Let’s face
it…running a boutique hotel in today’s market isn’t easy. Independent
properties, especially in the Caribbean, often find themselves competing with
massive hotel brands and third-party platforms that dominate the digital space.
To stay
visible, many turn to Online Travel Agencies (OTA’s) like Booking.com or
Expedia which offer global reach and increased visibility but they come with a
price. These types of partnerships may result in high commission fees, limited
guest data, less control over your brand experience, and the very same OTA’s
undercutting your room rates.
When
hotels sign their OTA agreements, they often overlook a crucial detail: they’re
giving the OTA’s the green light to undercut their room rates. Remember that
enticing mobile discount, the alluring package deal, or the shiny feature
designed to “boost” your listing? That captivating sales pitch from your
account rep. promises to enhance visibility in hotel searches and attract the
ever-growing number of mobile bookers. However, here’s the catch: each of these
features typically requires an additional 5% to 10% discount, which ultimately
positions the OTA rate lower than the hotels’ rate, and chips away at your
profits.
At Prevail Hospitality
Consulting, we’ve seen this struggle first-hand. As a boutique consulting firm
with deep roots in the Caribbean, we understand both the opportunities and the
pressures boutique properties face. Our mission is to help independent hotels
take back control of their distribution strategy—without sacrificing visibility
or profitability.
The Negative Impacts of
OTA’s
While OTA’s play a vital role
in the booking ecosystem, relying too heavily on them can:
·
Eat into your margins
with commissions ranging from 15% to 25%.
·
Dilute brand identity
as guests associate the booking experience more with the OTA than the hotel.
·
Limit guest loyalty
since repeat business often flows through the OTA, not your direct channels.
For small, independent
Caribbean hotels that thrive on authenticity and personalized service, this
model can be especially limiting. When your hotel has a unique identity and
story, the last thing you want is to be just another listing.
What’s the Alternative? A
Balanced Distribution Strategy
The goal isn’t to ditch OTA’s
completely, but to find a healthier balance. At Prevail Hospitality, we help
boutique hotels in the Caribbean rebalance their revenue mix by reducing OTA
dependency and boosting direct bookings.
Our approach includes:
·
Competitive Market
Analysis – We identify where your hotel
stands against the competition and where opportunity lies.
·
Channel
Optimization & Strategy – We
streamline your channel mix to ensure you’re visible in the right places, at
the right times, with the right message.
·
Pricing &
Revenue Management – We design intelligent
rate strategies that maximize revenue without sacrificing occupancy.
·
Direct Booking
Enhancements – From website audits to
digital marketing and conversion strategies, we help you own the guest journey
from start to finish.
Hotels that work with us
often see as much as a 30% increase in revenue, simply by rebalancing their
distribution mix and focusing more on direct guest engagement.
Why Boutique Hotels Trust
Prevail
Your hotel’s story deserves
to be front and center, not buried behind OTA listings and third-party
algorithms.
If you’re ready to improve
your profitability, elevate your guest experience, and gain more control over
your bookings, we’re here to help.
What sets us apart? We’re a
boutique firm ourselves. We understand the value of personalized service and
tailored strategies—not one-size-fits-all solutions.
We bring deep experience from
brands like Marriott, Sonesta, and IHG, as well as first-hand knowledge of the
Caribbean market, offering insights grounded in both global standards and
regional realities. We know what makes independent Caribbean hotels special and
we know how to help them shine in a crowded marketplace.
Reach out to us to learn how
we can help you design a distribution strategy that works for your property and
your goals.
Contact Laura at www.prevailhospitality.com