Reducing commission dependence is not about switching OTAs off. It is about building a stronger owned channel, cleaner conversion paths, and smarter retention so every booking does not have to be repurchased.
Good hotels reduce OTA pressure by increasing the share of bookings they can influence directly and retain over time.
Hotels often blame distribution partners when the deeper issue is that the direct experience is not strong enough yet.
The biggest commission leak rarely comes from one OTA. It comes from weak direct trust, low follow-up quality, and a stack that does not help guests come back directly.