Hotel website in Saly: direct booking (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

In Saly, a hotel that depends 100 % on OTA platforms hands over 15 to 25 % of every night in commission. A website with direct booking and a Wave deposit captures a share of those bookings commission-free and secures the guest's arrival. Budget 500,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA and 7 to 15 days, often recovered within weeks.

Direct booking: the forgotten margin lever

OTAs (online travel agencies) bring visibility, but their commission eats into margin. In Saly, a resort or hotel that develops direct booking recovers that commission on every night captured through its own site. The key: a fast site, bilingual FR/EN for diaspora and European guests, with a clear booking engine and a Wave deposit to hold the room.

In Senegal, Wave and Orange Money are the dominant mobile payment methods. The deposit (for example 30 % of the first night) secures the direct booking without going through an intermediary platform.

Site cost versus saved OTA commissions

The math is simple: every booking captured directly avoids the OTA commission. Here is the annual saving by share of direct bookings, for an average night at 40,000 FCFA and 20 % OTA commission avoided.

From 20 direct bookings a month, the annual saving far exceeds the cost of a Premium site. The site is no longer an expense, it is a full-margin sales channel.

Mini case study

Awa runs a 12-room resort in Saly. Before, 90 % of her bookings went through OTAs, at 20 % commission. Average night: 40,000 FCFA. After her Growth site with direct booking and a Wave deposit, she shifts 25 bookings/month to direct. Saving: 25 x 8,000 = 200,000 FCFA/month, or 2,400,000 FCFA/year. The site (500,000 FCFA) pays for itself in under three months, and the Wave deposit almost eliminated last-minute no-shows.

FAQ

How much does a hotel website cost in Saly in 2026? Budget 500,000 FCFA for a Growth site with direct booking and deposit, up to 1,200,000 FCFA for a Premium with real-time calendar and seasonal rates. 2026 ballparks.

Does direct booking really save money? Yes: every night captured directly avoids 15 to 25 % OTA commission. On a 40,000 FCFA night, that is 6,000 to 10,000 FCFA kept on every booking.

Should I leave the OTAs? No. OTAs remain a visibility channel. The goal is to grow the share of more profitable direct bookings while keeping the platforms as a shop window.

Why ask for a Wave deposit? A deposit (often 30 % of the first night) secures the direct booking and sharply reduces last-minute cancellations, with no intermediary.

Is the site useful for foreign guests? Yes: a bilingual FR/EN site reassures the diaspora and European guests, who readily book directly when the deposit payment is simple and clear.

Let's talk about your project. We build you a Saly hotel site that captures direct bookings and saves your OTA commissions. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.