India’s booking climate is OTA and mobile dominated because of it brings all the options under one roof, making comparison easy, and spend massive money on ads and apps.
For small and boutique hotels, this creates a problem. OTAs make it tough for smaller hotels to compete with big brands, get direct visibility, or build a personal relationship with guests. Hotels become overly dependent on OTAs, losing control over pricing, margins, and guest data.
That’s where HotelDost steps in—with simple, practical ways for you to attract more direct bookings and reduce OTA dependency.
In India, WhatsApp is everyone’s go-to communication tool. Why not turn it into a booking tool too? Add a “Book Now on WhatsApp” button that opens a pre-filled message with dates, room type, and payment link (Razorpay, Paytm, etc.).
It feels natural, conversational, and quick – perfect for last-minute or drive-in bookings. You can track success by looking at how many bookings start on WhatsApp, how many turn into paid stays, and how fast your team responds.
Instead of competing with OTAs on big keywords, target small but smart ones. Think: “best stopover between Udaipur and Jaipur,” “budget wedding venue near Ajmer,” or “stay near Jagat Shiromani Mandir.”
Run small paid search ads for these, link them to simple landing pages with a one-click “Book Direct” button, and highlight the benefits of booking with you. Use call tracking and UTM tags to measure results. Done right, this lets you grab travellers before they land on OTA sites.
Experiences sell more than rooms. Offer bookable add-ons like a local dinner, guided heritage walks, private cultural show, or themed weekend. Promote these on your website, booking engine, and pre-arrival emails. Collaborate with local yoga instructors; storytellers; shaayars – the sky is your limit with event curation.
Guests love unique, local experiences and are willing to pay more for them. Plus, micro-targeted ads to nearby metro cities (“Your Weekend Escape Awaits!”) can fill rooms during the off-season.
Replace vague discounts, give direct bookers clear, instant perks. Examples: early check-in or late checkout, F&B credit, free room upgrade (on availability), free local transfer, or a welcome platter with regional treats. Highlight these in a “Direct Booking Benefits” bar right above your booking widget.
For loyalty, keep it simple: “Book twice, get 15% off your third stay,” or “Stay 2 nights in a year, earn 10% F&B credit.” Even a small program makes guests more likely to return directly to you instead of OTAs.
OTAs will always be part of the hotel business, but they shouldn’t control it. With simple tools like WhatsApp booking, smart search ads, unique experiences, and clear direct-booking perks, small hotels can level the playing field.
These strategies don’t need big budgets or complex tech – they just need consistency and a little creativity. In a market where travellers are glued to their phones, the winners will be the hotels that make booking easy, personal, and rewarding.
With HotelDost, direct bookings aren’t just possible – they’re practical. And every direct booking means more profit in your pocket, more control in your hands, and a stronger relationship with your guests.
