Here’s why it’s risky:
💸 1. Commission Monsters
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OTAs eat 15–25% of every booking.
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For a $100 room → you only get $75–85.
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Multiply this by hundreds of bookings, and your profit margin shrinks dramatically.
Graphic Image Idea:
A cake (hotel revenue) being sliced — OTA takes the largest piece, hotel left with crumbs.
🧑🤝🧑 2. No Direct Guest Relationship
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The OTA owns the email, preferences, and loyalty of your guest.
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Your hotel becomes just the “venue,” while the OTA builds the brand love.
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You lose the chance to upsell spa treatments, dinners, or upgrades.
Graphic Image Idea:
A handshake between guest and OTA, while the hotel watches from the corner.
⛓️ 3. Trapped in Rate Parity
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OTAs pressure hotels to keep the same or higher rates than on their own website.
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You can’t offer special deals to direct bookers.
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Your pricing freedom is stolen.
Graphic Image Idea:
A hotel tied with chains labeled “Rate Parity,” while an OTA holds the key.
⚠️ 4. Dependency Danger
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If an OTA suspends you, changes rules, or increases commission, you’re stuck.
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Too much reliance = your revenue pipeline is not in your control.
Graphic Image Idea:
Hotel standing on stilts labeled “OTA,” while a storm (policy change) shakes it.
🕶️ 5. Invisible Hotel Brand
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Guests remember: “I booked on Booking.com,” not “I stayed at Your Hotel Name.”
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OTA becomes the star, your hotel becomes the background.
Graphic Image Idea:
A billboard with “Booking.com” shining in neon, while the hotel logo is in the shadows.
🌟 Takeaway: OTAs are Helpers, Not Heroes
Yes, OTAs bring visibility and guests. But overdependence is like eating only dessert at the buffet—sweet at first, dangerous in the long run.
Hotels must balance OTA exposure with strong direct booking strategies:
✅ Attractive website + booking engine
✅ Google Hotel Ads & SEO
✅ Guest loyalty programs
✅ Social media storytelling
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