Direct bookings vs OTA’s

If you’re in the vacation rental business, chances are you’ve used an online travel agency (OTA) like Airbnb, Booking.com, or Vrbo. These platforms offer visibility, trust, and convenience, but they also come with high fees and limited control.

So what’s the smarter long-term move: sticking with OTAs or building up your direct bookings?

Let’s break it down and explore how tools like Bookingmood make it easier than ever to grow your direct channel.

What are OTA’s (and why they work)?

OTAs are marketplaces that connect travelers with places to stay. They offer:

Huge reach and built-in audiences
Trust signals (reviews, verification, payment handling)
Easy onboarding for new hosts

For many, they’re the fastest way to get bookings, especially when starting out. But they come at a cost.

The downsides of relying on OTA’s

No control over guest relationships (you can’t market to them directly)
Brand invisibility: guests remember Airbnb, not you
Sudden rule changes or account suspensions outside your control

If you rely solely on OTA’ss, you’re building someone else’s business, not your own.

Why direct bookings are worth the effort

Building your direct booking channel gives you:

More profit per booking (no commissions)
More control over the guest experience
Long-term relationships (repeat guests, referrals)
Stronger brand presence

Direct doesn’t mean harder, especially when you use the right tech.

How Bookingmood supports direct bookings

Bookingmood gives you the tools to run your rental business on your own terms:

Easy-to-use website builder: create your own branded booking page
Calendar sync: stay aligned with Airbnb or Vrbo while building independence
Payment integration: accept direct payments securely
Automated communication: handle guest messages without stress
Mobile-friendly booking flow: so guests can book you, not just a platform

You stay in control, and your guests book directly with you.

A balanced strategy: best of both worlds?

We’re not saying ditch OTA’s completely. In fact, many successful hosts use both:

OTA’s to bring in new guests
Direct channels to turn them into loyal return guests

Use Bookingmood to offer a great direct experience, and you’ll naturally shift more bookings away from platforms, without losing visibility.

Direct bookings with Bookingmood

OTA’s are a helpful tool. But direct bookings? They’re your future.

If you want more control, more profit, and a more sustainable business, building a direct booking strategy is the way to go, and Bookingmood makes it simple, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

Start your free trial and start building your brand, not just your listings.