Every hotelier knows the pain. For every booking coming through Booking.com or Airbnb, you pay a commission of 15% to 25%. On a room at 500 NIS per night, the commission can reach 125 NIS. Multiply that by 30 bookings per month, and you're losing 3,750 NIS. Annually, that's 45,000 NIS going to someone else's pocket.
A direct booking engine solves this problem. It's a tool integrated into the hotel's website allowing guests to book a room directly, without intermediaries, without commissions. The guest selects dates, sees real-time availability, chooses a package, and pays. The booking enters directly into the ROI-PMS system.
The advantages of direct bookings go beyond commission savings. First, complete price control. You set the price without an external platform dictating terms. Second, direct relationships with guests. You get their contact details, can send them emails, and invite them back. Third, full flexibility in design and booking experience.
ROI-PMS booking engine offers dynamic pricing based on occupancy. When the hotel is full, prices rise automatically. When rooms are available, the system can offer attractive prices. Everything is automatic, without manual intervention.
It's important to understand that a direct booking engine doesn't replace OTAs. It complements them. The right strategy is to use Booking and Airbnb to attract new guests, and direct returning guests to book directly. This way you benefit from the exposure of large platforms but save the commission on repeat bookings.
The system also supports hourly bookings, special packages, and add-ons like breakfast or room upgrades. The guest sees everything in a convenient and clear format, booking and paying with a click.
The bottom line: a hotel without a direct booking engine pays unnecessary tax to external platforms. The investment in a booking engine pays for itself from the very first booking.