Post by Gareth, Registration Lead, Welsh Revenue Authority
We are getting closer to opening registration for visitor accommodation providers in Wales. From autumn 2026, anyone who takes bookings for overnight stays in Wales will need to register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA). Before we open registration to everyone, we want to make sure the service works well for all providers. That is why we are inviting a small group of providers to take part in a private beta – an early test of the real service.
Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
What is a private beta?
A private beta is an early version of a service that we test with real users before it is available to everyone. It gives us the chance to find and fix problems before registration opens to all providers in autumn 2026.
In June, we will work with around 100 accommodation providers over 2 weeks. Participants will use the real service and register using real details. This will help us understand how the service performs in practice and find anything we need to improve.
Why your involvement matters
We have spent the last year designing, building and testing this service with input from over 600 accommodation providers across Wales. We have made changes to the service based on feedback from users and testing the full service from start to finish with real users is the next important step.
By taking part, you will help us shape the service – making sure it works for you and the wider sector. Your feedback will directly influence what we change and improve before registration opens to everyone.
What to expect
If you take part, you will:
- complete your mock registration using the live service
- share your experience with us during and after testing
- help us find anything that does not work as expected
The service will be available in Welsh and English and we’ll be on hand throughout to support you. We’ll also offer other ways to register if you are less confident using online services.
The private beta will be a good way to test our guidance, helpdesk support and other internal processes, to make sure we can answer any questions from users.
We may make changes to the service following the private beta, which means you may have to register again when the service opens in autumn 2026. We will contact everyone who takes part to let them know if this is the case.
How to get involved
We are looking for at least 100 visitor accommodation providers from across Wales, representing a range of accommodation types – from small B&Bs and furnished holiday lets to campsites, caravan parks and larger holiday parks.
If you would like to take part, please complete our short form and a member of our team will be in touch.
What happens next?
After the private beta, we will:
- analyse data to find where users may be having difficulties
- ask participants to complete a short feedback survey
- hold follow-up phone interviews with a sample of providers to explore their experiences in more depth
- speak to WRA teams to find out what worked well and where improvements can be made
Using what we learn, we’ll make improvements to the service and continue testing before registration opens. We will share what we find in a future blog post, as part of our commitment to working in the open.
Have your say
Even if you cannot take part in the beta, we would still love to hear from you. Contact us at wracommunications@wra.gov.wales or sign up to receive updates and get notified when registration opens.
Please note: everything we share is work in progress and may change as we continue to develop the service.