In short: to cut commissions, use platforms to acquire new customers and build a direct channel to bring back the ones you already know: a page, a QR code and a small benefit for those who book directly.
The problem common to every hospitality sector
Restaurants (with table booking platforms), hotels and short-term rentals share the same structural problem: third-party platforms bring visibility but keep a percentage of every transaction, reducing the net margin of the business.
The shared principle: acquisition vs retention
In all three sectors the most effective strategy is the same: use third-party platforms to acquire new customers who do not know the business yet, and build a direct channel to keep and bring back the customers you already have, without paying a commission every time.
The minimum tools to start, in every sector
Whether a restaurant, a hotel or a rental apartment, the bare minimum to open a direct channel is the same: a simple way to be contacted or booked (web page, QR code, direct number) and an incentive, even a small one, to prefer this channel over the third-party platform.
The role of your own reviews in every sector
In all three contexts, building a base of Google reviews independent of the booking platforms helps people who search for the business directly by name or area, a discovery channel that exists in parallel to Booking, TheFork or Airbnb, without depending on any of them.
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It is not an ideological choice, it is an economic calculation
In none of the three sectors does it make sense to drop third-party platforms entirely. The right question is always "what share of my revenue can I sustainably move to the direct channel", not "how do I eliminate commissions completely".
Differences to keep in mind between the three sectors
Though they share the same principle, timing and margins differ: a restaurant recovers direct value almost immediately (the same day), while hotels and short-term rentals work on longer booking cycles, where the direct channel is built patiently over months, not weeks.
A mistake to avoid in all three sectors
Promoting the direct channel in an aggressive or insistent way (too-frequent emails, repeated requests during the stay or meal) risks annoying customers just when you want to build trust. The direct channel works best with patience and discretion, not pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to leave Booking, Airbnb or TheFork?
No: they remain useful for getting discovered. The goal is to move returning guests and word-of-mouth guests to the direct channel.
What is the minimum to start?
A simple way to be booked (a page or widget), a QR at the property or on the table and a small benefit for those who choose the direct channel.
How do I calculate the saving?
With the Booking and Airbnb commission calculator: enter your revenue and see how much you pay and how much you could keep.
Does it work for restaurants too?
Yes: a booking widget on your website and a QR at the table. See the page for restaurants and bars, or for short-term rentals and hotels, with a 14-day free trial.
What to do today in 3 steps
- Calculate how much you pay in commissions.
- Activate a direct booking page.
- Put a QR where the guest or customer has the phone in hand.
