How to Reduce OTA fees and Drive More Hotel Direct Booking

In a perfect world, hotels would thrive solely on direct bookings. Direct bookings empower you to own the communication, avoid hefty commissions, and enhance your hotel's online presence, leading to increased profitability. However, while online travel agencies (OTAs) remain a critical component of the booking distribution mix, it’s entirely possible to attract more potential guests and convert them into direct bookings.

With the right tools and strategies, you can reduce your reliance on OTAs, cut down on fees, and boost your direct bookings. This article outlines three practical strategies to help your hotel achieve these goals using Clock’s integrated booking engine.

The Challenge: Increasing Direct Bookings

Hotels often depend on OTAs for a significant portion of their bookings. However, the associated high commissions—sometimes exceeding 20%—and limited direct communication options highlight the importance of driving direct bookings. By doing so, hotels retain 15-25% more revenue per reservation while maintaining flexibility in managing booking changes or cancellations.

Direct bookings also allow you to build stronger relationships with guests, providing opportunities for personalized engagement and fostering loyalty. Yet, the journey to enhancing direct bookings begins with addressing a critical issue: the direct booking experience.

Improving the Direct Booking Experience

Despite its advantages, the direct booking process is often plagued by poor design and usability. According to Statista, the global digital shopping cart abandonment rate stands at 70%. This statistic, while focused on e-commerce, reflects a broader trend of online transaction abandonment—a challenge that hotels must overcome.

A confusing or cumbersome booking process can quickly drive potential guests to other options. Simplifying and streamlining the direct booking experience is essential to ensure guests follow through with their reservations.

Here are three strategies to enhance your direct booking process, reduce OTA fees, and improve the overall guest experience:

1. Use Direct Booking Links on Your Hotel Website

Make booking as simple as possible. Direct booking strategies and user-friendly website design are key to minimizing the risk of abandonment. For instance, if you’re promoting a deluxe room on your website, include a clear “Book Now” button linked directly to that room’s booking page. Avoid unnecessary steps that could cause confusion or delay.

Additionally, ensure that promotional offers with bonus codes are easy to apply during checkout. A streamlined booking flow not only improves conversion rates but also enhances the guest’s experience on your website.

2. Implement a Website Booking Form

A website booking form simplifies the reservation process, mimicking the ease of booking a flight online. Feature a static or slide-in form on your homepage, allowing guests to input their dates, number of adults and children, and other essential details.

For example, a user-friendly booking form might include fields for:

- Arrival and departure dates

- Number of guests

- Special promotion codes

This functionality ensures that guests can quickly find and book the best available rooms, starting the booking journey as soon as they land on your site.

3. Showcase High-Quality Images and Detailed Room Descriptions

First impressions matter, and high-quality visuals can significantly influence a guest’s decision to book. Use professional photos that highlight the best features of each room, and pair them with detailed descriptions. During the booking process, include an image gallery that allows guests to visualize their stay.

Make sure your most appealing images appear first to capture attention immediately. An inviting visual presentation can be the deciding factor in converting a potential guest into a confirmed booking.

Summary

Increasing direct bookings is a vital step toward boosting your hotel’s profitability and reducing dependency on OTAs. By simplifying the booking process, integrating high-conversion tools like a website booking form, and showcasing your property with captivating visuals, you can create a seamless and engaging experience for your guests.

Delta Direct Booking, designed for easy integration with Delta PMS, provides all the tools you need to drive more direct bookings and enhance guest satisfaction. With its intuitive features and streamlined process, you’ll retain more revenue and build lasting connections with your guests.

Ready to Boost Your Direct Bookings?

Take control of your reservations and increase your profits with Delta Direct Booking. Our all-in-one booking engine simplifies the reservation process, enhances the guest experience, and reduces reliance on OTAs.

Stop paying OTA fees! Driving more bookings has never been easier. Click here to get started with Delta Direct Booking today!