Short-Term Rentals & Boutique Hotels

Airbnb Gives You a Listing. Google Maps Gives You Direct Bookings at Zero Commission.

OTAs charge 15 to 20% on every booking and own the guest relationship. A direct booking strategy through Google and TripAdvisor puts that commission back in your pocket — and builds a guest list that books with you directly for every return trip.

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No contracts · Cancel anytime · Results in 30–60 days

Average 44 days to top Google Maps position for "boutique hotel [city]"
22% direct booking rate achieved from zero — zero OTA commission on those stays
4.9-star average review rating across Google, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com
What we focus on for short-term rentals
  • Google Business Profile with "boutique hotel" or "vacation rental" category and direct booking CTA
  • TripAdvisor profile optimization — complete listing, amenities, local area description, response rate
  • Google Hotel Ads setup — your property shown alongside OTAs in Google's hotel search module
  • Multi-platform review response strategy — every review replied to within 24 hours
  • Post-checkout review request automation via SMS and email within 48 hours
  • Instagram visual storytelling — property photography direction and content strategy
  • Direct booking website optimization — clear CTA, booking widget, and commission-free rate guarantee
  • Monthly revenue dashboard — direct vs OTA booking mix, ADR, review growth by platform
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Avg. days to top Maps position
44
For "boutique hotel [city]"
Direct booking rate
22%
From 0% — zero OTA commission
Avg. review rating
4.9★
Across Google and TripAdvisor
Avg. nightly rate
$180
$0 commission on direct bookings
Sound familiar?

Every booking through Airbnb or VRBO is costing you 15–20% before you've turned on a single light.

01
You're Paying Airbnb $27 for Every $180 Night
At 15% OTA commission on a $180/night property, you're writing Airbnb a $27 check every single night. That's $810 per month if you're 50% booked — and $1,620 if you're full. A direct booking strategy that earns even 20% of your bookings from your own channels saves thousands per year and builds a guest relationship that belongs to you, not a platform that could change its algorithm tomorrow.
02
Travelers Searching "Boutique Hotel Savannah" Can't Find You
When a traveler types "boutique hotel Savannah" into Google, they see Booking.com, Hotels.com, and TripAdvisor ads first — and your property buried inside those platforms under the OTA brand, not your own. A properly configured Google Business Profile with the boutique hotel category, Google Hotel Ads setup, and TripAdvisor optimization puts your property directly in front of travelers searching for exactly what you offer — before they reach the OTA comparison pages.
03
Repeat Guests Are Booking Through Airbnb Instead of Calling You
Guests who love your property default to Airbnb or VRBO for repeat bookings because it's the habit they've built — not because they prefer it. A post-checkout email sequence with your direct booking link, a direct rate guarantee (best rate if they book with you), and a Google presence that surfaces your property when they search your name captures these repeat guests at zero commission cost. Most hosts miss this revenue because they never ask for the direct booking.
How it works

From 100% OTA Dependent to $4,000+ Per Month in Commission-Free Bookings

We build your Google presence, TripAdvisor profile, and direct booking pipeline so guests can find and book you directly — keeping the commission in your pocket.

Step 01

We Audit Your Online Presence — Free

Free 20-minute call. We check your Google Business Profile, your TripAdvisor listing completeness, whether you have Google Hotel Ads running, your review response rate across platforms, and how a traveler searching "boutique hotel [your city]" currently finds you versus your OTA listing. You see the full picture of what's keeping direct bookings at zero.

Step 02

We Build Your Growth Engine in 30 Days

Fully optimized GBP with boutique hotel or vacation rental category and direct booking CTA, Google Hotel Ads launch, TripAdvisor profile built out with amenities and area description, automated post-checkout review and direct booking request sequence, Instagram property content strategy, and a direct booking page review to maximize conversion from guests who do land on your site.

Step 03

You Get Leads. We Keep Improving.

Direct booking requests start arriving. OTA commission share shifts toward zero over 3 to 6 months as your Google and TripAdvisor presence strengthens. Monthly reporting on direct vs OTA booking mix, commission savings versus the prior month, review growth by platform, and average daily rate tracking with recommendations for peak pricing optimization.

★★★★★

"I was doing $0 in direct bookings — everything went through Airbnb and VRBO. AVBOOST set up my Google profile properly, got me on Google Hotel Ads, built out my TripAdvisor page, and created a post-checkout email asking guests to book direct next time. Five months later I'm doing $4,200 a month in direct bookings with zero commission. That's money I was literally handing to Airbnb every single month."

James W.
The Forsyth House · Savannah, GA
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost, and am I locked into a contract?

There are no contracts and no setup fees. You pay month to month and can cancel with 30 days' notice. Pricing depends on how many properties you run and how much we build, but plans start around an affordable monthly retainer. Most hosts find the commission they save on direct bookings covers the cost several times over, so the math usually works in your favor.

How long until I start seeing direct bookings instead of OTA bookings?

Most hosts see real movement in 30 to 60 days. We optimize your Google Business Profile and TripAdvisor listing in the first 30 days, then your direct booking rate typically climbs as that presence strengthens. Going from heavy OTA dependence toward a meaningful commission-free share usually takes three to six months as Google Hotel Ads and your post-checkout sequence compound.

What exactly do you do for a short-term rental or boutique hotel?

We build your Google Business Profile with the right boutique hotel or vacation rental category and a direct booking CTA, optimize your TripAdvisor listing, set up Google Hotel Ads, and automate post-checkout review and direct booking requests by SMS and email. We also direct your Instagram property content and review your booking page. You get a monthly dashboard tracking direct versus OTA mix, ADR, and review growth.

How is AVBOOST different from a big agency or just doing this myself?

Big agencies treat you like an account number and bury hospitality work under generic SEO. DIY means juggling Google, TripAdvisor, Hotel Ads, and review automation while you are turning over units. We focus specifically on driving commission-free direct bookings for STR hosts, we respond to every review within 24 hours, and you keep month-to-month flexibility with no long lock-in.

My bookings are very seasonal. Does this still make sense for me?

Yes, and seasonality is exactly why it helps. A strong Google and TripAdvisor presence captures travelers searching in your shoulder and off-peak windows when OTAs are charging full commission on scarce bookings. Our monthly reporting tracks average daily rate so we can recommend peak pricing, and the direct guest list you build typically rebooks with you season after season at zero commission.

What is the first step to getting started?

It starts with a free 20-minute strategy call. We review your Google Business Profile, your TripAdvisor listing, whether Hotel Ads are running, your review response rate, and how a traveler searching for a place like yours currently finds you. You walk away seeing exactly what is keeping your direct bookings low and what it would take to change that, with no obligation to continue.

Ready to Stop Paying Airbnb 15% and Start Earning Commission-Free Bookings?

Book a free 20-minute strategy call. We'll check your Google presence, your TripAdvisor listing, your current direct booking rate, and show you exactly what it would take to start earning commission-free bookings every month from travelers who are already searching for what you offer.

No contracts. No setup fees. 30 days' notice to cancel — that's it.

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