Hotel direct booking website: How to create your own

What is a direct booking website?

A direct booking website is a website that hotels can use to accept reservations directly from guests, rather than via a third-party booking channel like Booking.com.

Direct booking websites can be a cost-effective way to diversify your distribution strategy and put more money in your pocket.

You can make your direct booking website quite easily by combining tools such as a hotel website builder and direct booking engine.

This blog will take you through the whole process of how a direct booking website works and how to create one for your hotel.

What are the benefits of direct booking websites?

There are a number of benefits for your hotel to utilise a direct booking website, including financial and operational benefits but also in terms of guest experience and broader marketing.

Let’s take a look in more detail.

Financial benefits

A direct booking website can help your hotel retain more of the reservation revenue, since you won’t have to pay a commission fee to a third-party such as Booking.com or Airbnb. 

While you might still have some taxes to pay, you can also boost revenue from your bookings by offering extra purchases and upgrades to the guest at the time of booking.

Operational Benefits

You’ll be able to streamline the booking and check-in process, as well as help you prevent overbooking issues when you’re connected to a channel manager.

It will also allow you to better showcase your brand and curate an online image for yourself.

Guest experience benefits

By establishing a direct relationship with guests you’ll have more control over how you communicate with them and how their needs are met.

This will allow you to build loyalty easier by tailoring your service, and you’ll also be able to market to similar guests more effectively.

Make direct booking easy at your hotel

Use SiteMinder’s integrated platform to build a hotel website, take direct reservations, and automate your inventory management.

Learn more

How to build a direct booking website

So how do you build your direct booking website? The process is the same whether you’re looking for a hotel booking site or an airbnb direct booking website.

There are two main steps:

Step 1: Build your website

This might sound daunting but it can actually be very simple. You don’t need to be a web developer or even hire one. 

There are specific tools for hotels, like SiteMinder’s website builder, which can create a website in minutes. All you need to do is prepare your information, content, and images and the tool will do the rest.

Some essential items to tick off during this process include:

• Choosing a template and design that suits your needs
• Organise your logo and define your brand look and feel
• Customise the main pages that will be featured such as your homepage, about us, gallery, and your booking page
• Add information and high quality photos of your rooms and amenities

You should also make sure that you have language options available for overseas guests and integrations with apps like Google Maps and TripAdvisor so guests have access to all the details they need to make a booking decision.

Learn more about how this all works with SiteMinder’s website builder.

Step 2: Implement direct booking capability

To effectively take online bookings and payments, you need to integrate an online booking engine with your website. 

As a bonus, a booking engine will also enable you to promote and be booked via metasearch sites and via your social media channels where you can place a direct link to your booking website.

By using a platform like SiteMinder, integration between your website and booking engine will be seamless.

What is the best direct booking website?

The best direct booking website depends on various factors such as your hotel’s size, budget, technical experience, and desired features, among others.

Here are two well-regarded platforms that you might consider:

• SiteMinder: SiteMinder’s platform combines sophistication with simplicity, with comprehensive features and integrations for medium to large independent hotels. Easily build your website, integrate your booking engine, and connect your channel manager.
• Little Hotelier: Little Hotelier is an all-in-one solution that lets small accommodation providers like B&Bs, motels, and guesthouses control their whole business from one place. This includes creating a direct booking website.

“Our previous direct booking option was very confusing and not very user-friendly. SiteMinder’s booking engine is a lot better integrated on the website and makes it easy for guests to book. So far, we have increased our direct bookings by 15%”

Mirja Wolf,

Manager

Hotel Kragemann

Read more

Choosing a direct booking website builder

When it comes to making a purchase decision, some non-negotiables include: 

• Being able to take bookings and payments directly from guests on your site
• The ability to accept bookings via metasearch and via social media. 
• Seamless integration between your website, booking engine, and channel manager.
• The integrity and consistency of your brand must be maintained.
• Multi-language and multi-currency options available for guests.
• Mobile optimised design to cater to guests on the move or booking last minute.

It can certainly help to do thorough research by reading reviews, watching demos, and even trialling products to see if they match your requirements. 

This can also be important for understanding the level of training and support you’ll have access to with your provider.