June 3, 2023 
3 Min 
No Comment 
Before considering the available options, take a step back to try to define and present your product offering and your company. What kind of experiences do you provide, for whom and at what scale? Once you have a clear picture of your business, the OTA hunt can begin!
These are the factors to consider:
Does the OTA offer new market segments that you cannot reach immediately? Will you benefit from its geographic and demographic targeting? Use OTAs to reach new audiences!
Decide which client connection you want or need. Is there a need for this connection – and can your OTA facilitate – direct contact with your customers?
Is there a working app? Does the booking process and ticket distribution support your business? Will there be a consistent customer experience for bookers direct versus OTA?
Does this OTA work with direct competitors or big players that could affect your app or bookings?
Do you know how to register?
Do the Terms and Conditions apply to your business? Do they reflect the type of accommodation you have or are there points that will act as barriers?
Does their cancellation policy / schedule work? Does this reflect the needs of your business to prepare for your services provided, to ensure a satisfactory income?
What is the refund policy under different circumstances? How much flexibility is given to both parties and how will you be compensated for a no-show?
What payment currencies do they offer? Will you pay in your local or preferred currency or will you have to deduct conversion fees from your earnings?
Please note that the application from the OTA side may take some time to process.
Decide how much value it adds to your business
What is your commission cap for brokers? Decide in advance how much you are willing or able to pay a commission. Read more about guidelines and benchmarks: How much commission should you pay?
Do you have leverage you can use to trade? What makes you stand out and what can you bring to the table? In what ways are your activities important to the destination, relative to the activities of the local authority?
How much availability will you offer to online sales channels? How much of your availability can you offer to OTAs?
Can you afford the best price guarantee or seasonal offer? How flexible or reluctant is it to modify your prices from that particular OTA? While promotional pricing can be an effective way to drive sales, small percentages add up – especially for multi-day or personalized tours. Find out in advance how much of your winnings you are willing to allocate and what the potential profitability is.