Free tool · For tourism operators
OTA commission calculator: see what you could keep.
Enter your numbers to see how much commission you pay OTAs like Viator and GetYourGuide in a year, and what shifting some of those bookings to your own website could save. It runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.
- Free, no sign-up. Change the numbers as often as you like.
- Five currencies. NZD, AUD, USD, GBP and CAD.
- Plain arithmetic. You can check every figure on the back of an envelope.
Your numbers (example values to start)
| Booking revenue through OTAs, a year | NZ$160,000 |
|---|---|
| OTA commission paid, a year | NZ$40,000 |
| Annual saving from shifting to direct | NZ$8,000 |
| Saving over 3 years | NZ$24,000 |
A guide only. The saving is before the cost of winning bookings direct and before payment fees. The 3-year figure assumes the same numbers each year, with no growth or inflation.
The maths
How the OTA commission calculator works.
Four steps, all simple multiplication. Nothing is hidden and nothing is estimated for you: every figure comes from the numbers you type in.
- OTA revenue is your annual booking revenue times the share you book through OTAs.
- Commission paid is that OTA revenue times your average commission rate.
- Annual saving is the commission paid times the share of OTA bookings you move direct.
- 3-year saving is the annual saving times three, with no growth or inflation added.
With the starting numbers, $400,000 of revenue with 40% through OTAs is $160,000 of OTA bookings. At 25% commission that’s $40,000 a year. Move 20% of those bookings direct and the commission you avoid is $8,000 a year, or $24,000 over three years.
Read it honestly
What the saving leaves out.
The number is a starting point, not a forecast. Here is what to weigh alongside it.
The cost of winning direct bookings
A booking on your own site still has to be earned, with a website, search and ads. The saving is before that cost, which is why we track cost per booking on every channel.
Payment fees
Direct bookings carry card and payment processing fees of their own. Check what your booking system and payment provider charge before you compare the two routes.
Reach you would lose
OTAs bring guests who might never find you otherwise. Some bookings won’t move, and that is fine. The aim is a healthier mix, not a clean break.
Seasons and agreements
Use a typical year, not your best one. And check your OTA agreements for anything about pricing or contacting guests before you change how you sell.
Found a number worth shifting?
Turn the saving into direct bookings.
A saving on paper only counts once guests are booking on your own site. That takes a site built to take bookings, a way for travellers to find you, and a presence in the places they plan.
See how it works. Our direct bookings page covers how we shift bookings, what each piece costs, and an honest look at OTA versus direct.
How direct bookings work →How much commission do OTAs charge tourism operators?
It varies by platform, product and contract, but around 20 to 30% of the booking value is common. The calculator starts at 25% as a middle figure. Your own agreements and statements show your real rate, so use that.
How do I find out my own commission rate?
Check the agreement you signed with each platform and your monthly or quarterly statements, which show commission against each booking. If you sell through several OTAs at different rates, work out a weighted average, or run the calculator once per platform.
Is the saving guaranteed?
No. It is arithmetic on the numbers you enter, not a forecast. Whether you can actually move a given share of bookings direct depends on your destination, season, competition and how well your site and marketing work, and we won’t promise numbers.
What share of OTA bookings can realistically move direct?
It depends. Repeat guests, referrals and people who already know your name are usually the easiest to win. Strangers browsing an OTA are the hardest. Start with a modest target, track results by channel, and adjust. See how direct bookings work →
Do direct bookings have costs too?
Yes. You pay for payment processing, your booking system, and the website, search and ads that win the booking. The calculator shows commission avoided, not profit gained, so compare it with what you would spend. Our pricing page shows what each service costs.
Is my information stored or sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser and the numbers you type are not sent to us or anyone else. We only record that the calculator was used, with no figures attached, so we can see whether it’s useful.
Keep reading
Related tourism guides.
- What Viator Really Costs NZ Tour Operators (and How to Keep More of Each Booking)
- How to Get More Direct Bookings for Your Tour Business
Let’s keep more of every booking.
Tell me what the numbers look like for your business and I’ll show you the smartest way to book more of them direct.