For independent hoteliers and B&B owners in London, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com and Expedia are a double-edged sword. Yes, they fill rooms, but they often take a commission cut of 15% to 25%. In a city with rising operating costs, losing a quarter of your revenue on every booking is a heavy price to pay.
The solution is not to leave OTAs entirely, but to shift the balance. You need your own website to be more than just a brochure; it must be a powerful direct booking engine. At Custom Coded Websites, we help hospitality businesses reclaim their profit margins with bespoke digital platforms designed to convert browsers into guests.
The "Digital Concierge": First Impressions Count
Your website is the first interaction a guest has with your property. If it feels outdated, slow, or difficult to navigate, they will assume your rooms are the same. In the luxury and boutique market, "Quiet Luxury" is the trend for 2025—minimalist, elegant design that speaks volumes without shouting.
We build websites that act as a digital concierge. Using Python and Django, we create immersive experiences that blend high-end aesthetics with lightning-fast performance. Unlike generic WordPress templates that struggle with heavy imagery, our custom code ensures that high-resolution photos of your suites and amenities load instantly, selling the "dream" of the stay before the guest even checks the price.
Frictionless Direct Booking Engines
Why do guests book on OTAs? Because it is easy. To compete, your direct booking experience must be equally seamless.
We specialize in API integrations with leading Property Management Systems (PMS) and booking engines like SiteMinder, Cloudbeds, or Mews. We embed the booking calendar directly into your site's design—no clunky pop-ups or redirections to ugly third-party pages. We ensure the "Book Now" button is sticky and always visible on mobile, allowing guests to secure a room in just a few taps.
Incentivizing the Direct Sale
You can't always undercut OTA prices due to rate parity agreements, but you can offer better value. A custom website allows you to highlight "Direct Booking Perks" effectively.
We can build dynamic promotional sections that automatically display offers like:
- "Free Breakfast for Direct Bookings"
- "Late Check-out Priority"
- "Complimentary Welcome Drink"
By coding these incentives directly into the user journey, we nudge the guest away from the OTA and towards your commission-free checkout.
Local SEO: Capturing the "Staycation" and Tourist Market
Travellers rarely search for "Hotel London." They search for "Boutique Hotel near British Museum" or "Romantic B&B in Greenwich."
We implement a robust Local SEO strategy. We structure your site to target specific landmarks, neighbourhoods, and visitor interests. By creating rich content pages around "Things to do in [Your Borough]," we signal to Google that you are a local authority. This helps you appear in the "Map Pack" results, capturing guests who are looking for accommodation in your specific vicinity.
Mobile-First for the Modern Traveller
Over 70% of last-minute hotel bookings happen on mobile devices. A traveller delayed at Heathrow or getting off a train at King's Cross needs a room now.
Our "Mobile-First" design philosophy ensures your site is perfectly optimized for smartphones. We strip away unnecessary animations on mobile to prioritize speed and usability. Maps, contact numbers, and booking availability are front and centre, ensuring you capture that distressed inventory.
Security and Trust
Guests are handing over credit card details and personal data. They need to know their information is safe. Standard website builders can be vulnerable to hacks if plugins aren't updated.
Our enterprise-grade security, built on the robust Django framework, protects your guest data. We implement SSL encryption and secure payment gateways (like Stripe or Worldpay), ensuring you remain compliant with PCI-DSS standards and giving your guests peace of mind.
Invest in Your Own Asset
Stop renting your customers from OTAs. Build a direct channel that you own and control.
Contact Custom Coded Websites today. Let's build a website that puts the "hospitality" back into your digital presence.