The travel and hospitality industry has witnessed a digital transformation in the last decade. With the rise of online booking platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb, travelers now prefer booking their stays through apps that provide convenience, transparency, and competitive pricing. If you’re a hotel owner, travel agency, or an entrepreneur, you might be considering building a resort booking app like Booking.com to tap into this thriving market. But the question most businesses ask is: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Resort Booking App Like Booking.com ?
In this blog, we’ll break down the development cost, features, tech stack, and factors that influence pricing so you can make an informed decision before investing.
Why Invest in a Resort Booking App?
Before diving into costs, it’s important to understand why building a resort booking app is a profitable idea:
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High Market Demand – According to reports, the online travel booking market is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.
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User Convenience – Modern travelers prefer booking resorts, hotels, and experiences from their smartphones.
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Revenue Opportunities – You can generate revenue through commission models, subscription plans, advertisements, and premium listings.
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Global Reach – Unlike offline agencies, a resort booking app allows you to target a global audience with ease.
Clearly, investing in such an app can bring long-term returns.
Key Features of a Resort Booking App Like Booking.com
The cost of building your app largely depends on the features you want to integrate. A fully functional app requires two panels: User Panel and Admin Panel, along with additional features for hotel/resort owners.
User Panel Features:
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Easy Sign-Up/Login (via email, mobile, or social accounts)
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Advanced Search and Filters (location, date, budget, amenities, ratings)
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Booking and Cancellation with real-time availability
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Secure Payment Gateway (credit card, wallet, UPI, PayPal, etc.)
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User Reviews & Ratings to build trust
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Push Notifications for offers and booking confirmations
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Wishlist/Favorites for saving resorts
Admin Panel Features:
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Dashboard Management for user data, bookings, and transactions
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Resort/Hotel Management (adding, editing, removing listings)
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Revenue Management with commission tracking
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Customer Support Integration (live chat or AI chatbot)
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Analytics and Reports for business insights
Additional Features (For Resort/Hotel Owners):
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Property Listing and Management Tools
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Pricing and Discount Settings
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Booking Calendar for availability management
The more advanced your features (e.g., AI-powered recommendations, AR/VR property tours, voice search), the higher the development cost.
Technology Stack for a Resort Booking App
To build a resort booking app like Booking.com, developers usually use the following technologies:
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Frontend Development: React Native, Flutter (for cross-platform), Swift (iOS), Kotlin/Java (Android)
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Backend Development: Node.js, Django, Ruby on Rails
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Database: MySQL, MongoDB, Firebase
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Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay
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APIs: Google Maps API, Hotel/Resort APIs, Weather API
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Cloud Storage: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud
Choosing the right tech stack is crucial, and hiring an experienced mobile app development company ensures scalability, performance, and security.
Factors That Affect Development Cost
The cost of developing a resort booking app like Booking.com can vary widely depending on several factors:
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App Complexity & Features
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A simple MVP with basic booking features will cost less.
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Advanced apps with AI, AR/VR, multilingual support, and integrations cost more.
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Platform Choice
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Building for Android only is cheaper than developing for both Android and iOS.
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Cross-platform development (using Flutter/React Native) is often cost-effective.
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Design Requirements
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A user-friendly UI/UX design with intuitive navigation is essential.
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Custom designs and animations can increase costs.
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Development Team Location
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Developers in the USA and Europe charge higher ($80–$150/hour).
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Developers in Asia (India, Philippines) charge less ($20–$50/hour).
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Third-Party Integrations
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Payment gateways, cloud services, chatbots, and maps add to the overall budget.
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Post-Launch Costs
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Regular maintenance, updates, bug fixes, and marketing also contribute to long-term expenses.
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Cost Breakdown of Resort Booking App Development
Here’s a rough estimate of development costs:
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Basic MVP App: $25,000 – $40,000
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Mid-Level App with Advanced Features: $50,000 – $80,000
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Fully Loaded App with AI, AR/VR, and Global Integrations: $100,000+
If you’re targeting both iOS and Android, the cost will increase unless you go for cross-platform solutions.
Development Timeline
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Requirement Analysis & Planning: 2–3 weeks
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UI/UX Design: 3–5 weeks
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Backend & Frontend Development: 12–18 weeks
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Testing & Quality Assurance: 3–5 weeks
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Deployment & Launch: 1–2 weeks
On average, it takes 4–6 months to build a resort booking app like Booking.com, depending on its complexity.
How to Choose the Right Development Partner?
Building a high-performing resort booking app requires expertise, so selecting the right partner is crucial. Here are some tips:
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Look for a best Android app development company with proven experience in travel or hospitality apps.
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Check client reviews, ratings, and portfolios.
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Ask for detailed cost breakdowns and timelines.
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Ensure they provide post-launch support and app maintenance.
If you’re unsure where to start, exploring the top 10 mobile app development companies in Illinois can give you insights into reliable partners with strong reputations in building scalable and innovative mobile solutions.
Conclusion
A resort booking app like Booking.com can open new revenue streams and give your business a competitive edge in the travel industry. While the cost of building such an app ranges from $25,000 to $100,000+, the actual figure depends on the features, technology, and development partner you choose.
The key is to start with an MVP, test your app in the market, and gradually enhance it with advanced features based on user feedback. Partnering with a skilled mobile app development company ensures you get a secure, scalable, and user-friendly app that meets customer expectations.