How To List Your Hotel On Expedia And Start Getting Bookings

As the second-largest online travel agency (OTA) worldwide, Expedia once focused mainly on hotel bookings, flights, and car rentals. Over time, it expanded to include vacation rentals. Today, you can list your short-term rental on Expedia and reach travelers searching for more than just traditional hotels.

In fact, lodging continues to bring in the highest revenue for Expedia Group. In 2024 alone, hotel and short-term rental bookings generated nearly $11 billion. That number represented about 80% of the company’s total global earnings. The demand exists, and travelers use Expedia every day to book their stays.

If you want to appear on this platform, follow the right steps to create a listing that performs well. In this article, you’ll learn how to add your property to Expedia, use it to drive more bookings, and set it up to attract the right guests.

 

 

What is an Expedia listing and why should you list your property on the platform?

An Expedia listing gives accommodation providers an online profile on Expedia.com to attract and convert travelers into guests. Many small hotel owners also refer to it as an ‘ad on Expedia,’ but the listing does far more than just advertise your property.

Here are some of the reasons why property managers should list on Expedia:

1. Get access to travelers ready to book

The platform acts as a full-service travel website where users can search for and book accommodations, flights, cruises, vacation packages, rental cars, and activities. 

Because it offers everything in one place, Expedia attracts millions of travelers who already intend to make a booking.

2. Reach a wide mix of global guests

When you list your property on Expedia, you tap into that traffic and reach guests worldwide who want to book vacation rentals. 

You can attract a wide mix of traveler types including last-minute bookers, early planners, international visitors, and those who buy vacation packages and cancel less frequently.

3. List once and appear across top travel brands

Expedia belongs to the Expedia Group, which owns and operates several major travel brands across different countries and market segments. Expedia (the full-service brand), Hotels.com (lodging-focused brand), and Vrbo (whole-home rental platform) are the group’s most recognizable names. 

Each brand has localized websites in markets outside the United States, giving your listing more exposure in global regions.

4. Increase visibility through a global network

One key advantage of Expedia is its network-wide reach. When you publish a listing on one Expedia Group platform, it appears on multiple other high-traffic channels across the world. 

That single listing helps you reach millions of people planning their trips on dozens of top travel websites.

5. Boost bookings with marketing and tools

Expedia also spends heavily on advertising to attract more traffic and push more bookings through its platform. 

On top of that, the company provides tools and support services to help property owners like you manage availability, track performance, and secure more reservations.

 

 

What commission rates does Expedia charge property owners?

Expedia takes a commission between 10% and 30% on every booking made through its platform. Most property owners fall into the 15% to 20% range, although your exact commission depends on several factors.

You can also choose to pay extra to advertise or promote your property directly through Expedia’s system. These marketing options involve smaller additional charges, but many property owners recover that cost through increased bookings.

 

 

How to get listed on Expedia

If you’re asking how to add your hotel to Expedia, the process stays simple but follows a structured path. You first need to register with the platform using this link before you can start taking any bookings.

Expedia follows a thorough registration process because it handles financial transactions and deals directly with businesses and properties. The platform wants to confirm that every new listing is legitimate and won’t harm the site’s reputation.

Once you complete registration, you can follow the steps below to get your listing up and running.

 

 

1. Describe your property

Start on the ‘List your property’ page, where Expedia asks for a few important details. 

 

You need to provide the full address, the type of property you own, how many bookable units are available, and contact information for future communication. 

 

 

 

Expedia reviews that information first, then sends you an email link to move forward.

 

 

2. Sign up to create an account

Click the link and log into the Expedia platform. 

 

At this stage, you can read through all the terms and conditions, including commission rates and payment options. If your location requires any regulatory or tax-related details, the platform will prompt you to add those as well.

 

 

3. Set up your profile

Once you accept the terms and fill in the required details, you can begin building your property listing. Expedia walks you through each step so you don’t miss anything potential guests want to see. If you don’t have certain information ready, you can always come back and add it later.

You’ll need to provide full room details including layout, bedding, and amenities, along with property-wide amenities like pools or Wi-Fi. You’ll also enter your room rates, upload high-quality photos, list any extra fees or policies, and set your availability.

 

 

The entire process usually takes about 30 minutes, but that can vary depending on how large your property is.

 

 

4. Begin taking bookings

Once Expedia reviews and approves your listing, your property goes live on the platform. Guests can then start booking right away.

 

 

How to get more bookings from your Expedia listing

Once your listing goes live, you need to make it work harder to attract more guests. These tactics help you boost visibility and convert more lookers into bookers without wasting time or budget.

• Turn on instant booking: Expedia favors listings that allow instant confirmation because guests want to book without delays. If you require approval before accepting bookings, Expedia will drop your listing lower in the search results

 

• Invest in professional photography: A professional photographer with the right equipment captures your property in its best form. While phone cameras offer convenience, they rarely produce the sharp, high-quality images that drive clicks and bookings

 

• Ask for reviews and respond to all of them: Guest reviews carry real weight on Expedia and directly impact how your listing performs. Offer an excellent stay, request feedback after checkout, and respond to every review to show you’re involved and attentive. Use negative feedback as a chance to reveal how you handle criticism and solve problems

 

• Add complete and clear property information: Give travelers every detail they might need before booking. Include room descriptions, amenities, policies, and highlight nearby attractions or experiences to help guests picture their trip

 

• Stay competitive with your pricing: Keep track of what similar properties in your area charge, and offer better rates where possible. Introduce limited-time offers, seasonal discounts, or exclusive packages to attract guests who compare listings closely

 

• Use property analytics inside Expedia Partner Central: The Property Analytics tool inside your dashboard reveals opportunities for stronger performance. Use it to adjust pricing, improve visibility, and fine-tune details to drive more conversions from your existing traffic

 

• Promote through Expedia ads: Advertising on Expedia places your property in front of more eyes at the right time. Use a mix of sponsored placements and display ads to increase exposure and convert high-intent travelers faster

 

• Strengthen your online presence beyond Expedia: Success doesn’t end with Expedia. Build your brand with a strong website, active social media accounts, and digital ads that lead back to your own booking funnel. The more guests recognize your name, the more they’ll trust your listing when they spot it again

 

 

Manage your Expedia property listing easily

Expedia Partner Central lets you manage your listing, view data, and make updates that help drive more bookings. But the challenge begins when you start using multiple platforms like Booking.com, Airbnb, Kayak, and Agoda alongside Expedia.

If you update availability or pricing in Expedia Partner Central, you’ll need to repeat those changes manually across every other platform. That process eats into your time, increases the chances of errors, and leads to lost revenue when updates fall behind.

A channel manager eliminates all of that hassle and brings everything into one place.

Use a channel manager to sync listings across all platforms

A channel manager acts as a single control panel for every listing across every platform you use. You can update pricing once and push it to every booking site in seconds. Room availability adjusts automatically as soon as someone makes a reservation, no matter where it comes from.

You don’t need to log into Expedia Partner Central, Booking.com, or Airbnb individually anymore. One update reflects across every site.

roommaster offers built-in channel management along with its core property management tools. You can manage your inventory, update pricing, and handle reservations for over 300+ connected platforms, including Expedia.

The system adjusts availability the moment someone books a room and applies pricing changes across all channels at once. You’ll never need to correct double bookings or go back and forth between platforms to fix inventory gaps. The dashboard pulls everything together so you can watch performance and act fast. You can use this data to decide which channels deserve more focus and which ones you can reduce. 

Similarly, dedicated support teams stay available to answer questions or help resolve issues without delay. You can also sell your rooms across all platforms at the same time and block availability automatically once you reach full capacity. Plus, adjust your pricing on all channels from one screen and keep every offer competitive.

The best part is that roommaster connects your property to the global distribution system (GDS), giving you access to business travelers and corporate agents. Nearly 80% of GDS users book on behalf of corporate clients, which leads to higher average daily rates than regular consumer bookings. Every time a guest books through the GDS, roommaster updates your availability across all channels and adds the reservation directly into your hotel management software.

Stop wasting time on manual updates—Book your free demo and see how roommaster works!

 

 

FAQs

What is a channel manager and why do I need one?

A channel manager lets you control pricing and availability across every booking platform you use. Instead of logging into each channel separately, you make changes once and the system updates all listings instantly. It saves time, eliminates manual errors, and helps you avoid double bookings.

How important is pricing on Expedia?

Guests compare listings quickly, so your pricing needs to stay competitive. Monitor your competitors, adjust rates for low seasons, and offer packages or deals when needed.

Do reviews really impact my Expedia performance?

Yes. Your review score affects your ranking and credibility. Encourage guests to leave reviews and reply to each one. A thoughtful response, even to a negative review, shows that you care about guest experience.

Do I need to use Expedia Partner Central if I use a channel manager?

No. You don’t need to log into Expedia Partner Central to manage your listing. The channel manager handles all updates for you from one place.

Can roommaster help me get more business travelers?

Yes. Around 80% of GDS users book on behalf of corporate travelers. Connecting your hotel to the GDS opens the door to high-value bookings and a higher average daily rate.

What happens if I get a booking through the GDS?

The system updates inventory across all channels automatically and logs the reservation in your hotel management software. You won’t need to worry about double bookings.

How much does Expedia charge in commission?

Expedia typically charges between 10% and 30% commission per booking, depending on your agreement, location, and property type. This fee is only charged after a confirmed stay.

How do I list my property on Expedia?

You can register through Expedia Partner Central. Create an account, add property details and photos, set availability and pricing, and then publish your listing once it’s reviewed.

Who owns Expedia?

Expedia is part of Expedia Group, which also owns Hotels.com, Vrbo, Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif, and more. It’s one of the largest online travel companies in the world, headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Can I offer discounts and promotions on Expedia?

Yes. You can create special deals, last-minute discounts, early-bird offers, and more from Partner Central or through your channel manager. Promotions can improve visibility and increase bookings.

How does Expedia handle cancellations?

You can set your own cancellation policies, including flexible, moderate, or strict terms. Guests will see this policy before booking, and cancellations are processed accordingly.

What is Expedia’s virtual credit card (VCC)?

If you’re eligible, Expedia pays via a one-time-use virtual credit card. You charge the card at guest check-out. It simplifies the payment process and ensures quicker reimbursements.

Does Expedia support corporate or business travel?

Yes. Through its broad distribution and connection to GDS, Expedia helps attract corporate travelers, especially if you offer business-friendly amenities and competitive weekday rates.

Can I manage multiple properties under one Expedia account?

Yes. Expedia allows property managers to manage multiple listings under a single account, making it easier to track performance, bookings, and availability in one place.

What platforms will my listing appear on?

When listed on Expedia, your property can also appear on Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, Ebookers, Wotif, CheapTickets, and more, expanding your reach across Expedia’s partner network.