title: "OTA Commission Rates: What Luxury Properties Pay" description: "A breakdown of what Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo actually charge luxury property owners in commission and fees." date: "2026-02-14" author: "Alveriano" category: "direct-bookings" tags: ["OTA", "commission", "Airbnb", "Booking.com", "Vrbo"] featured: false draft: false
OTA commission structures aren't straightforward. The headline rate is rarely the full cost. For luxury properties with higher average booking values, the absolute numbers become significant quickly.
Here's what each major platform actually charges in 2026.
Airbnb
Airbnb offers two commission models:
Split-fee model (default):
- Host pays 3% of booking subtotal
- Guest pays ~14% service fee on top of the listed price
Host-only model:
- Host pays 14–16% of the booking subtotal
- Guest sees the full price upfront (no added service fee)
Most luxury villas use the host-only model because the guest-facing price appears more transparent. On a €5,000 booking, that's €700–800 in commission.
Hidden costs:
- Currency conversion fees (if guest pays in a different currency)
- Payment processing is included in the commission
- Airbnb controls guest communication pre-arrival
Booking.com
Booking.com uses a straightforward commission model:
- Standard commission: 15% of booking value
- Preferred Partner programme: 17% (higher visibility in search results)
- Genius programme: Additional 10–20% discount on your rate for Genius members
For a €5,000 booking at standard rate: €750 commission. If you're in the Preferred Partner programme: €850.
Hidden costs:
- Payment processing fees (1.3–2.5% depending on payment method)
- Genius discounts come from your margin, not Booking.com's
- Rate parity requirements restrict pricing on other channels
Vrbo (Expedia Group)
Vrbo revised its fee structure:
- Host pays: 5% commission per booking
- Guest pays: 6–12% service fee
Appears cheaper than Airbnb and Booking.com on paper, but Vrbo's reach for European luxury properties is significantly smaller. Lower volume may offset the lower commission.
Hidden costs:
- Payment processing: 3% of total payout
- Damage protection: optional but heavily promoted
- Lower search visibility compared to Airbnb for luxury segment
The real cost comparison
For a luxury villa generating €200,000 in annual bookings:
| Platform | Commission rate | Annual cost | Cost per €5,000 booking | |----------|----------------|-------------|------------------------| | Airbnb (host-only) | 15% | €30,000 | €750 | | Booking.com | 15% | €30,000 | €750 | | Booking.com Preferred | 17% | €34,000 | €850 | | Vrbo | 5% + 3% processing | €16,000 | €400 | | Direct booking | 2–3% (payment processing only) | €4,000–6,000 | €100–150 |
The difference between an OTA booking and a direct booking on a €5,000 reservation is approximately €600–700 in savings.
What commission doesn't cover
Commission pays for distribution and guest acquisition. It does not give you:
- Guest contact details for future marketing
- Pricing flexibility (rate parity requirements limit this)
- Brand building (your property is presented in the OTA's template)
- Upsell opportunities (pre-arrival experiences, transfers, chef services)
- Repeat booking relationship (the OTA owns the guest relationship)
When OTAs still make sense
OTAs remain valuable for:
- New properties without an established reputation
- Shoulder season when you need to fill gaps
- Discovery — some guests find you on an OTA, then book direct next time
- Markets where you have no direct presence
The optimal approach isn't eliminating OTAs. It's treating them as one channel in a mix, rather than your primary source of bookings.
Reducing your effective commission rate
Even if you keep OTA listings active, you can reduce your blended commission rate:
- Shift repeat guests to direct — After an OTA stay, capture the guest relationship for direct bookings
- Use OTAs for discovery, not conversion — Invest in your direct booking site to capture guests who research on OTAs
- Negotiate rates — Properties with consistent volume can often negotiate below standard commission
- Track channel performance — Know your cost per booking by channel, not just your occupancy rate
Understanding the true cost of each channel is the first step toward a more profitable booking mix. The properties keeping the most revenue per booking are the ones that have built a credible direct booking alternative.