Just like some of the other platforms we have talked about in previous blogs , Expedia is one of the most important platforms in the world of travel. That is why, regardless of the type of accommodation you have, it is extremely important that you become part of this OTA and that your products are published here . It will not only bring you new reservations, it will also create trust in customers who are looking for your hotel.
In the following guide made by the software for small and medium-sized hotels , LobbyPMS , we will show you how you can publish your hotel on Expedia in 10 easy steps .
Information you need to have to publish your Hotel on Expedia
Before you begin, we’ve created this checklist of tasks and information you should have on hand to begin setup:
- Have the name that your establishment will have ready .
- Pre-define an email to register on the platform. This is where you will receive reservations and communications from the channel.
- Organize information regarding the types of rooms you will have available and the number of them. Also, have ready the types of beds that will be in each one.
- It is important that you can leave the information on the size of the rooms in square meters.
- Decide whether or not you will offer breakfast and the languages spoken by the staff at the establishment. Also be clear about the services you will offer: Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, swimming pool, among others.
- Set check-in and check-out times
- Define whether you will have children or pets and whether they will have an additional cost.
- Ask your bank for the non-face-to-face payment option . This will allow you to collect reservations when guests leave their card details on the platforms. If you don’t have it yet, no problem, you can start using the face-to-face payment option. This option means that people will pay when they arrive at the establishment and then the corresponding commissions will be paid to the channel.
- You will need the RUT and to be clear about whether it is a simple or common regime. Also, have the company name to which the invoice will be issued on hand. If you want to modify the information later, you can do so without any problem, but keep in mind that this process takes approximately 1 month.
- It is required to have at least 4 photos for each type of room and 2 photos of the bathroom. In total there are 6 photos per room.
Step by step to publish your hotel on Expedia
Now that all the information is ready, we continue with the step-by-step instructions on how to create your profile on Expedia from scratch:
1. The first thing you need to do is go to Expedia’s public page: https://www.expedia.com/ and click on “list a property.”
2. Expedia will then send you to a new page where you will be asked to indicate whether the type of property you are listing is a lodging or a private residence.
3. By selecting either of the above options, the system will ask you: location of your accommodation, name of the property, type of property, number of rooms, the type of currency you are going to configure your accommodation with, if you manage any type of connection with a Channel Manager (such as LobbyPMS, for example) and if your property belongs to a chain or is managed by the same owner. Finally, it will ask for the information of the accommodation owner: Name, phone number and e-mail.
If your business is “Lodging”, you will need to choose between: Hotel, Motel, Bed and Breakfast. If it is Private Residence, the following options will appear: Private Home, Apartment or Vacation Home.
The first question, “yes or no,” refers to whether you manage a system that centralizes all the operations of the OTAs.
Please note that all information recorded here is modifiable.
4. After completing your registration, Expedia will send you an email to the email address on file to begin setting up your property and listing your hotel on Expedia.
5. When you log into the platform with the data provided via email, Expedia will ask you to complete 6 points to finalize the configuration.
5.1. Property contract: Please note that the contract varies according to the type of property, country and negotiation. In this case, the exercise was carried out with a hotel in Colombia and independently.
5.2. Policies and settings: In this module you will be asked for general information about the accommodation: languages spoken, payment methods, cancellation policy, among others.
5.3. Property Services: In this section you will be asked about the various services provided at your property. This will allow you to list your hotel on Expedia.
5.4. Rooms and Rates: At this point, the first thing you will be asked is whether the prices are charged per room or per occupancy. This refers to:
- Prices per Room: If the amount charged to the client is the same regardless of the number of people staying in the room.
- Prices by Occupancy: If the value of the room varies depending on the number of people staying in it.
After verifying the above information, the rooms can be created:
In the room category you can select whether it is a basic room, superior, suite, deluxe, among other options.
Here you can select the type of bed(s) the room has, for example: Single, King, Queen, among others.
NOTE: Please note that you can create different room categories for a single property. You can also have as many rates as you want. It is recommended to simplify room types and rates so that when booking, the guest has the fairest possible options.
5.5. Photos: In this step you can upload all the photos you have of the rooms with their respective bathrooms. Remember that you are required to have at least 4 photos for each type of room and 2 photos of the bathroom. In total there are 6 photos per room.
5.6. Property Summary: Finally, Expedia will provide a summary of your configuration and the property will be reviewed by the channel team to register the property.
With this information already registered on the platform and with the property registered, you can finally publish your hotel on Expedia. It is important to note that all the information you enter will always be editable.
