The verdict in three sentences
In Saly, most small and mid-size hotels run a slow, dated site that discourages mobile visitors and pushes them to booking platforms, where you leave 15-18 % commission. A redesign that brings LCP below 2.5 s and Lighthouse above 92 increases direct bookings by 25 to 40 %. Over a peak season's volume, the investment often pays back before the season ends.
Two redesign levels compared
Not all redesigns are equal. For a Saly hotel, two options cover most needs: the light redesign (design + speed) and the full redesign with a booking engine and multi-currency.
| Criterion | Light redesign | Full redesign |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 500,000 - 800,000 FCFA | 1,200,000 - 2,200,000 FCFA |
| Timeline | 12-18 days | 25-38 days |
| New responsive design | Yes | Yes |
| Booking engine | No (external link) | Yes, integrated |
| Multi-currency FCFA/EUR/USD | No | Yes |
| Online deposit payment | Optional | Yes (Wave/card) |
| Monthly hosting | 30,000 - 45,000 FCFA | 40,000 - 55,000 FCFA |
The light redesign suffices if you keep an external engine; the full redesign captures the booking end-to-end and cuts OTA dependence.
The measured performance gains
Core Web Vitals aren't a technical whim: they directly drive mobile bounce rate and SEO. Here are the 2026 before/after orders of magnitude.
| Metric | Before (dated site) | After redesign | Business effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCP (loading) | ~6 s | < 2.5 s | Fewer drop-offs |
| Lighthouse score | ~55 | 92+ | Better SEO |
| Mobile bounce rate | High | -30 % | More page views |
| Direct bookings | Baseline | +25-40 % | More margin |
| OTA commission avoided | 0 | 15-18 % recovered | Direct margin |
Every direct booking is a commission-free booking: that's where the redesign pays off.
Mini case study
Aïssatou's hotel in Saly does 40 bookings/month in peak season, average value 120,000 FCFA, of which 60 % via OTAs at 16 % commission.
- Current OTA commission: 40 × 0.6 × 120,000 × 16 % ≈ 460,800 FCFA/month.
- After full redesign, direct bookings rise from 40 % to 60 %: OTA share drops to 40 %, commission ≈ 307,200 FCFA/month.
- Monthly saving ≈ 153,600 FCFA, plus the booking surplus (+25-40 %).
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On a 1,600,000 FCFA redesign, the commission gain alone pays it back in ~10 months, and far faster counting the extra bookings driven by speed. In a concentrated peak season, the return is almost immediate.
FAQ
How far ahead of peak season should I launch the redesign?
Aim for 6-8 weeks lead time for a full redesign (25-38 days of production + testing + SEO indexing). The light version can be done in 2-3 weeks.
Is the integrated booking engine worth the extra cost?
If more than 40 % of your bookings go through OTAs, yes. Recovering 15-18 % commission on those volumes quickly offsets the price difference.
What does hosting cost afterward?
Expect 30,000 to 55,000 FCFA/month depending on the tier, including fast, secure hosting suited to seasonal traffic.
Does speed really change bookings?
Yes. Going from a 6 s LCP to under 2.5 s reduces mobile bounce by about 30 %, which translates directly into more inquiries and bookings.
Can we handle multi-currency for European guests?
Yes, the full redesign shows FCFA/EUR/USD and collects the deposit by card or Wave, reassuring international guests.
Let's talk about your project. Before peak season, we turn your site into a direct-booking machine. 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.
