More Direct Bookings: Turn Your Website Into Your Strongest Booking Channel
Every booking through your own website is fully yours: no commission to portals, direct contact with the guest, full control over the data. These seven levers get more direct bookings out of your website.
1. Make your website bookable in real time
Guests who first have to fill out a form and wait for a reply book elsewhere. A booking engine with real-time availability, clear prices, and online payment—like BOOKED!—turns visitors into bookings, around the clock.
2. Treat inquiries like gold
Not every guest books immediately—many inquire first. A structured inquiry form with period, alternative period, and occupancy gives you everything you need for a fast, fitting offer. Whoever answers professionally first wins the booking.
3. Fill gaps with last-minute offers
Short-notice gaps in your calendar cost real money. Enter those free nights as a last-minute offer—once one is booked it takes itself off your website again.
4. Use discount codes deliberately
Discount codes reward loyal guests and make campaigns measurable—in your newsletter or on social media, for example. Redeemable directly in the booking flow, they lower the barrier to booking direct.
5. Keep prices current everywhere
Nothing undermines trust faster than contradictory prices. When the price list on your website stays automatically in sync with the PMS, there are no bad surprises—for anyone.
6. Stay in touch after the stay
The most affordable guest is the one who returns. Automatic anticipation, welcome-home, and birthday emails keep the relationship warm—and bring the next booking directly through your website again.
7. Speak your guests' language
Booking, check-in, and voucher shop in the guest's language noticeably reduce drop-offs. The Anexis widgets speak up to four languages: German, English, Italian, and Dutch.