OTA Cost Calculator

 

A traveler chooses an OTA over your site and in the click of a mouse, you’ve just lost 18% or more of your revenue. Ouch. The true cost of OTAs is not always apparent to hoteliers, since OTA fees are hidden in the discounted rates that OTAs demand from hotels. But the costs can be enormous.

unsplash-image-tLG2hcpITZE.jpg

FREQUENT TRAVELERS ARE TRAINED TO BOOK DIRECT:

The #1 reason a traveler books direct is to earn loyalty points and rewards.

JUST SAY “NO” TO REPEAT OTA BOOKERS:

After enrolling in Stash, 80% of OTA guests subsequently book direct.

★ Get Our FREE Guide★
“An Independent Hotel’s Guide to Driving Direct Bookings: Tried &True Tactics for Fighting Back Against OTAs.”

 

Let Us Help

We think all hoteliers should be wary of Online Travel Agents (OTAs) Here’s why:

  • Highway Robbery: 15-25% commission per reservation. (Ouch!)

  • Digital Dominance: They are spending ​billions of dollars annually on SEM, and buying independent hotel names as a keyword. (They don’t do this for the chains.)

  • Playing favorites: Expedia spells it out clear as day: “What we are paid impacts our sort order.” (That’ll teach you for negotiating a better commission.)

  • Behind your back: They’ve started cutting into their commission to go out of parity and undersell what you offer on your site. (The nerve!)

  • In bed with the chains: Independent hotels don’t have the critical mass to negotiate lower margins like the chains have recently done. (Not fair.)

  • Email hogs: OTAs withhold guests’ email addresses, preventing any future attempts to market to them directly. (Oink oink!) 

A real drag, indeed.  But on the other hand, OTAs are a tool for filling rooms when you need them, with many hotels relying on 3rd party channels for more than 50% of overall business.  As a responsible hotelier, you’d be crazy not to include 3rd parties in your distribution strategy; after all, 80% of rate for a booked room is better than a vacant room.

With “partners” like that, you need a real partner that is watching your back and helping you work around the OTAs, without falling prey to their tactics.

Ready to hear more about how Stash can improve ADR, drive direct bookings and improve NOI for your independent hotel? Whether you are a boutique, an inn, a resort or something in between, Stash is on stand by to help! Get in touch with someone on our indie-loving team, today!