Listing a Hot Springs rental on Booking.com

Booking.com works differently from Airbnb and Vrbo. Here's how the commission, payments, taxes and insurance work before you add it to your mix.

Setting up

Get your city license firstInside Hot Springs city limits, stays of less than 30 days need the city's Short-Term Residential Rental Business license. Have it in hand before you open any platform to bookings.
Register as a partnerSign up through Booking.com's partner site and choose the homes and apartments option for a house, cabin or condo.
Fill in every fieldBooking.com's listing form is more structured than Airbnb's: room-by-room bed types, facilities, policies. Complete, accurate fields help guests filter to your place and cut down on surprises at check-in.
Set rates and rate plansYou can offer more than one rate plan, such as a flexible rate and a cheaper non-refundable one. Set minimum stays for busy dates such as Oaklawn's big race weekends.
Choose how guests payBooking.com can collect payment from guests for you, or you can take payment yourself. Decide before your first booking, because it changes who handles cards, refunds and taxes.
Sync your calendarsIf you're also on Airbnb or Vrbo, connect all calendars through a channel manager or iCal so a booking on one platform blocks the dates everywhere.

What it costs

Booking.com charges the host a commission on each completed booking. In the US the rate is commonly around 15%, but your actual rate is set in your partner agreement and can vary, so check it in your extranet before you set prices.

For comparison, Airbnb's split fee charges most hosts 3% (the guest pays a separate service fee), its single fee is 15.5% for most hosts, and Vrbo is moving hosts to a flat 12% commission on October 29, 2026.

Taxes

A stay in Hot Springs city limits carries Arkansas sales tax (6.5%), the state tourism tax (2%), Garland County and city sales taxes (1.5% each), and the city's 3% Advertising and Promotion tax.

Airbnb publishes a list of the Arkansas taxes it collects for hosts. Don't assume Booking.com does the same for your listing. Check your tax settings in the extranet, and if a tax isn't being collected and remitted for you, you're responsible for it.

Insurance

Booking.com enrolls home-style properties in its Partner Liability Insurance at no cost, with up to US$1 million for claims of guest injury or damage to third-party property during a Booking.com stay.

It doesn't pay for damage guests do to your own home or belongings. Talk to your insurer about a policy written for short-term rentals.

Common questions

Is Booking.com worth it for a Hot Springs rental?

It adds a different pool of guests, many of them used to booking hotels. Whether that's worth a higher commission depends on how full your calendar already is. Many hosts add it to fill gaps rather than as their main channel.

What does Booking.com charge?

A commission per booking, commonly around 15% in the US. Your exact rate is in your partner agreement.

Can I list on Booking.com and Airbnb at the same time?

Yes. Keep calendars synced with a channel manager or iCal so you never accept two bookings for the same night.

Does Booking.com cover damage to my property?

Its free Partner Liability Insurance covers liability claims up to US$1 million. It does not cover damage to your own property, so you need your own coverage for that.

Questions about Booking.com?

Tell us what you're trying to set up and we'll point you to the right resource.

Sources

Questions about short-term rentals in Hot Springs?

Call or text 501.365.1001, or send a note and we will get back to you.

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