Booking Channel Fee

Why do booking platforms charge a fee?

Booking platforms (like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Stayz) charge fees to cover the cost of marketing your property, processing secure payments, providing customer support, and maintaining their booking systems. These fees help ensure your listing reaches a wide audience while offering a smooth booking experience.

Who pays the booking channel fee – the guest or the host?

It depends on the platform. Some channels charge hosts (e.g., Airbnb typically charges hosts 3%), while others pass the fee to guests (e.g., Booking.com may add a service fee to the guest’s total). Always check the platform’s terms to confirm.

Can I avoid booking channel fees?

While you can’t avoid them entirely when listing on third-party platforms, you can minimise costs by optimising direct bookings through your own website or using a property manager like MadeComfy, which helps maximise profits while managing listings efficiently.

How do booking channel fees impact my earnings?

Since fees are deducted from your revenue, they reduce your overall profit. However, listing on multiple channels increases visibility and bookings, often outweighing the cost. Strategic pricing and dynamic rate management can help offset these fees.

How can MadeComfy help manage booking channel fees?

As a leading short-term rental manager in Australia, MadeComfy optimises your property’s presence across booking channels, negotiates competitive rates, and implements dynamic pricing to maximise returns—ensuring fees don’t eat into your profits while keeping occupancy high.