Book Direct Day Is Coming: Put Your Direct Channel to Work
OTAs Fill Nights. Direct Bookings Build Businesses.
If you want more control over revenue, guest relationships, and brand loyalty- February 4 matters.
Book Direct Day is more than a calendar event. It’s a timely reminder that the most resilient property management companies don’t rely solely on third-party channels to fill nights. They intentionally build direct guest demand that they own.
OTAs deliver exposure. Direct bookings deliver stability.
The operators who balance both are the ones still winning five years from now.
At Barefoot, we work with operators who use OTAs strategically and build direct channels intentionally. Book Direct Day is about leaning into that advantage.
Why Growing Direct Bookings Should Be a Priority
Direct bookings do more than reduce fees. They change the economics of your business.
When a guest books directly with you: .png?width=285&height=356&name=a%20(13).png)
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You control the full guest experience
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You own the guest relationship and communication
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You control policies, messaging, and offers
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You retain more revenue from every reservation
Here’s the industry reality:
OTA demand is rented demand. Direct demand is owned demand.
One scales your business. The other scales your costs.
A 200–300 property portfolio that shifts even 10% of bookings from OTA to direct can retain tens of thousands of dollars annually — without adding a single new property.
That’s why direct bookings aren’t a “nice to have.” They’re a growth lever.
What Book Direct Day Represents
Book Direct Day is your chance to clearly tell guests:
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Your website is the best place to book
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Booking direct means working directly with your local team
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Direct reservations often include better value or added benefits
It’s not about eliminating OTAs.
It’s about training guests where to look first.
High-Impact Ways to Use Book Direct Day
You don’t need a complex campaign. Focus on clarity and execution.
Email Your Past Guests
Send a short, direct message:
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Book Direct Day is February 4
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Your website is the best place to book
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Link straight to your booking page
Make Your Website Message Obvious
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Homepage banner or hero message
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Clear “Book Direct” callout
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Strong Book Now buttons
Offer a Direct-Only Benefit
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Small discount
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Early check-in / late check-out
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Added amenity
Keep it simple. Easy to explain. Easy to redeem.
Reinforce on Social Media
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“Book direct for the best value”
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“Reserve on our website”
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“Book directly with our team”
Consistency beats creativity here.
Turn One Day Into a Year-Round Strategy
Book Direct Day works best when it supports an ongoing habit:
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Regular communication with past guests
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Persistent book-direct messaging on your site
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Occasional direct-only offers
Over time, guests learn where to go and habits drive predictable revenue.
How Barefoot Supports Your Direct Strategy
Barefoot is built to support a direct-first approach while still working seamlessly with your distribution partners.
Our platform helps you:
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Manage your direct booking engine
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Create and control promotions
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Maintain full and true trust accounting
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Connect with key integration partners
More importantly, you get a team that understands how property managers actually operate and works alongside you to turn strategy into execution.
Final Thoughts
Book Direct Day is a moment.
Building a direct booking habit is a strategy.
Barefoot is built for operators who want both distribution reach and ownership of their guest relationships backed by true trust accounting and a team that doesn’t disappear after implementation.
If you want to talk through how to strengthen your direct booking approach, our team is here.
The Team Behind Your Team.
