Expedia offers different ways for guests to pay for their bookings and each payment method affects how and when your property gets paid. Understanding these options helps you reconcile payments easily, avoid confusion, and stay on top of your payouts.
Below is a simple guide to the payment methods you will see when you receive bookings from Expedia.
The available payment methods
Expedia offers multiple payment methods to best suit your needs - each with a slightly different process.
Here are the payment methods and how they are processed.
Expedia Collect (Pay Now)
With Expedia Collect, the guest pays Expedia upfront at the time of booking.
Expedia then pays you by issuing a single-use virtual credit card.
What is an virtual card?
This is the payment tool used for Expedia Collect bookings.
Key features:
- Works like a once-off Mastercard.
- Issued per booking.
- Activated on the guest’s check-in date (or as per Expedia setup).
- Helps with reconciliation because amounts match each reservation exactly.
How it works
- Guest selects Pay Now on Expedia.
- Expedia charges the guest immediately.
- Your property receives a virtual card with the reservation details.
- You charge the virtual card (usually on the guest’s check-in date).
If you have a payment gateway linked to NightsBridge, the payment will automatically be processed on the day of activation. - Payout comes from Expedia, not from the guest.
Benefits
- Guaranteed payment.
- No risk of declined cards upon arrival.
- Lower no-show financial risk.
Hotel Collect (Pay Later / Pay at Property)
With Hotel Collect, the guest does not pay Expedia.
Instead, your property collects payment directly from the guest.
- Your Deposit % on NightsBridge will automatically be deducted, if you have a payment gateway linked to NightsBridge, e.g., NightsBridge Pay.
- You can manually deduct the credit card through your card machine if you don't have a payment linked to NightsBridge
How it works
- Guest selects Pay Later on Expedia.
- Booking is secured using a card guarantee - the guests card.
If you have a payment gateway (like NightsBridge Pay) linked to NightsBridge, a transaction will be attempted based on your NightsBridge deposit policy. - Your property charges the guest.
- Your property pays Expedia the commission afterwards.
Benefits
Flexibility for your guest to pay with multiple methods - card, EFT or cash.
Things to keep in mind
- Higher risk of invalid cards and no-shows.
- You must be able to charge or pre-authorise cards using a credit card machine or your connected payment gateway.
Expedia Traveler Preference (ETP)
Expedia Traveler Preference gives the guest the choice between Pay Now and Pay Later.
What this means for properties
- You may receive a mix of prepaid (Expedia Collect) and property-collect bookings.
- It boosts conversion because guests can choose their preferred payment method.
What to prepare for
- You must manage both processed (virtual cards + direct payments).
- Reconciliation will need more attention.
- If you decide to move over to ETP then you will have to sign a new contract with Expedia and go through training before your payment method will be changed.
- Payments will either be "Expedia Collects" or "Hotel Collects" and it will show in the Booking Notes. This will indicate which payment procedure is applicable to the booking.
Which payment method is applied to a booking?
The details on which method of payment applies to a specific booking from Expedia can be viewed in the booking notes for the booking. This will outline which payment process is applicable to the booking.
For more information please contact the Expedia Support Team via your Expedia Partner Central