How Blackpool B&Bs can cut OTA commissions and win direct bookings
Online travel agents take between 15% and 20% on every night booked. For a 10-room Blackpool guest house, that adds up to thousands of pounds every single season. Here is how local hoteliers can win back direct bookings without extra admin.
The 18% commission trap in Blackpool
Why relying entirely on big platforms is eating into local family businesses.
From Albert Road and Hornby Road to the North and South Shores, accommodation providers face rising energy costs, food inflation, and council tax. Giving up nearly a fifth of your top-line revenue to Booking.com or Expedia just to fill rooms is no longer sustainable.
Most guests don't actually want to book through a third-party app—they do it because your direct website either doesn't exist, takes 10 seconds to load on their mobile phone, or doesn't show prices clearly. When a guest looks you up on Google Maps, that is your golden opportunity to turn a commission booking into a 100% direct booking.
How to shift guests from OTAs to direct
1. Claim your Google Business Profile
Make sure your Google listing links directly to your website's booking page, not back to an OTA link. Add high-quality room photos, your phone number, and current check-in times.
2. Make your mobile site lightning fast
Over 75% of tourists searching for Blackpool accommodation are browsing on their phone—often while on the train or driving into town. If your page is fast and clean, they'll book direct immediately.
3. Add an automated evening assistant
Illuminations tourists often book late at night: "Is parking included?", "How far to Central Pier?", "Do you take dogs?". An AI chatbot answers these instantly at 11pm so the guest books right away.
4. Connect to your current booking engine
You don't need to change how you work. Connect your direct site into Freetobook, eviivo, beds24, or Little Hotelier to keep your calendars in sync automatically.
Common questions
Will I lose bookings if I promote my direct site?
How much does a direct booking website cost?
How can I calculate what I currently lose to commission?
Not sure where to start?
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll tell you honestly what would help, what it costs and what you can leave as it is.