FAQ
All your questions, answered
Everything chalet owners in Haute-Savoie ask us before getting started.
Commissions & platforms
How much do I actually lose in commissions with Airbnb and Booking.com?
Commissions vary by platform. Airbnb takes approximately 3% from the host + 14-16% from the guest (an effective cost of 17-19% on the listed price). Booking.com takes between 15 and 20% directly on each booking, depending on the visibility programme chosen. Vrbo/Abritel charges approximately 8% host-side + variable guest fees.
For a chalet at €300/night with 120 nights booked per year, that represents between €5,400 and €7,200 in commissions per year. Over 5 years, that's potentially more than €30,000 leaving your pocket.
For a chalet at €300/night with 120 nights booked per year, that represents between €5,400 and €7,200 in commissions per year. Over 5 years, that's potentially more than €30,000 leaving your pocket.
Do I need to leave Airbnb and Booking to work with you?
Absolutely not. Our approach is complementary, not exclusive. You keep your listings on the platforms — they remain a useful acquisition channel, especially for initial visibility. The goal is to progressively build a direct booking channel that, over time, represents a growing share of your bookings. Some of our clients keep 50% of their bookings via OTAs and generate the remaining 50% direct — commission-free.
Why would travellers book direct rather than via Airbnb?
Several reasons motivate travellers to book direct:
• Lower prices — without the platform's service fees (often 14-16% for the guest), you can offer a more attractive rate while keeping more margin.
• Direct communication — travellers appreciate being able to ask questions and organise their stay without a filter.
• Exclusive offers — extended stays, ski packages, airport transfers, welcome baskets... Extras impossible to offer on platforms.
• Trust — a professional website with quality photos, verified reviews and a clear booking process inspires confidence.
• Lower prices — without the platform's service fees (often 14-16% for the guest), you can offer a more attractive rate while keeping more margin.
• Direct communication — travellers appreciate being able to ask questions and organise their stay without a filter.
• Exclusive offers — extended stays, ski packages, airport transfers, welcome baskets... Extras impossible to offer on platforms.
• Trust — a professional website with quality photos, verified reviews and a clear booking process inspires confidence.
Are direct bookings as secure as via Airbnb?
Yes. We integrate bank-grade payment systems (Stripe, PayPal) with SSL encryption and 3D Secure authentication. Funds are transferred directly to your account. We also configure clear cancellation conditions, automatic confirmations and rental contracts compliant with French law. Your clients benefit from the same level of security — or even higher — than with a platform.
What happens with guest reviews if I leave the platforms?
You're not "leaving" the platforms — you're adding a channel. For your direct site, we integrate a verified review system (Google Reviews, automated post-stay reviews). Google reviews have the advantage of appearing directly in search results, which strengthens your credibility and your SEO at the same time.
Our services & support
What exactly does your website creation service include?
We create a complete, turnkey website:
• Custom design that reflects the standing and identity of your chalet (no generic template)
• Immersive photo galleries with image optimisation for fast loading
• Detailed description pages (the chalet, amenities, the region, activities)
• Integrated booking engine with availability calendar and online payment
• SEO optimisation from design stage (structure, tags, content, speed)
• Perfect mobile version — over 60% of tourism bookings are made on smartphone
• Contact form and WhatsApp integration
The site is yours: you own it, with full access to the code and content.
• Custom design that reflects the standing and identity of your chalet (no generic template)
• Immersive photo galleries with image optimisation for fast loading
• Detailed description pages (the chalet, amenities, the region, activities)
• Integrated booking engine with availability calendar and online payment
• SEO optimisation from design stage (structure, tags, content, speed)
• Perfect mobile version — over 60% of tourism bookings are made on smartphone
• Contact form and WhatsApp integration
The site is yours: you own it, with full access to the code and content.
What is a direct booking system and how does it work?
It's a booking engine integrated into your website that allows your visitors to:
1. See real-time availability on a calendar
2. Select their dates and number of guests
3. See the total price (with dynamic seasonal pricing)
4. Pay securely online
5. Receive an automatic confirmation email
On your side, you manage everything from a dashboard: bookings, calendar, rates, cancellation conditions. The system can sync with Airbnb and Booking to avoid double bookings.
1. See real-time availability on a calendar
2. Select their dates and number of guests
3. See the total price (with dynamic seasonal pricing)
4. Pay securely online
5. Receive an automatic confirmation email
On your side, you manage everything from a dashboard: bookings, calendar, rates, cancellation conditions. The system can sync with Airbnb and Booking to avoid double bookings.
What is SEO and why is it important for my chalet?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the set of techniques to make your website appear in the top Google results when someone searches for example:
• "chalet to rent Haute-Savoie"
• "chalet rental Chamonix winter"
• "family chalet Megève with jacuzzi"
It's crucial because 75% of travellers start their search on Google. If your chalet doesn't appear, those clients end up on Airbnb — and you pay a commission. Local SEO is an investment: it takes 3-6 months to show first results, but once positioned, the traffic is free and continuous.
• "chalet to rent Haute-Savoie"
• "chalet rental Chamonix winter"
• "family chalet Megève with jacuzzi"
It's crucial because 75% of travellers start their search on Google. If your chalet doesn't appear, those clients end up on Airbnb — and you pay a commission. Local SEO is an investment: it takes 3-6 months to show first results, but once positioned, the traffic is free and continuous.
Do you also manage Google and social media advertising?
Yes. We manage Google Ads campaigns targeting tourism searches in Haute-Savoie ("ski chalet rental", "luxury chalet Annecy", etc.) and Meta campaigns (Facebook/Instagram) to reach travellers in the planning phase.
Each campaign is:
• Geographically and interest-targeted
• Optimised with dedicated landing pages
• Tracked with precise metrics (cost per booking, ROI)
• Adjusted in real time based on performance
We also set up automated email marketing: post-visit follow-ups, seasonal offers, loyalty programmes.
Each campaign is:
• Geographically and interest-targeted
• Optimised with dedicated landing pages
• Tracked with precise metrics (cost per booking, ROI)
• Adjusted in real time based on performance
We also set up automated email marketing: post-visit follow-ups, seasonal offers, loyalty programmes.
Can you manage multiple chalets on a single website?
Yes, this is a configuration we handle perfectly. For multi-property managers, we create a centralised website with a dedicated page per chalet, an availability calendar per property and a single dashboard to manage everything. It's often the most cost-effective setup as marketing costs are shared across the portfolio.
Budget, timelines & results
How much do your services cost?
Every project is unique, so we don't offer generic fixed prices. After the free audit, we send you a detailed quote tailored to your objectives and budget, with a breakdown of each service.
As a guide:
• A website with booking engine starts at a few thousand euros
• Monthly management (SEO + advertising + maintenance) depends on the volume of activity
What is guaranteed: our pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees. And the return on investment is often achieved within the first seasons thanks to commission savings.
As a guide:
• A website with booking engine starts at a few thousand euros
• Monthly management (SEO + advertising + maintenance) depends on the volume of activity
What is guaranteed: our pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees. And the return on investment is often achieved within the first seasons thanks to commission savings.
Is the initial consultation really free?
Yes, 100% free with absolutely no obligation. Here's what it includes:
• Analysis of your current online presence (listings, existing website, reviews)
• Assessment of your direct booking potential
• Quick study of competition in your area
• Concrete recommendations with a costed action plan
If our proposals don't convince you, you leave with actionable advice — for free. We prefer to demonstrate our value rather than promise it.
• Analysis of your current online presence (listings, existing website, reviews)
• Assessment of your direct booking potential
• Quick study of competition in your area
• Concrete recommendations with a costed action plan
If our proposals don't convince you, you leave with actionable advice — for free. We prefer to demonstrate our value rather than promise it.
How long before my website is live?
Our standard process:
• Week 1 — Audit and content collection (photos, texts, access)
• Week 2 — Strategy presentation and approval
• Weeks 3 to 6 — Website creation, booking engine configuration, SEO
• Weeks 7-8 — Testing, adjustments and launch
That's 6 to 8 weeks from first contact to an operational website. Advertising campaigns can start as soon as the site goes live.
• Week 1 — Audit and content collection (photos, texts, access)
• Week 2 — Strategy presentation and approval
• Weeks 3 to 6 — Website creation, booking engine configuration, SEO
• Weeks 7-8 — Testing, adjustments and launch
That's 6 to 8 weeks from first contact to an operational website. Advertising campaigns can start as soon as the site goes live.
When will I see my first direct bookings?
It depends on your market and the season, but here's a realistic timeline:
• Months 1-2 — The site is live, Google Ads campaigns are running. The first enquiries come via paid advertising.
• Months 3-4 — SEO starts producing organic traffic. Direct bookings increase.
• Month 6+ — The cumulative effect kicks in: SEO + advertising + loyalty + digital word-of-mouth. The direct channel represents a significant share of your bookings.
Clients who launch before a high season (winter or summer in Haute-Savoie) naturally see faster results.
• Months 1-2 — The site is live, Google Ads campaigns are running. The first enquiries come via paid advertising.
• Months 3-4 — SEO starts producing organic traffic. Direct bookings increase.
• Month 6+ — The cumulative effect kicks in: SEO + advertising + loyalty + digital word-of-mouth. The direct channel represents a significant share of your bookings.
Clients who launch before a high season (winter or summer in Haute-Savoie) naturally see faster results.
What if I'm not satisfied?
There is no minimum commitment period on our monthly services. If you're not satisfied, you can stop at any time. Your website, data and content belong to you — you keep them entirely.
That said, our goal is that you have no reason to leave. That's why every action is measured and reported: you see exactly what we're doing and the results it produces.
That said, our goal is that you have no reason to leave. That's why every action is measured and reported: you see exactly what we're doing and the results it produces.
Is the investment worthwhile for a small chalet?
Let's do the maths simply. A small chalet at €150/night with 80 nights/year generates €12,000/year. OTA commissions (15-20%) represent €1,800 to €2,400 per year.
If your direct site captures just 30% of those bookings in the first year, you recover €540 to €720. The second year, with SEO in place and loyalty, that figure increases significantly.
The question isn't "is it worth it" but rather "how many years of commissions am I willing to lose before taking action?"
If your direct site captures just 30% of those bookings in the first year, you recover €540 to €720. The second year, with SEO in place and loyalty, that figure increases significantly.
The question isn't "is it worth it" but rather "how many years of commissions am I willing to lose before taking action?"
Technical questions
Do I need to handle the technical side or is everything managed?
Everything is managed. You need zero technical skills. We take care of:
• Website hosting and maintenance
• Security updates
• Automatic backups
• Booking engine configuration
• Integration with your existing tools
Your only job: provide us with photos, approve the content and respond to bookings. We train you in 30 minutes on using the dashboard.
• Website hosting and maintenance
• Security updates
• Automatic backups
• Booking engine configuration
• Integration with your existing tools
Your only job: provide us with photos, approve the content and respond to bookings. We train you in 30 minutes on using the dashboard.
Will my calendar be synced with Airbnb and Booking?
Yes. We use iCal synchronisation (industry standard) or a channel manager depending on your needs. In practice:
• When someone books on your site → the dates are automatically blocked on Airbnb and Booking
• When someone books on Airbnb → the dates are blocked on your site
Result: zero risk of double booking. Synchronisation happens every 15-30 minutes depending on the method used.
• When someone books on your site → the dates are automatically blocked on Airbnb and Booking
• When someone books on Airbnb → the dates are blocked on your site
Result: zero risk of double booking. Synchronisation happens every 15-30 minutes depending on the method used.
I already have a website. Can you improve it?
It depends on the state of your current website. During the free audit, we analyse:
• Technical quality (speed, mobile, security)
• Design and user experience
• Existing SEO
• Ability to integrate a booking engine
If your site has good foundations, we can optimise it and add a booking system. If the structure is too limited (outdated WordPress, rigid template), it's often faster and more cost-effective to start on a solid foundation. We give you our honest opinion during the audit.
• Technical quality (speed, mobile, security)
• Design and user experience
• Existing SEO
• Ability to integrate a booking engine
If your site has good foundations, we can optimise it and add a booking system. If the structure is too limited (outdated WordPress, rigid template), it's often faster and more cost-effective to start on a solid foundation. We give you our honest opinion during the audit.
Will the website rank well on Google in both French AND English?
We create your site in French by default, as it's the language of your local market and the majority of Haute-Savoie-related searches. If you also target an international clientele (British, Swiss, Belgian), we can add an optimised English version with its own SEO. Each version is indexed separately by Google, which doubles your visibility surface.
How are payments handled? Is it secure?
We integrate Stripe (or PayPal depending on your preference), the global reference for online payments:
• End-to-end SSL encryption
• 3D Secure authentication
• PCI-DSS compliant (international banking standard)
• Automatic transfers to your bank account
• Simplified refund management
Funds arrive directly in your account, usually within 2-7 business days. You have no intermediary between the client and you.
• End-to-end SSL encryption
• 3D Secure authentication
• PCI-DSS compliant (international banking standard)
• Automatic transfers to your bank account
• Simplified refund management
Funds arrive directly in your account, usually within 2-7 business days. You have no intermediary between the client and you.
Haute-Savoie specifics
Why specialise in Haute-Savoie rather than tourism rentals in general?
Because the Haute-Savoie market is unique:
• Dual seasonality — winter (skiing) AND summer (hiking, lake, mountain biking). Many generalist agencies ignore this specificity.
• Premium clientele — travellers looking for chalets in Haute-Savoie have an above-average budget. Marketing must reflect this positioning.
• Specific local competition — knowing the resorts, tourism dynamics and local searches ("chalet Morzine", "rental Megève") makes the difference in SEO.
• French regulations — tourist tax, town hall registration, furnished tourism rental... we know the legal framework.
This specialisation allows us to be more effective than any generalist agency.
• Dual seasonality — winter (skiing) AND summer (hiking, lake, mountain biking). Many generalist agencies ignore this specificity.
• Premium clientele — travellers looking for chalets in Haute-Savoie have an above-average budget. Marketing must reflect this positioning.
• Specific local competition — knowing the resorts, tourism dynamics and local searches ("chalet Morzine", "rental Megève") makes the difference in SEO.
• French regulations — tourist tax, town hall registration, furnished tourism rental... we know the legal framework.
This specialisation allows us to be more effective than any generalist agency.
I only rent my chalet in winter. Is the direct channel worthwhile?
Yes, and it may be even more worthwhile. In winter, prices per night are 2 to 3 times higher than in summer. So the lost commissions are proportionally more significant.
A chalet at €500/night for 12 weeks of winter (84 nights) generates €42,000. At 18% commission, that's €7,560 lost. Even if your site captures 25% of those bookings in the first year, you recover ~€1,900.
Plus, we can help you develop the summer season via SEO and advertising — an often under-exploited revenue source in Haute-Savoie.
A chalet at €500/night for 12 weeks of winter (84 nights) generates €42,000. At 18% commission, that's €7,560 lost. Even if your site captures 25% of those bookings in the first year, you recover ~€1,900.
Plus, we can help you develop the summer season via SEO and advertising — an often under-exploited revenue source in Haute-Savoie.
I manage multiple chalets for different owners. Does this work too?
That's our ideal configuration. For managers and concierge services, we create:
• A showcase site centralising all properties
• A search engine by dates, capacity, location
• A multi-property booking engine with OTA synchronisation
• SEO-optimised pages per chalet and per resort
The marketing investment is shared across the entire portfolio, which considerably improves the ROI per property. It's the best scenario to maximise the impact of the direct channel.
• A showcase site centralising all properties
• A search engine by dates, capacity, location
• A multi-property booking engine with OTA synchronisation
• SEO-optimised pages per chalet and per resort
The marketing investment is shared across the entire portfolio, which considerably improves the ROI per property. It's the best scenario to maximise the impact of the direct channel.
My chalet is in a small village, not a major resort. Can SEO still work?
Often, it's actually easier. Major resorts (Chamonix, Megève) are very competitive for SEO. A chalet in a lesser-known village (Samoëns, Les Gets, La Clusaz) has less competition on local keywords.
We target highly qualified long-tail searches: "authentic chalet Samoëns with view", "family rental Les Gets near slopes". These searches have less volume but a much higher conversion rate — the person knows exactly what they're looking for.
We target highly qualified long-tail searches: "authentic chalet Samoëns with view", "family rental Les Gets near slopes". These searches have less volume but a much higher conversion rate — the person knows exactly what they're looking for.
Ready to take back control?
The audit is free. The results speak for themselves.