Hotel Guest-Change Policy Guide
A correction, an additional guest, a lead-guest substitution, and cancel-rebook are different changes. Compare what each official provider source actually supports, then obtain written approval for the exact reservation before listing.
Reviewed by SpareHolidays · Updated 7 August 2026
| Provider | Correction | Additional guest | Lead-guest substitution | Cancel and rebook | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | The booking may expose 'Change guest details'; availability depends on the property's policy. | The cited page does not promise that every booking can add another guest. | Booking.com does not publish a general right to replace the lead guest; obtain written approval for the exact booking. | Cancellation and rebooking follow the reservation's property-set conditions and are a separate booking, not a transfer. | Booking.com Customer Service — booking changes (checked 2026-08-07) |
| Hilton | A direct reservation can be modified through Hilton; a third-party reservation must be changed through the original booking source. | The cited Hilton pages do not publish a universal additional-guest rule. | The cited Hilton pages do not publish a general right to replace the primary guest. | Use the direct or third-party channel that owns the booking and review the reservation conditions before cancelling. | Hilton Help Center — direct reservation changes (checked 2026-08-07)Hilton Help Center — third-party reservations (checked 2026-09-10) |
| IHG | IHG directs existing bookings to Manage Your Reservations; the exact available changes depend on the booking. | IHG says a new Reward Night can be booked for someone else by adding that person's name. | The Reward Night additional-name rule does not establish lead-guest substitution for an existing reservation. | The cited FAQ does not publish a universal cancel-rebook route that preserves the original rate or availability. | IHG Customer Care — reservation FAQs (checked 2026-08-07) |
| Iberostar Beachfront Resorts | The cited page does not publish a global guest-name correction rule; ask the Contact Center or property. | The cited page does not publish a global additional-guest rule for an existing reservation. | Iberostar does not publish a global lead-guest substitution rule; written approval is required for the exact reservation. | Modification conditions depend on the booked rate, property, and dates; a replacement booking is a separate transaction. | Iberostar — flexible booking conditions (checked 2026-08-07) |
| Expedia Rapid | Rapid classifies a guest-name change as a soft change within its partner API. | The cited instruction does not publish a consumer additional-guest process. | The B2B API warns against drastic changes and use on a non-refundable or in-penalty booking; misuse can cause cancellation or penalties. | The cited instruction does not promise a cancel-rebook route that preserves price, room, or availability. | Expedia Group Rapid — guest name change instruction (checked 2026-08-07) |
| Marriott Bonvoy | The cited page is about adding another guest, not a general name-correction policy. | Marriott says an additional guest can be added to a paid or award reservation through customer support. | Adding an additional guest does not establish removal or substitution of the primary guest. | The cited page warns that changing guest count may affect the rate or room type; it does not promise preservation through rebooking. | Marriott Bonvoy Help — adding another guest (checked 2026-08-07) |
Limited / Case-by-Case
Booking.com
Limited / Case-by-CaseBooking.com lists 'Change guest details' among possible booking changes, depending on the property's policy. The cited page does not turn that option into a universal transfer right.
Correction
The booking may expose 'Change guest details'; availability depends on the property's policy.
Additional guest
The cited page does not promise that every booking can add another guest.
Lead-guest substitution
Booking.com does not publish a general right to replace the lead guest; obtain written approval for the exact booking.
Cancel and rebook
Cancellation and rebooking follow the reservation's property-set conditions and are a separate booking, not a transfer.
Fees
No universal guest-substitution fee is stated on the cited page; the property's booking conditions control any charge.
Deadline
No universal guest-substitution deadline is stated on the cited page; check the reservation and property policy.
Hilton
Limited / Case-by-CaseHilton separates direct and third-party reservations. Direct bookings use Hilton's modification routes; a third-party booking must be handled by that booking source.
Correction
A direct reservation can be modified through Hilton; a third-party reservation must be changed through the original booking source.
Additional guest
The cited Hilton pages do not publish a universal additional-guest rule.
Lead-guest substitution
The cited Hilton pages do not publish a general right to replace the primary guest.
Cancel and rebook
Use the direct or third-party channel that owns the booking and review the reservation conditions before cancelling.
Fees
The cited page does not publish a universal guest-substitution fee. Ask for the exact charge before agreeing a transfer.
Deadline
The cited page directs guests to the reservation confirmation; no universal guest-substitution cutoff is published there.
IHG
Limited / Case-by-CaseIHG publishes reservation management and a narrow rule for booking a Reward Night for another person. Neither fact proves that an existing cash or reward stay can be resold.
Correction
IHG directs existing bookings to Manage Your Reservations; the exact available changes depend on the booking.
Additional guest
IHG says a new Reward Night can be booked for someone else by adding that person's name.
Lead-guest substitution
The Reward Night additional-name rule does not establish lead-guest substitution for an existing reservation.
Cancel and rebook
The cited FAQ does not publish a universal cancel-rebook route that preserves the original rate or availability.
Fees
The cited FAQ does not publish a universal existing-booking guest-substitution fee.
Deadline
The cited FAQ does not publish a universal guest-substitution deadline for existing bookings.
Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
Limited / Case-by-CaseIberostar publishes rate-, property-, and date-dependent modification conditions. The cited page does not publish a global lead-guest substitution rule, fee, or deadline.
Correction
The cited page does not publish a global guest-name correction rule; ask the Contact Center or property.
Additional guest
The cited page does not publish a global additional-guest rule for an existing reservation.
Lead-guest substitution
Iberostar does not publish a global lead-guest substitution rule; written approval is required for the exact reservation.
Cancel and rebook
Modification conditions depend on the booked rate, property, and dates; a replacement booking is a separate transaction.
Fees
No global lead-guest substitution fee is published on the cited page.
Deadline
No global lead-guest substitution deadline is published on the cited page.
Expedia Rapid
Limited / Case-by-CaseExpedia Group's partner-facing Rapid API documents a guest-name soft change and warns against misuse. It is not a consumer promise that every Expedia reservation can be transferred.
Correction
Rapid classifies a guest-name change as a soft change within its partner API.
Additional guest
The cited instruction does not publish a consumer additional-guest process.
Lead-guest substitution
The B2B API warns against drastic changes and use on a non-refundable or in-penalty booking; misuse can cause cancellation or penalties.
Cancel and rebook
The cited instruction does not promise a cancel-rebook route that preserves price, room, or availability.
Fees
The cited API instruction does not establish a universal consumer fee for guest substitution.
Deadline
The cited API instruction gives no universal consumer deadline and warns about in-penalty bookings.
Marriott Bonvoy
Limited / Case-by-CaseMarriott documents adding an additional guest through support. That is narrower than replacing the primary guest and does not establish a resale right.
Correction
The cited page is about adding another guest, not a general name-correction policy.
Additional guest
Marriott says an additional guest can be added to a paid or award reservation through customer support.
Lead-guest substitution
Adding an additional guest does not establish removal or substitution of the primary guest.
Cancel and rebook
The cited page warns that changing guest count may affect the rate or room type; it does not promise preservation through rebooking.
Fees
The cited page does not publish a universal fee for lead-guest substitution.
Deadline
The cited page says to request the additional guest before check-in but does not establish a lead-substitution deadline.
These sources describe narrow provider features, not a universal resale right. Ask both the property and the booking channel which exact change they approve for your reservation, and keep their written response.
List only after the official guest change is confirmed
Get written confirmation from the property and booking provider that this reservation permits the required guest substitution before listing. Do not list a cancellation-and-rebook workaround, a loyalty benefit tied to the original member, or any booking whose transfer is uncertain.