Booking.com has not publicly disclosed an exact numeric weight
factor (like 1.5× or 2×). What they've confirmed is that recent
reviews now carry more weight than older ones in the calculation of
a property's Guest Review Score, starting January 23, 2025. The
weighting is progressive by recency rather than a fixed multiplier,
meaning the newest reviews influence the score more strongly, but
the exact algorithm is proprietary.
Before 2025: All reviews counted equally; the
score was a simple average of overall ratings.
After Jan 23, 2025:
• Recent reviews are prioritized. The closer a review is to the
present, the more impact it has.
• Older reviews gradually lose influence. They still count, but
their weight diminishes over time.
• Transparency goal: Booking.com introduced this
to better reflect the current guest experience rather than
historical averages.
⚠️ Risks & Considerations
Uncertainty: Because the algorithm is
proprietary, any numeric factor you use is an approximation.
Volatility: A few bad recent reviews can drag
down the score faster than before.
Strategy: Focus on consistently high recent
reviews (9.5+) to maximize the weighted impact.
