Listing a Vietnam homestay on Expedia: commission, Expedia Collect vs Hotel Collect, calendar sync
HostBooking · · 7 min read
Listing through Expedia Partner Central puts you on Expedia Group brands such as Expedia and Hotels.com. Commission for independent hotels is usually quoted at about 15–30% (indicative, 11/2026; the real rate is in your contract). The key thing to understand is the two booking types: Expedia Collect pays you by virtual card, Hotel Collect means you collect and pay commission on an invoice.
Which homestays fit Expedia
Expedia is a US travel group selling rooms and flights, strongest with North American and European travellers. For a Vietnamese homestay it is rarely the first channel to open; it works as an extra channel to reach Western guests once two or three others run smoothly.
Signing up on Partner Central
- Register the property on Expedia Group’s partner site, pick a type and enter property details.
- Add room types, photos, amenities, rates and cancellation policy.
- Choose which booking types you accept (Expedia Collect, Hotel Collect or both) and read the contract: your commission rate is there.
- Once live, manage everything in Partner Central on the web or Expedia’s partner app.
Have a business registration and a bank account in the business’s name ready. Foreign guests need a stay notice to the police on time, whichever channel they booked through.
Expedia’s commission
Expedia publishes no commission table. Industry write-ups usually cite about 15–30% for independent hotels, averaging around 20%, with large chains negotiating much less (indicative, 11/2026). A small homestay rarely gets to negotiate, so do the maths before signing.
Higher commission means your Expedia list price must be higher than elsewhere to net the same amount. Put your contract rate into the OTA price calculator to see the gap, then read the rate-parity terms in your contract before pricing channels differently.
Expedia Collect vs Hotel Collect
| Expedia Collect | Hotel Collect | |
|---|---|---|
| Guest pays | Expedia, at booking | You, at the property |
| You receive | A single-use virtual card for the amount after commission | The guest’s payment directly |
| Commission | Kept by Expedia before loading the card | Invoiced by Expedia, typically monthly |
| You need | A POS terminal that takes international cards | A process for collecting and for no-shows |
With Expedia Collect, once you enrol for virtual cards in Partner Central, every new Expedia Collect booking comes with a virtual card to charge. Note each card’s charge window and charge exactly the amount on the booking. With Hotel Collect, check the monthly commission invoice against your completed stays, especially cancellations and no-shows.
Cancellations and no-shows
Cancellation terms attach to each rate you create. With Hotel Collect, a no-show is your risk: nothing was collected, and if you do not report it the monthly invoice may still charge commission. With Expedia Collect, the money sits on the virtual card according to the chosen policy. Write clear deadlines: see homestay cancellation policy.
Syncing the Expedia calendar
Expedia now offers iCal calendar sync for some listing types, but how you get the link varies by account: some can create it from an export option, others must ask their account manager or support. Ask your Expedia account manager as soon as you go live. Without iCal, availability is updated by hand in Partner Central or through a channel manager.
When updating by hand, the risk is not only tonight: a holiday weekend months ahead may already be sold elsewhere while still open on Expedia. Check all channels’ calendars weekly. The bugs that make iCal reopen sold nights are in iCal sync and double bookings.
Pros and cons
- Pros: one listing across several Expedia Group brands; Western travellers; Expedia Collect is paid up front.
- Cons: commission usually higher than other channels; virtual cards need an international-card POS; iCal not available for every listing; few bookings for homestays serving mostly Vietnamese guests.
Where HostBooking helps
- Reads Expedia booking emails once you forward them: the booking gets the Expedia ID, dates and guest name. An email that says Hotel Collect marks it as collected by the property, otherwise as collected by Expedia, so you know which guests pay at the desk.
- Pulls calendars every 5 minutes when you have an iCal link, recognising Expedia, Vrbo and Hotels.com links to tag the right channel.
- Records commission and who collected on every booking: reports split Expedia revenue and fees, ready to check against a Hotel Collect invoice.
- Your own booking website so returning guests book direct, with VietQR deposits and no percentage per booking.
OTA email reading and calendar import are included from the Basic plan (see pricing). See features or sign up.
Frequently asked questions
What commission does Expedia charge a homestay?
Expedia does not publish it. Industry write-ups usually cite about 15–30% for independent hotels, averaging around 20% (indicative, 11/2026). Yours is in the contract.
What is the difference between Expedia Collect and Hotel Collect?
Expedia Collect: the guest pays Expedia and you get a virtual card net of commission. Hotel Collect: the guest pays you at the property and Expedia invoices the commission.
Does Expedia support iCal calendar sync?
For some listing types, but getting the link varies by account. Ask your Expedia account manager; otherwise update by hand or through a channel manager.
Does listing on Expedia also put me on Hotels.com?
Partner Central manages your property across Expedia Group brands, including Expedia and Hotels.com. Check your contract for which sites sell your rooms.