Listing in OTAs Is Not Enough | Today Hospitality India
Just Being on OTAs Isn’t a Strategy — It’s a Risk
In today’s ultra-competitive hospitality market, simply listing your hotel on platforms like Booking.com or Expedia isn’t enough. While OTAs provide reach, overdependence comes at a cost — lower profits, lost guest data, and zero brand loyalty.
At Today Hospitality India, we help hotels across Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Delhi take back control of their revenue. Through direct booking solutions, metasearch visibility, and local SEO, we design multi-channel revenue strategies that boost profit and build guest relationships.
The Hidden Risks of OTA Dependency
High Commission Costs
OTAs charge 15–30% per booking, severely affecting your margins.
Example: ₹5,000/night revenue drops to ₹3,500 after a 30% commission.
Loss of Guest Data
OTAs retain all guest contact info, making it hard to build loyalty.
Stat: Repeat guests spend 67% more — but you can’t market to them without their data.
No Brand Control
Your hotel appears as just another listing, competing only on price.
Guests often don’t remember your name after booking through an OTA.
Algorithm Roulette
OTA rankings depend on opaque algorithms, not your service quality.
One change can drop your visibility — and your revenue.
Missed Direct Booking Profit
Direct bookings are 25–35% more profitable, but require proactive efforts.
Smarter Strategies to Go Beyond OTAs
Launch a Direct Booking Engine
What To Do –
Create a fast, mobile-first booking system with secure payments.
Offer incentives: free breakfast, flexible check-in, exclusive offers.
Use Meta Search Engines
What To Do –
Get listed on Google Hotel Ads, Trivago, TripAdvisor, Kayak.
Bid for high-converting searches like “hotels in Guwahati with breakfast”.
Tell a Brand Story That Sells
What To Do –
Highlight what makes your hotel different: eco-focus, heritage, or experiences.
Use blog posts and videos: “A Day at Our Property,” “Behind the Scenes with Our Chef.”
Build Guest Loyalty Programs
What To Do –
Offer loyalty points redeemable for room nights or local experiences.
Run targeted email campaigns with exclusive deals.
Optimize for Local SEO
What To Do –
Keep your Google Business Profile updated with images, Q&A, reviews, and latest offers.
Add location-based keywords on your site.
Use Analytics to Diversify Your Revenue
What To Do –
Use performance tools to track revenue by channel.
Reallocate budget from low-margin OTAs to metasearch or direct campaigns.
Case Study - How a Coastal Resort Cut OTA Costs by ₹16 Lakhs
Hotel Type: 120-room beach resort
Problem: 90% of bookings via OTAs, ₹40 lakhs/year in commissions
Solutions from Today Hospitality India –
Created a direct booking engine with a “Sunset Cruise Free on Direct Booking” offer
Launched Google Hotel Ads for keywords like “family beach resort in Goa”
Partnered with Kind Traveler and niche travel influencers
Results –
📈 45% increase in direct bookings in 8 months
💰 ₹16 lakhs saved annually on OTA commissions
