The verdict in three sentences
A multilingual multi-property redesign for a London hotel group costs, in 2026, from 20,000 to 50,000 EUR excl. tax, depending on the number of hotels, languages (EN/FR/IT) and booking engine integration. The return is mechanical: every direct booking substituted for an OTA saves 15 to 22 % commission, funding the redesign within one or two high-occupancy quarters. Mobile performance (Core Web Vitals > 90) is decisive: most hotel searches happen on smartphones.
2026 cost by scope
Budget tracks the number of properties, languages and depth of booking-engine and PMS integration.
| Scope | Content | Price EUR excl. tax | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 property, multilingual | EN/FR/IT + booking | 20,000 - 28,000 | 12-13 wks |
| Group of 2-4 hotels | group site + per-hotel pages | 30,000 - 40,000 | 13-15 wks |
| Group of 5+ hotels | + cross-offers + loyalty | 40,000 - 50,000 | 14-16 wks |
| Extra language | beyond 3 | +3,000 - 5,000 | +2 wks |
| PMS/channel integration | real-time availability sync | +5,000 - 12,000 | +2-3 wks |
Direct booking vs OTA commission
The financial stake is platform dependency. Cutting the OTA share by a few points transforms margin.
| Channel | 2026 commission | Effect on margin |
|---|---|---|
| General OTA | 15 - 22 % | heavily reduced margin |
| OTA + visibility programs | up to 25 % | minimal margin |
| Direct site booking | 1 - 3 % (payment fees) | maximum margin |
| Metasearch (comparator) | variable cost per click | intermediate |
| Phone / email | 0 % | but staff cost |
Maintenance for a group site runs 300 to 500 EUR/month (updates, security, multilingual content, performance monitoring).
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Mini case study
Sofia, CEO of a 3-hotel group in London, 210 rooms total. The group does 60,000 room-nights/year, 55 % via OTAs at an 18 % average commission, average rate 140 EUR. After a 42,000 EUR excl. tax redesign with an optimised booking engine, the direct share rises from 45 % to 58 %, about 7,800 room-nights shifted from OTA to direct. Commission saved (18 % of 140 EUR over 7,800 nights) reaches nearly 196,000 EUR per year — the redesign pays back in under three months of operation.
FAQ
A custom booking engine or a specialist provider? Most groups integrate a specialist booking engine connected to the PMS via a channel manager, faster and more robust than bespoke code. The site orchestrates experience and conversion around that engine.
How many languages do I really need? In London, EN/FR/IT cover most guests; German and Spanish add on depending on target markets. Each language costs 3,000 to 5,000 EUR and must be kept up to date, not translated once.
Why are Core Web Vitals critical for a hotel? Over 65 % of hotel searches are mobile: a slow site loses bookings and hurts SEO. Targeting a score above 90 directly protects direct revenue.
How do I manage real-time availability? Through PMS/channel-manager integration: the site shows synced availability and rates, avoiding overbooking and price gaps across channels. Budget 5,000 to 12,000 EUR integration.
Can direct really beat OTAs on price? Yes via rate parity and direct-only perks (upgrade, free breakfast, flexible cancellation). The goal is not to undercut but to recover the commission.
Let's scope your project. Multilingual group site, booking engine, PMS integration or loyalty program: tell us the number of properties and an indicative budget (20,000 to 50,000 EUR excl. tax). 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.
