How to earn more and pay less commission by the end of the season
Every booking through an intermediary comes with a commission of 15% to 25%. On top of that amount you also pay VAT. Over a single season that adds up to hundreds of euros, and for properties with several units, a few thousand. For Airbnb, that cost rises further from October 2026, which we covered in detail in our blog on the new Airbnb fee.
A large part of the season is still ahead of you. August, September and part of October are yet to come, which means you can still move some of the bookings to come to your own channel.
You do not have to switch off Booking.com or Airbnb. It is enough to add a channel alongside them where the guest can book directly, at a much lower cost to you. Such a channel starts working the moment you set it up, so you do not have to wait for the next pre-season to keep a larger share of your revenue.
Guests are increasingly open to direct bookings. According to the SiteMinder Changing Traveller Report 2026, among travellers who start their search on OTA channels, 18% end up booking directly with the property, which is 3.3 percentage points more than a year earlier. If you are still exploring what direct bookings are and what the market looks like, start with our guide to the basics of direct bookings.
A guest may find you on Booking.com or Airbnb, but before confirming the booking they increasingly also check your website. If they can book right there, there is no reason to go back to the intermediary. The guest gets a simple way to book, and a larger share of the revenue stays with you.
Before you start, three things worth knowing:
- Less for commission, more for you: through an intermediary you pay a commission of 15% to 25%, while the fee on your own channel is 2%. On every booking you keep a larger share of the revenue.
- A large part of the season is still ahead: August, September and part of October are yet to come. Your own channel can bring direct bookings this season, not just next summer.
- Activation is fast and low-risk: you need basic property details and a rate plan, and setup takes about twenty minutes. You pay the fee only once a booking is realized.
We also covered this whole topic in our webinar Kako zaraditi više do kraja sezone. Watch the webinar recording and come back to the text when you want the concrete steps.
1. Is it too late to activate a Booking Engine mid-season?
No. You can start receiving bookings through the Booking Engine the moment you set it up, with no transition period and no waiting for the channel to start delivering results.
The Booking Engine is your direct sales channel. The guest selects a date, books and immediately receives a confirmation. The booking is automatically written into your calendar, and availability is updated in real time across all connected channels.
Nothing changes on Booking.com and Airbnb in the meantime. They still bring you visibility and new guests, while the Booking Engine adds one more way to book, the one without high OTA commission.
You can feel the difference on your very first direct booking. Through an intermediary you pay a commission and VAT on that commission, while the fee for a booking through your own channel is much lower. That is why activating mid-season is not too late. Every booking that comes in directly from today means a larger share of the revenue stays with you.
Before you start, check the following:
- Do you have free dates left this season? If you still have available dates in August, September or October, each of them can be sold directly.
- Where do you currently send guests who ask about free dates? If you point them to Booking.com or arrange bookings manually, you can move that traffic to the Booking Engine.
- Where can you publish a booking link? You can add it to your website, Google profile, social media, guest messages and other channels where you communicate with guests.
You can start receiving direct bookings through the Booking Engine right after setup.
2. How many bookings are still coming before the end of the season?
The peak of the season is also the period of highest demand. Guests are still looking for accommodation for August, long weekends in September and the last summer dates, and many book just a few days before arrival. So a large share of this season's bookings is still to come.
Each of them can come through an OTA channel or directly through your website, and that is exactly where the difference in earnings appears. Through an intermediary you pay a commission of 15% to 25%, while the fee for a booking through the Booking Engine is 2%. The guest pays the same price, but a much larger share of the revenue stays with you.
We went through a detailed calculation of that difference, with concrete figures per booking, in our separate blog on reducing commission.
The point is simple: the sooner you activate your own channel, the more bookings can come through it before the season ends. A Booking Engine you set up at the start of August can bring you direct bookings throughout August, September and part of October.
More bookings will arrive before the end of the season. The Booking Engine lets you take part of them at a 2% fee, instead of the full OTA commission.
3. Guests book in the evening and on weekends. Can they book with you then?
Guests most often book outside working hours, in the evening and on weekends, and increasingly on mobile. According to Booking.com data for 2025, as much as 65% of bookings come through the mobile app. A similar trend is visible on direct channels, where more than 40% of bookings happen on mobile devices.
When a guest finds accommodation that suits them, they are ready to decide quickly. The problem arises if at that moment they have to send an inquiry, wait for an offer and then come back to confirm the booking. Some guests will not wait, and will choose the next property they can book right away.
The Booking Engine is available regardless of where you are or what time it is. The guest immediately sees free dates and the price, completes the booking and receives confirmation by email. The process works the same on mobile, computer and tablet, and the booking is automatically written into your calendar.
What you can do right now
Make booking possible without messages and waiting.
Instead of a contact form or arranging things over Instagram, offer the guest a link where they can immediately check availability, see the price and book.
Every extra step between the decision and the confirmation increases the chance the guest drops off. This matters especially when they are comparing several properties at the same time and choosing the one they can book fastest.
While you sleep, a guest can book. Your direct channel is available at any moment.
4. Where can you place the Booking Engine?
Many people think direct bookings require an expensive and complex website. They do not. The Booking Engine works through a link, so you can place it almost anywhere the guest is already looking for you.
Even if you do not have a website, you can still receive direct bookings.
Here is where you can place the link to the Booking Engine:
- Your own website: the Booking Engine works with WordPress, Wix and other platforms. You can add the link as a button or part of a menu, without building a new page or major technical work.
- Google Business Profile: when a guest finds your property on Google, alongside photos, location and contact they can also get a link to check availability and book. This is especially useful if you do not have your own website.
- Facebook page: you can highlight the link on your profile or add it to posts. That way a guest from Facebook reaches free dates and prices right away.
- Instagram profile: a link in your profile bio takes followers straight to booking, without messages and manual availability checks.
- Posts and Facebook groups: instead of sending prices and checking dates again for every inquiry, you can share a link where the guest sees everything and completes the booking themselves.
No matter where the guest clicks, the process stays the same. The Booking Engine is adapted to mobile, computer and tablet, and all bookings automatically arrive in your Rentlio calendar.
What you can do right now
Place the link where guests already find you.
You do not have to use all channels at once. Start with the Facebook page, Instagram, Google profile or website you already have. Every new link opens one more path to a direct booking, at no additional advertising cost.
You do not need an expensive website for direct bookings. All you need is a place where guests find you and a link where they can book right away.
5. How can a promo code encourage guests to book earlier?
Your direct channel does not have to wait for a guest to find it. A promo code is a simple way to actively encourage a guest to book directly with you.
Through the Booking Engine you can create a promo code with a discount you set yourself and limit it to specific dates or a period. That way you do not offer the discount to all guests and on all channels, but use it in a targeted way, for the dates you want to fill faster.
A promo code delivers the best results where you already have an audience. You can publish it on Facebook and Instagram to encourage bookings for slower dates, or send it by email to guests who have already stayed with you. To returning guests you give a reason to book earlier and directly, and you increase your chance of filling the calendar before the dates are sold through an intermediary.
You can also embed the promo code directly into the link. When a guest opens such a link, the discount is already applied and they immediately see the reduced price, without entering a code. This shortens the path to booking and reduces the number of steps where a guest can drop off.
What you can do right now
Create a promo code for the dates you want to fill before the season ends.
Set the discount amount and the period it is valid for, then share it in a targeted way:
- Social media: publish the promo code on Facebook and Instagram and point followers to a direct booking.
- Guest email base: send the offer to guests who have already stayed with you and invite them to book again, directly and at a better price.
- Link with an embedded code: share a link where the discount is already applied so the guest immediately sees the final price and books without extra steps.
A promo code turns a post or an email into a concrete nudge toward a direct booking. You choose which dates to fill, who gets the discount and when.
6. How to take payment for a direct booking without risk?
With a direct booking, payment is in your hands, which creates extra uncertainty for many owners. A bank transfer means waiting for confirmation and manual tracking, while payment on arrival means you accept the booking without payment secured in advance.
With Rentlio Pay this process can be automated. You set the payment rules yourself, in line with your cancellation policy. The system can then automatically charge the card at the moment of booking or within a set deadline, and issue an advance invoice.
You also choose how much is charged in advance, for example 20% or 30% of the total booking value. That way you get a confirmed and secured booking, without extra communication and waiting for payment.
What you can do right now
Choose a payment method that gives you security and the guest a simple experience.
- Automatic charging: the card is charged according to the rules you set, without manually tracking deadlines and amounts.
- Pay by Link: you send the guest a payment link directly from the system, and they can pay in a few clicks.
- Virtual card charging: you can charge virtual cards from OTA channels with a single click, without manually copying the details.
The guest can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, without complex extra steps. Card details are tokenized and are not stored with you.
For you this means less administration and more secure payment. For the guest it means a fast and familiar way to pay.
A direct booking does not have to mean waiting for payment or relying on a guest's promise. Payment can be secured at the moment of booking.
7. How to earn more from a direct guest?
The value of a direct guest does not end with a single booking. Besides paying a lower fee on the booking, you get the chance to build a direct relationship with the guest and offer them additional services.
With bookings through OTA channels, communication and the relationship with the guest largely stay tied to the platform. With a direct booking, the guest leaves you their contact details, which, with appropriate consent, you can also use for future communication. To a guest who has already stayed with you, you can send a new offer directly next year, without an intermediary and its commission.
With online check-in you collect registration details before arrival, so the guest is properly registered and the whole process is simpler for both of you.
The second opportunity is additional sales. An overnight stay does not have to be the only revenue from a booking. While the guest books their stay, you can also offer additional services that will make their stay simpler or more pleasant:
- Early check-in or late check-out: a simple way to increase revenue when the property's availability allows it.
- Transfer or parking: you solve an important part of the guest's arrival.
- Welcome package: it can include local wine, olive oil, breakfast or other products the guest finds on arrival.
- Equipment rental and excursions: bikes, SUP, a boat trip or other activities can bring you additional revenue, including a commission from a local partner.
- Stay extension: you can offer the guest an extra night at a special price, directly and without an intermediary's commission.
What you can do right now
Choose two or three additional services you can already offer and add them to the Booking Engine.
You do not need to prepare a large catalogue right away. Start with what you can organize most easily, for example early check-in, late check-out or an extra night. Every service the guest selects increases the value of the booking, with no additional advertising spend.
The same guest can bring more revenue today, and a direct relationship opens the door to a new booking next season.
Check this today
If you have half an hour today, go in this order:
- Prepare basic property details, photos, description and address.
- Set prices for the direct channel and align them with the prices on OTA channels.
- Activate the Booking Engine and add the link to your website or Google Business Profile.
- Place the link on your Facebook page, Instagram profile and in the posts where you promote your property.
- Create a promo code and share it on social media or by email to your guest base.
- Choose the payment method that suits you, from automatic charging to Pay by Link.
- Add two or three services the guest can select alongside the booking.
- Share the link with guests who reach out again and use it in future posts.
Conclusion
The pre-season is a good time to set up a direct channel, but it is not the only one. Mid-season you have a large number of guests still looking for accommodation, and the Booking Engine can start bringing bookings right after activation.
Every direct booking means a lower sales channel cost and a larger share of the revenue for you. You can still use Booking.com and Airbnb for visibility and attracting new guests, while you add your own channel as one more way to book.
Rentlio One connects your sales channels in one place and aligns prices and availability in real time. Through your own Booking Engine you take direct bookings, automate payment and offer the guest additional services during the booking itself.
Want to see it all on a live example? Watch the webinar recording and go through the whole process step by step.
More than 1,700 properties in the region already use Rentlio. Book a free setup session and launch your first direct channel this season.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it too late to activate a Booking Engine mid-season?
No. The Booking Engine can start receiving bookings right after setup, with no transition period. Every direct booking that arrives from that moment gives you a larger share of the revenue than a booking through an OTA channel.
Do I need a website for direct bookings?
No. The Booking Engine works through a link you can place on your Google Business Profile, Facebook page, Instagram profile or in posts and groups where you promote your property. If you have a website, you can simply add the link as a button or part of a menu.
How long does it take to set up the Booking Engine?
About twenty minutes. You need basic property details, photos and a rate plan, and you go through the rest of the setup in a few simple steps. You can also complete activation with a free session with the Rentlio team.
How much does the Booking Engine cost?
There is no monthly subscription and no contractual obligation. The fee is 2% and is charged only after a realized direct booking. For comparison, OTA commissions most often range from 15% to 25%.
Will I lose bookings from Booking.com and Airbnb?
No. Booking.com and Airbnb stay active and continue to bring you visibility and new guests. You add the Booking Engine as one more sales channel, and availability is automatically synced across all connected channels to prevent double bookings.
How does a guest pay for a direct booking?
You decide the payment method. With Rentlio Pay you can charge the card automatically or send the guest a payment link. A bank transfer is also available, and you set the amount charged in advance. The guest can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Can I offer additional services through the Booking Engine?
Yes. During the booking you can offer the guest early check-in, late check-out, transfer, parking, a welcome package, equipment rental, excursions or an extra night. The guest selects what they want, and the selected services are automatically linked to the booking and increase revenue per guest.
Can I create promo codes and share them with guests?
Yes. Through the Booking Engine you create a promo code with a discount you set yourself and share it on social media or by email to guests who have already stayed with you. You can also embed the code in a link, so opening the link shows the guest the lower price right away, without entering a code.
Daniel Herman is a growth marketing enthusiast with 10 years of marketing experience who enjoys thinking strategically and seeing the bigger picture. He writes about everything related to developing marketing activities and KPIs, branding, and taking a long-term approach to success, always with the goal of sharing useful ideas and inspiring action.
