Key Trends Shaping Direct Hotel Bookings
- Mobile-First Booking Behavior: Nearly half of direct hotel bookings now originate from mobile devices, making mobile UX, page speed, and mobile SEO critical for revenue growth.
- Travellers Hotel Booking Habits Changing: From the SiteMinder “Latest Trends in the Hotel Industry for 2026” report, 18% of travellers who begin their hotel search on an OTA ultimately book directly with the hotel, showing a measurable shift from research on OTAs to direct bookings.
- Preference for Transparency & Flexibility: Guests increasingly choose direct channels for clear cancellation policies, flexible dates, and honest pricing—trust now directly impacts conversion.
- Experience-Led Booking Decisions: Personalization, loyalty perks, and tailored communication influence guests to bypass OTAs and book directly with hotels.