Yes, you can book a hotel for someone else in 2026, but the process requires specific steps to ensure a smooth check-in. The most critical action is to list the person actually staying as the primary guest or "representative" during the booking process. If the room is already paid for, the guest usually only needs to provide a photo ID. However, because hotels require a credit card for incidentals (minibar, damages, room service), you should fill out a Credit Card Authorization Form in advance if you want to cover those costs too. Without this form, the hotel will require the guest to provide their own card at the front desk for a temporary "hold." In 2026, many luxury brands and corporate platforms like Engine have streamlined this, allowing you to "gift" stays digitally where the payment and authorization are handled entirely within the app before the guest even arrives at the property.