Booking.com is one of the world’s leading online travel agencies, launched in 1996 and now part of Booking Holdings, headquartered in Amsterdam. It offers over 28 million accommodations—including hotels, apartments, villas and B&Bs—in more than 220 countries and territories, available in 43 languages.

Platform features:

24/7 multilingual customer service, with global and localized offices (e.g., Canada, France, Netherlands).
Verified guest reviews—over 70 million—ensuring authenticity by only accepting reviews from booked stays.
Services include accommodations, flights, car rentals, airport taxis, activities and restaurant reservations.
Genius loyalty program offering member discounts and perks.
Flexible policies: free cancellation and pay-at-property options on most listings.

Booking.com functions primarily as an intermediary: properties set prices and availability; Booking.com earns by commission (typically 15–17%) without charging booking fees to guests. The platform enforces guidelines to protect customers when overbooking occurs.

Advantages

Massive global inventory spanning every travel style and budget.
Transparent, verified reviews.
Strong customer support with local presence.
No booking fees and flexible cancelation.

Considerations

As a middleman, Booking.com can’t always control host actions (e.g., last-minute cancellations).
Commission model may influence host pricing strategies.

Conclusion
For Canadian travellers, Booking.com is a reliable, user-friendly choice for lodging and travel planning, with deep inventory, flexible policies, multilingual support, and no guest fees. Hosts should be aware of platform commission and occasional disputes.