Tag: direct bookings

Salman Gul > Insights > direct bookings
Digital marketing for hotels in the GCC, hub page cover graphic

Digital Marketing for Hotels in the GCC: The Complete Guide

Posted on by Salman Gul
GCC hospitality marketing Digital marketing for hotels in the GCC The playbook for demand, distribution and revenue across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, built from real 2026 market data and a decade running acquisition in the...Read More
Chart comparing what a hotel keeps from an OTA booking versus a direct booking on a 1000 dirham reservation

How to Reduce OTA Commission: The 2026 Direct Booking Playbook for GCC Hotels

Posted on by Salman Gul
Here is the number that should end the debate in your next commercial meeting: roughly 63% of hotel properties across the Gulf are currently displaying a higher rate on their own website than a traveller can find on an OTA....Read More
Chart showing Dubai hotel occupancy falling from 84.7 percent in February 2026 to 33 percent in March 2026

How to Increase Hotel Occupancy in Dubai: The 2026 GCC Demand Recovery Playbook

Posted on by Salman Gul
In February 2026, Dubai's hotels were running at 84.7% occupancy. Four weeks later, that number was roughly 33%. That is not a seasonal dip. That is a market-wide demand event, and if you run marketing for a hotel, resort or...Read More