The verdict in three sentences
In hospitality, the selling argument is unbeatable: platforms like Booking or Expedia take 15 to 25% commission on every reservation, whereas a direct-booking site returns that money to the hotelier. By referring these projects to Kolonell, you earn 100,000 to 400,000 FCFA per deal on tickets of 1,500,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA (direct-booking site, PMS, channel manager). The cycle is 4 to 10 weeks, and with 15% + 5% recurring on sites, the OTA commission savings justify the investment in a few weeks for the client.
Hospitality products and their commission
From the guesthouse to the chain, the range is wide. Here are the tickets and the referrer commission (2026 order of magnitude).
| Product | Ticket FCFA | Pole / rate | Referrer commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel/guesthouse showcase site | 600,000 | Showcase 15% | 90,000 |
| Site + direct booking engine | 1,500,000 | Showcase 15% | 225,000 |
| Experiences/excursions store | 2,000,000 | E-commerce 12% | 240,000 |
| PMS (full hotel management) | 5,000,000 | Institutional 8% | 400,000 |
| Channel manager + multi-property PMS | 9,000,000 | Institutional 8% | 720,000 |
| Maintenance + hosting (recurring) | 120,000 /mo | 5% recurring | 6,000 /mo |
The direct booking engine (Showcase 15%) stays the best effort/commission ratio: reasonable ticket, fast decision, and the OTA argument sells itself.
The OTA commission savings argument
Here is the calculation to present to a hotelier — this is what triggers the signing.
| OTA reservations/month | Average basket | OTA commission (20%) lost/month | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50,000 | 300,000 | 3,600,000 |
| 50 | 60,000 | 600,000 | 7,200,000 |
| 80 | 70,000 | 1,120,000 | 13,440,000 |
A hotel losing 600,000 FCFA/month in OTA commissions pays back a 1,500,000 FCFA direct-booking site in under 3 months — an argument the referrer only has to put on the table.
Mini case study
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Khady, a tour guide in Saly, works with several hotels and guesthouses. She notices a 25-room hotel pays around 600,000 FCFA/month to Booking. She introduces it to Kolonell, which signs a site + direct booking engine at 1,500,000 FCFA. Her commission: 15% × 1,500,000 = 225,000 FCFA, plus 6,000 FCFA recurring per month on maintenance. The hotelier recovers their OTA commissions in 3 months; Khady pockets 225,000 FCFA + 72,000 FCFA annual recurring for a single introduction.
FAQ
What is the best product to refer in hospitality?
The site + direct booking engine (Showcase 15%, 1,500,000 FCFA ticket): commission of 225,000 FCFA, short cycle and an unbeatable OTA argument. PMS earn more in absolute terms but require a longer cycle.
How do I convince a reluctant hotelier?
Show the table: at 50 reservations/month and 20% OTA commission, they lose 600,000 FCFA per month. A 1,500,000 FCFA direct-booking site pays back in under 3 months.
What commission on a PMS?
A PMS is institutional, referrer rate 8%. On a 5,000,000 FCFA ticket that is 400,000 FCFA in direct commission.
Is tourism seasonal for the referrer?
Decisions spread over 4 to 10 weeks, often timed before high season (November-April in Senegal). Prospecting in September-October maximizes signings before the tourist influx.
Let's talk about your project. Become a Kolonell hospitality business referrer and turn OTA commission savings into commissions for yourself. 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.
