How to Get More Direct Bookings for Your Airbnb in 2026 (With Boostly Founder Mark Simpson)

Every Airbnb booking costs you somewhere between 3% and 15% before the guest even arrives, and on Vrbo and Booking.com it is often more. That is fine for a first stay. It is a lot to pay for a guest who already loves your place and would happily book again.

We put this guide together with Mark Simpson, founder of Boostly, who has spent 16 years in short-term rentals and whose clients have taken over $1 billion in bookings. Here is what actually works in 2026.

Watch: 16 years of Airbnb lessons in 11 minutes

Mark condensed what he has learned into one short video. It is worth the 11 minutes before you read the rest of this guide.

The lessons that matter most for direct bookings:

• Airbnb is a conversion business before it is a property business. Clear photos and a title that matches what guests search for often move bookings more than new furniture. The same is true of your own booking site.
• Hospitality beats hacks. Airbnb rewards listings that get clicked, booked and reviewed well, not listings that get tweaked every day. Guests forgive quirks, but they do not forgive missing basics like fast Wi-Fi, a comfortable bed and a usable kitchen.
• Systems stop hosting from eating your week. Clear check-in steps, a backup cleaner and automated messages are what separate a five-star host from a burnt-out one.
• Do not let one platform own your business. Mark's test: if Airbnb disappeared tomorrow, would your business survive the week? Algorithm changes, suspensions and rule changes, like Airbnb's new checkout chore limits for bookings made from November 20, hit 100% of your income when Airbnb is your only channel.
• Build a name guests remember. If guests only remember Airbnb, you are renting shelf space in someone else's brand. A brand and a direct booking option give them a reason, and a way, to come back to you.

The real cost of staying 100% on the OTAs

Take one listing at $200 a night with 70% occupancy. That is about $51,000 in bookings a year. If 90% of it comes through OTAs at a 15% fee, you hand over roughly $6,900. Move to 65% direct and the fee bill drops to about $2,700. Same listing, same rate, about $4,200 a year back in your pocket. Multiply that by your portfolio.

Want your own number? Our free Airbnb fee calculator takes about 30 seconds.

The point is not to quit Airbnb. OTAs are great at finding first-time guests. The goal is to stop paying them again and again for the same guests.

Step 1: Build a direct booking website guests trust

Guests book direct when the site feels as safe as Airbnb. That means real photos, live availability, clear pricing, secure payments and reviews on the page.

• Connect the site to your PMS so calendars and rates sync in real time. No double bookings, no manual updates.
• Show the price difference. A small direct booking discount is easy when you are not paying a 15% fee.
• Make the booking flow mobile first. Most repeat guests come back from their phone.

Step 2: Capture every guest's details

Direct bookings start with the guest list. Collect emails at check-in, through your guidebook or WiFi page and through a simple welcome offer. A guest you can email is a guest you can bring back for free.

Step 3: Turn past guests into repeat bookings

This is where most hosts leave money on the table.

• Send a thank-you email after checkout with a return-guest discount.
• Email past guests before the dates they stayed last year.
• Share local events and seasonal offers a few times a year, not every week.

Mark's rule of thumb: you only need one direct booking to cover the cost of a good system, so focus on the guests who already know you.

Step 4: Drive new direct traffic

• Google Business Profile and Google Vacation Rentals for people searching your area.
• Instagram and short video showing the stay, not just the property.
• Partnerships with local businesses, venues and event organizers.
• A simple blog or area guide that ranks for your town and the things people come to do.

Step 5: Track your direct booking percentage

Pick one number and watch it monthly: the share of revenue that came direct. Most hosts start near zero. Getting to 25% is a strong first year; the best operators run at 65% or higher.

DIY or done for you?

You can piece this together yourself with a website builder, a booking engine, an email tool and a lot of evenings. Or you can use a done-for-you service. Boostly builds the website, connects it to 27+ PMS platforms, adds a guest CRM and runs weekly coaching calls. Boostly says that if you follow its plan and do not reach 65% direct bookings within 12 months of your site going live, you get your money back plus $1,000.

If you want to see what 65% direct would look like for your listings, you can book a free strategy call with the Boostly team. You can also compare it with other tools in our direct booking rankings.

FAQ

Q: Will Airbnb penalize me for taking direct bookings?

No. Airbnb does not allow you to steer guests off the platform during a booking, but guests who find you on your own site, through Google or through your email list are yours to book.

Q: How long does it take to see direct bookings?

Most hosts see their first direct bookings within a few months of launching a site and emailing past guests. Repeat-guest revenue builds over the first year.

Q: Do I need lots of listings for this to work?

No. Single-listing hosts with loyal guests often see the fastest payback, because one repeat booking can cover months of software costs.

Disclosure: Boostly is an STR Market partner. Our rankings are never paid.