OTAs are not the enemy
Booking, Airbnb, Expedia and other platforms can be excellent acquisition channels. The goal is not to eliminate them, but to avoid making them the only place where guests can find, understand and book your property.
Make the property name easy to recognise
Guests who discover a property on an OTA often search its name on Google. An owned domain, a coherent Google Business profile, real photos, address and complete information can turn that search into a direct contact.
Remove unnecessary friction
Phone, WhatsApp, email, availability and practical information should be easy to find on mobile. Every unnecessary step increases the chance that the guest returns to the OTA.
Work on repeat guests
The owned channel also matters after the first stay. A guest who already knows the property can return directly if the official website and contact path are easy to find.
Measure channels separately
Track enquiries from Google, WhatsApp, the website and OTAs separately. Without measurement, it is difficult to know which actions are actually growing the direct channel.