#BookingHero campaign: behind the curtain

The idea for the Booking Hero campaign came straight from our accommodation partners.

I was brand new to Booking.com and on a research trip, learning more about what our partners thought about us, and about the travel industry.

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David (left) and his wife Virginia (right) travelled from Canada to Scotland in search of his roots. Karen (centre), Owner of Blackburn Villa B&B

As we listened in on focus groups, time and time again - in London, New York, Sydney, and Tokyo - we heard our partners speak with such pride about the hospitality they showed their guests. We heard tales of going above and beyond, in ways big and small, to make or save someone’s trip.

I was struck by the incredible generosity.

It made me think that dedicating your life to hospitality sounded less like a job, and more like a calling. That much like nurses, or teachers, our partners dedicate their lives to the service of others.

Suddenly, to me, they were heroes.

Incredible hospitality

At Booking.com, we want our partners to know just how much we value their incredible hospitality. We recognise it’s our partners going out of their way every day to help create unforgettable travel experiences.

Booking Hero was a way for us to say thank you and to shine a light on some of their incredible acts of generosity.

We encouraged entries by giving travellers the chance to win up to €25,000 worth of Booking.com travel

We invited Booking.com customers to tell us about someone who had displayed extraordinary hospitality - their Booking Hero. We encouraged entries by giving travellers the chance to win up to €25,000 worth of Booking.com travel. But more importantly, their Booking Hero would win the same amount.

We loved reading the entries every day. We could have awarded the prizes a dozen times. But three of the stories really stood out.

You can meet Karen, and Sudarshi, and Alina below. They absolutely embody the dedication to hospitality that I heard about all those months ago in those focus groups. And we think they make pretty awesome ambassadors for this wonderful industry.

So a huge thank you to our 2017 Booking Heroes. And a huge thank you to all our partners.

We can’t wait to read the next batch of #BookingHero stories later in 2018.

Meet the 2017 Booking Heroes

Winner: On a trip abroad, he found home 

Runner-up: An accident turned strangers into family

Runner-up: Saving a newlywed's dream

Are you the next #BookingHero?

Later this year, we'll once again be inviting Booking.com customers to nominate a #BookingHero, who made their trip unforgettable. You or a member of your team could win €25,000 to spend on travel with Booking.com.