For hosts

Keep more of every booking

Honest, practical guides for independent B&B, guesthouse and Airbnb hosts: cut the commission you pay the OTAs, win more direct bookings, and build a booking website you actually own.

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Commissions & fees

Booking platform commission compared (2026): how much each one really takes

Booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo and Expedia commission rates compared for 2026 — what you actually keep on a £100 booking, and why taking bookings direct wins.

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Direct bookings

How to get direct bookings for your B&B or holiday let

A step-by-step playbook for small accommodation owners who want to shift guests off OTAs and onto a direct booking channel. Cut commission, own your guest relationships, and keep more of every booking.

Read the guide →

Commissions & fees

Booking platform commission compared (2026): how much each one really takes

Booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo and Expedia commission rates compared for 2026 — what you actually keep on a £100 booking, and why taking bookings direct wins.

8 min read

Airbnb host fees explained: how much does Airbnb actually take?

Airbnb charges most UK hosts a 15.5% service fee in 2026. Here's exactly what gets deducted, how the guest-facing fee inflates your price, and what you keep on direct bookings.

7 min read

How much commission does Booking.com charge hosts?

Booking.com's base commission is around 15% in the UK, but Preferred Partner fees, Visibility Booster bids and Genius discounts can push your real cost to 17-20% or more. Here is what you actually pay.

7 min read

Airbnb vs Booking.com for hosts: fees, payouts and control compared

Airbnb charges hosts around 15.5% and Booking.com between 10 and 25%. We compare fees, payout timing, guest types and control so you can decide which platform — or neither — makes sense for your B&B.

7 min read

How to reduce OTA commission: 9 ways to keep more of every booking

Booking.com and Airbnb take 15% or more from every reservation. Here are nine practical ways independent hosts can cut their reliance on OTAs and keep more of every pound they earn.

7 min read

Direct bookings

How to get direct bookings for your B&B or holiday let

8 min read

Direct booking vs Airbnb: which makes hosts more money?

Airbnb takes around 15.5% of every booking. Direct bookings cost roughly 1.5% in card fees. Here is the honest comparison of cost, control, and when to use each channel.

8 min read

Your website

Do I need a website for my B&B or Airbnb?

If you rely entirely on Airbnb or Booking.com, you don't own your guests, your listing can be suspended, and you pay commission on every booking. Here's why your own website changes all of that.

7 min read

How to take bookings on your own website, commission-free

A practical guide for B&B and guesthouse owners on setting up a direct booking system: payments, calendar sync, deposits, and how to avoid double-bookings without technical skill.

8 min read

Best direct-booking website builders for B&Bs and Airbnbs (2026)

Comparing the best ways for independent B&B and guesthouse owners to build a direct-booking website in 2026: general builders, channel managers, WordPress, and done-for-you services.

8 min read

Growth

How to increase bookings for a small B&B: 12 proven tactics

Practical, proven tactics to fill more rooms at your B&B or guesthouse, from perfecting your photos to earning repeat guests, with tips on both OTA optimisation and direct bookings.

8 min read

Data & research

Direct booking statistics 2026: what the numbers tell hosts

Verified 2026 data on OTA commission rates, direct booking savings, and the UK independent accommodation market. Sourced for hosts, journalists, and AI research engines.

7 min read

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