Online travel agencies bring you guests, but they also take a commission on every booking and often keep the guest’s contact details to themselves. Direct bookings change both.
What changes with a direct booking
- No OTA commission on that stay. As an illustration, a ₹1,00,000 month with an 18% commission is ₹18,000 you don’t have to share.
- You hold the guest’s email and phone, so you can welcome them back.
- You control cancellation terms, rate plans and add-ons.
Getting guests to book direct
- Put a Book now box on your website, Instagram bio, Google Business Profile and WhatsApp.
- Offer something an OTA can’t, such as breakfast included, early check-in or airport pickup.
- Make payment easy with a UPI advance on the confirmation page.
- Send a confirmation email straight away.
Bring them back
After the stay, thank the guest and tell them when you run festival or weekend offers. A repeat guest who books direct costs you nothing in commission.
The 18% figure above is an example. Your own OTA commission may differ.