Hospitality
channel mix

What each booking path costs you

Same rooms. Same sold nights. Different mix of Booking.com vs direct. This is not a pitch to leave OTAs — it is a worksheet to see the rands.

Hosted by datablox.co.za · Illustrative only · Email us your numbers

Every night moved off the OTA keeps about R375 in the house. At these numbers, about 67 direct nights cover a R25,000 Year‑1 site build.

Four scenarios (live totals)

Scenario OTA / direct nights OTA commission / yr Tools + site (Y1) Cash after OTA fees Saved vs A

Scenario B assumes a small enquire shift without a synced calendar (double-book risk). C and D assume NightsBridge (or equivalent) so OTAs and your website share one calendar. Year‑1 includes an illustrative R25,000 site + direct path; Year 2 usually drops that to a light retain. Confirm current NightsBridge pricing for your room count.

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  1. Enter your average rate and sold nights.
  2. Estimate today’s % of bookings via OTAs.
  3. Read Scenario A — that is today’s approximate cut.
  4. Compare C — modest shift to direct on the same demand.

What “good” looks like

  1. Keep Booking.com for international reach.
  2. Make Google and return guests book on your site.
  3. Offer a direct perk (welcome drink, late checkout) — not a public undercut of OTA rates.
  4. Track monthly: % nights OTA vs direct.

Illustrative worksheet from Datablox (Case 01 — OTA commission). Not a quote or guarantee of occupancy. Commission rates vary by programme and property.