The verdict in three sentences
A direct booking engine integrated into your website costs between EUR 20,000 and EUR 50,000 in 2026, versus an OTA commission of 15 to 25% on every night. Each point of nights shifted back to direct is net revenue recovered: it is the fastest-ROI project in hospitality. The realistic goal is to gain 10 to 20 points of direct bookings over 12 to 18 months.
Build vs OTA commissions: the 3-year math
The logic is simple: an engine is a one-off fixed cost, OTA commission is a variable cost that grows with your success. The higher your lodging revenue, the more profitable direct becomes.
| Scenario (EUR 2M lodging revenue) | OTA share | Annual commission (19%) | Engine cost 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| No direct engine | 60% | EUR 228,000/yr | 0 |
| Engine + 10 pt shift | 50% | EUR 190,000/yr | EUR 40,000 (one-off) |
| Engine + 20 pt shift | 40% | EUR 152,000/yr | EUR 40,000 (one-off) |
| Annual saving (20 pts) | EUR 76,000/yr | ||
| Cumulative saving 3 yr | EUR 228,000 | net of build |
With a 20-point shift, the commission saving over three years exceeds EUR 228,000, for an engine amortised within year one.
What makes up the engine price
The budget depends on integrations (PMS, channel manager, payment) and the sophistication of the booking experience (upsell, dynamic rates, multilingual).
| Element | Content | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Booking engine | Calendar, availability, cart | EUR 8,000 to 16,000 |
| Payment integration | Cards, 3D Secure, deposit | EUR 3,000 to 7,000 |
| Channel manager link | Real-time rate/availability sync | EUR 4,000 to 10,000 |
| Upsell & offers | Breakfast, late check-out, spa | EUR 3,000 to 8,000 |
| Multilingual & currencies | FR/EN + EUR/USD | EUR 2,000 to 6,000 |
| Conversion analytics | Funnel, abandonment rate | EUR 2,000 to 5,000 |
Mini case study
Amelie, director of an independent 4-star hotel in Annecy, generates EUR 1.8M lodging revenue, of which 62% via OTAs at 20% average commission, i.e. roughly EUR 223,000 in commissions/year. She invests EUR 38,000 in a direct booking engine with online payment and upsell. Over 14 months she shifts 15 points of nights to direct, cutting commissions by about EUR 54,000/year and generating EUR 11,000 in additional upsell. The engine pays back in under 8 months and keeps earning every year.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Will the engine clash with Booking and Expedia?
No. The engine connects to the channel manager to sync rates and availability: no overbooking, and you apply controlled rate parity or a direct advantage.
Can we take a deposit or full payment online?
Yes. Payment (cards, 3D Secure, sometimes Apple/Google Pay) is integrated, with a choice of deposit, full prepayment or pay-on-arrival depending on your rate policy.
How long to go live?
Budget 10 to 16 weeks depending on integrations. A simple engine connected to an existing PMS can ship in 8 to 10 weeks.
What direct-booking rate should I target?
A well-equipped and animated hotel (mailing, loyalty, best-price guarantee on direct) targets 35 to 50% direct bookings, versus 20 to 30% market average.
Do we have to rebuild the whole hotel site?
Not necessarily. The engine plugs into an existing site, but an optimised, fast booking funnel strongly improves conversion, often by several points.
Let's scope your project. Give us your lodging revenue, current OTA share and your PMS, and we will price your direct booking engine. 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.
