TLDR: Online travel agencies (OTAs) might fill your rooms, but they eat your margins. To take back control and improve ROI, hotels need a smarter approach, one built on guest-centered marketing, timely feedback, and authentic review generation. This article breaks down how savvy hotel operators are reducing reliance on third-party booking sites by prompting guests for feedback during their stay, identifying problems before checkout, and amplifying positive experiences online. With tools like VisibleFeedback, hoteliers are turning quiet compliments into Google reviews and capturing repeat business through personalized follow-up. We’ll cover how to set up these touchpoints, make it easy for guests to speak up, and encourage direct booking without hard selling. Whether you’re running a boutique inn or a midsize chain, these strategies will help you build trust, protect your margin, and keep your rooms full, without handing your profits to a platform.

Every time a guest books through an OTA, your margin shrinks. You might get the room filled, but at what cost? Over time, it’s a slow leak that eats into revenue and erodes long-term value. The solution isn’t abandoning those platforms entirely, it’s making sure guests don’t need them the next time they stay.

Winning direct bookings starts with the guest experience, and it continues with follow-up that actually builds a relationship. From the moment someone checks in, you should be preparing for a repeat visit, not just delivering a clean room.

That means capturing feedback while guests are still on property. Don’t wait for the final bill or hope for a TripAdvisor post. Use QR code prompts in-room or digital touchpoints via text to ask, “How’s everything going so far?” When there’s an issue, you can solve it immediately. When there’s praise, you can guide it to public reviews, where it boosts your reputation.

Tools like VisibleFeedback make this seamless. Guests can share how they feel without downloading an app, and you can triage problems privately before they show up on Expedia or Yelp. It’s faster than surveys, and more personal than a form email a week later.

Next comes the follow-up. Send a thank-you message with a direct booking link. Offer a small perk for next time, a late checkout, a better rate, a welcome drink. Keep the tone warm, not salesy. Guests who had a great experience are more than happy to return, especially when the path is simple and rewarding.

The hotels winning in 2025 aren’t just prettier or cheaper, they’re smarter. They don’t just fill rooms. They fill trust gaps. And by building review momentum and loyalty directly, they’re keeping more revenue where it belongs, with their team.

If you’re tired of playing the OTA game and ready to take back control, it starts with feedback, reputation, and real guest connection. That’s where the profit lives.