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Booking.com's LGBTQ+ Badge Reaches 150K Properties

Booking.com's Travel Proud certification program has scaled to more than 150,000 properties across 163 countries and 20,000 cities, giving LGBTQ+ travelers a searchable, staff-trained filter for safer accommodation — a reach that makes it one of the broadest inclusive-stay standards operating today.

Reporting by The Points Guy details how the program works: accommodation staff complete a free 90-minute online training developed in partnership with HospitableMe and available in 11 languages. Properties that finish it earn a dedicated Travel Proud badge on Booking.com's platform and appear when travelers activate the "Travel Proud (LGBTQ+ friendly)" search filter. The rollout reflects rapid growth for an initiative that had reached 100,000 properties as of mid-2025, according to a Booking.com press release that cited a survey finding that more than half of LGBTQ+ travelers say being part of the community has an impact on their trip preparation. There is no cost to properties to participate.

The program's current scale comes against a backdrop of documented ongoing anxiety: a separate Booking.com survey found that only 31% of LGBTQ+ travelers globally say they are "out" when they travel, and 44% say they are taking more precautions than a few years ago.

Kristofer Barber, Booking.com's director of global communications, told The Points Guy that the program grew out of the company identifying friction at check-in — specifically, staff making assumptions about guests — as a recurring concern. The training addresses inclusive language at the platform level and guest-facing communication for staff. The filtering capability is the mechanism that makes it practically useful: travelers can surface only certified properties at the search stage before booking, collapsing what has typically been a multi-step research process into a single platform toggle.

What this means for remote workers and nomads

For LGBTQ+ digital nomads and remote workers choosing long-term stays abroad, this matters beyond a single vacation booking. Nomads scouting apartment-style hotels, guesthouses, or extended-stay properties for weeks or months face a different calculus than short-trip tourists: the check-in staff who might make an assumption about a couple will be the same staff handling maintenance requests and mail every day for an extended stay. A certification that specifically addresses staff training — rather than a self-reported "welcoming" label — gives that vetting step institutional backing.

Reviewing the program details, we found that the training's focus on check-in interactions and assumption-avoidance maps directly to the friction points nomads regularly flag in remote-work communities: long-term guests are more visible than tourists, which amplifies both positive and negative staff dynamics. Our research into long-term stays and coworking for remote travelers suggests accommodation culture consistently ranks alongside internet speed as a factor nomads revisit after a difficult experience abroad.

The 163-country footprint also carries weight for nomads holding or researching digital nomad visas, many of which require multi-month stays in a single country. Being able to filter certified properties across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America — rather than consulting separate country-by-country community guides — cuts pre-move research time and removes a layer of uncertainty when committing to a longer stay. The program is available now on Booking.com's platform at no cost for travelers or properties.