Hosts with listings on Booking.com now have the option to choose how their guests make a booking. Now, in addition to Instant Bookings, hosts can now have their guests make a Request to Book. This feature gives the hosts more control over managing their bookings.
With Request to Book, the guests are not able to make a reservation directly but to make a request to book to the host. This request is then approved by the host from Hostify inbox before the booking in finished.
In Hostify for Booking.com, listings for the feature are located in the Booking.com child listing. Go to Settings -> Booking settings and locate the Instant Booking option. Hosts can use the drop down menu and decide whether the use Instant Book or Request to Book.
After choosing Request to Book for that listing, the client will receive requests in the Inbox. The host has two options to either Accept or Decline the request - both can be done via the buttons in the Inbox.
When using Request to Book, the booking process will be as follows:
Guests who want to make a booking with a Check-In date that is more than 48 hours in the future, they will be able to find the listing and send the booking request.
Hosts have 24 hours to accept or decline the request.
Guests then have 24 hours to finish their booking and confirm their stay. If the guest does not confirm the stay, the Request to Book will expire.
During the Request to book state, messaging possibility with the guest is restricted by Booking.com platform. After the Request to Book is accepted, then you will be able to freely message the guest.