The complete guide to the Booking.com Genius loyalty program

Ben Smithson

I look to maximize every hotel stay with both the benefits I receive on-property and the hotel points I earn for my booking. Typically, that means booking directly with a large hotel chain on its website to ensure I earn elite status-qualifying nights, enjoy elite-status benefits and earn points. For those reasons, I haven't delved much into the Booking.com loyalty program called Genius.

That said, it does exist. While it might not be as rewarding as some of the other third-party booking sites, such as Hotels.com Rewards, it is an option. Here's everything you need to know about the program.

Having your accommodation organised ahead makes things easier.(Photo by Andrea Rotondo/The Points Guy)

Booking.com Genius basics

Booking.com is an online accommodation booking platform with more than 28 million total accommodation listings. The site is available in 43 languages and has almost 200 support offices in 70 countries. It's not a hotel chain, and nor does it have its own properties. Instead, it just lists hotel properties that you can book, similar to Skyscanner or Google Flights for flights .

It also owns Priceline, Kayak, Agoda, RentalCars and OpenTable.

You won't receive your normal hotel program points or elite status nights when you book through a third party, so why choose Booking.com rather than booking directly through the hotel ?

If you complete any two stays booked through Booking.com within two years, you will earn Genius Level 1 for life. While this is a very low threshold to meet, and lifetime membership sounds awesome, the only benefit of Genius Level 1 is a 10% discount on select properties that are part of the Genius program. Booking.com promises that these properties that have joined the Genius program have a rating of at least 7.5/10, so you can expect a quality property.

Related: 17 of the best hotel gyms in the world

Where you see a Genius logo next to a property, you can claim the discount. I logged in to my Genius account to check how many select properties were included that 10% discount. On a sample search for properties in Westminster, London , only 14 of the 36 available included the Genius discount. I also performed the same search without logging into my Genius account and the prices for those 14 Genius properties were around 10% higher when not logged in, so this is a genuine discount where available.

If you complete five stays within two years you will move up to Genius Level 2, where you will receive:

  • 10%-15% discount at select properties
  • Free breakfast at select properties
  • Free room upgrade at select properties

Though I don't use Booking.com much, my account says I'm Genius Level 2. I logged in to my account to perform a search to see just how many properties included these listed benefits. Using the Westminster, London search, of the 14 out of 36 with Genius benefits:

  • All 14 properties offered at least a 10% discount
  • Only two out of 14 offered the higher 15% discount
  • None offered free breakfast
  • Only 1 out of the 14 offered a free room upgrade

booking com genius level 3 review

While only a small sample size, I would expect a 10% discount on some of the properties with Genius Level 2 with the very occasional room upgrade, 15% discount or free breakfast, though this will be rare and unexpected. I would not consider these to be regular benefits you can rely on receiving.

Related: How to avoid booking a bad hotel

(Photo courtesy of The Westbury Hotel)

There are only two levels of "status" with Genius: Genius Level 1 and Genius Level 2. Even if you use the program much more than five stays within two years, your benefits will be capped to the above at the Genius Level 2 tier.

When to use Booking.com

If you're going to stay regularly at large hotel chains like Hilton , Hyatt , Marriott and Radisson , then I believe it's still best to book directly with those properties and earn hotel elite status, benefits and points. It's best to use Booking.com when looking at remote destinations, if you want to book a boutique hotel or a unique property or you know you have a one-off stay at a chain you'll never (or almost never) utilize again. Also, if you're a "free agent" with no loyalty to any one particular hotel chain or program and will never stay enough to earn elite benefits with an individual hotel loyalty program, Booking.com can be a good way to receive some benefits (like that 10% discount) at lots of different, unaffiliated properties.

Remember, if you're looking to book a luxury property, it could be best to utilize a Virtuoso agent or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and compare the benefits you'll receive over any savings toward a future stay with Booking.com.

Bottom line

If you book enough of the big-box chain hotels to carry elite status and earn hotel points, Booking.com may not make sense for you. Remember that for bookings made with online travel agencies like Booking.com, in most cases, you won't earn hotel points or elite credit, and the properties don't have to honor your existing elite status (though some do anyway). I also find upgrades to be less generous and room assignment poor when booking through online travel agencies compared to booking direct.

I do like the very low thresholds to reach the two different Genius levels, though note that unlike with the Hotels.com Rewards program where you can receive your 10% discount on virtually all properties (via its 11th-night-free deal), the discounts as a Genius are only on a limited number of properties. Genius Level 2 additional benefits like room upgrades and free breakfasts are a bit misleading, as not every property actually offers them, so this should be looked at as an occasional perk.

The Booking Genius Program

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  • Post last modified: February 14, 2024

You are currently viewing The Booking Genius Program

The Genius program by Booking.com gives you 10 to 20% extra discount on prices that other customers won’t get. If you reach Booking Genius Level 2, you will also qualify for complimentary breakfast and free room upgrades at selected locations. Read more and find out how the Genius reward system works below.

Disclosure: This guide contains carefully selected affiliate links through which we may earn commission when you make a purchase. Learn more ›

About Booking.com

Booking has been around for a long time. It was established in 1996 and is today offering more than 28 million listings located all over the world.

The properties on offer range from small, family-run bed and breakfasts to grand luxury resorts. In other words, you have an extremely wide selection of options to choose from when using Booking.

The Booking Genius Levels

The Genius reward program is offered to the most frequent bookers, and the rewards are better the more frequent of a booker you are. It contains three different Booking Genius Levels.

Booking Genius Level 1 members receive 10% discount off the best available rates at hotels that take part in the program. This is the basic level that new members can unlock instantly.

If you reach Genius Level 2, you will receive 15% off, complimentary breakfast and free room upgrades at selected properties. To be upgraded to Genius Level 2, you need to complete 5 stays within two years.

If you accomplish Genius Level 3, you will receive 20% off, complimentary breakfast and free upgrades at participating properties as well as priority support. To reach Genius Level 3, you need to complete 15 stays within two years.

So you will have to use Booking for a certain amount of stays within a two year window to be upgraded from the basic Genius Level 1. Simply reach 5 stays to unlock Genius Level 2 and 15 stays to be upgraded to the highest level, Booking Genius Level 3.

The Booking.com Genius Levels aren’t more complicated than that.

But pay attention to that it’s stays and not nights that you need to collect to be upgraded. Also notice that any type of stay will count. So you don’t have to book your stays with a particular hotel category to be upgraded to the next Genius Level.

Is there a Booking Genius Level 4 or even Genius Level 5 or 6?

Genius Level 3 is currently the highest level. Maybe more levels will be added to the existing three in the future. But as of now, Booking Genius Level 3 is the highest level in the reward system.

Booking Genius Program Levels

The Booking Genius hotels

For a property to make offers within the Booking Genius program, it needs an average guest review score of at least 7.5 out of 10. That is to ensure your Genius stays get as comfortable as possible.

However, you maybe have noticed that some hotels are Genius hotels but have lower guest score than 7.5. That is because exceptions are made from this rule if the average review score in an area is lower than 7.5 on average but the hotel in question is above average.

In other words, all Genius hotels are options that perform well. Either they have 7.5 or higher in guest score, or they have a better score than the average hotel.

Genius program hotels

Best price guarantee on Booking

If you find your reservation on another website with a lower rate, then contact Booking right away and they will match the price as long as a few requirements are fulfilled.

You don’t need to be a part of the Genius program to get the price match. It’s available from the first time you use Booking.

Booking Genius Rewards review

So are the Genius rewards by Booking a great option for you or not?

Right from signing up the Genius program gives you 10% discounts. That’s a good start.

It takes five stays to unlock Genius Level 2. From that point, you will receive 15% extra discount on your bookings.

If you shoot for the stars, you can bump that up to 20% off instead as you reach Booking Level 3. That’s just really, really great.

And the free breakfast and free room upgrades at selected locations for Genius Level 2 and Genius Level 3 members make this reward system even better.

It’s also positive that the reward system is so easy to understand. The number of stays you collect get you upgraded. So you avoid the hassle of converting your stays to points, which many other loyalty systems require.

Overall the Genius program is a great reward system. Especially to get 20% off but also to get free breakfast and room upgrades at various locations really makes a big difference.

Genius level breakfast

Signup instructions

  • Go to Booking.com and make sure to sign up or log in if you already are a member.
  • Choose your stay and make your reservation while being logged in to your account.
  • Collect stays and get upgraded to the Booking Genius Levels.
  • Enjoy 10%-20% off, complimentary breakfast, free room upgrades and priority support.

Booking Genius Program FAQ

So far there are three Genius Levels. These are Genius Level 1, Genius Level 2 and Genius Level 3. This means that the highest Genius Level is Genius Level 3. There’s no Booking Genius Level 4 or higher.

The discount you get is 10% in Genius Level 1, 15% in Genius Level 2 and finally 20% in Genius Level 3. On top of that, you from Booking Genius Level 2 can receive free breakfast and room upgrades.

Yes, if you reach Genius Level 2, you have access to free breakfast and free room upgrades at selected locations.

Within two years, you need to collect 5 stays for Genius Level 2 and 15 stays for Genius Level 3. Pay attention to that it’s the amount of stays and not nights that you need to collect to be upgraded.

Currently Booking Genius Level 3 is the highest level. If you have reached the third Genius Level, you’re in the top bracket. But stay posted as another Genius Level could very well be added by Booking.com in the future.

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The Family Voyage

4 simple tips to save more money on booking.com

This post contains affiliate links, for which I may earn a commission if you make a qualifying purchase.

Whether you prefer luxury travel or budget travel, who doesn't want to save money on travel? Score huge discounts on hotel staying with these easy booking.com travel hacking ideas. You'll love these frugal living ideas and frugal living tips! #frugal #budget #travel

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As many travelers can attest,  booking.com sets the standard for hotel booking websites. The interface is easy to use, the inventory is seemingly endless, the cancellation policies are generally liberal and the prices are consistently some of the best you’ll find on the internet. All of these awesome features make it our favorite place to book hotels.

You’ll find info below on sign up bonuses, booking.com Genius levels and behind the scenes tricks. Check out these simple booking.com tips to score killer deals every time.

Get cash back on every single reservation

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How does it work? First off, you’ll get a $30 bonus just for making your first purchase. Once you set up your account, just go to  Rakuten any time you want to book a hotel (or do almost any other online shopping) and click through. You’ll get a minimum of 2% back for  booking.com purchases, but there are often cash back bonuses that bring it up to 4% or even 6%.

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Be a booking Genius

Updated January 2022 to reflect the new Booking Genius Level 3!

A few years ago,  booking.com revealed their Genius program and we love it . Unlike so many hotel loyalty programs that can get very complicated or require serious loyalty, the booking Genius program is simple: make two bookings in two years, and you’re in for life!

No tracking points or watching the average value of your previous bookings – the Genius program is the best way to save on hotels in our opinion. Even if your first few reservations are $12 hostel beds or family-friendly apartments, they still count toward achieving  booking.com Genius status.

Once you reach Genius status, every time you go to book you’ll see the little yellow Genius icon next to participating properties (and there are tons of them) and get an automatic 10-20% off those hotels! We rarely find a cheaper deal on hotels these days, and some Genius properties offer extra perks like early check-in, late check-out and even free drinks or breakfast.

How many Genius levels are on Booking today? There are currently three Booking Genius levels. The basic benefit of Booking Genius level 1 is 10% off at select hotels (they need to have a minimum user rating of 7.5 to participate, so you’re only getting the good stuff). Once you get to Booking Genius level 2 by completing five stays in two years, those hotels can offer you up to 15% off and sometimes free breakfast. Now in 2022 frequent guests like us who stay 15 times in two years are rewarded with Booking.com Genius level 3; it includes the potential for savings of up to 20%, free breakfast room upgrades and priority support.

As with the level 1 status, all of the Genius levels on Booking are for the life of your account. I’m hoping that eventually they’ll introduce Booking Genius level 4 for frequent travelers like us! What Booking.com Genius level 4 benefits would you hope to see? For me it could include bonuses like free parking or waived resort fees since these would be for only the most loyal customers.

We have saved so much money over the years with the Booking.com Genius program benefits and I know we’ll save even more in the future. Here’s a quick summary:

  • Stay 2 times
  • Get up to 10% off future stays
  • Stay 5 times
  • Get up to 15% off future stays
  • Free breakfast at some hotels
  • Free upgrades at some hotels
  • Stay 15 times
  • Get up to 20% off future stays
  • Priority support line

Booking Genius vs Hotels.com Rewards

The Hotels.com Rewards program does things a little differently than the Booking Genius program. As soon as you join, you’re eligible for “Secret Prices” up to 15% off the regular rate. For every 10 nights you stay through Hotels.com, you’ll earn one free night up to the average value of those nights (also known as “Hotels.com Stamps”).

However, it’s important to know that your stamps will expire if it’s been a year singe your last earning or redemption through the program. By contrast, once you achieve a particular Booking.com Genius status you’ll retain it for life.

If you stay more than 10 nights in a single member, you’ll get upgraded to Hotels.com Rewards Silver (and eventually Hotels.com Rewards Gold at 30+ stamps).

How do Booking.com Genius prices compare with Hotels.com Secret Prices? As a representative, I looked up the wonderful hotel we stayed in for fall break in Louisville . When I compared Booking.com with Hotels.com for the same dates, room, number or travelers and cancellation policy I found that Booking was almost 10% less . Note that both of those were (surprisingly) substantially cheaper than the same booking on Hilton’s own website.

Which one works best for you depends in part on your travel patterns. If you really do stay in hotels for many nights per year, the slightly higher pricing on Hotels.com might be worth it for you to get the free night. But if you stay at hotels less frequently (or sometimes book directly with the hotel) it may take too long to rack up those 10 stamps and then redeem them for a free night on your next trip.

Check your dates and the number of nights

If you’re flexible in your travel plans, check prices for surrounding dates and even for a different number of nights for the best hotel deals. While we usually think of hotels as having a set rate per night (sometimes more on weekends), we’ve found through booking.com that sometimes the extra cost to add a night or two brings down the nightly rate.

As an example, we were looking at a one-night stay in Jerusalem that would have cost $100; when we priced out a two-night stay, it was just $50 more!

And it makes complete sense. While most hotels send in the cleaning crew to tidy up daily, a full cleaning between guests is much more involved. They have to change all the linens, restock the toiletries and minibar, look for straggler items and more. Hotels would much rather have their guests stay for a few nights at a time and they price their rooms accordingly.

booking com genius level 3 review

Book early, check often

One of the best features of  booking.com is that most properties offer free cancellation as long as you do it a day or two before your intended arrival. What does that mean for you?

Go ahead and book the room even if you aren’t positive about your dates! If you’ll be traveling to a popular destination over a school holiday, make sure to lock in your hotel before everything is booked up. Sometimes those early booking get the best deals…

… but sometimes they don’t. We’ve found prices slashed up to 50% for bookings within a day or two of travel on occasion. Of course this high-level procrastination works best if you’re road-tripping or otherwise extremely flexible.

But you can always make a cancellable reservation several months in advance through  booking.com and then change it without penalty a day or two before if you find a better rate – especially if you’ve achieved Genius status in the interim!

Score a sign up bonu s

Unfortunately Booking is no longer offering sign up bonuses. Hopefully they’ll bring it back soon!

If you’re new to booking.com , welcome to the savings! You have the easiest form of savings right at your fingertips: click here to make an account and start with $25 off your first reservation. No strings attached! You can use it for an apartment, a hotel or any other kind of reservation available on the website.

>>> Join the savings at  booking.com today!

Booking.com 4-step saving plan overview

Too much to read? Follow this simple plan to save money on hotels at  booking.com :

Whether you prefer luxury travel or budget travel, who doesn't want to save money on travel? Score huge discounts on hotel staying with these easy booking.com money-saving ideas. You'll love these frugal living ideas and frugal living tips! #frugal #budget #travel

That’s it! Get started at  booking.com and  Rakute n today. Not ready yet? Pin this article for later and share it with your friends.

Booking.com FAQs

At present, there are three levels in Booking.com’s Genius program.

Yes! Booking.com level 3 began in late 2021 and offers up to 20% discounts.

The biggest benefit is the booking.com Genius discount, which is up to 20% for participating properties. In addition, some locations offer free breakfast or room upgrades.

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5 thoughts on “4 simple tips to save more money on booking.com”.

I dont think I’ve ever used booking.com…. I like when you can reserve and change if prices drop. I wonder if ibotta has booking – I have been using that, although I hear good things about ebates of course!

How many minimum stays for apply to Genius level 3 and Genius level 4 ?

I think at the moment there are only two levels, but at the beginning there was just one. Hopefully they’ll slowly roll out more levels as the program picks up!

Or you can book direct with the hotel to get the best prices!!!! Usually works.

Thanks for stopping by! I always check both and book whichever one is the better deal (and has a flexible cancellation policy). Sometimes it’s the hotel’s website, but often I find phenomenal deals with booking thanks to my Genius discount. There are also plenty of smaller hotels and vacation rentals that don’t have their own websites so it’s always helpful to know how to get the best deals through an OTA.

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How works Genius, Booking.com’s loyalty program?

booking com genius level 3 review

This post is also available in: FR

For who is Genius, Booking.com's loyalty program?

Booking.com’s loyalty program Genius is for casual travellers who:

  • don’t earn enough nights to get a status with a hotel program like Marriott Bonvoy
  • want to book the hotels of their choice
  • are interested in collecting rewards
  • switch between Airbnb rentals and hotels

Booking.com Genius Levels

Booking.com ‘s Genius program has three status levels. All members enjoy free access to discounts for life, depending on their level:

Here are some of the bookings we made with Booking.com :

  • South Africa: Oceansong Beach House Noordhoek Cape Town
  • In New Zealand: The Winedrinkers Cottage

Casual travellers

As you can see from the requirements, Booking.com’s Genius program is perfect for casual travelers.

The benefits of Booking.com's Genius Statuses

Here’s a summary of the benefits offered based on your Booking.com Genius status level:

Best price guarantee

Booking.com offers the guarantee of the best price and the refund of the difference if you find your booking at a lower rate on another site.

That is, if you find a lower price for the same hotel room booked with Booking.com , submit a claim up to 24 hours before the start date of your stay . Booking. com will then refund the difference.

In your booking confirmation email, look for the option You found this accommodation cheaper elsewhere. Or go to your account, in the View all reservations section.

Book on Booking.com with milesopedia

Want to support milesopedia? With your next reservation made through our affiliate link with Booking.com , we will be able to continue to give you lots of tips on how to save money when traveling!

Discover our multiple partners you can store with.

Get points for your bookings on Booking.com

Get flying blue miles with booking.com.

Flying Blue, Air France - KLM ’s loyalty program, is partnering with Booking.com. You can get Flying Blue miles for your reservations on Booking.com!

To do this, you will have to go to this specific link between Flying Blue and Booking.com and you will earn 1 mile per euro.

Get AIR MILES Bonus Miles with Booking.com

There are several tips for getting points, miles or cash back for your reservations on Booking.com.

You can earn AIR MILES miles for your Booking.com reservations through the airmilesshops.ca shopping portal.

To do this, you will need to log in to airmilesshops.ca before being redirected to the Booking.comwebsite. You’ll get 1 mile for $35. And regularly promotions are offered.

Check out this article to learn more about online shopping portals .

Redeem travel points for Hotels.com bookings

The online travel agency Booking.com is recognized by all travel points rewards programs. You will, therefore, be able to redeem your points to save on your reservations made on Booking.com .

For example with:

  • American Express Membership Rewards
  • HSBC Rewards

Bottom line

Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program is very simple. This program is for occasional travellers who do not necessarily book in a branded-hotel or who wish to be free to choose the hotel they want.

Plus, signing up for Booking.com’s Genius program is free!

Finally, in our opinion, the best credit card to use for Booking. com is the American Express Cobalt ® Card :

  • 2 points per dollar for your travel purchases (including on Booking.com )
  • travel points you can apply to on Booking.com reservations
  • Reliable travel insurance
  • No minimum income required

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Has anyone else had the experience that booking.com Genius level 3 prices can be higher than Genius level 1 prices? I've had this happen repeatedly over the last two weeks or so. I found out because I'm helping someone else organise a trip and they keep asking me what prices I get (they themselves are at level 1). With about 5 hotels so far, their price was quite a bit lower than mine - yes, for the same room type, with the same cancellation rules and of course the same dates.

Is this a clever way to lure customers into paying more than necessary?

15 replies to this topic

>>Is this a clever way to lure customers into paying more than necessary?<<

In the world of travel, I don't understand why people use the word "lure"? Nobody who does good research can get lured into anything and marketing is alive and well. Just like any other industry, like electronics or goods. But yes, always pays to do good research. In case you didn't see it, there was another similar post to yours just down the list. Not sure why you started a new thread. In fact, there are probably several more similar threads and posts here and in Bargain Travel forum (search for them).

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k13779378-Booking_com_Genius_Level_3-Holiday_Travel.html

Yes - I did see that. But it wasn't about the fact that prices were the other way round from what was expected. It is about the dubious value of Genius Level 3 in general. Also, since the original post was deleted, I felt it was not really helpful to continue it.

And yes, I stick to "lure". If Booking.com deliberately increased prices for Genius Level 3 customers (in comparison to other levels) because they think customers would trust them sufficiently not to notice, then this would be a case of malicious luring. (I'm not claiming that they do - but I was wondering about it...)

Of course I do my research - that's why I noticed in the first place. ;-) But you haven't answered my question: is this something other people have noticed?

Who do you think sets the pricing? Because it's not BDC. BDC is an advertising and payment platform. The hotel is the business who calculates if and what the % off applies and what they advertise market to people who have this genius level or not. Maybe you should contact them and ask about their pricing and advertising strategies? And see if they will pricematch you to your friend's rates?

BTW, yes there are posts about this practice of inconsistent pricing. And I still disagree that this is BDC "luring" anyone.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k13968740-Booking_com_loyalty_program_level_3_upgrade_question-Bargain_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293921-i8432-k14166094-Weird_pricing_on_Booking_com-Vietnam.html

There are some posts here - https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k8915234-o1660-Planning_on_using_Booking_com_Beware_the_cancellation_scam-Bargain_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k12613962-Booking_com_anyone_managed_to_upgrade_their_Genius_level-Holiday_Travel.html

None of these links seem to take me anywhere helpful with regard to my original question - i.e. whether other people have experienced lower prices at lower genius levels. But I didn’t read more than 1000 posts in one of the threads to check in detail.

Anyway - let’s leave it as is, and also agree to disagree on the luring front! ;-)

Happy travels…

Hi Sebastian. If there is any luring being done it's by the hotels. As you probably know hotels don't have to participate in the Genius loyalty programme. If they do, they decide what rates they will offer.

Personally I have never been that impressed with any of the discounts I have seen, which is why I am not level 3 , just level 2. I see no reason to strive to get to the next rung. Especially if hotels are playing silly games with their pricing.

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Bit late seeing this but i agree with you. Myself and my girlfriend have seperate booking.com accounts and she gets the same price for the same hotels, room type and even sometimes when breakfast is given as free for genius 3 customers she gets it free also just as part of the deal. I dont believe this is a hotel issue, I would think Booking.com are just tricking people into believing they are giving loyalty bonuses when they are not

It is a hotel issue, Sean, because it is hotels that decide whether to offer Genius 'discounts' or not and it's also hotels that set their own rates. If you owned a hotel would you want to hand over control of such an important part of your operation to a booking platform? I certainly wouldn't!

Do I think the Genius programme is any good? No I don't. I am level 2. I find it pretty poor and have zero interest in going higher. I agree with bk. It's all marketing. But I don't have to use BEC and I don't have to sign in to my account so I don't find it an issue.

So many things in this world are based on trying to convince people they are getting a good deal even if they aren't. This is no different.

Sorry Sean, believe what you like, but the hotels decide what prices they advertise and what discounts they give.

" There are over 390,000 participating properties worldwide. Only well-reviewed properties are eligible to join the Genius program and are required to offer at least one discounted option. These properties can also choose to offer other travel rewards, such as free breakfasts and room upgrades."

Starting discount for all levels is 10%. Some hotels may offer more for levels 2 (10-15%) and 3 (10 -20%), but they don't have to.

I was looking in the Internet if there was something related to this topic.

My wife has her Booking account with no Genius level; when she finds the right hotel/apartment to rent usually we check my Booking account that is Genius 3 to verify if I have a special discont and, ALL the time, I'd pay MORE with my Level 3 account. Last time 2 days ago for an hotel in Vipiteno: 290€ my wife's account, 318€ with my account. I'm obviously very disappointed with this Booking policy; I don't care if its an hotel relaed issue, my contact and reference in Booking and he decided to offer a Genius programm with special discounts....

Buona serata,

This post has been removed at the author's request.

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5 Secrets Behind The Booking.com Genius Program No One Tells You About

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1. it only builds loyalty to booking.com, don't miss out:  don't hesitate to prioritize hotel direct bookings over ota bookings, 2. it doesn’t deliver on promises, don't miss out:  get rid of online travel agencies (otas) once and for all, 3. it undermines your own marketing efforts.

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Genius is the most powerful marketing program for partners on Booking.com. By joining Genius, you’ll amplify your visibility to different groups of travelers who display attractive booking patterns and are less likely to be acquired on any other platform.

Through Genius, you’ll drive incremental growth and increase your revenue. You can do this with broad flexibility and control over how you participate in the program – by offering different levels of Genius discounts and varying Genius value-adds.

Join Genius

Genius_search_results.jpg

Boost your visibility

We highlight Genius properties with the Genius logo in search results and on the property page. On average, partners who join receive 70% more search result views from Genius travelers. What’s more, 30% of bookings at Genius properties are for non-Genius room types, meaning the visibility boost also benefits your undiscounted rooms.

Genius further boosts visibility through:

  • Ranking boosts
  • Search filters that allow travelers to see only Genius properties
  • Marketing campaign investments from Booking.com (including individual global campaigns, year-round targeted marketing initiatives, and communications through email, social media, and PR)

After joining Genius, partners see on average:

increase in search result views

more bookings

more revenue

g_report

Stay in control

You can tailor Genius to your business goals, using traveler insights and other resources to optimize your Genius product offering. Monitor your performance and optimize for conversion using insights from the Genius Report . Use different discounts and value-adds to choose who you target and how , and protect your peak dates by pausing Genius for up to 30 days a year .

See your Genius report

If you’re not part of Genius, you’ll still see a monthly breakdown of Genius vs. non-Genius bookings with Genius bookings at zero.

Reach unique  audiences, 75% of genius bookings come directly from the booking.com platform, via our strategic partners or through our booking holdings sister brands., this means you’re reaching unique audiences you wouldn't otherwise be able to capture., target higher-value travelers.

Genius has three levels. Each offers progressively more travel rewards to travelers and more focused targeting to you. At higher levels, travelers are less likely to be acquired through other channels, giving you access to progressively more exclusive, higher-value audiences.

On average, Genius travelers:

  • Spend 15% more when booking
  • Book up to two times further in advance
  • Leave 29% more reviews

Meet your Genius travelers

By joining Genius, you agree to offer Genius travelers 10% off your least expensive and most popular room type(s). You can choose to offer additional Genius incentives that help you target more exclusive audiences and meet your business needs.

Genius_dynamic_pricing.jpg

Dynamic pricing

Genius Dynamic Pricing optimizes the way your discounts are offered, helping to further boost occupancy and increase revenue.

  • Powered by machine learning technology: The discount you offer ​​adjusts based on your business needs, whether it’s switching the discount off during periods when we expect you to meet your occupancy targets or switching to more compelling discounts if occupancy goals aren’t being met.
  • Peace of mind: Only offer discounts when needed to meet your occupancy target. You can apply blocked dates and opt out anytime.
  • Finessed targeting: Similar to other discounting options, higher discounts will only be shown to smaller and more exclusive audiences.

Overview of Genius  discounts and value-adds  per level

Genius value adds and discounts

Start your Genius journey today.

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Booking.com's Genius Partner Program: Everything You Need to Know

Booking.com's Genius Partner Program: Everything You Need to Know

Tobias Roelen-Blasberg

Booking.com's Genius Partner Program: Everything You Need to Know

The Booking.com Genius Partner Program is one of the most lucrative ways to generate higher and continuous sales on Booking.com. While other partner programs are designed to attract new guests, the Genius program gives select hotels and properties a chance to connect with frequent travelers, thus opening the opportunity of gaining loyal customers. This blog will discuss how to make the most of Booking.com Genius program.

What is the Booking.com Genius Program?

Booking.com is one of the leading online booking platform among travelers, hotels, and online travel agencies. It was hailed as the most visited travel and tourism website in the world, with 511 million unique visits in the last quarter of 2022. Aside from its numerous advertisement efforts, the website doesn’t fall short of creating marketing campaigns to increase customer retention for its partners.

sample-genius-partner-versus-regular-listing

One of Booking.com’s most popular marketing campaigns is the Genius Partner Program, which is as alluring to guests as it is for partners. The program connects businesses to avid travelers who have reached a certain number of required stays. These “Genius” users are granted exclusive discounts and other travel rewards in exchange for their loyalty and support to Booking.com. Thus, it works like a hotel loyalty program to encourage more people to book Genius partners.

The discounts granted by the partners range from 10-20% of the regular booking rate. While these discounts are based on the Genius level of the users, businesses are also eligible to do special tagging, ranking boosts, and other marketing promos to maintain a competitive edge among other Genius partners.

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What are the benefits of the Genius Partner Program?

While the Genius program requires fixed discounts and perks from partners, it’s actually a highly lucrative way to generate more sales. Here are some of the benefits enjoyed by Genius partners:

Increased booking rates.

Genius users would always prefer Genius hotels compared to other hotel chains. Aside from the perks they’ll get, most users actually book accommodations just to reach their quota and get into the next Genius level. This gives Genius partners a boost in their booking rates.

Better visibility to relevant searches.

Booking.com gives better visibility to businesses that are in their partner programs. After all, their programs follow strict membership guidelines, ensuring they provide nothing less than an exceptional guest experience. So, suppose you’re still starting to fully optimize your listing and collecting more reviews to boost your ranking. In that case, the Genius program may significantly increase your visibility in relevant searches.

To learn more about optimizing your profile, read our complete article, Optimizing Your Booking.com Profile for Maximum Visibility .

Decreased cancellation rates.

Guest cancellation is Booking.com’s biggest problem. According to recent surveys, cancellations on Booking.com are 104% higher compared to direct channels and 31% higher compared to Expedia websites. While this is genuinely scathing to the website, it poses even more significant risks to partners.

Considering these figures, hotels must explore various solutions to mitigate revenue loss because of cancellations, such as the Genius program. Since users are granted the Genius membership based on their previous bookings and customer behavior, they are the least likely to cancel bookings.

sample-reservation-page-genius-listing

Achieve customer loyalty.

Genius users are avid travelers. So, they’re the ones who are most likely to book properties in the future. Once you provide them with an excellent guest experience, they will definitely book your property again. For businesses, this isn’t just an opportunity to generate sales but also a great chance to upsell your services.

Opportunity to collect reviews.

Collecting guest reviews is one of the most crucial strategies to increase your visibility and conversion rates on Booking.com. Unfortunately, some guests don’t have the time and willingness to do this.

Genius users are considered experts on the website due to their booking history. For this reason, most of them are more than willing to post reviews about their accommodations, especially if they were granted the perks and privileges.

How does the Genius Partner Program work?

Booking.com applies the Genius rates to their partners’ least expensive or most popular listings. If they are the same, the discount will only apply to one of them. Furthermore, they set the required discounts in reference to the Genius Rewards Program of the users.

Here’s a quick guide to Booking.com’s Genius Loyalty Program:

Booking Genius Level 1

This entry-level membership is granted to users immediately after signing up. Users get 10% discounts on their accommodations after taxes and charges. Once completed, the user will get a lifetime membership without any further requirement to maintain Genius Level 1.

Booking Genius Level 2

Granted to users who have completed five stays within two years. It comes with a 15% discount, complimentary breakfast, and free room upgrades on Genius partners.

Booking Genius Level 3

Users must complete 15 stays within two years. Users are awarded a 20% discount, priority assistance, complimentary breakfast, and free room upgrade on select accommodations.

The free room upgrades are subject to the approval of the partners. However, it’s worth noting that most users expect these Genius benefits as they are stipulated on the website. Aside from this, the discount can also be stacked with other discounts, including the Early Booker Deal, Last Minute Deal, Basic Deal, Secret Deal, and Free Nights Deal.

How do you qualify for Genius on Booking.com?

As mentioned a while ago, the Genius Partner Program is free. No subscription fees, application payments, or commission rate increases. However, Booking.com ensures that they provide nothing less than the best accommodations for their loyal users, so they observe strict eligibility guidelines for their partners.

sample-property-review-score-qualify-genius-partner-program

Here’s how you can get into the Genius Partner Program:

  • Ensure your listings are open and bookable through the website.
  • Collect at least three guest reviews.
  • Maintain an average Review Score of 7.5. (Booking.com makes an exception for specific cities. As long as your Review Score is above average within your area, you will be considered for the program.)

If you meet these criteria and wish to enter the Genius Partner Program, proceed to the “Opportunities” tab on your Extranet dashboard and submit your application.

How can you remove your Genius discount?

While the Genius program requires a specific set of discounts, partners can block out related deals for up to 30 days each year. This allows brands to optimize their listings or modify price lists before re-activating Genius promos.

Here’s how to temporarily suspend your Genius discount:

  • Log in to the Extranet.
  • Click the Genius Partner Program under the Opportunities tab.
  • Select Suspend Genius discount and choose dates when you want to block out the Genius promos.
  • Click Suspend dates to confirm

You can choose 30 consecutive or non-consecutive dates. However, note that Genius users who booked their stay before you blocked out dates can still claim discounts.

access-genius-partner-program-membership

How do I get out of Genius Program on Booking?

Booking.com also allows partners to opt out of the program whenever necessary. All you have to do is send Booking.com a message through your Extranet inbox requesting the removal of your Genius membership. Remember that it will take six months to rejoin the program.

What is the difference between Genius Partner Program and Booking Preferred Partner Program?

As of this writing, Booking.com has two major marketing campaigns for its partners, the Genius Partner Program and the Preferred Partner Program.

The Genius Partner Program is designed to boost customer retention of businesses by giving users additional benefits. Since it caters to frequent travelers, companies can connect with people with the highest likelihood of rebooking your property. So, if your business doesn’t have difficulty attracting new customers but finds it challenging to retain them, this program may be the answer. Most importantly, the Genius program is free of charge as long as your business meets the requirements.

According to the website, partners who join the Genius program see an increase of 70% in search result views, 45% in bookings, and 40% in revenue with the cost of the discount accounted for.

sample-listing-preferred-partner-program

On the other hand, the Booking Preferred Partner Program is designed to help businesses attract new customers, as it automatically grants greater visibility in search results. Furthermore, if you get into the program, Booking.com will give a special ‘thumbs-up’ seal of approval on your property page, which increases your competitiveness among users.

Booking.com claims that businesses under the Preferred Partners Program receive up to 65% more page views and a 20% increase in booking rate. Despite this, it’s worth noting that this program isn’t free. In exchange for the increased visibility and the thumbs-up seal, Booking.com will charge higher commission rates for your listings.

Businesses don’t really have to choose between the two programs, as they can join them simultaneously. Both programs are designed to achieve different business goals, ultimately leading to an increase in revenue. However, due to its additional benefits, the Genius Program is significantly more popular among users.

How to make the most out of the Genius Partner Program?

Numerous businesses claim that the Booking.com Genius program is, in fact, counterproductive for hotels and properties. The fixed discount rates, the required freebies, and the selection of the least popular listings aren’t that fruitful for some companies. However, just like any marketing campaign, the program’s effectiveness relies on how the Genius partners implement it.

Here are some of the tips to maximize the Genius Partner Program:

Promote your Genius discount to your social media accounts.

Like any promo, it’s highly recommended to promote your Genius discounts to your social media accounts. Aside from making a buzz among your followers, it’s also an excellent opportunity to reach out to other Genius users who are yet to book your property.

Engage with Genius users.

Good marketing campaigns would always have follow-up offers to maintain the interest of their leads. In line with this, it’s best to engage regularly with Genius users. While Booking.com encrypts the email address of guests, business owners can still send them messages even after they checkout. Update your guests about your existing promos, ongoing change in facilities, or pretty much anything that will entice them to book your property again.

Grant freebies or room upgrades whenever possible.

Always give Genius users the discounts, room upgrades, and travel rewards specified on Booking.com whenever possible. However, it’s best to have backup plans whenever you can’t accommodate their requests. For instance, during the peak seasons when you can’t grant room upgrades, you can try giving room upgrade vouchers which they can use for their next booking. You can also explore complimentary lunch, additional discounts, and other freebies.

Actively collect guest reviews.

As mentioned a while ago, guest reviews are excellent marketing assets to attract potential guests. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to actively collect guest reviews from Genius users. Send follow-up emails and SMS reminders, add a welcome pack to their rooms, and respectfully ask them upon checkout. To learn more about the best strategies to collect more Booking.com reviews, read our complete article here .

sample-genius-partner-response-guest-review

Respond to guest reviews.

Your response is as important as the guest reviews–this is especially true for the travel industry. According to recent surveys, 77% of travelers are likelier to book businesses that respond to reviews.

Replying to guest reviews is an excellent way to build rapport with Genius users. It can also encourage other guests, even non-Genius members, to post reviews that can help your overall score on Booking.com.

Read our complete article here to learn more about responding to Booking.com reviews.

Build customer loyalty with Genius users plus an AI review reply assistant.

Responding to online reviews can be challenging, especially if you’re dealing with avid travelers who connect with numerous hotels and properties in a year. For this reason, getting online reputation management tools is highly recommended to help you strategically build customer loyalty among guests.

MARA AI review reply assistant can help you write well-written and engaging responses within seconds. Each generated reply highlights key features of your business that will give you a competitive edge among other Booking.com listings.

feedback-mara-users

Here are some of the benefits enjoyed by MARA users:

  • Achieve 100% response rates with cutting-edge AI
  • Make guests feel valued through unique and human-like responses;
  • Reduced response times and costs
  • Saves brain power so your team can focus on other tasks
  • Get consistently high-quality responses that will surely connect with guests

Register for a FREE account to see how the MARA AI review reply generator can strengthen your reputation among Genius users.

Final Thought

The entire tourism industry is becoming more competitive every day. For this reason, hotel managers and property owners must explore numerous ways to establish customer loyalty among frequent travelers. Booking.com’s Genius Partner Program is a great way to connect with a solid customer base who will likely revisit your property. After all, you can opt out of the program anytime, and it’s free!

This article is part of our hero content on Booking.com Optimization: The Ultimate Guide for Hotel Managers .

Frequently Asked Questions:

As of this writing, there are currently two Booking.com partner programs. First is the Genius Partner Program, which allows businesses to connect with frequent travelers. The second one is the Preferred Partner Program which grants listing a Booking-approved badge to attract new guests.

Yes. The Genius Partner Program is free. However, you need a bookable listing, at least 3 guest reviews, and an average Review Score of 7.5 to qualify.

There are currently three Genius Levels on Booking.com, each with a unique set of requirements to qualify.

Users must reach the booking target set for each level to level up on Genius booking. Once completed, users don't need to apply for the next level, as Booking.com would automatically grant exclusive discounts given to each Genius Level. However, remember that only bookings done on the website will be honored.

The highest level a user can reach on the Genius Loyalty Program is Level 3. Users are awarded a 20% discount, priority assistance, complimentary breakfast, and free room upgrade on select accommodations.

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Booking.com - genius level 3 prices higher than level 1??? - Holiday Travel Forum

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Has anyone else had the experience that booking.com Genius level 3 prices can be higher than Genius level 1 prices? I've had this happen repeatedly over the last two weeks or so. I found out because I'm helping someone else organise a trip and they keep asking me what prices I get (they themselves are at level 1). With about 5 hotels so far, their price was quite a bit lower than mine - yes, for the same room type, with the same cancellation rules and of course the same dates.

Is this a clever way to lure customers into paying more than necessary?

15 replies to this topic

>>Is this a clever way to lure customers into paying more than necessary?<<

In the world of travel, I don't understand why people use the word "lure"? Nobody who does good research can get lured into anything and marketing is alive and well. Just like any other industry, like electronics or goods. But yes, always pays to do good research. In case you didn't see it, there was another similar post to yours just down the list. Not sure why you started a new thread. In fact, there are probably several more similar threads and posts here and in Bargain Travel forum (search for them).

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k13779378-Booking_com_Genius_Level_3-Holiday_Travel.html

Yes - I did see that. But it wasn't about the fact that prices were the other way round from what was expected. It is about the dubious value of Genius Level 3 in general. Also, since the original post was deleted, I felt it was not really helpful to continue it.

And yes, I stick to "lure". If Booking.com deliberately increased prices for Genius Level 3 customers (in comparison to other levels) because they think customers would trust them sufficiently not to notice, then this would be a case of malicious luring. (I'm not claiming that they do - but I was wondering about it...)

Of course I do my research - that's why I noticed in the first place. ;-) But you haven't answered my question: is this something other people have noticed?

Who do you think sets the pricing? Because it's not BDC. BDC is an advertising and payment platform. The hotel is the business who calculates if and what the % off applies and what they advertise market to people who have this genius level or not. Maybe you should contact them and ask about their pricing and advertising strategies? And see if they will pricematch you to your friend's rates?

BTW, yes there are posts about this practice of inconsistent pricing. And I still disagree that this is BDC "luring" anyone.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k13968740-Booking_com_loyalty_program_level_3_upgrade_question-Bargain_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293921-i8432-k14166094-Weird_pricing_on_Booking_com-Vietnam.html

There are some posts here - https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k8915234-o1660-Planning_on_using_Booking_com_Beware_the_cancellation_scam-Bargain_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k12613962-Booking_com_anyone_managed_to_upgrade_their_Genius_level-Holiday_Travel.html

None of these links seem to take me anywhere helpful with regard to my original question - i.e. whether other people have experienced lower prices at lower genius levels. But I didn’t read more than 1000 posts in one of the threads to check in detail.

Anyway - let’s leave it as is, and also agree to disagree on the luring front! ;-)

Happy travels…

Hi Sebastian. If there is any luring being done it's by the hotels. As you probably know hotels don't have to participate in the Genius loyalty programme. If they do, they decide what rates they will offer.

Personally I have never been that impressed with any of the discounts I have seen, which is why I am not level 3 , just level 2. I see no reason to strive to get to the next rung. Especially if hotels are playing silly games with their pricing.

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Bit late seeing this but i agree with you. Myself and my girlfriend have seperate booking.com accounts and she gets the same price for the same hotels, room type and even sometimes when breakfast is given as free for genius 3 customers she gets it free also just as part of the deal. I dont believe this is a hotel issue, I would think Booking.com are just tricking people into believing they are giving loyalty bonuses when they are not

It is a hotel issue, Sean, because it is hotels that decide whether to offer Genius 'discounts' or not and it's also hotels that set their own rates. If you owned a hotel would you want to hand over control of such an important part of your operation to a booking platform? I certainly wouldn't!

Do I think the Genius programme is any good? No I don't. I am level 2. I find it pretty poor and have zero interest in going higher. I agree with bk. It's all marketing. But I don't have to use BEC and I don't have to sign in to my account so I don't find it an issue.

So many things in this world are based on trying to convince people they are getting a good deal even if they aren't. This is no different.

Sorry Sean, believe what you like, but the hotels decide what prices they advertise and what discounts they give.

" There are over 390,000 participating properties worldwide. Only well-reviewed properties are eligible to join the Genius program and are required to offer at least one discounted option. These properties can also choose to offer other travel rewards, such as free breakfasts and room upgrades."

Starting discount for all levels is 10%. Some hotels may offer more for levels 2 (10-15%) and 3 (10 -20%), but they don't have to.

I was looking in the Internet if there was something related to this topic.

My wife has her Booking account with no Genius level; when she finds the right hotel/apartment to rent usually we check my Booking account that is Genius 3 to verify if I have a special discont and, ALL the time, I'd pay MORE with my Level 3 account. Last time 2 days ago for an hotel in Vipiteno: 290€ my wife's account, 318€ with my account. I'm obviously very disappointed with this Booking policy; I don't care if its an hotel relaed issue, my contact and reference in Booking and he decided to offer a Genius programm with special discounts....

Buona serata,

This post has been removed at the author's request.

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Booking.com wordt nog beter met Genius

Word beloond voor je reizen.

Word beloond voor je reizen

Ontdek nieuwe levels vol reisvoordelen

Genius veelgestelde vragen, hoe claim ik mijn korting en reisvoordelen, hoeveel genius levels zijn er, welke accommodaties bieden genius-kortingen en -reisvoordelen, welke autoverhuurbedrijven bieden genius-kortingen aan, ontvang ik genius-kortingen en reisvoordelen op elke boeking die ik maak, wat als ik een reservering annuleer, hoe kom ik verder in het programma, wat is priority klantenservice, vind je volgende verblijf, bespaar tijd, bespaar geld.

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Geverifieerde beoordelingen van echte gasten.

We hebben meer dan 70 miljoen beoordelingen van accommodaties, allemaal van echte, geverifieerde gasten .

Hoe werkt het?

Het begint met een boeking.

Alleen wie via ons boekt, kan het verblijf beoordelen. Zo weten we zeker dat onze beoordelingen afkomstig zijn van echte gasten die in een accommodatie verbleven hebben.

Gevolgd door een reis

Onze gasten bezoeken de accommodatie en ervaren zelf of de kamer rustig is, of het eten inderdaad lekker smaakt en hoe vriendelijk het personeel is.

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booking com genius level 3 review

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Booking.com - genius level 3 prices higher than level 1??? - Holiday Travel Forum

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Booking.com - genius level 3 prices higher than level 1???

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Has anyone else had the experience that booking.com Genius level 3 prices can be higher than Genius level 1 prices? I've had this happen repeatedly over the last two weeks or so. I found out because I'm helping someone else organise a trip and they keep asking me what prices I get (they themselves are at level 1). With about 5 hotels so far, their price was quite a bit lower than mine - yes, for the same room type, with the same cancellation rules and of course the same dates.

Is this a clever way to lure customers into paying more than necessary?

15 replies to this topic

>>Is this a clever way to lure customers into paying more than necessary?<<

In the world of travel, I don't understand why people use the word "lure"? Nobody who does good research can get lured into anything and marketing is alive and well. Just like any other industry, like electronics or goods. But yes, always pays to do good research. In case you didn't see it, there was another similar post to yours just down the list. Not sure why you started a new thread. In fact, there are probably several more similar threads and posts here and in Bargain Travel forum (search for them).

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k13779378-Booking_com_Genius_Level_3-Holiday_Travel.html

Yes - I did see that. But it wasn't about the fact that prices were the other way round from what was expected. It is about the dubious value of Genius Level 3 in general. Also, since the original post was deleted, I felt it was not really helpful to continue it.

And yes, I stick to "lure". If Booking.com deliberately increased prices for Genius Level 3 customers (in comparison to other levels) because they think customers would trust them sufficiently not to notice, then this would be a case of malicious luring. (I'm not claiming that they do - but I was wondering about it...)

Of course I do my research - that's why I noticed in the first place. ;-) But you haven't answered my question: is this something other people have noticed?

Who do you think sets the pricing? Because it's not BDC. BDC is an advertising and payment platform. The hotel is the business who calculates if and what the % off applies and what they advertise market to people who have this genius level or not. Maybe you should contact them and ask about their pricing and advertising strategies? And see if they will pricematch you to your friend's rates?

BTW, yes there are posts about this practice of inconsistent pricing. And I still disagree that this is BDC "luring" anyone.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k13968740-Booking_com_loyalty_program_level_3_upgrade_question-Bargain_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293921-i8432-k14166094-Weird_pricing_on_Booking_com-Vietnam.html

There are some posts here - https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k8915234-o1660-Planning_on_using_Booking_com_Beware_the_cancellation_scam-Bargain_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k12613962-Booking_com_anyone_managed_to_upgrade_their_Genius_level-Holiday_Travel.html

None of these links seem to take me anywhere helpful with regard to my original question - i.e. whether other people have experienced lower prices at lower genius levels. But I didn’t read more than 1000 posts in one of the threads to check in detail.

Anyway - let’s leave it as is, and also agree to disagree on the luring front! ;-)

Happy travels…

Hi Sebastian. If there is any luring being done it's by the hotels. As you probably know hotels don't have to participate in the Genius loyalty programme. If they do, they decide what rates they will offer.

Personally I have never been that impressed with any of the discounts I have seen, which is why I am not level 3 , just level 2. I see no reason to strive to get to the next rung. Especially if hotels are playing silly games with their pricing.

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Bit late seeing this but i agree with you. Myself and my girlfriend have seperate booking.com accounts and she gets the same price for the same hotels, room type and even sometimes when breakfast is given as free for genius 3 customers she gets it free also just as part of the deal. I dont believe this is a hotel issue, I would think Booking.com are just tricking people into believing they are giving loyalty bonuses when they are not

It is a hotel issue, Sean, because it is hotels that decide whether to offer Genius 'discounts' or not and it's also hotels that set their own rates. If you owned a hotel would you want to hand over control of such an important part of your operation to a booking platform? I certainly wouldn't!

Do I think the Genius programme is any good? No I don't. I am level 2. I find it pretty poor and have zero interest in going higher. I agree with bk. It's all marketing. But I don't have to use BEC and I don't have to sign in to my account so I don't find it an issue.

So many things in this world are based on trying to convince people they are getting a good deal even if they aren't. This is no different.

Sorry Sean, believe what you like, but the hotels decide what prices they advertise and what discounts they give.

" There are over 390,000 participating properties worldwide. Only well-reviewed properties are eligible to join the Genius program and are required to offer at least one discounted option. These properties can also choose to offer other travel rewards, such as free breakfasts and room upgrades."

Starting discount for all levels is 10%. Some hotels may offer more for levels 2 (10-15%) and 3 (10 -20%), but they don't have to.

I was looking in the Internet if there was something related to this topic.

My wife has her Booking account with no Genius level; when she finds the right hotel/apartment to rent usually we check my Booking account that is Genius 3 to verify if I have a special discont and, ALL the time, I'd pay MORE with my Level 3 account. Last time 2 days ago for an hotel in Vipiteno: 290€ my wife's account, 318€ with my account. I'm obviously very disappointed with this Booking policy; I don't care if its an hotel relaed issue, my contact and reference in Booking and he decided to offer a Genius programm with special discounts....

Buona serata,

This post has been removed at the author's request.

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IMAGES

  1. The Genius Program by Booking.com

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COMMENTS

  1. The complete guide to the Booking.com Genius loyalty program

    While this is a very low threshold to meet, and lifetime membership sounds awesome, the only benefit of Genius Level 1 is a 10% discount on select properties that are part of the Genius program. Booking.com promises that these properties that have joined the Genius program have a rating of at least 7.5/10, so you can expect a quality property.

  2. How to Maximize Booking.com Genius Levels Loyalty Program

    1. Genius Level 1 2. Genius Level 2 3. Genius Level 3 What is Genius Level 3 with Booking.com? Why Should You Maximize Genius Levels with Booking? How to Maximize Booking Genius Levels Step 1: Create Your Account Step 2: Achieve 5 Stays With Booking.com Step 3: Stay 15 Times Within 2 Years

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    1-10 of 15 replies Sorted by « 1 2 » bk_t1 Houston, Texas Destination Expert for Solo Travel, Houston Level Contributor 23,481 posts 177 reviews 131 helpful votes 1.

  4. The Booking Genius Program

    Olof Arnberg February 14, 2024 The Genius program by Booking.com gives you 10 to 20% extra discount on prices that other customers won't get. If you reach Booking Genius Level 2, you will also qualify for complimentary breakfast and free room upgrades at selected locations. Read more and find out how the Genius reward system works below.

  5. Is Booking.com Genius Programme Any Good? The Pros And Cons

    August 8, 2017 Booking.com, Featured Should I Join The Booking.com Genius Programme? My goal with this blog is to show you how to navigate through Booking.com, their Genius programme and show you if booking.com genius programme is any good. Before you start.

  6. How Many Genius Levels Are There On Booking.com?

    In order for a hotel to qualify for the Genius level program, the hotels must have a minimum guest review score of 7.5. Can You Still Get Hotel Points When You Book A Hotel On Booking.com? Sometimes. If you collect points through a certain chain of hotels be sure to add your points number to your portfolio upon check in.

  7. Booking.com

    Easy to get Just create a free Booking.com account to unlock instant discounts. Easy to keep After unlocking each Genius Level, the rewards are yours to enjoy for life. Easy to grow The more you book, the more you get. The best part? Every booking counts toward your progress. Sign up - it's free Get rewarded for your travels

  8. The Ultimate Guide to Genius

    The Booking.com Genius loyalty program is an easy way to book accommodation at participating properties worldwide for a discounted price. There are three levels of the Genius rewards program: Level 1 is the program's entry-level tier, where you can instantly access a 10% discount on your stay. To unlock Level 2, you must complete five stays ...

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    Level 3 20% discounts Applied to the price before taxes & charges Level 1 10% off rental cars Hit the road for less with discounts on select options Level 2 Free breakfasts Waking up is easy with complimentary breakfast, available on select stays Level 2 Free room upgrades

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  11. Booking.com: anyone managed to upgrade their Genius level?

    22 reviews 39 helpful votes Booking.com: anyone managed to upgrade their Genius level? 4 years ago Save Hey guys, i was wondering if this Genius thing can be upgraded at all. Their website says you need 5 bookings in 2 consecutive years, i have 15. Yet i'm still level 1. Most of my bookings are just being ignored and not showing on my Genius page.

  12. Booking.com: anyone managed to upgrade their Genius level?

    Skip those accommodations. Also when you are at Genius Level 1 , make sure to book an accommodation that says "Genius" this icon is blue with the letters "Genius" on it. These accommodations are part of the Genius program and there for added to you minimum of 5. Which you need for Genius Level 2 program. Edited: 4 years ago.

  13. 4 simple tips to save more money on booking.com

    There are currently three Booking Genius levels. The basic benefit of Booking Genius level 1 is 10% off at select hotels (they need to have a minimum user rating of 7.5 to participate, so you're only getting the good stuff). Once you get to Booking Genius level 2 by completing five stays in two years, those hotels can offer you up to 15% off ...

  14. How works Genius, Booking.com's loyalty program?

    Booking.com Genius Levels. Booking.com 's Genius program has three status levels. All members enjoy free access to discounts for life, depending on their level: Genius status. Conditions. Level 1. 10% discount on the price of the stay. Level 2. Obtained after 5 stays in 2 years.

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    My wife has her Booking account with no Genius level; when she finds the right hotel/apartment to rent usually we check my Booking account that is Genius 3 to verify if I have a special discont and, ALL the time, I'd pay MORE with my Level 3 account. Last time 2 days ago for an hotel in Vipiteno: 290€ my wife's account, 318€ with my account.

  16. 5 Secrets Behind The Booking.com Genius Program No One Tells

    Which hotelier in their right mind wouldn't want that? The Booking.com genius levels have been expanded. To qualify for genius level 1, a user just needs to set up an account. This immediately gives them access to the 10% genius discount - there is no longer any need to complete two stays within a year.

  17. The Pros and Cons of the The Booking.com Genius Programme

    11. Your dependency on Booking.com increases. 12. The more it sells for you, the more fearful you will be to leave. 13. They chose to focus on their own rewards programme. 14. With its exclusive ...

  18. Genius

    Genius Level 1: Any traveler with a Booking.com account. Offer a 10% discount to target travelers at this level; Genius Level 2: Travelers with 5 or more completed bookings in two years. More likely than other travelers to book a Genius property; Offer a 15% discount to target travelers at this level; Offer free breakfast to further incentivize travelers - it's the second most popular ...

  19. Booking.com's Genius Partner Program: Everything You Need to Know

    Meet us at ITB (Mar 5-7 in Hall 6.1, 501) and GASTRO VISION (Mar 8-11). English The Booking.com Genius Partner Program is a highly lucrative way to generate more sales for your business. This article will provide you tips on how to make the most out of the program and boost your revenue.

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    • 10 mo. ago ichawks1 ADMIN MOD Is it cheaper to book with Booking.com to get the genius status, or is it cheaper to book direct every time? Hi everyone. I was wondering if it is cheaper to book with booking.com for hostels and such so that you can level up your status, or if it is cheaper to book directly every time?

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    Genius Level 3. Profiteer van dit ... De volgende soorten reserveringen gemaakt via Booking.com zijn uitgesloten van het Genius-programma: Ride Hail, Cruises, Verzekeringen, openbaar vervoer, gratis opties, Partneraanbiedingen en extra aankopen zoals kamerupgrades, kinderzitjes voor huurauto's en extra bagage. ... Traveller Review Awards ...

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