The verdict in three sentences
For an 80-room business hotel, a website with an integrated booking engine costs EUR 6,100 to 13,720 in 2026 (4 to 9 million FCFA in our West African projects) and is delivered in 8 weeks. Every room night moved from an online travel agency (OTA) to the website cuts commission from 15 to 18 % to 1 to 3 %. With a target of 30 % direct bookings and negotiated corporate rates, the investment usually pays back in under 4 months.
What each booking channel costs
Order of magnitude in 2026 for a 60 to 120 room business hotel (EUR, USD approx. x 1.09; Dubai room rates are often higher, which strengthens the case):
| Channel | Commission or cost | Payment | Control of the guest relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| International OTAs | 15 to 18 % per room night | card, often paid at hotel | low, masked email |
| Travel agencies and GDS | 10 % plus GDS fees | transfer, invoicing | medium |
| Website booking engine | 1 to 3 % per booking | card, Apple Pay, local wallets | full |
| Negotiated corporate rates (company code) | 0 to 2 % | monthly invoicing | full |
| Phone and WhatsApp | 0 % but front desk time | on arrival or deposit | full |
| Meetings and events (online quote) | 0 % | 30 to 50 % deposit | full |
Business travellers (NGOs, port and logistics firms, institutions, consultants) readily book direct when they get a corporate rate, a compliant invoice and instant confirmation.
The three hotel website levels
| Level | Price | Content | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | EUR 6,100 to 7,620 | 15 bilingual pages, white-label booking engine, gallery | 6 weeks |
| Standard | EUR 8,385 to 10,670 | corporate rates by code, meeting pages with quotes, mobile payment | 8 weeks |
| Advanced | EUR 11,435 to 13,720 | corporate accounts area, monthly invoicing, channel manager connection, loyalty | 10 weeks |
| Professional photos and video | EUR 915 to 1,830 | rooms, meeting rooms, restaurant | 2 days |
| Maintenance | EUR 115 to 230/month | security, rates, backups | ongoing |
The Standard level, around EUR 9,910, suits a business hotel best: it targets the corporate segment directly.
Commission savings over 12 months
Assumptions: 80 rooms, 65 % occupancy, average rate of EUR 114 per night (75,000 FCFA), direct share raised from 15 % to 30 % at the expense of OTAs, average OTA commission 17 %, engine at 2 %.
| Annual indicator | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Room nights sold (80 x 365 x 65 %) | 18,980 |
| Room revenue | EUR 2,170,100 |
| Revenue moved from OTAs to direct (15 points) | EUR 325,520 |
| OTA commissions avoided (17 %) | EUR 55,340 |
| Engine cost on those sales (2 %) | EUR 6,510 |
| Net saving | EUR 48,830 |
| Standard site plus 12 months of maintenance | EUR 11,740 |
| Payback period | about 2.9 months |
In practice the ramp-up takes 4 to 6 months: expect real payback between months 4 and 6.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Omar Haddad, general manager of an 80-room business hotel near Dubai's business district, gets 15 % of bookings direct. He launches a Standard site for EUR 9,910 with 25 negotiated company codes (logistics firms, banks, consultancies). By month 6, the direct share reaches 26 %. Over that half-year alone, 11 points moved represent about EUR 119,000 in revenue, or EUR 17,900 in commissions saved after engine costs. The site has already paid for itself, and the hotel finally owns the email and phone number of its regular guests.
FAQ
Should we leave the OTAs?
No: they remain useful for leisure guests and first-time visitors. The goal is to limit their share to 40 or 50 % of room nights instead of 70 % or more.
Which payment methods should we integrate?
Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay for international guests, local wallets where relevant, and monthly invoicing for companies. Payment integration costs EUR 610 to 1,220.
How much does a booking engine cost?
White-label engines charge 1 to 3 % per booking or a subscription of EUR 75 to 230 a month. Above 1,000 direct bookings a year, a fixed subscription is often cheaper.
How do we bring companies to book direct?
Offer a negotiated rate 8 to 12 % below the public price, a company code, a compliant invoice and breakfast included. Check rate parity clauses in your OTA contracts.
How long until the site is live?
8 weeks for the Standard level, including 2 days of photography and 1 week of engine and rate setup. The Advanced level with channel manager takes 10 weeks.
Let's scope your project. For a business hotel website with direct booking and corporate rates, we define the scope, an indicative budget of EUR 8,400 to 10,700 and an 8 week timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
