How to sell rooms through KakaoTalk Booking
In 2023, a wave of major platforms launched lodging products.
Mobility apps started bundling rides with stays. Search portals built booking flows right into their maps. Vertical commerce players—especially in kids and pets—pushed themed accommodations hard.
Amid all this, one channel stood out for ONDA: KakaoTalk Booking.
We became an official partner in April. By year-end, booking volume had grown over 20x from launch.
None of this happens without partners who trust ONDA with their inventory.
Let's take a closer look at what KakaoTalk Booking actually is.
What is KakaoTalk Booking?
KakaoTalk Booking lets users discover and book services—including lodging—across channels, chats, and messages. All inside Korea's most-used messaging app.
Tap "More" in KakaoTalk. Scroll to "Booking." You're now in the Booking Home, where lodging sits alongside other bookable services. To list your property here, work with an official partner like ONDA.
Users also discover accommodations through Kakao Map, the official Booking channel, or your own KakaoTalk Business Channel.
That last one is key: hotels and pensions can own a direct channel to guests (D2C). Unlike traditional OTAs, you control the relationship.
Early traction came from Kakao's network effects—the Booking Home, the official channel, etc. But to unlock the real power, you need D2C marketing: stay in touch with guests who've already found you, send updates, drive repeat bookings.
Say your property has an official Kakao channel. You can push news, promotions, seasonal offers—directly. No middleman. This works for large hotels and indie guesthouses alike.
Kakao plans to double down on Booking this year with more promotions and product improvements.
Travel products are everywhere now
The mobile era handed platforms direct access to consumers. Famous booking apps, car-sharing, navigation, food delivery—each became a storefront where operators meet users one-to-one.
Now everyone's adding travel. Ride-hailing apps sell hotels. Maps sell stays. The market is too big to ignore.
Korea's online lodging market used to be dominated by a handful of OTAs. That's changing. Fast.
KakaoTalk Booking is one of ONDA's fastest-growing new channels.
Want to learn more? Talk to our team.
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