OTAs are useful. But the commission adds up fast.
This calculator shows the simplest truth in hospitality marketing: how many extra direct bookings per month you need to break even on your investment in SEO, Google Hotel Ads, and social media. It’s quick, practical, and tied to real numbers, not wishful thinking.
If you manage a UK hotel with 50+ bedrooms and you’re serious about reducing OTA reliance, this is the page you’ll come back to!
Most hotels don’t need “more marketing”. They need clarity.
This tool helps you calculate:
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How much OTA commission you’re likely paying (based on your numbers)
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What revenue needs to shift from OTA to direct to break even
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How many bookings per month does that equal, based on your ADR
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What a realistic channel mix looks like across SEO, Hotel Ads, and social
It’s designed for hotels that want more direct bookings and less wasted spend.
Work out how many extra direct bookings you need per month to justify your investment in Hotel SEO, Google Hotel Ads, and social media. This is built for UK hotels that want fewer OTAs and more profit.
Your numbers
Monthly investment
Enter what you plan to invest per month to increase direct bookings.
Note: This calculator assumes your goal is to shift revenue currently coming from OTAs to direct, minus estimated direct booking costs.
Your break-even result
Your break-even point is based on saving commission by shifting bookings from OTA to direct, minus estimated direct booking costs.
Total monthly investment
£0
SEO + Hotel Ads + social + other.
Net saving rate per shifted booking
0%
OTA commission minus direct booking costs.
Revenue to shift OTA to direct (per month)
£0
This is the break-even revenue target.
Extra direct bookings needed (per month)
0
Calculated using your ADR.
Current OTA revenue (per month)
£0
Based on annual room revenue and OTA share.
Estimated OTA commission paid (per month)
£0
This is the cost you are paying for those bookings.
Target contribution based on your spend mix.
Immediate capture for booking intent searches.
Assisted demand, trust, and remarketing support.
Want this turned into a direct bookings plan for your hotel? Request a free audit and we will tell you the highest-impact fixes first.
If a booking shifts from an OTA to direct, you don’t just gain revenue. You also stop paying commission.
So your break-even point is simply:
Monthly investment ÷ OTA commission rate = revenue that needs to move directly
Revenue to shift ÷ ADR = extra direct bookings required
This does not require perfection. It requires direction.
Once you know the break-even number, the next step is choosing the smartest route to get there.
Google Hotel Ads can create immediate visibility for booking intent searches. It’s a strong lever when your site converts and your rates are competitive.
Hotel SEO helps you rank for the searches that lead to bookings. It takes longer than paid, but the savings stack over time because you reduce reliance on commission-driven bookings.
Social media is where many hotels underperform. It can drive awareness, fill gaps with offers, and power remarketing so more website visitors come back and book direct.
If you haven’t already, use our OTA calculator first. It shows how much commission you’re likely paying and where the leaks are.
Is this calculator accurate?
It’s as accurate as the inputs you give it. The purpose is not to produce a perfect forecast. The purpose is to give you a commercial target you can plan around.
Should I include social media in a “direct bookings” plan?
Yes, because social media often influences booking decisions before someone searches. It drives awareness, builds trust, and powers remarketing so more visitors return and book direct. That’s why this calculator includes social as part of the model.
How quickly can I reduce OTA reliance?
You can normally create early movement within weeks through Google Hotel Ads and conversion fixes, while SEO builds compounding results over months. The fastest route is rarely “one channel only”. It’s the right mix, executed properly.
What’s a healthy OTA vs direct split?
It depends on property type, brand strength, and market demand. The real goal is not “zero OTAs”. It’s paying commission intentionally, not by default.
What if my website conversion rate is poor?
Then break-even becomes harder, but not impossible. It just means the priority should be conversion fundamentals first: speed, clarity, room pages, offers, booking journey, and tracking.