2 min read

The Top 3 Ways to Save on OTA Fees for VRMs

Picture of BookingsCloud BookingsCloud Jul 2, 2025 1:34:41 PM

Digital Marketing Digital Advertising

Table of Contents

Use BookingsCloud To Drive Cost-Effective Direct Traffic

For many vacation rental managers, online travel agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb and VRBO are both a source of revenue and a growing expense. While they provide access to a broad audience, they also take a significant share of each booking, charging hosts 5-8% in fees while passing additional costs onto guests. That means everyone’s paying more, and your brand gets less visibility.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you're a professional vacation rental manager looking to cut costs and take back control, these are three proven strategies to reduce your OTA dependence and keep more revenue in your pocket.

1. Build Loyalty and Capture Repeat Guests

One of the easiest ways to reduce OTA reliance is by turning one-time guests into loyal, repeat customers. That means owning the relationship beyond the booking. Start by collecting emails during the reservation or check-in process. Then follow up after their stay with a thank-you message, personalized offers, and exclusive discounts for booking direct next time.

Make sure your direct booking website is clearly included in every piece of communication, from receipts to follow-ups. A strong post-stay email strategy can remind happy guests that they can come back, this time without the OTA middleman. The more guests you keep in your ecosystem, the less you have to pay to reacquire them again through platforms like Airbnb.

2. Optimize Your Direct Booking Presence

You can’t expect direct bookings without a strong foundation. Your website should look professional, be mobile-friendly, and include an easy-to-use booking engine. When possible, offer rates that beat the OTAs, and make it clear why booking direct is better, whether it’s lower prices, better cancellation terms, or exclusive perks.

Don't stop after building your direct booking website; promote it. Add “Book Now” buttons on your social media profiles. Use QR codes in your properties to direct guests to your site. Post helpful and engaging content that drives traffic to your booking page. The goal is simple: make it as easy and appealing as possible for someone to book directly with you.

3. Use BookingsCloud to Drive Cost-Effective Direct Traffic

While loyalty and organic marketing take time to build, BookingsCloud offers an immediate way to reduce OTA dependency through automated paid social media campaigns. We pull data directly from your PMS (Property Management System) to run targeted ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, making sure your properties reach the right eyes.

BookingsCloud’s opportunity scoring system identifies which properties are most likely to convert, so your ad spend goes further. Instead of paying $8 per click like you might with Paid Search, you’re reaching qualified leads with a strategy that’s smarter and more efficient. It’s a scalable way to boost direct bookings fast, especially if you don’t have time to manage campaigns yourself.

Why It All Matters

Reducing OTA fees starts with owning your customer relationships. Build loyalty by capturing repeat guests, invest in a polished vacation rental manager website, and amplify your reach through BookingsCloud’s targeted paid social. These three strategies work together to lower your costs and increase your direct booking rate.

To learn how BookingsCloud can help you grow your direct bookings and reduce your OTA fees, schedule a demo today.