The problem
Why platforms hold back your growth
Airbnb and Booking.com are useful, but should never be your only booking channel.
High commissions
Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com take between 15 and 25% on every booking. For a chalet charging €250 per night with 120 nights booked per year, that represents between €4,500 and €7,500 lost every year.
Over 5 years, that's potentially more than €30,000 that could have stayed in your pocket or been reinvested in improving your property.
Estimated annual loss
€4,500 – €7,500
For a typical chalet in Haute-Savoie
No control
On platforms, your chalet is just one listing among thousands. You don't control the presentation of your brand, the prices shown to clients, or the communication before and after the stay.
Reviews, cancellation policies, and even photos are subject to the platform's rules. Your brand identity disappears behind Airbnb's or Booking's.
What you lose:
- Control of your brand image
- Pricing flexibility (dynamic pricing, special offers)
- Direct communication with your clients
- Client data (emails, phone numbers)
Limited visibility
Platform algorithms favour properties that accept the lowest prices and the most flexible conditions. If you don't play the game, your chalet sinks to the bottom of search results.
With your own website and a targeted SEO strategy, you appear when travellers actively search for "chalet Haute-Savoie" or "chalet rental Chamonix" — without paying any commission.
The alternative: local SEO
- Organic positioning on Google
- Free and qualified traffic
- Visibility that grows over time
- Complete independence from algorithms
Direct channel vs. OTA platforms
| Direct Channel | Airbnb / Booking | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission per booking | 0% | 15–25% |
| Brand image control | ||
| Client data (email, phone) | ||
| Full pricing flexibility | ||
| Direct client relationship | ||
| Loyalty programme | ||
| Algorithm dependency |
Ready to take back control?
The audit is free. Discover how much you could save with direct bookings.