The maths that actually decides it
Compare the commission against an empty bed, not against your margin on a full one. A room that goes unsold earns nothing and still costs you cleaning, food ordering and the fixed cost of running the week. A room sold at 12% commission earns 88% of a price you set. The comparison is 88% versus 0%, not 88% versus 100%.
| Scenario | What commission costs you | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Bed would have gone unsold | Nothing you had | Worth it |
| Guest found you first, then booked via the platform | Real money | Fix your direct booking path |
| Departure already sells out | Real money | Only worth it for a segment you want to add |
| New destination or new departure | Nothing you had | Worth it |
What to demand from any marketplace
- Commission only on bookings they actually send, with no listing fee to appear.
- A listing you control, and ideally copy you are allowed to reuse on your own site.
- Guest contact details on confirmation, so the relationship is yours after the first stay.
- Clear vetting standards they apply to everyone, so being listed means something.
- No exclusivity clause. Any platform that requires it is protecting itself rather than serving you.
How Sola works, for comparison
Listing is free, commission is 12% and only on bookings we send, we write the listing for you and you may reuse it on your own site, and there is no exclusivity. Every listing must pass seven published checks, the first of which is single rooms with no hidden supplement.