Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com bring you guests, but they also take a meaningful cut of every stay — often around 15% once you add up host and guest fees. Every guest who books *directly* next time is pure upside. You don't need to leave the platforms; you need to turn one-time guests into repeat, direct ones. Here's how to start.
First, make the stay memorable
Direct bookings begin with a stay worth repeating. A warm welcome, a polished welcome book, and genuinely useful local tips send guests home delighted — the foundation for them coming back at all.
Make yourself findable off-platform
Give guests a way to find you without the middleman: a simple website or landing page for your property, and a memorable name. Where the rules allow, reference it subtly in your welcome book and communication.
Build an email list — politely
Your biggest asset is a list of happy past guests. Offering a small freebie (a handy checklist or arrival card) in exchange for an email is a friendly, non-pushy way to stay in touch.
Give a reason to book direct
A small perk works wonders: a slightly better rate, a late check-out, or a welcome treat. You save the platform commission, the guest gets something extra — everyone wins.
Ask at the right moment
The best time to mention rebooking is when the guest is happiest: at the end of the stay. A friendly line in your check-out section ("Coming back next year? Book direct with us for the best rate") plants the seed at exactly the right time.
Keep it clean and within the rules
Play it straight: follow the terms of the platforms you use, and make direct booking a pleasant option rather than a workaround. Trust is what brings guests back.
The thread that ties it together
Direct bookings aren't a separate project — they're the result of hospitality done right. A strong welcome, staying in touch, and a small perk on return. That's how you slowly build a base of guests who know how to find you directly.
Start free
Our Wi-Fi & Arrival Card is an easy way to give guests something valuable — and a natural reason to stay in touch.
Wi-Fi & Arrival Card →Written by the Welcomap team — more about us.