Identify Which OTA Bookings Make You Money And Which Ones Quietly Cost You Profit Every Night.

Mapped across 130+ pages of predatory intelligence, this Leverage Index will show you exactly which OTA bookings retain profit — and which ones quietly erase it based on: property-type, guest-behavior, and leverage analysis. 

This is not written for chains, revenue departments, or portfolio operators. The leverage dynamics are different at SMB scale.

This Index is designed specifically for independent SMB properties in 2026: Independent hotels, inns, motels, lodges, cabins, luxury stays, design properties, apart hotels, glamping, short term rentals, bed & breakfasts and other boutique types of stays. 

The research and insights pertain to:

• Travel to and within the U.S. and Canada
• Operations under 100 rooms (average 5-65 rooms)
• Owner-managed or operating lean teams
• Properties where one-two bad channel choice materially affects profit 
• Single Properties or multi properties with 2-8 sister locations. 

After using this Index, you will be able to:

• Reduce long-term commission loss without risking visibility
• Identify which OTAs produce net-positive profit for your exact property type, size, region and season.
• Know which platforms reliably generate high-friction, value guests
• Understand where commission loss is recoverable — and where it is structural.
• Decide which OTAs and Channels you use deserve inventory priority and which should be constrained or only used during special seasons/days
• Make controlled distribution and pricing decisions without guessing or looking at competitors.

OTA revenue loss does not only come from “high commission. It comes from the misaligned relationship you have with your channels. Identify how and why certain OTAs work for properties like yours — and why others don’t.

Different OTAs attract guests at different points in the decision cycle:

• Discovery vs convenience
• Experience vs price
• One-time stay vs relationship potential 

When those distinctions are ignored, small properties absorb:

• Higher complaint rates (bad reviews & reputation)
• Lower pricing tolerance (discounting)
• Lower repeat probability (higher guest acquisition $)
• Higher operational effort per booking (for staff)

The Index breaks channel performance down by:

• Boutique, luxury, vs economy positioning
• Urban vs resort demand
• Experience-driven vs convenience-driven guests
• Short-stay vs longer-stay behavior
• High-intent vs price-sensitive bookings
• Seasonal behavior 
• Average Lead Time Behavior

What's Included:

• The OTA Leverage Index (2026)
• A performance matrix for every channel
• 2026 market segments and guest personas
• Channel Sign up and Application links