The verdict in three sentences
A hotel website in Saly or Mbour costs between 700,000 and 2,200,000 FCFA in 2026, but the real question isn't the price: it's the OTA commission you stop paying. Every booking captured directly rather than through Booking or Expedia saves you 15 to 18% of the room rate. A 20-room hotel that shifts 30% of bookings to direct recovers the Premium tier in about 4 months.
The 3 levels of hotel website
A hotel doesn't sell like a restaurant: it sells room-nights, often weeks in advance, to a mixed local and international clientele. Here are the three levels.
| Criterion | Showcase + gallery | + Direct booking | + PMS multilingual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 700,000 FCFA | 1,300,000 FCFA | 2,200,000 FCFA |
| Pro photo gallery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Room presentation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Direct booking engine | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wave/OM deposit payment | No | Yes | Yes |
| PMS / channel manager link | No | No | Yes |
| Bilingual FR/EN | No | No | Yes |
| Delivery time | 12 days | 18 days | 25 days |
These figures match the 2026 rates for a 15-to-40-room property in a tourist zone.
OTA vs direct booking: the math that changes everything
Booking platforms bring volume but charge a heavy commission. Here is the comparison on a typical 45,000 FCFA room-night.
| Channel | Commission | Net per night | Over 100 nights/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking / Expedia | ~17% | 37,350 FCFA | 3,735,000 FCFA |
| Other OTA | ~15% | 38,250 FCFA | 3,825,000 FCFA |
| Direct booking (your site) | 0% (minus ~2% Wave) | 44,100 FCFA | 4,410,000 FCFA |
| Direct vs Booking gap | — | +6,750 FCFA/night | +675,000 FCFA/month |
Mini case study
Fatou runs a 20-room hotel in Saly, average rate 45,000 FCFA/night, 60% occupancy, i.e. about 360 room-nights a month. Today, 80% go through OTAs. She invests 2,200,000 FCFA in the Premium tier and shifts 30% of bookings to direct, i.e. ~108 room-nights. Commission saved: about 6,750 FCFA per night x 108 = 729,000 FCFA/month. The site pays for itself in just over 3 months.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Does the booking engine handle availability in real time?
Yes. The direct engine shows genuinely available rooms and blocks a slot as soon as a Wave or Orange Money deposit clears, preventing overbookings.
Can I keep Booking alongside my own site?
Absolutely, and it's even recommended at first. The Premium tier's channel manager syncs your availability across Booking, Expedia and your site to avoid double bookings.
Will the site be visible to foreign tourists?
Yes, the Premium tier is bilingual FR/EN and optimized for "hotel Saly" and "resort Mbour" searches. The professional photo gallery is decisive for international conversion.
How much is annual maintenance?
Budget 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA/month depending on the level, covering security, backups and booking-engine updates. Hosting is included the first year.
Let's talk about your project. Send us your hotel's name and room count and we'll estimate your OTA commission savings within 48 hours. 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.
