If you own or manage a homestay unit in Malaysia, you probably already have it listed on Agoda and/or Booking.com, two of the largest Online Travel Agencies (OTA) in this region. But how much commission fees are you actually paying, and how does it compare to listing directly on property platforms like Hartanah Bumiputera? This article compares all three in terms of features, costs, and target guests.


Commission Rates

  • Agoda: Standard commission is around 15%, with industry estimates between 15%-25% depending on the contract and type of property.
  • Booking.com: Similar range, 15%-25%, calculated on Gross Booking Value (including mandatory cleaning fees), varying by country and location.
  • Hartanah Bumiputera: Fixed commission of 6% per successful booking, much lower than both OTA above.


For a homestay unit with a rental rate of RM200/night, the difference between 6% and 20% commission means an extra RM28 in your pocket every night, a significant amount when calculated over the year.


Guest Reach

Here is where Agoda and Booking.com clearly excel, their international reach is far greater, with millions of active users worldwide looking for accommodation in Malaysia. Hartanah Bumiputera, on the other hand, targets mainly the domestic and regional market, users who have already browsed the portal to search for property (for sale/rent) are also exposed to homestay listings, making it more suitable for local guests planning family holidays or weekend trips.


Additional Features

  • Agoda/Booking.com: Integrated property management system (PMS), cross-platform (channel manager) calendar synchronization, global guest reviews, and multi-language/currency support.
  • Hartanah Bumiputera: Directly connected to the existing property ecosystem, homeowners listing homes for sale/rent can also list as homestays without a separate account, use the Homestay Yield Calculator to estimate returns before starting, and contact directly via WhatsApp without waiting for OTA messaging system.


Calculate Your Potential Yield

Before deciding which platform to focus on, use the Homestay Yield Calculator on Hartanah Bumiputera to estimate net returns based on rental rate, occupancy rate and platform commission, input 6% for Hartanah Bumiputera simulation, or 15-25% to compare Agoda/Booking.com scenarios side-by-side.


Conclusion: Use Both

Most homestay owners successfully use a multi-platform strategy, Agoda/Booking.com for international reach, and Hartanah Bumiputera for lower commissions and direct reach to users already active in the local property ecosystem.


Agoda/Booking.com commission rates are contract-specific and may vary according to individual partner agreements — verify your actual rate through your respective partner portal.