What an affiliate program actually pays for
Section titled “What an affiliate program actually pays for”An affiliate program pays for a completed, attributed booking — not for a click, an impression or a post. That single fact explains most of the disappointment people report with travel affiliate programs: the traffic was real, the booking happened, and nobody could prove which link caused it.
Three things decide whether you get paid:
- Attribution — does the click stay credited to you long enough for a real travel decision? Hotel research often runs weeks.
- The booking path — does your link land the traveler on something bookable, or on a homepage they have to navigate?
- The payout terms — who holds the money, when is it released, and what happens on a cancellation?
Commission, and what it is a percentage of
Section titled “Commission, and what it is a percentage of”The headline rate matters less than its base. A commission quoted on the room rate, on gross booking value, or on net-of-fees revenue can differ by several percent on the same stay.
On Wink the order is explicit. A confirmed direct booking carries a 1.5% platform fee plus card processing passed through at cost. When a partner or creator drove the booking, a 10% default commission applies on top, calculated after those fees rather than on the gross.
| On a $100 booking | Amount |
|---|---|
| Platform fee (1.5%) | $1.50 |
| Card processing | passed through at cost, shown per booking |
| Partner commission (10%, after fees) | about $9.45 |
| Hotel keeps | about $85 |
The partner earns roughly $9.45 on a $100 stay, and the hotel still nets well above what a 15–25% OTA commission would leave. Both sides can see the same numbers, which is the point.
Attribution windows, in plain terms
Section titled “Attribution windows, in plain terms”An attribution window is how long your click stays credited to you. Many travel programs use 7 or 30 days. Hotel decisions are slower than that: a traveler reads a recommendation, checks dates with a partner, compares, and books later.
Wink’s window is 6 months per click. A recommendation that converts in week nine is still yours.
Running your own program as a hotel
Section titled “Running your own program as a hotel”A hotel does not need an OTA to operate an affiliate program. What it needs is:
- Eligible supply — which rooms, rates and dates partners may promote.
- Approved assets — links, cards, storefronts and QR codes that carry the offer correctly.
- Source tracking — so each booking arrives with the partner attached.
- Clear terms — commission, window, cancellation handling and payout timing.
On Wink these are the free partner and affiliate tools: the hotel sets eligibility, partners build assets in Studio, and Booking Engine fulfils the booking with the source preserved.
Choosing a program: what to ask
Section titled “Choosing a program: what to ask”- What is the commission a percentage of — gross, room-only, or net of fees?
- How long is the attribution window, and is it per click or per session?
- Does the link go to a bookable page or a homepage?
- Who is the merchant of record, and who is liable if a booking goes wrong?
- Are the rates hotel-controlled, or resold from a third party?
- Is there a joining fee? There should not be.
Common mistakes
Section titled “Common mistakes”- Promoting a homepage. A link should open the offer you described, on the dates you mentioned.
- Ignoring the attribution window. A 7-day window quietly discards most hotel conversions.
- Assuming commission is on gross. Ask what the base is before comparing rates.
- No cancellation terms. Decide up front what happens to commission when a stay is cancelled.
- One link for everything. Separate links per campaign, audience and placement, or you learn nothing.