Villa Lavanda: how a small hotel can get guests without portal commission

Small family hotels and villas often share the same problem: guests find them through booking portals, and the portal takes a commission on every booking. Booking.com, for example, charges a base commission of around 12%, and 15 to 20% for better visibility.

Guests would often happily book direct, but the property doesn't have a website that looks serious enough to trust with their holiday. Villa Lavanda shows what that kind of website can look like.

First impressions first

The site opens with a large photo of the sea at sunset and the heading "The place where summer slows down." Right below it is what guests want to know: 12 rooms and 100 meters from the sea. The design is calm, with an elegant serif font and warm tones, to feel like a family place rather than a big hotel chain.

Features that lead to a direct inquiry

1. Availability check right at the top

Guests immediately pick their arrival date, departure date and number of guests. They don't have to look for how to book, because it's the first thing they see.

2. Numbers that build trust

Right below are the key numbers: the guest rating, the distance to the beach, how long the family has run the place and 10% off for direct booking. Guests see in a second why it pays to book right here.

3. Rooms and amenities

Three room types in one villa, alongside amenities that sell the experience:

• breakfast on the terrace with homemade bread, cheese and honey from the family farm
• a heated pool and sun loungers in a lavender garden
• free covered parking
• late checkout until 2 pm, free with direct booking

4. Location with real distances

Instead of a vague "close to the center", guests see exact distances: beach 100 m, old town a 10-minute walk, airport 25 minutes, national park 40 minutes.

5. Inquiries the way guests prefer

• email with the subject "Accommodation inquiry" already filled in, so guests don't have to think of anything
• WhatsApp with a note that reception replies within 15 minutes
• a call to reception with one tap
• sticky buttons at the bottom of the phone screen: "Call" and "Check dates"

Three levels for accommodation

Villa Lavanda is the basic level of my offer for accommodation, deliberately without an expensive booking system:

• Basic level: an elegant site with a direct inquiry, like Villa Lavanda. Quick to build and simple to maintain.
• Advanced level: full online booking with a price calendar, extras and payment.
• Premium level: a website as an experience, with an interactive 3D view of the property.

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Your small hotel deserves a website as beautiful as it is. Guests contact you directly, and the commission stays in your pocket.