Home

Preparing a property to be open / bookable

To prepare a property to be open so that it is ready for guests to book involves multiple steps. You cannot open a property for stays unless the property has all the minimum requirements defined.

Use the OTA_HotelSummaryNotif endpoint to check whether the property created in Booking.com has all the necessary content ready to accept reservations from guests. If the property clears all the checks, then you can set the property to open and bookable.

You can perform the following tasks using the OTA_HotelSummaryNotif endpoint:

  • Check whether the property has all the necessary content required to become open and bookable.
  • Change the status of the property to Open and bookable.
  • Change the status of the property to be Closed.

Getting ready to open a property for stays

Depending on the property type you want to create, you must use multiple endpoints to define all the information before you can set the property open for booking. To see the minimum requirements when creating a property, see Minimum requirements to create a property.

At a high level, you must use the following APIs and their endpoints:

Endpoints and resources to create

Minimum requirements to open a property

For a property to be open and bookable, you need to make sure that you have configured the following content:

Using Licence API (licenses):

  • You may need a licence for the room or property depending on the rules. Check if the property needs a license before creating it. You can check whether a property needs a licence using the licence API. The licence requirement can be at the room-level or property-level.

Using Contracting API

  • The accommodation partner needs to have signed contract with Booking.com for the countries in which the properties are located. The contract can be specific to the country the property is located in.
    You can retrieve the contract status to check whether the accommodation partner has signed the contract using the Contracting API.

Using OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif endpoint (Content API):

  • Provide the property name with only Latin characters.
  • Provide Physical location (PhysicalLocation) contact type with the following details:
    • Address line 1 - only latin characters are allowed.
    • City.
    • Postcode.
  • Provide General (general) and Invoice (invoices) contact types with the following details:
    • Contact person name (Given name and surname).
    • Email address, and
    • Phone number.
  • Provide the latitude and longitude details of the property's physical location.
  • Specify the checkin and checkout timing.
  • Specify the number of sellable units.
  • Specify the property's accommodation type.
  • Specify at least one language code for the property.
  • Specify at least one cancellation policy.
  • If the property is one of the following types: APARTHOTEL, CAPSULE_HOTEL, HOTEL INN, LOVE_HOTEL, MOTEL RESORT, RYOKAN, then provide at least one facility for the property.
  • If the property is one of the following types: APARTHOTEL, APARTMENT, or CONDO, you must specify whether the property has a Kitchen or a Kitchenette. For more information, see the Property class type.

Updating General and Invoice contact types

You can update the General and Invoice contact types when the property status is open and bookable. However, you cannot delete the contact types.

Using Photo API (photo-api):

  • Set the property's main photo. Note: If you do not set the property's main photo, then the API selects the first photo in the property-level photo gallery as the main photo.
  • Specify a photo for each room type. This applies to all property types excluding: VILLA, CHALET, APARTMENT, HOLIDAY_HOME, APART_HOTEL.

Using Room and Rate Plan Management API:

Using Rates & Availability API (/hotels/xml/availability):

High-level steps to set a property to Open/bookable

To prepare a property to be open and bookable on Booking.com, you must perform the following steps:

  1. Verify whether the property fulfils all the necessary requirements to become open and bookable.
  2. If not all requirements are met, make sure to fix at least the issues mentioned in the errors. For more information on all the possible errors and their resolutions, see the Error guidelines section.
  3. If the API doesn't return any errors:
    • Wait until Booking.com changes the property status to Ready To Open. This takes place every day at 12:00 PM CE(S)T. For more information on all the property status changes, see property creation workflow.
    • Alternatively, you can turn on the feature: Direct to 'Open Bookable' status (skip_rtc_rto) to set the property to open/bookable immediately.
  4. Set the property to open and bookable.

Verifying, opening, and closing a property

POST https://supply-xml.booking.com/hotels/ota/OTA_HotelSummaryNotif

This section covers the endpoint and lists the request body and response parameters.

Body parameters

The following table describes what elements you must add in the request body:

Element Attribute Description Type Required/Optional Notes
OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ Contains the HotelCode attribute, which specifies the property ID of the property you want to perform an action on. root object required
>HotelSummaryMessages Contains the HotelSummaryMessage elements array required
>> HotelSummaryMessage Contains the StatusType attribute, which specifies the action that you want to perform upon the property. object required Possible values are: Check, Open, and Closed.
>>> TPA_Extensions [Only applicable when StatusType is Closed] Contains the Reason element to include the reason for closure. object optional -
>>>> Reason Specify a description for closing the property. string optional Reason content is required if type is Other
Type Specify the reason for closing from an enumerated list of reasons for closure. enumerated string required Supports the following values:
- Season
- Renovation
- Property_Not_Available
- Fully_Booked
- Issues_Guests
- Issues_Booking
- Strategy
- Other
For more information on the reasons, see Request body example: Closed.

Request body example: Check

The following is a request body example where you verify whether a property fulfills all the necessary requirements to become open and bookable (with StatusType="Check"):

<OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ HotelCode="12345">
  <HotelSummaryMessages>
      <HotelSummaryMessage StatusType="Check" />
  </HotelSummaryMessages>
</OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ>

Sample response: Check

<OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS Target="Production">
  <Success />
  <Warnings>
    <Warning Code="733" ShortText="Restricted">Warning on check total_num_rooms: Hotel Info: Number of active rooms: 0
  </Warning>
</OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS>

Dealing with errors and warnings

If the response contains errors, make sure to fix the specified errors before you can set the property to open. For more information on all the possible errors and their resolutions, see the Error guidelines section.
Warnings do not prevent you from opening the property, but may point out issues that are worth fixing. Ignore warnings at your own risk.

Request body example: Open

<OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ HotelCode="12345">
  <HotelSummaryMessages>
    <HotelSummaryMessage StatusType="Open" />
  </HotelSummaryMessages>
</OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ>

Sample response: Open

<OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS Target="Production">
  <Success />
  <Warnings>
    <Warning Code="733" ShortText="Restricted">Warning on check total_num_rooms: Hotel Info: Number of active rooms: 0
  </Warning>
</OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS>

Request body example: Closed

You can temporarily close a property and prevent it from appearing on Booking.com. Booking.com recommends that you add a reason and closure type for closing a property. You can select from one of the following reasons:

  • Season: The property is closed during certain months of the year. For example, during winter.
  • Renovation: The property is under renovation.
  • Property_Not_Available: The property is closing the business indefinitely due to public crisis/government regulations.
  • Fully_Booked: The property is sold out through Booking.com, other websites or direct booking.
  • Issues_Guests: Select this option for any of the following reasons:
    • The property can't review guests,
    • Guests caused property damages,
    • Guests from Booking.com cancel too often,
    • Guests don't pay.
  • Issues_Booking: Select this option for any of the following reasons:
    • The property lacks support from Booking.com,
    • The property feels that the commission is too high,
    • The property faces issues with payments,
    • The property faces issues with Extranet or other tools,
    • The property prefers direct selling.
  • Strategy: Select this option for any of the following reasons:
    • The property is not sure about the price in the long term,
    • The property wants to avoid cancellations,
    • The property is planning to switch to a new property management company,
    • The property's staff are on holiday.
  • Other

Do not lose potential bookings when updating property content

To change or update a property content, you do not need to close the property. You can make the necessary changes when the property is in open status with a few exceptions that you can only perform when the property is in XML: Being built status. For more information, see property statuses.

<OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ HotelCode="12345">
  <HotelSummaryMessages>
    <HotelSummaryMessage StatusType="Closed">
        <TPA_Extensions>
            <Reason Type="Other">Include a description</Reason>
        </TPA_Extensions>
    </HotelSummaryMessage>    
  </HotelSummaryMessages>
</OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRQ>

Sample response: Closed

<OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS Target="Production">
  <Success />
  <Warnings>
    <Warning Code="733" ShortText="Restricted">Warning on check total_num_rooms: Hotel Info: Number of active rooms: 0
  </Warning>
</OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS>

Response body

The following table describes the elements of the response body:

Element Description Type Notes
OTA_HotelSummaryNotifRS Contains the Target attribute, which specifies whether the property is in Test or Production object
> Success Indicates the success of the request. object This element only appears when you receive no errors.
> Errors Contains the Error elements that need to be resolved before you can make the property open and bookable. array
>> Error Specifies a specific error. Contains the attributes Code, which specifies the error code, and ShortText, which provides a short description of the error. string
> Warnings Contains the Warning elements. array
>> Warning Specifies a specific warning. A warning does not prevent you from making the property open and bookable, but they provide useful information to further improve the property's content. string

Error guidelines

Before your property can become Open / bookable on Booking.com, it needs to pass some validations. For more information, see Check a property's content.

This page contains a list of errors with Error Message they produce on OTA_HotelSummaryNotif Endpoint, their descriptions and possible resolution steps.

Please note the message type for each message:

  • Type Error means this is a blocker and you can't proceed with going to Open status.

  • Type Warning means something is uncertain, but you can still proceed.

List of property-level errors

Caused by Object Error Message Message Type Description Resolution Notes
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos -> Phones The phone number (number) is not valid for international calling Error One or more of the contact phones of the property is not in international format. Update the property details with correct phone numbers. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos -> Emails The email address (email) is invalid Error One or more of the contact emails of the property is not valid. Update the property details with correct emails. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> HotelName Hotel has non-Latin characters in name Error Property names can only contain latin letters and numbers. Update the property details with a proper name. -
availability No availability pushed Error Property can not go to "Open" state without any availability pushed. Push availability. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> HotelInfo -> Services No hotel facilities defined Error Property does not have any facilities set. Update the property facilities. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> Policies No general policy defined Error Property does not have any policies set. Update property policies to have at least one PolicyName="General". -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> Policies No policies defined Error Property does not have any policies set. Update property policies. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> Policies All policies are disabled, not existing policies Error Property has all policies disabled, or does not have any policies. Update property policies, create at least one policy and activate it. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos -> Addresses -> Phones Hotel has non-Latin characters in city Error City name of the property contains non-latin letters. Update the property details with a proper city name. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos -> Addresses Hotel has non-Latin characters in address Error City name of the property contains non-latin letters. Update the property details with a proper address. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos -> Addresses No resolvable address is specified Error System marks the property address as invalid. Update the property details with a properly resolvable address. -
OTA_HotelRatePlanNotifRQ -> RatePlans No rates defined Error Property does not have any rates. Update rate plans and create at least one rate plan. -
OTA_HotelProductNotifRQ -> HotelProducts No products defined Error Property does not have any products. Create a product for the property. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos No contacts specified Error Property does not have any contacts. Update the property details with at least one contact. -
OTA_HotelProductNotifRQ -> HotelProducts Hotel has a mix of domestic (number) and non-domestic (number) products Error / Warning Property has both domestic and non-domestic products. Update property products to make sure you only have products of one category. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the type of accommodation.
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> Policies Policy (policy_id) has no prepayment required Error Specified policy does not have a prepayment defined. Update property policies and define a prepayment for specified (policy_id). -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos No general contact is specified in the correct format Error Property does not have a correct general contact specified. Update the property details with proper general contact. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> ContactInfos -> Addresses Postal code not correct Error Property postal code is invalid. Update the property details with a valid postal code. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> HotelInfo -> CategoryCodes -> HotelCategory Hotel type not set Error Property does not have a proper accommodation type. Update the property details with a suitable accommodation type. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> Policies Invalid checkin/checkout Error / Warning Property check-in/check-out times are invalid. Update property policies with proper check-in/check-out times. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the accommodation type.
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> HotelInfo -> OwnershipManagementInfos No company name for invoicing found Warning Property does not have a valid company name set for invoicing. Update the property details with proper invoice details. -
OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif -> HotelInfo -> CategoryCodes -> GuestRoomInfo -> Quantity The number of rooms are not specified Error Property does not have any rooms. Specify the quantity of room in GuestRoomInfo object. -

List of room-level errors

Object Message Message Type Description Resolution Notes
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom No rooms active Error Property does not have any active rooms. Activate a room. -
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom (number) duplicates for room name (room_name) (room_ids_list) Error Duplicated rooms were found for this property. Update room details - delete or rename rooms with duplicated names. -
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Undefined room type (room_id) Error Room with specified room_id does not have a type defined. Update room details with proper type. -
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Unhandled room type (room_type_id) for room (room_id) Error The room type ID for specified room_id is invalid. Update room details with proper type. -
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Room (room_id) does not have a kitchen or a kitchenette. Warning / Error Specified room is missing a kitchen or kitchenette. Update room details with kitchen or kitchenette. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the type of accommodation and the status of the room (active room = error, inactive room = warning).
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Room name for room (room_id) (room_name) does not correspond to RoomType (room_type_name) Warning / Error Room name does not correspond to Room Type. Update room details with the proper room name. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the status of the room (active room = error, inactive room = warning).
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Room type for room (room_id) (room_name) does not correspond to expected RoomType (room_type_name) Warning / Error Room type mismatch. Update room details with the proper room type. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the status of the room (active room = error, inactive room = warning).
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Room occupancy (number) for room (room_id) (room_name) does not correspond to RoomType (room_type) Warning / Error Invalid occupancy for this room type. Update room details with the proper occupancy. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the status of the room (active room = error, inactive room = warning).
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Room (room_id) has no occupancy defined Warning / Error No defined occupancy for this room type. Update room details with the proper occupancy. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the status of the room (active room = error, inactive room = warning).
OTA_HotelInvNotif -> SellableProducts -> GuestRoom Room (room_id) has no facilities defined Warning / Error No defined facilities for specified room_id. Update room details to add room amenities. This can be either an error or a warning, depending on the status of the room (active room = error, inactive room = warning).
Is this page helpful?    Yes   |    No