A hotel booking request means you have asked for accommodation; a confirmed reservation means the booking has been accepted and recorded. If you need proof of accommodation for a travel file, the useful document is normally the confirmed record with the property, guest names, dates and booking details—not an unanswered inquiry or a screenshot saying “request sent.” The difference is easy to miss because both can arrive by email and both may contain an identifying number.
Imagine planning five nights in Vienna. You message a small hotel asking whether a double room is available from November 17 to November 22. The hotel replies, “We have availability; please confirm if you wish to proceed.” You have a promising option, but not necessarily a reservation. Now imagine receiving a separate message identifying a booked stay under your name, with the property, dates and a confirmation reference. That is a different stage of the process.
