Airbnb vs Direct Booking: What Landlords Need to Know

Every short-let landlord faces the same question eventually: should you rely on Airbnb, or build your own direct booking capability? The honest answer is: you need both.

Airbnb: Reach at a Cost

Airbnb gives you instant access to tens of millions of active travellers. You can go live within hours and get your first booking within days. The cost? Airbnb charges hosts between 3–16% service fees. Guests pay an additional 14–20% on top.

Direct Booking: Lower Fees, Higher Effort

A direct booking website eliminates platform fees entirely. A £200/night booking that saves 15% in fees is an extra £30 per night — or £10,000+ per year on a busy property.

The Optimal Strategy

Use Airbnb and Booking.com for visibility and filling gaps. Systematically convert guests to direct bookers for their return visits. Aim for 20–30% of bookings to be direct within 2–3 years.

Interested in our short-let management service?