How to increase direct bookings and cut OTA commissions
Concrete strategies to shift more bookings from portals to your direct channel, reduce commissions, and build a relationship with the guest.
Online travel agencies (OTAs) bring visibility, but at a cost: commissions that can significantly erode the margin of every stay. Increasing direct bookings doesn’t mean abandoning OTAs — it means rebalancing your channels in your favour.
Why direct bookings matter
A direct booking can avoid the OTA commission, while payment, marketing and booking-tool costs may still apply. It also gives the property a direct contact channel for the guest relationship.
Strategies that work
- Give a concrete reason to book direct: a perk, an included service, a small extra touch.
- Make contact simple and fast, in the guest’s own language.
- Care for the stay and offer a clear direct contact for guests who choose to return.
- Invite honest feedback and maintain the guest relationship with appropriate consent.
The role of a digital assistant
Clear property information, multilingual communication and straightforward contact can support the direct channel. Booking results still depend on demand, pricing, visibility and the property’s offer; an assistant does not guarantee more bookings or remove every sales cost.
In short
OTAs remain useful for being found, but the real margin is in the direct channel. Caring for the experience and simplifying contact is the healthiest way to grow it over time.