Every booking on a platform costs you a commission
Booking platforms bring visibility, especially with guests who do not yet know your hotel. But that visibility comes at a price: a commission on every booking.
For a hotel, that share weighs heavily. It often represents a large part of the margin on a room night. And it also applies to the loyal guest who comes back every year, simply because booking on a platform feels easier than on your website.
What is a direct booking?
A direct booking is one made with the hotel itself: on its website, by phone or by email. There is no intermediary, so no commission. Every booking made on your website rather than on a platform is one commission less.
The aim is not to leave the platforms. They remain useful for being discovered. The aim is for guests who have already chosen your hotel to be able to book with you as easily as anywhere else.
Why guests book somewhere other than your website
- The website does not allow booking, or sends guests to an enquiry form.
- Booking takes too long: too many screens, too many fields, a poor display on mobile.
- Availability is unreliable, because the site is not connected to the hotel management system.
- Payment does not inspire confidence, or rejects some foreign cards.
- Nothing makes direct booking attractive: no visible advantage over the platforms.
Five levers to increase direct bookings
- A booking engine on your website, visible on every page, showing availability and prices in real time.
- A short journey: choose dates, choose a room, pay. Three steps, no more.
- Secure payment that accepts the payment methods your guests use, including international ones.
- A direct-booking advantage: breakfast included, late check-out, upgrade subject to availability. Check first what your platform contracts allow.
- A relationship with your guests: during and after the stay, invite guests to book their next stay directly with the hotel.
Our solution: a booking engine connected to your hotel management system
What Clarendis puts in place: a booking engine on your website, connected to your hotel management system. Guests see real-time availability, book in a few clicks and pay securely. Every booking goes straight into the room plan: no re-keying, no risk of selling the same room twice.
The engine follows your brand guidelines and can offer extras at the time of booking, such as breakfast or a treatment. The off-season is the right time to set it up: it will be ready when demand returns.
Putting these tools in place in your hotel
Take action
- Direct hotel booking engine
- Hotel PMS and management system
- Our hospitality solutions
- Hotel channel manager and centralised bookings
- Premium Hospitality
To see these tools at work on a complete stay: the live presentation on 29 October
Frequently asked questions
How can a hotel increase direct bookings?
By offering on its website a fast and reliable booking engine, secure payment and an advantage reserved for direct bookings, then inviting guests to come back and book with the hotel.
What commission do booking platforms charge?
A commission on every booking, whose rate depends on the platform and the contract. A direct booking carries none.
Should a hotel leave the booking platforms?
No. They remain useful for visibility. The point is to stop paying commission on guests who have already chosen you.
Is the booking engine connected to the hotel management system?
Yes. It reads availability and rates from the hotel management system and places every booking in it, with no double entry.
When should a hotel set up a booking engine?
Ideally during the off-season, so the engine is ready and tested before demand returns.
A project to scope?
Let's talk about your project: ERP, CRM, portals, e-invoicing.
Get in touch →A question about your specific situation? We discuss it on our forum.
