The short answer
On a $200 night through Booking.com, a Genius member pays $180. After a 15% commission, you keep $153. Book that same night direct and you keep about $194 after card fees. That's $41 a night, before any other promotion.
The math on one night
Most owners think about OTA cost as one number: the commission. But on most bookings there are two cuts, and they stack. First the discount you fund. Then the commission on what's left.
| Member discount | Guest pays | 15% commission | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | $200 | $30 | $170 (85%) |
| 10% | $180 | $27 | $153 (76.5%) |
| 15% | $170 | $25.50 | $144.50 (72%) |
| 20% | $160 | $24 | $136 (68%) |
| Direct booking | $200 | ~$6 card fee | ~$194 (97%) |
At the 20% level, a third of the rate is gone before you pay for cleaning, linens, taxes or a single repair.
Why the discount comes first
Booking.com's Genius program is opt-in, but it's hard to stay visible without it. Properties that join give Genius members at least 10% off, and can choose to offer up to 15% or 20% to the program's higher levels. The property pays for that discount. Booking.com then charges its commission on the discounted price the guest pays.
Expedia works much the same way with its member-only deal, usually 10% for logged-in members. Then come the length-of-stay deals, mobile rates, last-minute deals and flash sales every OTA keeps nudging you toward. Each one comes out of your rate first.
Run your own numbers
Move the sliders to match your property. The calculator applies your member discount first, then the commission, the same order the OTAs use.
One stay through an OTA
- Your rate · 1 night
- $200
- Discount you fund · 10%
- −$20
- Guest pays
- $180
- Commission · 15% of what the guest pays
- −$27
- You keep
- $153
You keep 77% of your rate.
The same stay, booked direct
$194
after a 3% card fee
$41 more per stay
$4,920 a year at 10 OTA stays a month
An estimate, not a promise. It doesn't count taxes, extra OTA promotions, or the guests an OTA finds that you never would have.
What to do about it
Walking away from the OTAs isn't the answer for most small properties. They find guests you'd never reach on your own. The goal is to stop paying commission on guests who would have booked you anyway.
- 01Make direct the easiest way to book.A "Book Direct" button that's easy to find on a phone, on every page. If guests have to hunt for it, they go back to the app they already have open.
- 02Give guests a reason to book direct.Perks work: early check-in, a late checkout, a local treat. If you want to offer a lower direct rate, read your OTA agreements first, since some include rate parity terms.
- 03Bring OTA guests back.Someone who found you on an OTA and loved their stay is your best direct guest. Invite them back with a reason to book with you next time.
- 04Know your numbers.Check how many bookings came direct each month. Comal Inn booked 32% of summer 2026 stays direct, with no OTA commission on any of them.
Quick answers
Is OTA commission charged before or after the discount?
After. The commission is a percentage of what the guest actually pays. If a Genius member gets 10% off a $200 night, the guest pays $180 and a 15% commission is taken from that $180.
Do I have to join Booking.com Genius?
No. Genius is opt-in for properties. Many owners join because it can help with visibility, but the discount comes out of your rate, not Booking.com's commission.
How much does Booking.com charge per booking?
It depends on your contract and market. Comal Inn pays 15%. Check your own agreement, since rates and promotions vary by property.
Should I leave the OTAs?
Usually not. OTAs find guests you'd never reach on your own. The goal is to keep the guests who already know you, so you're not paying commission twice for the same person.
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