Most resort owners don't know the exact cost of their OTA dependency. They see the 15-25% commission rate, shrug, and view it as the "cost of doing business."
But let's do the actual math—because the number might shock you.
If you're running a 25-room resort with RM2 million in annual revenue, and 60% comes through OTAs, you are paying RM180,000 – RM300,000 (USD 43k – 72k) in commissions every single year.
That is not a "marketing fee." That is pure profit leaving your bank account every month.
This post is your calculator. Let's walk through the numbers together so you know exactly what you're losing—and what you could save by shifting just 20% of those bookings to your own website.
Key Takeaways:
- •The Silent Cost: A typical 25-room boutique resort pays over RM180k (USD 43k+) annually in commissions.
- •The Fix: You don't need to kill OTAs. Shifting just 20% of bookings to direct channels saves ~RM48k/year.
- •The ROI: Most direct booking systems pay for themselves within 4-6 months.
- •Don't want to do the math manually? Try our OTA savings calculator below.