Mandatory host type (professional/private) assessment

In accordance with new regulations, Booking.com is required to ask certain accommodation partners to self-declare themselves as either a professional (trader) or a private host (non-trader).

As a result, it’s mandatory to give consumers info on whether the host is a trader or non-trader starting June 16, 2020.

Table of contents

Clarifying what professional host (trader) and private host (non-trader) mean

Why do I have to do this?

What actions do have to I take?

What do you mean by consumer protection?

What impact can the host type have on my business?

Why do I already see “professional/trader” marked in the declaration form?

Clarifying what professional host (trader) and private host (non-trader) mean

• Professional host (trader): Any party who rents out a property or properties for purposes relating to their primary trade business or profession (e.g. when accommodations are the main business activity or the listing is managed by a property management company).
• Private host (non-trader): Any party who rents out a property or properties for purposes outside their primary trade business or profession (e.g. when accommodations are a side activity, or the property is only listed seasonally/occasionally).

Note: When renting an accommodation is the main revenue source for the person managing the property, those accommodations are considered professionals (traders). This differentiation must be evaluated by the accommodation owner/manager, not by Booking.com.
 

Why do I have to do this?

Info about host status must be displayed on Booking.com property pages to users in the European Economic Area (EEA) either browsing or making reservations on Booking.com’s site and apps.

Where applicable, these users will see if properties are “managed by a private host.” Unless stated otherwise, in situations where properties are managed by a professional host (trader), no additional info will be displayed.

Note: This info is a self-declaration by the accommodation partner. Booking.com isn’t required to verify the legal status of these declarations. 

What actions do I have to I take?

Certain accommodation partners are required to undergo an assessment where they state if they’re professional (trader) or private hosts (non-trader).

This is a one-time action unless the accommodation partner’s status changes (e.g. the accommodation becomes a primary trade business, dissolves their primary trade business to become a private host, etc). This action can be completed by following the steps below:

1. Log in to the Extranet with your credentials.

For help with logging in to the Extranet, see this article.

1. Go to “Property” then “General info,” where you’ll find the host type declaration form.
2. Select the host type that matches your status, then click “Update your info.”

Update my host type

What do you mean by consumer protection?This means protecting the rights of consumers. When consumers exercise these rights (e.g. in situations where they aren’t satisfied with the services provided), their claims are assessed by taking into consideration the “reasonable expectations” they may have for accommodations.

Generally, a consumer’s “reasonable expectations” for a professional host are different from those for a private host.

What impact can the host type have on my business?

The host type status helps guests better understand the property they choose for their stay. While this is a legal requirement, Booking.com also makes sure host type info is displayed in a way that has been tested and proven to have the least impact on your business. Additionally, customer support and other Booking.com services remain the same, regardless of host type.

Why do I already see “professional/trader” marked in the declaration form?

We might have already marked you as a “professional/trader” based on the nature of your business. This can happen if you manage chain properties or other property types like a hotel, hostel, or resort, or you’re a property management company with a large number of properties.