In short
- Portals help guests discover you, your own website brings direct bookings; combining them often makes sense.
- Compare total costs at a realistic number of stays, not just the commission and the price of a website.
- With several channels, check how calendars sync and review them regularly.
In this article
Owners of small accommodation often ask whether they should stay on booking portals or get their own website. In reality, these are different routes to the guest. A portal can show your offer to someone who doesn’t know you yet. Your own website gives you a place to explain what makes your accommodation special and to accept direct bookings. For many small businesses it makes sense to start with both, as long as they can keep the details up to date.
What a portal usually gives you
A portal brings listings together, and visitors can search there by destination, dates or features. Some guests appreciate being able to compare several options in one place and read about previous stays. For new accommodation, this can be a useful way to be discovered. Specific features, rules, fees and messaging options, however, differ by platform and contract. Before signing up, read the current fee schedule, the cancellation terms, the rules on showing contact details and how guest data is handled.
What your own website is for
You can use your own website as a clear home base: what the accommodation is like, what the rooms look like, who it suits, what the final price of a stay is and what guests can expect after arrival. If the website includes availability and a booking form, guests can look through the offer and send a booking directly to you. You can also link to house rules, practical information and tips for the area. A website does not replace promotion, though. Visitors have to find it somehow – for example through recommendations, your own profile, a local organisation or a portal, if its rules allow the link.
Compare costs honestly
Don’t just compare “the portal’s commission” with “the price of the website”. Work out the costs at a realistic number of stays: portal fees under their current terms, any payments for promotion, the annual price of the website tool, the domain, your own time for management and handling enquiries. Also take into account that you will have to handle direct bookings yourself and that a portal may bring a guest you would not otherwise have reached. The result will vary with the season, destination, price and how much you work with returning guests. So no one can promise that one route will always be cheaper or bring more bookings.
On its website, BKNGWEB lists a complete website with a booking system for €199 a year. For your comparison, check the current price and terms directly with the provider (BKNGWEB – price and features); when evaluating, include your own time and any other fees that may apply to a booking.
Watch the calendars and double bookings
With several sales channels, you need one reliable routine. Mark a confirmed date in every calendar quickly and regularly check that the block has carried over. A tool that mentions iCal or calendars does not by itself prove the specific type of synchronisation, whether it works both ways or whether updates are instant. Before connecting channels, find out what is actually transferred, how often, and what needs to be checked by hand. When testing, simulate both a booking and a cancellation. Until you fully understand it, leave yourself a time buffer and check all calendars after every change.
A simple division of roles
- Portal: can introduce you to a new audience; keep an eye on the terms, costs and quality of the listing.
- Your own website: serves as your clear offer and a place for direct bookings.
- Your communication: helps guests decide, and come back if they enjoyed their stay.
- Calendar: an operational check that you need to verify regularly.
Questions to ask before you decide
- Where do my guests come from today, and how much does each channel cost me?
- Can I share a link to my own website in my portal profile under its rules?
- Who will keep availability, prices and dates in check everywhere?
- What can guests find out on my website that doesn’t fit into a portal profile?
- Can I handle a direct booking, payment and cancellation with the process I have chosen?
Having your own website doesn’t have to mean leaving the portals. It can be another channel that gives you more room to present yourself. For ideas on content, also read How to get your first bookings. If you manage a flat across the border, continue with the checklist for running an apartment abroad. If you want a website where guests can see available dates and the price and send a direct booking, take a look at BKNGWEB. You can try the standard features with your own accommodation free for 7 days; a payment card is required at activation, and the annual payment of €199 is charged after the trial unless you cancel the subscription in time. Before you start, confirm the terms on the current product page.