This guide details the exact mapping between Hostaway fields and their locations in the Booking.com Extranet, along with the technical rules and limitations applicable to each.
Core Rules Governing Content Sync
- One-Way Sync (Hostaway → Booking.com): Hostaway serves as the absolute source of truth. Any field that is actively synced will overwrite changes manually made in the Booking.com Extranet on subsequent exports. Text content is never read back from Booking.com into Hostaway.
- Partial Sync Behavior: Hostaway utilizes a partial sync method. Only the fields you actively edit and modify during a session are exported to Booking.com. Unchanged fields are left completely untouched, making it safe to manage certain advanced settings directly in the Extranet. Note: standalone rate plans are managed in Hostaway; see Booking.com: Manage Rate Plans. Derived/parent-child rate plans remain Extranet-only.
- Extranet-Only Fields: Certain sections in the Booking.com Extranet "Profile" area (specifically "About the host" and "About the neighbourhood") are not synced by Hostaway. These are safe to edit and maintain directly in your Booking.com Extranet.
Field Mapping Matrix: Hostaway to Booking.com Extranet
Property details on the Basic info, Address, Additional info, and Policies tabs now sync on every save, the same way the fields already in this table do; they are no longer sent only once at first connection.
| Hostaway Field / Section | Exact Booking.com Extranet Location | Sync Behavior & Technical Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Name | Property Title / Room Name | One-way sync. Overwrites on save and export. |
| Listing Description | Property Description (Mapped as "Welcome Message" in API) |
Strict limitations apply: • Must be under 2,000 characters.• No currency symbols (like $) allowed.• No external links, website URLs, emails, or phone numbers. |
| Channel-Specific Deposit | Damage Deposit Policy | Overwrites on sync. |
| Channel-Specific Tax Registration | Property Tax Info | Overwrites on sync. |
| Cancellation Policy | Cancellation & Prepayment Policy | Initial setup export (subsequent updates may require manual alignment in the Extranet). |
| Property / Room Type | Property & Room Category | Overwrites on sync. |
| House Rules (Parties, smoking, pets, quiet hours, check-in/out) | House Rules | Overwrites on sync. |
| Taxes & Charges | Taxes & Charges | Overwrites on sync. |
| Amenities (Property & Room) | Facilities & Services / Room Amenities | Each checked amenity maps to its corresponding Booking.com facility code on export. Managed in Hostaway to prevent Extranet overwrites. |
| Photos & Tags | Property / Room Photos | Supports drag-and-drop ordering via "Rearrange Photos". • Listing Gallery maps to room-level photos.• Property Gallery maps to property-level photos.• "Copy to Property" copies listing images directly to overall property search galleries. • Minimum photo dimensions: 1024 x 683 pixels. |
| About the Host (Profile) | Property > Your Profile > About the Host | Extranet-Only. This is not synced by Hostaway and must be managed directly on Booking.com. |
| About the Neighbourhood (Profile) | Property > Your Profile > About the Neighbourhood | Extranet-Only. This is not synced by Hostaway and must be managed directly on Booking.com. |
| Property Details (Profile) | Property > Your Profile > Property Details | Automatically compiled by Booking.com using your synced Name, Description, Category, and Amenities. |
| Property Category | Property & Room Category (property details form) | Overwrites on sync. Now re-sent on every save — previously only at first connection. |
| Total Room Count | Property's total room count field | Not a standalone field — derived from your unit counts. Overwrites on sync. |
| Total Floor Count / Floor Number per Room | Floors (new field on Booking.com) | New. Starts empty on every listing. A floor number can't be saved before the total floor count exists, and can't exceed it. Overwrites on sync. |
| Star Rating | Official star rating (Basic info) | Previously never sent — every property showed 0 stars on Booking.com. Now sent on save. |
| Check-in Window / Check-out Window | Check-in/check-out times (Additional info and policies) | Previously sent only at first connection; now pushes on every save. |
| Primary Language | Additional info and policies | Booking.com only accepts a change here before the property goes live. Overwrites on sync while eligible. |
| Languages Spoken | Additional info and policies (new, multiple choice) | New. Starts empty — nothing is inferred from the primary language. Overwrites on sync. |
| Address & Map Coordinates | Address tab, incl. the map pin | Mandatory. Now pushes on save instead of only at first connection. |
| Name & Address Translations | Address tab, behind the Translations button (new) | Only sent once name, city and street are all filled for a language; incomplete languages are skipped. Overwrites on sync. |
| Show Exact Location in Vrbo/HomeAway | Address tab (shared toggle with Vrbo) | Same setting that already drives Vrbo now also drives whether Booking.com shows your exact address to guests before booking. Overwrites on sync. |