What is an OTA (online travel agency)?

An OTA (Online Travel Agency) is a platform that sells accommodation or activities to travellers in exchange for a commission or service fees taken on each booking. Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia are the best-known examples. OTAs bring visibility, but they set their own rules and fees: most hosts combine them with direct bookings on their own website.

How does an OTA make money?

Models vary from one platform to another, and sometimes from one contract to another:

• Commission charged to the host: a percentage of the booking amount is deducted from what is paid out to you.
• Fees charged to the guest: the platform adds fees to the price paid by the customer.
• Mixed model: one part paid by the host, one part by the guest.

Two recent examples, to check with each platform as they change:

On a €1,000 booking (fictitious example), a 15% commission represents €150: this is the order of magnitude that a direct booking lets you save, minus your own payment costs. A full calculation is given in Direct bookings without Airbnb commission.

What do OTAs bring?

It would be inaccurate to present them only as a cost. An OTA brings:

• an international audience that few hosts can reach on their own;
• the guest's trust, reassured by a well-known brand and a review system;
• customer service and payment tools already in place;
• dispute handling and sometimes guarantees specific to the platform.

In return, you depend on its rules: listing rankings, cancellation policy, payout timing, and the conditions under which fees can change.

What is rate parity?

Rate parity is a clause by which a platform requires a host not to offer, on their other channels and in particular on their own website, a lower price than the one it displays.

In France, law no. 2015-990 of 6 August 2015 (known as the “Macron law”) regulated relations between hoteliers and platforms: the contract takes the form of a mandate (articles L311-5-1 et seq. of the French Tourism Code) and the hotelier remains free to grant their customers any discount or price advantage. This rule applies in France only and targets hotels; for a furnished holiday let or a B&B, read each platform's terms and seek advice if in doubt. The texts in force can be consulted on Légifrance (in French, consulted on 12 October 2026). Outside France, rules on parity clauses depend on the country: check with a local adviser.

OTAs and direct bookings: how do you combine them?

A common strategy is to use OTAs to get known, then invite satisfied guests to book directly next time. A few rules:

1. Synchronise calendars to avoid double bookings, through iCal or a channel manager (see What is a channel manager?).
2. Respect the platforms' terms: most prohibit diverting a guest during a booking made through them.
3. Give guests a reason to book direct: a loyalty promo code, a free extra, direct contact with you.
4. Take care of your website: photos, up-to-date availability, a clear price and secure payment.

GDA Kraft Booking, the free WordPress plugin from Global Digital Agency, serves exactly this direct channel: on online payments, the service fee is 0.9%, reduced to 0.45% until 30 June 2027, on top of Stripe's processing fees. Details are on the Pricing page and in The service fee.

Frequently asked questions

What does OTA stand for?

OTA stands for Online Travel Agency. The term refers to platforms that sell accommodation nights or activities on behalf of businesses.

Is Airbnb an OTA?

In industry usage, yes: Airbnb is generally classed among OTAs, alongside Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia, even though its original model was a marketplace between private individuals.

Should I leave the OTAs and only take direct bookings?

Rarely overnight. Most hosts gradually reduce their dependence by developing their website and their loyal clientele, while keeping one or two platforms.

Can I show a lower price on my site than on an OTA?

It depends on your status and on the contract that binds you to the platform. For hotels in France, the law regulates parity clauses; for other types of accommodation, and outside France, check each platform's terms.