The verdict in three sentences
A credible hotel showcase site with a gallery and enquiry form runs between 350,000 and 600,000 FCFA in 2026. Adding a direct booking engine (real-time calendar, seasonal rates, mobile-money deposit) pushes the budget to around 850,000 to 1,100,000 FCFA, but each direct booking avoids 15-20% commission to Booking or Expedia. The return on investment depends on your direct-booking rate, not on the price of the site.
2026 price grid by tier
The ranges below are a 2026 order of magnitude for an 8-to-40-room property in Senegal (Dakar, Saly, Cap Skirring).
| Package | Scope | Price FCFA | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple showcase | 5-6 pages, gallery, map, contact form | 350,000 - 450,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Showcase + enquiry | Showcase plus structured booking request, WhatsApp follow-up | 450,000 - 600,000 | 3-5 weeks |
| Showcase + booking engine | Real-time calendar, seasonal rates, mobile-money deposit | 850,000 - 1,100,000 | 5-8 weeks |
| Channel manager pack | Engine + Booking/Expedia/Airbnb sync (anti-overbooking) | 1,400,000 - 1,900,000 | 6-8 weeks |
What each module costs
A hotel project is built brick by brick. Here are the most-requested modules and their indicative 2026 cost.
| Module | Purpose | Indicative cost FCFA |
|---|---|---|
| Booking engine | Book and pay a deposit online | +500,000 |
| Channel manager | Sync availability with OTAs | +700,000 |
| Bilingual FR/EN | Reach international guests | +150,000 |
| Wave/OM deposit payment | Secure the booking (30% deposit) | +120,000 |
| Gallery + 360° tour | Reassure before booking | +180,000 |
Mini case study
Fatou runs a 12-room guesthouse in Saly. She averages 35,000 FCFA per night and 180 room-nights a month, 70% of them via Booking at 17% commission. That commission costs her about 35,000 × 180 × 0.70 × 0.17 = 749,700 FCFA per month. Investing 900,000 FCFA in a booking engine, she only needs a third of those bookings to go direct to pay off the site in under two months, then save every month afterwards.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
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Is a direct booking engine worth it for a small property?
From 8-10 rooms with decent occupancy, yes. Each direct booking avoids 15-20% OTA commission; a hotel that shifts 30% of its bookings to direct usually recovers the engine cost in 2-4 months.
Can guests pay the deposit by mobile money?
Yes. You configure a deposit (typically 30%) paid via Wave or Orange Money at booking time, with the balance settled on site. It sharply reduces no-shows.
Is a channel manager essential?
Only if you stay listed on Booking, Expedia or Airbnb in parallel. It prevents overbooking by syncing availability. Budget around 700,000 FCFA extra, justified beyond 15-20 rooms.
How long to deliver a site with booking?
Between 5 and 8 weeks depending on the room catalogue and integrations. A simple showcase ships in 2-4 weeks.
Do I need an English version?
In Saly and Cap Skirring, a large share of guests are international. The bilingual FR/EN module (+150,000 FCFA) pays for itself quickly on those destinations.
Let's talk about your project. We price your hotel site module by module, from a simple showcase to a full booking engine. 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.
