The cost of an OTA booking
On a LKR 25,000 room night at 18% commission, you give up LKR 4,500. Across 300 OTA nights a year that is LKR 1.35 million — more than most annual marketing budgets.
The cost of a direct booking
A direct booking is not free either: advertising, site, email and time all cost something. In practice a well-run programme lands well below OTA commission per booking, and the guest becomes reachable for the next stay.
When an OTA is worth it
- Reaching a market you have no presence in
- Filling last-minute distressed inventory
- New properties with no reviews or brand recognition
The sensible target
Not zero OTA. A mix where you are not paying commission on guests who came looking for you by name.