The Benefits of Direct Bookings on your Website
In an age of high OTA commissions and fierce competition, taking control of your bookings is a gamechanger. Our Direct Bookings service (part of African Nomad’s boutique hotel software suite) is designed to help you win more reservations through your own channels – boosting your profits and building your brand. We give you the technology and tactics to turn your website into your primary booking source, so you can say goodbye to hefty third-party fees and hello to greater independence.
Invest in a mobile-optimized, fast-loading, on-brand booking engine—integrated seamlessly into your website with pricing parity and incentives to book direct.
Improved Conversion Rates
When potential guests are redirected to an external booking engine, trust can be disrupted and attention lost. According to a study by SalesCycle, the average cart abandonment rate for travel bookings is 81%, largely due to confusing user journeys and redirects.
✅ On-site booking engines offer a smoother experience, increasing the likelihood of guests completing their reservation.
Statistic:
A Google Travel study found that 94% of leisure travelers switch between devices as they plan or book, so a seamless, consistent experience across your own website ensures less friction—and fewer lost bookings.
Enhanced Brand Trust & Loyalty
Redirecting users to an unfamiliar third-party site breaks brand continuity. This can raise concerns around data privacy and booking legitimacy—especially for older or less tech-savvy guests.
✅ On-site bookings build trust and help reinforce your brand’s credibility by keeping users in a familiar, branded environment throughout their decision-making process.
Statistic:
According to Trustpilot, 7 out of 10 consumers say they are more likely to book if the process stays within the original brand’s website.
Better Upselling and Personalization
On your own site, you can tailor offers, upsells (like breakfast, spa, airport transfers), and promotions to different audiences using smart segmentation.
✅ This leads to higher average order values and improved guest satisfaction.
Statistic:
Hotels that use direct online booking with personalized upselling see an average revenue increase of 20-30% per booking (Triptease).
Increased Profit Margins
Every third-party booking platform (e.g., Booking.com, Expedia) charges a commission—often between 15% to 20%—on every reservation made through their site.
✅ On-site bookings eliminate commissions, giving you full control over pricing, upselling, and customer engagement.
Example:
For a hotel that gets 500 bookings/month at an average value of $150 per stay, redirecting to OTAs can cost $11,250/month in commissions. Retaining those bookings in-house saves this revenue.
Own Your Customer Data
When guests book via a third-party site, you’re often restricted from accessing their contact details or behavioral data.
✅ On-site bookings give you full ownership of customer data, which is critical for post-stay engagement, loyalty campaigns, and re-marketing.
Statistic:
According to Revinate, hotels that utilize guest data effectively see a 25% higher repeat booking rate.
Conclusion
Redirecting users to external platforms may seem convenient, but it costs you in lost bookings, lower margins, and reduced control over the guest experience.
Building a robust on-site booking system ensures:
More completed bookings
Lower commission fees
Higher trust and loyalty
Better guest experiences
Long-term revenue growth
Embrace the power of going direct with African Nomad.
Contact us today to supercharge your direct booking strategy.
Try it!
This is a demo to show you what it could look like on your website own website!