Hospitality
How to increase direct bookings for a hotel or resort in India
By Mahimvir Singh, founder of Nine Digital ·
To increase direct bookings, an Indian hotel or resort should fix its Google Business Profile, protect brand searches with a small search campaign, make its own booking page as fast and clear as the OTA listing, offer a reason to book direct, track bookings in GA4, and publish answer-first pages that AI assistants can cite.
Seven steps
- Google Business Profile: correct category, accurate amenities, recent photos, and replies to every review.
- Brand-search protection: run a low-cost search campaign on your own name so you, not an OTA, take the top position.
- A booking page that converts: fast on mobile, clear room photos and prices, and few steps.
- A reason to book direct: a benefit such as breakfast, late checkout or a flexible cancellation, shown prominently.
- Tracking: send booking-engine conversions and values to GA4 and your ad platforms.
- Seasonal campaigns: Meta and Google ads for weddings, long weekends and festivals, planned months ahead.
- AI-search pages: clear pages on location, distances, events, policies and packages, with FAQ structured data.
What to measure
- Direct-booking revenue and share of total bookings
- Cost per direct booking from paid campaigns
- Calls and direction requests from Google Business Profile
Experience
Nine Digital has worked with hospitality brands including Aalia Resort in Haridwar and Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur.
Questions
Should hotels stop using OTAs?
Rarely. OTAs bring guests who wouldn't find you otherwise. The aim is to stop paying commission on guests who were already looking for you.
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