Are You Paying OTAs More Than You Should?
In today’s hospitality business, most hoteliers feel like they have to work with OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) such as Booking.com, Agoda, or Expedia. It’s the “normal” way, right?
But every time a guest books your room through an OTA, a big chunk of your revenue goes to them—often 15% to 25% of the booking value. That’s money you earned, but someone else is keeping a share of it.
Now imagine this happening over hundreds of bookings each year. That’s thousands of dollars lost—not just once, but month after month.
If you're thinking:
"Can I reduce this commission loss and still keep getting bookings?" Yes, you can—by increasing your direct bookings.
Why Direct Bookings Matter for Your Hotel
When guests book directly with you (through your website, phone, or email), you:
- Keep 100% of the money—no commission paid
- Know your guests better—you can collect their contact details and preferences
- Build trust—they deal directly with you, not a third party
- Offer upgrades or extras—you can upsell rooms, meals, early check-in, etc.
You don’t have to cut off OTAs completely. But you should stop depending on them entirely.
Why Guests Choose OTAs (and How You Can Win Them Back)
Guests like OTAs because:
- They can compare hotels in one place
- They trust reviews and ratings
- Booking is easy and quick
But here's what most hoteliers don’t know:
Many guests still visit the hotel’s own website before they book.
This is your chance. If your website looks good, is easy to use, and offers a better deal or benefit, the guest might book directly with you.
Let’s look at how to make that happen.
8 Easy and Effective Ways to Get More Direct Bookings
1. Make Your Hotel Website Work Like a Front Desk
Your website is your first impression. It should be fast, simple, and mobile-friendly.
Here’s what every good hotel website should have:
A reliable web booking engine (like the one from Hotelogix PMS) ensures bookings are fast and error-free.
2. Use Guest Reviews to Build Trust
Before booking, guests want to know what others have experienced.
You can:
- Ask happy guests to leave a review at checkout
- Use QR codes or tablets to collect quick feedback
- Show reviews on your website and social media
- Reply to every review—good or bad
When you respond professionally, it shows you care. This is part of good reputation management, which helps build credibility over time.
3. Use Social Media to Bring Guests to You
Most travelers today are on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Your hotel should be there too—not just to show off rooms, but to connect with guests.
What to post:
- Beautiful photos of your rooms, lobby, food, views
- Guest stories, celebrations, or weddings
- Behind-the-scenes moments with staff
- Last-minute deals or seasonal offers
Encourage followers to message you directly or click through to your website to book. Social media isn’t just for likes—it’s a direct sales tool if used right.
4. Be Mobile-Ready
Over 70% of last-minute bookings now happen on smartphones. If your website isn’t mobile-optimized, you're losing business every day.
Your mobile site should:
- Load fast
- Be easy to scroll and navigate
- Offer click-to-call and WhatsApp options
- Have a visible Book Now button
You can also offer small perks for mobile bookings, like:
“Book on your phone and get a free welcome drink!”
5. Add More Value Without Breaking Rate Parity
You may be restricted by rate parity agreements, meaning you can’t advertise cheaper rates than what’s on OTAs. But here’s what you can do:
Instead of lowering the price, increase the value. Train your staff to mention these perks during calls, check-ins, and in emails.
6. Use Technology to Make Your Life Easier
You don’t need a big budget or tech team. With the right tools, even a small hotel can work like a large chain.
The more automated your system is, the fewer mistakes and more time you’ll save.
7. Use a Strong CRS Like Hotelogix
- A fully synced web booking engine
- Real-time OTA management
- Guest data for marketing and rebooking
- Tools for better reputation management
- Reports to track which channels give the best ROI
"Hotelogix helps hoteliers take back control—from the front desk to future bookings."
For small hotels and multi-property setups alike, it's a system built for results.
8. Turn Guests Into Repeat Customers
A happy guest should not be a one-time visitor. If you play your cards right, they’ll return—and bring others with them.
Ways to make it happen:
- Offer a simple loyalty program (e.g., 10% off on the second visit)
- Send seasonal offers via WhatsApp or email
- Add a thank-you card in the room with a “Book Direct Next Time” offer
- Run referral campaigns like “Refer a friend, get 15% off”
The easiest direct booking is from a guest who already knows and trusts you.
Final Words: It's Time to Take Back Control
In today’s hotel business, working with OTAs is okay—but relying only on them is risky.
If you want higher profit, better control, and stronger guest relationships, direct bookings are the way forward.
Here’s what to remember:
- Your website should make booking easy
- Guest reviews and social proof help guests trust you
- Mobile and social channels can drive bookings directly
- Tools like Hotelogix CRS and web booking engine make it simple to manage everything
- Guests who book direct are more loyal, more profitable, and easier to upsell
You don’t need to do everything at once. Start with small steps—like improving your website, posting regularly on social media, or asking guests to book direct next time.
Even if you increase your direct bookings by 10%, it can mean thousands more in profit every year.
