Booking.com 25th anniversary: The 8 most important milestones

Booking.com celebrates its 25th anniversary on November 12, 2021. The booking platform is a major player in the hotel and vacation rental industry and has established itself in the tourism industry over the years.

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, we look back at the 8 most important milestones in the history of the OTA.

Booking.com: One of the largest platforms in the world

As a short-term host or vacation rental property owner, you’re well aware of the importance of booking platforms like Booking.com to your business. Maybe you already have your property listed on the site and are therefore a Booking affiliate?

If you haven’t taken the plunge yet and want to learn more about the benefits of the platform: Smoobu has created a Booking.com guide for you. There you will find all the necessary information for a good start on the platform. Check it out!

25 years Booking.com: The 8 most important milestones

12. November 1996: Bookings.nl goes online

25 years ago, the platform’s founder, Geert-Jan Bruinsma, launched an online booking service called Bookings.nl.

2000: The first apartment is listed on Bookings.nl

With the goal of offering alternative accommodations and thinking outside the box, the platform listed its first apartment in 2000. Twenty-one years later, there are already 6.5 million listings for houses, apartments and other accommodations on Booking.com. Is your vacation rental one of them?

2010: Mobile App

In 2010, Booking.com comes to the smartphone. Today, mobile bookings account for more than 60% of all overnight stays (!)

2016: 1 million registered properties

The millionth registered accommodation is the Greydon House in historic Nantucket, Massachusetts.

2019: 3 billion travelers

Since 2007, 3 billion travelers have been hosted, 750 million of them in vacation rentals and vacation homes.

2019: Quality rating for vacation rentals

The booking site launches its first quality rating system for vacation rentals like yours in 2019.

2020: Launch of Travel Proud program

Booking.com aims to make travel more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community by offering Proud Hospitality training.

12. November 2021: 25 years of Booking.com

Happy birthday, Booking!

Smoobu x Booking.com

Discover how Smoobu can help you streamline your vacation rental management and better manage your presence on booking platforms like Booking.com. Contact our team to learn more, or try our software for free for 14 days to experience Smoobu live!

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