If you’ve been working with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) for a while, you might be thinking: “Hang on, OTA commission rates haven’t changed in years.” 

And technically, you’d be right. The headline commission bands, around 15-18% for Booking.com or 15% for Airbnb, have stayed pretty steady for the last decade. 

But here’s the catch: the real cost of OTAs has climbed sharply. 

The Hidden Increase in OTA Costs

Even without big jumps in the “headline” percentage, the share OTAs take from your revenue has grown.

How?

• Bigger bite of revenue. Industry data shows OTA commissions as a share of guest-paid revenue have risen by around 45% since 2015.  

• Add-on schemes mean higher fees. Programs like Booking.com’s Preferred, Preferred Plus, or visibility boosters push your effective rate above the base, sometimes by several extra percentage points.  

• Discounts cut margins. OTA loyalty schemes like Genius often come out of the property’s pocket, not the OTA’s.  

• Greater OTA reliance. In many markets, OTAs now account for a bigger share of bookings overall, so their ‘slice of the pie’ is much larger than it was 10 years ago.  

And now, with Airbnb raising its commission to 15.5% in December 2025 and removing split fees altogether, the message is clear: OTA costs aren’t heading down anytime soon.

Taking Back Control with Surcharges

The good news is you don’t have to swallow those increases. Our OTA Surcharge tool gives you the power to automatically add a percentage to OTA bookings, protecting your margins while keeping your direct booking rates as the best value for guests. 

It’s not about passing the entire OTA commission onto guests, it’s about smart rate management: ensuring your OTAs remain competitive, your direct channels stay attractive, and you retain control over your revenue. 

Why it works: 

✔️ Protects margins without risking your pricing strategy 

✔️ Keep your direct bookings more appealing than OTA listings 

✔️ Easy to manage in a few clicks via your freetobook dashboard 

How to Add an OTA Surcharge in freetobook

Setting it up takes less time than brewing a cup of coffee: 

1. Log in to your freetobook account.
2. Go to the “Plus” tab in the top menu. 
3. Select the “Channels” tab. 
4. On the left-hand side, click “OTA Surcharge”. 
5. Choose the percentage (0%-20%, or custom) surcharge you’d like to apply. 
6. Save your changes, and that’s it! 🎉 

Voila! From then on, OTA bookings carry your chosen surcharge, while your direct rates stay as attractive as ever. 

Direct Still Wins (Every Time)

Of course, surcharges are only part of the story. Direct bookings will always be the most profitable for properties using freetobook: no commission fees, complete control over the guest journey, and the opportunity to build real loyalty.  

But the trick is balance: use OTAs for reach, using smart strategies to cover your costs, and use freetobook to make sure your direct bookings shine.

Final Word

“Headline” OTA commissions may not look much different from ten years ago, but the effective costs tell another story. OTAs are taking more than ever, and small increases like Airbnb’s latest change are just one piece of the bigger trend. 

With freetobook, you don’t get caught off guard or need to play catch-up. You’ve got the tools built into the system to stay competitive, keep direct bookings the heart of your business, and stay in control. 

👉 Log in today and set up your OTA surcharge; your future self will thank you.