A booking reference is a code given by the agent or booking platform to identify your booking in their system. It lets you and the agent find your reservation quickly. It is not the same as the confirmation number issued by the hotel or supplier.
A useful companion read is name change fees for airline and hotel.
Why does booking reference matter for us?
When you travel through an agent or platform, there are two layers: their record and the supplier’s record. A booking reference proves the first, and the confirmation number proves the second. Having both gives you comfort that the room is actually held, which matters most for a trip you cannot easily redo.
How does booking reference show up in a quote?
An email may show “Booking ref: HQ-12345; hotel confirmation: pending”. The word “pending” tells you the supplier has not yet confirmed the room. Wait for the confirmation number before you pay the balance or make other plans around the trip, and keep every email in one place.
What should we ask about booking reference?
Put these questions to the resort or agent, and ask for the answers in writing:
- What is our booking reference, and what is the hotel confirmation number?
- Is the booking confirmed with the supplier, or only reserved?
- Whose name is the booking under, and is it spelled as on our passports?
- Whom do we call with the reference if something goes wrong?
Where to go next
Two more pages help you check the rest: name edits through an agent or direct and what to send for an accurate quote. Send us the quote and we will go through it with you.