easy, step-by-steps guides make updating your Rooms & Rates, Photos, and Amenities fast and easy.
We know that change is a given in hospitality. If a guest stays longer, leaves early or doesn’t show, you'll need to reconcile the amount we expected you to collect with the amount that was actually charged. We ask that you do this before the fourth day of the month following the original check-out date.
To minimize the effort required, we've created step-by-step instructions for you to take in Partner Central.
You choose how you want to learn about all new bookings, as you can be notified in several ways. We can automatically populate your reservation system through your connectivity channel manager, send you an email, communicate via Partner Central (the platform for managing your business with us) or via the Expedia Partner Central app.
If you need to communicate with a guest, whether it's a customized welcome message, or to check in on guest satisfaction during a stay, we have tools to help you engage your guests.
Payments
As an Expedia Group partner, you choose how you want to accept guest payments. Options include leveraging our secure payment processing to have travelers pay online when they book and charging an Expedia Group issued virtual credit card for payment at checkout. You can also have guests pay you directly at check-out and compensate Expedia Group.
To appeal to the broadest number of travelers, you can choose to offer both options and let the guests decide what's best for them.
It isn't a problem if your property doesn't accept credit cards. We'll make sure your listing communicates how you accept payment (cash, check, credit card, etc.) so travelers are prepared when they arrive. We'll confirm with you in a call to welcome you to the Expedia Group family.
Compensation for reservations varies around the globe and we'll share the percentage for your market as part of the contracting process.
In addition to providing an easy-to-use and secure experience for travelers to book your rooms, Expedia Group invests heavily in advertising, digital marketing, and social media promotion to attract consumers from around the world to your market and individual property.
We're constantly mining our data for insights and emerging travel trends so we can both innovate and develop the best set of free and robust tools that enable you to grow your business. We also operate traveler and partner support centers to help solve the sticky logistical issues that inevitably arise when people set out to explore the world.
The Expedia Virtual Card is a single use credit card system, which lets you get paid faster for your Expedia Collect reservations—it replaces the need to invoice us. A unique Expedia Virtual Card (EVC) is preloaded with the remittance amount for each Expedia Collect booking. At check out, you charge the virtual card and payment is automatically transferred to you after being processed by your bank.
Occasionally, an Expedia Virtual Card (EVC) is declined when the amount charged is incorrect or you need an authorization code. Both issues are quick and easy to resolve. Get step-by-step directions here.
When an Expedia Collect booking is received, we send you a confirmation that includes the number of the Expedia Virtual Card (EVC) that has been preloaded with the booking remittance amount. At check-out, you simply charge the booking amount to the EVC and payment is automatically transferred to your bank account after being processed by your bank. You don’t need to create an invoice. Find step-by-step instructions here.
You can find EVC card information on the Reservations Details page in Expedia Partner Central or by using the EVC Lookup tool on the Expedia Partner Central Homepage.
One Key™
One Key is the most comprehensive travel rewards program we’ve ever created. Launched in the U.S. in July 2023, One Key unifies the Expedia and Hotels.com rewards programs and, for the first time, brings a rewards program to Vrbo. Our travel rewards program accelerates demand for your business by catering to what our members want most: flexibility. One Key gives members the freedom to be rewarded any way they travel – on eligible flights, car rentals, hotels, vacation rentals, and more.
Before the launch of One Key, Expedia Group had separate travel rewards programs for Expedia and Hotels.com and no rewards program for Vrbo. These separate travel rewards programs used different reward structures and had no ability to earn and use rewards between the two. One Key will replace Expedia Rewards and Hotels.com Rewards and introduce a first-ever rewards program to Vrbo.
Not only do travelers earn rewards with our three brands – Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo – they will earn across different trip products too: eligible hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, flights, cruises, and more. One Key will introduce OneKeyCash, the new rewards currency travelers earn as a percentage of purchases, which can then be used to discount eligible future travel when booking on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.* One Key unifies Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo under one simple, easy-to-use, and flexible travel rewards program.
*OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.
One Key launched in the U.S. in July 2023, with additional markets to follow starting in 2024. Our current travel rewards programs will remain in place in any market where One Key has yet to launch.
No, partners are automatically included as part of this change and do not need to take any action to take advantage of the increased demand created by One Key. Any offers you are using to attract our travel rewards members today, such as Members Only Deals, in-stay perks, and being a VIP Access property, will automatically transfer to One Key and One Key members.
For more details on One Key, please visit https://www.expedia.com/one-key.
Connectivity Solutions
To help you choose a solution that will best meet your needs, we’ve identified the top-performing connectivity providers on Expedia Group through our Connectivity Partner Program awarding top partners with an Elite or Preferred designation.
Elite Connectivity Partners: An exclusive group of top-performing Expedia Group connectivity partners who offer the highest-quality connection to Expedia Group and comprehensive functionality
Preferred Connectivity Partners: High-value connectivity providers recognized for their advanced systems with a wide range of products and an excellent connection to Expedia Group
See the full list of current Elite and Preferred partners
Yes! For help connecting your property through your existing channel manager, please email us at rollout@expedia.com.
Guest Relations
Check out this great overview video on how guest reviews work on the Expedia Group sites. Reviews will appear first on the booking website, e.g., Hotels.com or Expedia.com, and, after 90 days, they’ll display across all the sites in our marketplace.
Absolutely. Tips for acknowledging guest concerns during their stay and for responding to poor reviews are both available. In-house Feedback is always private while post-stay reviews, once vetted, will be available to other travelers. Graciously acknowledging less-than-glowing feedback and perhaps sharing how you’ve remedied the issue will help you actively manage your online reputation.
Yes! Discover more about Guest Insights in this article. You’ll learn about identifying potential revenue growth opportunities from specific countries and how you can target travelers from that location with TravelAds or promotions.
We would love that. Use these step-by-step instructions to download and use our Guest Review Widget on your site.
Guest reviews are one of many factors we look at to understand what properties provide great guest experiences. For these factors, we look at your average rating across time and give recent reviews higher importance and older reviews lesser importance, so that with every effort you make to improve you’ll see an impact sooner.
These guest experience factors are displayed on the visibility performance page in Partner Central. From check-in ratings to cleanliness, these play a role in where your property appears in search results. Learn more about guest experience and visibility factors in this article.
Marketing
Absolutely! They’re designed to be used together and as standalone tools. For example, you might be a VIP Access property running a package promotion to attract travelers who plan ahead, while at the same time leveraging a same-day deal to offset last-minute cancellations.
You can go slow at the beginning, with $0.50 cost per click and a daily budget that feels comfortable, and learn what works for you. Our Media Solutions team is happy to help; you can ask a question or, if you’re ready, sign up for an account.
No, although before you begin, you should review our promotion guidelines. Then feel free to participate in any of our campaigns or promotions – and remember, you can always design your own.
Strategies for using Accelerator vary depending on business need. Some partners are very precise, adding an Accelerator only when they need to fill rooms. Others run an Accelerator for a longer period, paired with a promotion targeting a specific audience, e.g., travelers who book early. It’s easy to test, learn, and adjust until you find an approach that works best for you.
Mobile app
Yes! Use our simple instructions for uploading photos on either an iOS or Android device. For tips on taking great smartphone photos, download our guide.
The Partner Central app is robust and the notifications feed is perfect when you’re on the go – keeping you up to date on bookings and cancellations and letting you take action on reservations, property performance insights and in-house feedback from guests. However, you might find your more data-intensive tasks are easier to do on a desktop.
Of course – in fact, we recommend it! In the same way that you can use Partner Central on the desktop if you have a channel manager, you can use the Partner Central app.
Property Listing
The detail you share about your property – types of amenities, services, policies, and proximity to popular sites – is used when travelers narrow a search to find an accommodation that meets their specific needs. Excellent photos and information about your surroundings help travelers imagine staying with you and prompt them to book their stay.
Thorough, accurate, and engaging listing content ensures travelers have the information they need to make a booking decision. Your focus providing a great experience for travelers, from planning through stay, helps your property appear higher in search results and gives you more visibility with travelers. Read more about how your listing content impacts your sort order here.
Read our article: “6 tips to improve your property listing”.
For more property-specific tips, review the recommendations in Content Score in Partner Central. Your Content Score confirms you have crafted a high performing listing for our websites and allows you to compare the quality of your content to comparable properties in your market.
From the booking experience to the stay itself, the experience you provide guests determines your visibility and performance in our marketplace. See the visibility factors that impact your sort order here.
Get step-by-step instructions on how to improve your Content Score. Your Content Score confirms you’ve crafted a high performing listing for Expedia Group sites and allows you to compare the quality of your content to comparable properties in your market. A complete, robust listing also contributes to a great guest experience. Your focus on a great experience, from planning through stay, helps your property appear higher in search results, and gives you more visibility with travelers.
Watch our video on uploading photos or use these instructions. Your Photo Score quickly identifies whether your gallery has the images travelers typically want to see, determines if the quantity and quality are right and highlights areas to improve to drive more engagement.
Yes! These tips will help you add landmarks and sites to your listing. Travelers often have a list of things they want to see and do and will filter their hotel searches to stay nearby. Points of interest are used to match your property to proximity searches and help travelers feel confident enough to book their stay.
Rooms & Rates
Rev+ is a free tool (no subscription required) featuring a real-time data flow that provides a current view of occupancy, compression, and competitive pricing. Unlike other reports that have some lag, Rev+ reveals the market conditions for that day, week, month and year ahead.
Find out more about the opportunities available to you with Rev+ in Partner Central.
You can make updates to your comp set every 15 days to keep pace with changes in your market.
Steps for customizing your competitive set are available here.
Learn how to avoid guest relocations in Partner Central. To eliminate same-day arrivals, consider setting a booking cutoff restriction to specify how many days in advance a guest must book before check-in. Read more on how to do this here. Always remember to close room types that are not available for booking and update your properties status to indicate unexpected closures.
We can help you save time in so many ways. For example, you can bulk upload room inventory and availability to quickly make updates across multiple room types. Read our step-by-step instructions to learn more. You could also consider getting connected to automatically update your property’s rates and availability across all of the travel sites you work with. Read more on how to do this here.
Your visibility factors in Partner Central show you factors that contribute to your offer strength. Our tool alerts you to missing information, rate discrepancies, and more, so you can rest assured you are putting your best foot forward with guests and improving your placement in sort. Learn more about visibility factors here.
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