After a stay is completed, two things matter: making sure your earnings are paid correctly and learning from the guest's experience.

This guide explains both.

How stay payments work

A stay may be paid in full or in stages, depending on the booking terms.

Some bookings may require a deposit first and a remaining balance later. Others may use a different payment arrangement.

Always open the booking itself to see what has been paid, what is still due and the current payment status.

Do not rely on screenshots or messages from the guest as proof of payment. Use the status shown in Tambala.

When your earnings become available

Your earnings do not normally become available simply because the guest has paid.

The stay first needs to move through the booking process.

A normal journey looks like this:

Booking confirmed → Guest checks in → Guest checks out → Booking completes → Earnings become available

Tambala may also apply a short hold or review period after check-out before the booking is completed.

You can follow the current booking and earnings status from your seller dashboard.

Understand your payout amount

Tambala deducts the applicable platform and payment fees from the booking before the remaining amount is paid to you.

Tambala Market's platform commission is 3% of the booking value.

For example, if the booking value is MWK 100,000, the 3% platform commission is MWK 3,000 before any other applicable payment or payout fees.

Your dashboard should show the booking amount, deductions and the amount that becomes available to you.

Always use the current earnings information in Tambala when checking what you will receive.

Check your payout details

Make sure your payout information is correct before you begin receiving bookings.

Depending on the payout methods currently supported, this may be a mobile money account or bank account.

If your payout details change, update them carefully.

An incorrect account number or mobile money number can delay your money and may be difficult to correct after a payout has already been sent.

If a payout is delayed

First check the booking status.

If the stay has not yet reached Completed, the earnings may not be ready for payout.

If the booking is complete, check your available balance and payout details.

There may also be payment, dispute or account issues that temporarily affect a payout.

If everything appears correct but the money has still not arrived, contact Tambala support with the booking or payout reference so the issue can be checked.

What happens when a booking is cancelled or refunded

A cancellation can change what you earn from the booking.

The outcome depends on the cancellation policy, the timing of the cancellation, what the guest has already paid and any refund that applies.

Do not assume that every cancelled booking means the host keeps the deposit or that every cancellation receives a full refund.

Follow the cancellation terms attached to the booking and the amount shown in Tambala.

For the full process, see Cancellations and No-Shows.

Guest reviews

After a completed stay, guests may be able to leave a rating and written review.

Reviews help future guests understand what it is like to stay at your property.

You can view your stay reviews from the Reviews section of your seller dashboard.

Reply to a review

A reply does not need to be long.

If the guest was happy, thank them.

Thank you for staying with us. We are glad you enjoyed your visit and appreciate the review.

If the guest raises a fair problem, acknowledge it calmly.

Thank you for the feedback. We are sorry the check-in instructions were not clear enough. We are improving them for future guests.

Do not argue with guests publicly or include private booking information in your reply.

Remember that your response is also being read by future guests.

What to do with a negative review

Start by asking whether the guest has identified something useful.

Was the room not as clean as expected? Was the location difficult to find? Was an advertised amenity unavailable? Was communication slow?

If the criticism is fair, fix the underlying problem where you can.

One unhappy guest may be an isolated experience. Several guests raising the same issue is a pattern worth taking seriously.

Reviews are not only about reputation. They can help you improve the property.

Dispute a review only when necessary

If a review appears to break Tambala's rules, you can ask for it to be reviewed.

This may apply if the review contains abusive content, appears fraudulent, relates to the wrong stay or otherwise violates the marketplace rules.

Use Dispute and explain clearly why you believe Tambala should review it.

Do not dispute a review simply because the guest gave you a low rating or expressed an honest opinion you disagree with.

Encourage honest reviews

The best way to earn stronger reviews is to provide a better stay.

Keep the property accurate to the listing. Make check-in simple. Provide the amenities you promised. Communicate clearly and solve problems quickly.

After a successful stay, you can politely invite the guest to leave an honest review.

For example:

Thank you for staying with us. We hope you had a good visit. If you have a moment, we would appreciate an honest review on Tambala.

Do not pressure the guest to leave a positive rating.

The important thing to remember

For payouts, follow the booking and earnings status in Tambala rather than guessing when money should arrive.

For reviews, focus less on protecting a perfect score and more on providing a stay that guests are happy to recommend.

Accurate listings, reliable service and good communication help with both.

For the full booking journey, see Process a Stay Booking.

For arrival and departure, see Check Guests In and Out.

For cancellation questions, use Cancellations and No-Shows.