The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, the redesign of a multi-property site with a booking engine for a 4-hotel group in Singapore ranges from 40,000 to 80,000 USD. The timeline is 10 to 14 weeks, with bilingual EN/ZH and mobile Core Web Vitals optimized for 4G/5G. The real stake is not the design: it is to recover 15 to 25 % of OTA commissions by pushing direct bookings.
Redesign budget structure
| Item | 2026 range (USD) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Design + multi-property UX | 10,000 - 20,000 | Group brand + 4 hotels |
| Booking engine | 12,000 - 23,000 | Availability, rates, payment |
| Multi-hotel integration | 8,000 - 16,000 | Listings, filters, cross-sell |
| Bilingual EN/ZH | 3,500 - 7,000 | Content, funnel |
| Performance / mobile CWV | 3,500 - 8,000 | Speed, images, mobile |
| SEO + migration | 3,500 - 7,000 | Redirects, structure |
| Project total | 40,000 - 80,000 | Depending on scope |
The booking engine is the core of the value: it turns a passive brochure site into a direct sales channel, with online payment and instant confirmation.
Direct booking vs OTA: the economics
| Metric | Via OTA | Direct booking |
|---|---|---|
| Commission taken | 15 - 25 % | 0 % (excl. payment fees) |
| Payment fees | Included | 1.5 - 3 % |
| Customer data | Held by the OTA | Held by the hotel |
| Loyalty | Hard | Direct (email, offers) |
| Acquisition cost | Recurring | Amortized (site + SEO) |
For a group generating 5,000,000 USD in annual room revenue with 40 % via OTAs, shifting 10 points toward direct saves hundreds of thousands of USD in commissions per year.
Mini case study
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Mei, marketing director of a hotel group in Singapore (4 properties), redesigns the site for 62,000 USD. The group books 4,000,000 USD/year, of which 45 % via OTAs at an average 18 % commission, i.e. ~324,000 USD in commissions/year. Thanks to the direct engine, the OTA share drops from 45 % to 32 % in one year, bringing commissions to ~230,000 USD. Savings: ~94,000 USD/year. The site pays for itself in ~8 months, then generates recurring savings.
FAQ
Why is a booking engine so expensive? Because it handles real-time availability, per-property and per-season rates, secure payment and confirmation. It is sales software, not a form.
Can we keep our current channel manager? Yes: a good engine integrates with the existing channel manager to sync availability and rates between the direct site and OTAs, avoiding overbooking.
How soon do OTA commissions drop? Expect 6 to 12 months: the time for direct booking to ramp up via SEO, email and site-exclusive offers.
Are mobile Core Web Vitals really critical? Yes: much hotel traffic is mobile. A slow site collapses conversion rate and Google ranking.
What maintenance budget should we plan? Expect 200 to 450 USD/month for hosting, engine updates, payment security and seasonal changes.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of properties, your current OTA share and your channel manager. 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.
