A Direct booking site allows guests to browse your properties and book directly with you.
Before creating your site, it's important to understand how Direct sites work, what information is required, and which setup options are available. This article provides an overview of the Direct booking site experience and helps you prepare for setup.
If you're ready to build your site, see Create Your Direct Booking Site.
What Is a Direct Booking Site?
A Direct booking site is a website powered by Hospitable that allows guests to:
Browse your available properties
View property details and photos
Submit booking requests or Instant Book reservations
Complete payments online
Access reservation information after booking
Depending on your setup, you can use:
A Hospitable-hosted site
A custom website with Hospitable booking widgets
A Direct booking website displaying multiple property listings and booking options
Direct Site Options
Hospitable supports two ways to offer Direct bookings.
Hospitable-Hosted Sites
Hospitable creates and hosts the booking site for you.
This option:
Requires no separate website
Includes a Hospitable-provided URL
Supports custom domains
Includes property pages and booking functionality
Custom Websites with Booking Widgets
If you already have a website, you can embed Hospitable booking widgets into your existing pages.
This option allows you to:
Keep your existing website design
Add booking functionality to your current site
Manage bookings through Hospitable
Also see: Hospitable-Hosted vs Self-Hosted Sites
What Your Direct Booking Site Includes
A Direct booking site typically includes:
A homepage
Individual property pages
A guest booking flow
Reservation management features for confirmed guests
Your site content is automatically generated from information stored in Hospitable.
This means property details, pricing, photos, amenities, and availability should be reviewed before publishing.
Before You Create Your Site
Before setting up a Direct booking site, make sure your account and properties are ready.
Property Eligibility
Properties must meet Direct booking eligibility requirements before they can be published.
This typically includes:
A valid property address
A connected payout method
Completed listing information
Pricing and availability
Properties that do not meet eligibility requirements will not appear as bookable on your Direct site.
Property Content
Guests rely on your property content when deciding whether to book.
Review each property's:
Photos
Title
Description
Amenities
House rules
Guest information
Also see: Managing Property Pages on Your Site
Pricing and Availability
Before publishing your site, verify that:
Nightly rates are configured
Availability is accurate
Minimum stay requirements are correct
Booking policies are configured as expected
Guests can only book dates that are available and priced.
What You Can Customize
After creating your site, you can customize various aspects of the guest experience.
Available customization options include:
Branding
Logo
Colors
Homepage content
Property page content
Navigation structure
Images and galleries
Direct booking site customization settings showing branding, colors, and content options
For detailed customization guidance, see:
The Guest Booking Experience
Once your site is published, guests can:
Browse available properties
Select their travel dates
Review pricing and booking details
Complete checkout
Submit payment and booking information
Depending on your configuration, guests may also be required to:
Complete identity verification
Sign a rental agreement
Pay a security deposit
Follow a payment schedule
Guest booking flow on a Direct booking site showing property selection, pricing, and checkout
How Payments Work
Direct booking payments are processed using the payment settings configured for your properties.
Depending on your setup, guests may:
Pay in full during checkout
Pay in installments
See a separate refundable security deposit
Pay service fees
Payment collection, security deposits, and payout timing are managed through your Direct booking settings.
Also see: How Payments Work for Direct Bookings
Publishing Your Site
Once your site is configured, you can publish it and begin accepting bookings.
After publishing, your site can be accessed through:
A Hospitable subdomain
A connected custom domain
Before publishing, review:
Property eligibility
Listing content
Pricing and availability
Branding and site content
Domain configuration
Also see: Create Your Direct Booking Site
What Happens After Your Site Goes Live
Once your site is live:
Guests can browse your properties
Guests can submit booking requests or complete Instant Book reservations
Reservations are managed inside Hospitable
Automated messages and workflows can run as configured
Direct booking payments are processed through your configured payment settings
You can continue updating your site at any time after publication.
Recommended Next Steps
Use these articles to continue setting up your Direct booking site:
Create Your Direct Booking Site
Hospitable-Hosted vs Self-Hosted Sites
How to Customize Your Direct Booking Site
Managing Property Pages on Your Site
Managing Images on Your Direct Site
Managing Your Site Content and Sections
Understanding Your Site Structure and Navigation
Key Things to Know
Direct booking sites can be hosted by Hospitable or embedded into an existing website
Property information is pulled directly from Hospitable
Properties must meet eligibility requirements before they can be published
Guests can browse, book, and pay directly through your site
Pricing, payment terms, and security deposits are controlled through your booking settings
Site content and branding can be updated after publishing
Creating a site and publishing a site are separate steps
You can connect a custom domain after your site is created
Direct booking sites can be modified at any time after launch