direct

Studies show travelers view more than 100 pages of content before booking. At the same time, most people are not satisfied with current planning tools

There is a clear evolution in how luxury hotel brands acquire new guests with email marketing maturing into a measurable, cost-effective channel

Here is the truth: direct bookings are not free. They require significant investment, ongoing effort and a strategic approach

Guests are used to one-tap payments or locally trusted methods for most things online. When your booking journey feels rigid, OTAs instantly seem easier

If your pricing, visibility, and demand decisions are dictated by OTA behavior, you have lost control of the wheel. Common red flags include:

The analysis covers guest booking and hotel performance data focusing on two key areas: traveler booking behavior and hotel profitability

Overall, behaviour confirms that Black Friday is now an extended period, not a day, and that the direct channel can go head‑to‑head with OTAs

The hotel industry keeps trying to win the direct booking battle on tangible grounds, but these tactics rarely move the needle

To drive direct booking and maximize revenue, hotels must clearly communicate their value proposition while aligning marketing efforts across all channels

Rigid booking policies are no longer viable in a competitive hospitality market. Flexibility is not a feature, it’s the new price of entry