How Viator Works: Everything You Need to Know Before Listing Your Experience
More travelers are booking online than ever before—and a strong distribution strategy is essential if you want to reach them. Online travel agencies (OTAs) like Viator don’t just expand your reach—they connect you with travelers you may never have found on your own. From international explorers to last-minute planners, our audience is already searching. The question is: will they find you?
We know working with Viator might raise questions: Will it hurt direct bookings? Is the commission worth it? What about my time or staff resources? Many operators are already seeing strong bookings and wonder if it’s even necessary. These are valid questions, and you’re not the only one asking them.
This guide is here to help you understand exactly how Viator works—and whether it’s the right fit for your business.
Why Viator’s Commission Pays Off
Let’s start with the part everyone wonders about: commission.
Viator works on a pay-for-performance model. You only pay when we bring you a completed booking. That’s it.
And in return, you get access to:
- Millions of travelers browsing Viator, Tripadvisor, and 4,000+ partner platforms like Booking.com and Expedia.
- 200,000+ travel agents and 10,000+ content creators and affiliates who help promote your products.
- Global marketing and SEO—without needing a single marketing hire or paid ad campaign.
- 24/7 traveler support in multiple languages.
- Fraud protection, refund handling, and booking assistance.
- A booking platform (and app) designed to convert—across desktop and mobile.
You control your own retail pricing, availability, and listing content. You’re always in the driver’s seat.
“But I’d Get That Booking Anyway…”
We hear this a lot. And we understand why you might think that.
But most bookings on Viator don’t replace your existing sales—they come from travelers who didn’t know about you before. In fact, many of our users are:
- Browsing Tripadvisor or Viator for things to do in their destination.
- Looking on Booking.com or Expedia after booking flights or hotels—still deciding what to do.
- Using Viator to choose where to go, not just what to book.
- Making last-minute decisions while already in-destination.
That’s where we come in: capturing demand in moments when you may not even be visible otherwise.
Even better? Many operators tell us that being featured on Viator helps build trust with travelers who later book directly on their website. That’s the billboard effect—and it’s real.
Why Viator Isn’t Just Another Marketing Channel
We’re not a “pay-to-play” platform. You don’t pay for impressions, clicks, or ad placements. You pay only when a traveler books your experience.
That means:
- No cost to show up in search results.
- No hidden fees or marketing commitments.
You get listed, you get discovered, and you get bookings. We take care of the rest.
“I’m Already Full” or “I’m Not Trying to Grow”
Viator isn’t just for operators looking to scale. Many use it to:
- Capture last-minute bookings and fill leftover capacity.
- Smooth out seasonal dips.
- Tap into new, international traveler segments.
- Maintain visibility on Tripadvisor—even if they’re not actively marketing.
Plus, you are always in full control of your availability—so you only accept what you can handle, when you want to grow.
One thing that surprises many operators: when your Tripadvisor page isn’t connected to Viator, it can end up showcasing your competitors who are. You may be driving bookings—just not for yourself.
Being listed protects your presence, even if you’re not chasing more volume. This isn’t just about scaling. It’s about staying competitive.
“I Don’t Have Time to Manage Another Platform”
We built Viator to run quietly in the background—so you can stay focused on delivering great experiences.
Here’s how it works:
- You create your product listings (we’ll help with that).
- We handle all bookings, payments, customer communication, and refunds.
- You get paid after the experience runs.
Want even less to manage? Connect your reservation system and let it sync automatically. Whether you’re running things manually or using a ResTech, we fit into your flow.
How (and When) You Get Paid
- Travelers pay Viator at the time of booking.
- We hold funds until the experience runs.
- You’re paid via direct deposit—usually every two weeks.
- Everything is managed via the Supplier Management Center or your connected system.
Simple, secure, and reliable.
You’re Not Alone—We’re With You From Day One
Our Launch Assist program helps you hit the ground running. Here’s what it includes:
- A manual review of your first product submission.
- 1:1 support to make sure your listing meets quality standards.
- Personalized recommendations to help you improve visibility and conversion.
You also get access to our Operator Resource Center, filled with tips, trends, and insights from across the industry.
We’re not just a platform—we’re a partner in your success.
Getting Started Is Easy
- Create an account at supplier.viator.com.
- Create and submit your products for a one-time listing fee of $29, which includes Launch Assist.
- Go live after Launch Assist approval and start reaching new travelers.
Ready to grow your business—with support, reach, and control? Create your account now.
