Policies objects

A property will have various properties relating to taxes, renting extra beds, paid parking, and so on. You define these policies inside a Policies element. This page describes the elements in the Policies descendants tree.

OTA_HotelDescriptiveContentNotif – Set a property's details.
OTA_HotelDescriptiveInfo – Retrieve a property's details.

Sample XML

The sample below is an excerpt and not a valid XML document.

<Policies>
  <Policy>
    <PolicyInfo CheckInTime="17:00-20:00" CheckOutTime="12:00" />
    <PetsPolicies PetsAllowedCode="Pets By Arrangements">
      <PetsPolicy NonRefundableFee="charges_may_apply" />
    </PetsPolicies>
    <CancelPolicy>
      <CancelPenalty PolicyCode="1">
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <NoShowPolicy Penalty="default" />
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </CancelPenalty>
      <CancelPenalty PolicyCode="29">
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <NoShowPolicy Penalty="total_price" />
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </CancelPenalty>
    </CancelPolicy>
    <GuaranteePaymentPolicy>
      <GuaranteePayment PolicyCode="1">
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <PrepaymentPolicy EffectiveFrom="after_reservation_is_made" />
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </GuaranteePayment>
      <GuaranteePayment PolicyCode="29">
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <PrepaymentPolicy EffectiveFrom="after_cancellation_fee_begins" />
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </GuaranteePayment>
    </GuaranteePaymentPolicy>
    <TaxPolicies>
      <TaxPolicy Code="36" Percent="1200" DecimalPlaces="2" Type="Exclusive"/>
      <TaxPolicy Code="3" Amount="800" DecimalPlaces="2" Type="Inclusive" ChargeFrequency="20" />
    </TaxPolicies>
    <FeePolicies>
      <FeePolicy Code="5009" Amount="1500" DecimalPlaces="2" Type="Conditional" ChargeFrequency="12" >
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <Conditions>
            <Condition Type="guest_doesnt_clean_before_checkout" />
          </Conditions>
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </FeePolicy>
      <FeePolicy Code="5035" Amount="10000" DecimalPlaces="2" Type="Exclusive" ChargeFrequency="5001" >
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <InternetFeePolicy InternetType="wired" InternetCoverage="public_areas" />
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </FeePolicy>
      <FeePolicy Code="5036" Amount="10000" DecimalPlaces="2" Type="Exclusive" ChargeFrequency="2" >
        <TPA_Extensions>
          <ParkingFeePolicy ParkingType="location_nearby" ParkingReservation="needed" ParkingProperty="private"/>
        </TPA_Extensions>
      </FeePolicy>
    </FeePolicies>
  </Policy>
</Policies>

Policy

Contains details of various property policies. Child of Policies (see Sample XML).

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`PolicyInfo`	-	object		-
`PolicyInfo[@CheckInTime]`	The Booking.com Check-in/Check-Out Time Code for the earliest time a guest can check in.	checkin_checkout	Required	Format: `HH:MM` (for a specific time) or `HH:MM-HH:MM` (for a range). Accepts the values listed under BCIO. NOTE: Only a check-in "from" time is required. Specifying a range is optional.
`PolicyInfo[@CheckOutTime]`	The Booking.com Check-in/Check-Out Time Code for the time by which a guest should check out at the latest.	checkin_checkout	Optional	Format: `HH:MM` (for a specific time) or `HH:MM-HH:MM` (for a range). Accepts the values listed under BCIO.
`PolicyInfo[@TotalGuestCount]`	The total number of guests that can stay at the property at a given time.	integer	Optional	-
`PolicyInfo[@AcceptedGuestType]`	Indicates whether the property admits both adults and children, or adults only.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `AdultOnly`. Default: empty (children and adults allowed)
`PetsPolicies`	-	array of PetsPolicy	Optional	-
`PetsPolicies[@PetsAllowedCode]`	Specifies the property's policy regarding pets.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `Pets Allowed`, `Pets Not Allowed`, `Pets By Arrangements`, `Assistive Animals Only`. Default: empty
`CancelPolicy`	-	array of CancelPenalty	Required	-
`GuaranteePaymentPolicy`	-	array of GuaranteePayment	Optional	-
`TaxPolicies`	-	array of TaxPolicy	Optional	-
`FeePolicies`	-	array of FeePolicy	Optional	-

PetsPolicy

Contains details of policies related to pets. Child of PetsPolicies (see Policy).

Note

This element is required if the value of PetsPolicies[@PetsAllowedCode] is Pets Allowed, Pets By Arrangements, or Assistive Animals Only.

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`PetsPolicy[@NonRefundableFee]`	The non-refundable fee the property charges for having a pet stay in the room.	price	Optional	Required if `[@RefundableDeposit]` is not specified.
`PetsPolicy[@RefundableDeposit]`	The refundable deposit the property charges while a pet stays in the room.	price	Optional	Required if `[@NonRefundableFee]` is not specified.

CancelPenalty

Contains details of fees for cancellations. Child of CancelPolicy (see Policy).

Best practices for cancellation policies

Defining cancellation policies is not mandatory, but is one of the most powerful ways to attract bookings. Ideally, we recommend defining a cancellation policy for each room type. The bare minimum that we recommend is at least one cancellation policy per property.

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`CancelPenalty[@PolicyCode]`	The Booking.com Cancellation Policy Code for the cancellation penalty.	enum	Required	Accepts the values listed under BCCP. Default: empty
`TPA_Extensions`	See TPA_Extensions.	array of `NoShowPolicy`	Optional	-

GuaranteePayment

Contains details of the prepayment amount, if applicable. Child of GuaranteePaymentPolicy (see Policy).

Note

If this element is present, it means the property requires prepayment on each booking. The prepayment amount is automatically the same as the cancellation fee. You can collect it directly from the guest at the time defined in the Policy Summary shown on the above right.

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`GuaranteePayment[@PolicyCode]`	The Booking.com Cancellation Policy Code for the payment guarantee.	enum	Optional	Accepts the values listed under BCCP. Default: empty
`TPA_Extensions`	See TPA_Extensions.	array of `PrepaymentPolicy`	Optional	-

TaxPolicy

Contains details of country/region taxes (such as VAT or City tax) calculated on bookings. Child of TaxPolicies (see Policy).

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`TaxPolicy[@Code]`	The Fee Tax Type Code.	enum	Required	Accepts the values listed under FTT.
`TaxPolicy[@Amount]`	The amount charged, in the country's local currency.	price	Optional	Instead of providing an amount, you can provide a percentage with `[@Percent]`.
`TaxPolicy[@DecimalPlaces]`	The number of decimal places to apply to `[@Amount]`.	integer	Optional	Only allowed if `[@Amount]` is provided. Default: `0`
`TaxPolicy[@Percent]`	The percentage of the room price that will be added as taxes.	nonnegative	Optional	Only allowed if `[@Amount]` is not provided. NOTE: Use this for VAT (`[@Code="36"]`).
`TaxPolicy[@Type]`	Specifies whether the tax is included in, or excluded from the room price.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `Inclusive`, `Exclusive`.
`TaxPolicy[@ChargeFrequency]`	The Charge Type Code that specifies the unit of time on which the charge is calculated (e.g. once per stay, every day).	enum	Optional	Accepts the values listed under CHG. Default: `21` (Per person per night)

FeePolicy

Contains details of additional fees, such as for WiFi, heating, and pets. Child of FeePolicies (see Policy).

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`FeePolicy[@Code]`	The Fee Tax Type Code.	enum	Required	Accepts the values listed under FTT.
`FeePolicy[@Amount]`	The amount charged, in the country's local currency.	price	Optional	Instead of providing an amount, you can provide a percentage with `[@Percent]`.
`FeePolicy[@DecimalPlaces]`	The number of decimal places to apply to `[@Amount]`.	integer	Optional	Only allowed if `[@Amount]` is provided. Default: `0`
`FeePolicy[@Percent]`	The percentage of the room price that will be added as a fee.	nonnegative	Optional	Only allowed if `[@Amount]` is not provided.
`FeePolicy[@Type]`	Specifies whether the fee is included in/excluded from the room price, or is charged only under certain conditions.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `Inclusive`, `Exclusive`, `Conditional`. `Conditional` is only allowed for cleaning fees (`[@Code="5009"]`).
`FeePolicy[@ChargeFrequency]`	The Charge Type Code that specifies the unit of time on which the charge is calculated (e.g. once per stay, every day).	enum	Optional	Accepts the values listed under CHG. Default: `21` (Per person per night)
`TPA_Extensions`	See TPA_Extensions.	object	Optional	Contains `Conditions`, `InternetFeePolicy`, or `ParkingFeePolicy`, depending on value of `[@Type]`. See TPA_Extensions.

TPA_Extensions

Our extensions to the OTA standard. Child of GuaranteePayment, CancelPenalty, and FeePolicy.

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`PrepaymentPolicy`	-	object	Optional	Descendant of GuaranteePayment.
`PrepaymentPolicy[@EffectiveFrom]`	The moment from which the prepayment policy becomes effective.	enum	Optional	Required if `PrepaymentPolicy` exists. Accepts these values: `after_reservation_is_made`, `after_cancellation_fee_begins`. Default: `after_reservation_is_made`
`NoShowPolicy`	-	object	Optional	Descendant of CancelPenalty.
`NoShowPolicy[@Penalty]`	Specifies how much the property charges if the guest doesn't show up on the check-in date.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `total_price` (full price of stay), `default` (same as cancellation fee). Default: empty
`ParkingFeePolicy`	-	object	Optional	Descendant of FeePolicy. Only allowed when `FeePolicy[@Type="5036"]`.
`ParkingFeePolicy[@ParkingType]`	Specifies the type of parking the property offers.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `on_site`, `location_nearby`, `none`. Default: `on_site`
`ParkingFeePolicy[@ParkingReservation]`	Specifies whether guests can/must reserve a parking space in advance.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `needed`, `not_needed`, `not_available`. Default: `not_available`
`ParkingFeePolicy[@ParkingProperty]`	Specifies whether the parking area is public or private.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `public`, `private`. Default: `public`
`InternetFeePolicy`	-	object	Optional	Descendant of FeePolicy. Only allowed when `FeePolicy[@Type="5035"]`.
`InternetFeePolicy[@InternetType]`	Specifies the type of internet connection.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `wired`, `wifi`, `none`. Default: `wifi`
`InternetFeePolicy[@InternetCoverage]`	Specifies the area covered with internet.	enum	Optional	Accepts these values: `entire_property`, `public_areas`, `all_rooms`, `some_rooms`, `business_centre`. Default: `entire_property`
`Conditions`	-	array of Condition	Optional	Descendant of FeePolicy. Only allowed when `FeePolicy[@Code="5009"]` and `FeePolicy[@Type="Conditional"]`. See FeePolicy for details.

Condition

Contains details of conditions for when an extra cleaning fee must be paid. Child of Conditions (see TPA_Extensions).

Note

This element is required if FeePolicy[@Code="5009"] and FeePolicy[@Type="Conditional"] (see FeePolicy). There may be only 1 Condition child for each Conditions parent.

Field	Description	Type	Required	Notes
`Condition[@Type]`	Specifies when a guest must pay the extra cleaning fee.	enum	Required	Accepts these values: `guest_brings_pet`, `guest_doesnt_clean_before_checkout`, `guest_smokes`.

Policies objects

Related calls

Sample XML

Policy

PetsPolicy

CancelPenalty

GuaranteePayment

TaxPolicy

FeePolicy

TPA_Extensions

Condition