Using Clickstay to Get More Direct Bookings

Direct bookings are one of the most effective ways for holiday rental owners to increase profits, build guest relationships, and take back control from online travel agencies (OTAs). Clickstay has evolved to support exactly that — giving hosts a professional, secure way to accept direct bookings without paying high commissions.

Clickstay is a direct booking platform for vacation rentals designed to help property owners accept secure online bookings without relying solely on online travel agencies like Airbnb and Booking.com.

Unlike OTAs, Clickstay keeps fees low — which means hosts keep more of their income. In return, hosts take an active role in driving guests to their Clickstay booking page. For many owners, this balance of effort and reward is exactly what makes direct bookings so valuable.

This guide explains how Clickstay works, the benefits of using it as a direct booking platform, and how hosts can successfully generate more direct bookings.

What Is Clickstay?

Clickstay, powered by Rentalsystems, is a direct booking platform designed specifically for holiday rental owners. It allows you to present your property professionally, accept secure online bookings, take payments, and manage availability.

Clickstay can be used:

as a standalone direct booking solution
alongside OTAs such as Airbnb and Booking.com
as the booking engine linked from your own vacation rental website

Rather than acting as a marketplace that controls guest relationships, Clickstay gives hosts the tools to take bookings directly — helping them build a more independent holiday rental business.

Benefits of Using Clickstay as a Direct Booking Platform

Low Fees Compared to OTAs

Clickstay charges very low fees compared with OTAs, allowing hosts to keep more of their income. There are no inflated commissions built into every booking — which means more profit stays with you.

Full Control Over Your Business

With Clickstay, you control:

your pricing and availability
your booking terms and cancellation policies
how your property is presented
your relationship with your guests

You’re building your business, not someone else’s marketplace.

Built for Holiday Rentals

Clickstay includes features designed specifically for short-term rentals, including:

availability calendars
secure online payments
automated booking confirmations
clear booking documentation for guests

A Professional, Trust-Building Experience for Guests

Guests book through a recognised platform with secure payments and clear terms, giving them confidence to book directly rather than through an OTA.

Integration with Google Vacation Rentals

At no additional cost, your Clickstay direct booking page can be listed on Google Vacation Rentals – the holiday accommodation platform from the world’s biggest search engine

How Clickstay Differs from OTAs

The large OTAs such as Airbnb and Booking.com, fund global advertising by charging very high commissions on every booking. Clickstay takes a different approach by keeping fees low and giving hosts more responsibility — and more reward.

What this means in practice is simple: Clickstay provides the booking platform, but hosts play an active role in bringing guests to it.

This shared approach is the reason Clickstay can remain affordable, and it’s also where the long-term payoff comes from, allowing hosts to build a long-term direct booking channel instead of depending entirely on expensive OTAs.

Why This Effort Is Worth It

Putting some effort into driving guests to Clickstay delivers clear benefits:

You earn more per booking
You build direct relationships with guests
Repeat bookings cost nothing to acquire
You reduce reliance on changing OTA rules and fees

Every direct booking you generate makes the next one easier. Over time, this creates a sustainable, independent booking channel of your own.

Your role as a host is to make sure guests know where and how to book directly.

How to Get More Direct Bookings with Clickstay

The good news is that generating traffic doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming.

Encourage Repeat Guests to Book Direct

Repeat guests are the easiest source of direct bookings.

Include your Clickstay booking link in post-stay emails
Mention booking direct in thank-you messages

Repeat bookings have no commission costs and require minimal marketing effort. These guests already know and trust you — Clickstay simply gives them a professional way to book. Read more about how to get repeat bookings

Use OTAs to Support Your Direct Booking Strategy

The other rental platforms can still help you attract new guests.

Use consistent property names and branding across all platforms
Deliver an excellent, and personal, guest experience
Encourage guests to book directly for future stays

Over time, this reduces dependence on commission-based bookings.

Share Your Clickstay Booking Link Widely

Your Clickstay page can be linked from:

your own website
social media profiles
email signatures
Google Business Profile
printed or digital guest information

Switch on ‘instant booking’

Your Clickstay listing will be automatically submitted to Google Vacation Rentals with instant booking activated.

These are the simplest ways to increase direct bookings without technical setup.

Direct Booking Marketing Doesn’t Need to Be Salesy

Many guests prefer to book directly when:

the process is easy and professional
the host is responsive and trustworthy
pricing is transparent, and the cost-saving obvious

Promoting your Clickstay link is simply offering guests a better way to book.

How Clickstay Supports Vacation Rental Owners

Clickstay supports hosts with:

professional booking pages
a trusted direct booking platform
secure payment handling and booking admin automation
educational resources and guides on direct bookings
a customer support team

You’re never expected to do everything alone — just to take an active role in your own success.

Who Clickstay Is Best For

Clickstay is ideal for:

holiday rental owners wanting more direct bookings
hosts looking to reduce OTA commission fees
property owners who value control, independence and higher profits

It may not be the best fit for owners looking for a completely hands-off, marketplace-only solution.

Final Thoughts: Building a Sustainable Direct Booking Strategy

Clickstay is built around simple principles:

low fees instead of high commissions
shared effort instead of platform-controlled marketing
higher long-term profits for hosts

If you’re willing to put in a little effort to direct guests to your booking page, Clickstay gives you the tools to keep more of your income and build a stronger, more independent holiday rental business.