OTA-only works — until you want the bookings you own
Marketplaces bring demand and take fees. A direct channel puts your brand, your guest relationship, and more of the margin back in your control — without forcing you to quit Airbnb or VRBO.
Relying only on OTAs means every stay runs through someone else’s brand, fees, and rules. Adding direct booking keeps the OTAs that work for you and creates a path guests can book on your terms.
Lower effective cost on direct stays
Own brand, messaging, and guest relationship
Reach travelers outside a single marketplace app
SIDE BY SIDE
Direct booking (+ OTAs) vs OTA-only
A hybrid model keeps marketplace demand and adds a channel you control.
Factor
Direct booking + OTAs
OTA-only
Fees
Direct stays can be commission free; OTAs still take their cut on marketplace bookings
Platform fees on essentially every booking
Brand control
Guests book on your site or widget under your brand
Guests experience the marketplace brand first
Discovery
OTAs plus Google Vacation Rentals and your own site SEO
Limited to who opens that marketplace
Calendar risk
Synced calendars across Airbnb and your direct channel
Manual juggling if you expand channels later
Guest relationship
You own repeat messaging, upsells, and brand loyalty
Repeat guests often return to the OTA, not you
Best for
Hosts who want growth without quitting OTAs
Hosts optimizing for one marketplace only
Build the direct side
Launch a branded booking website while keeping the OTAs that already work.
Keep the OTAs that work. Create a free RentalBell account and open a direct booking path for your brand.
Free to start · No credit card · Cancel anytime
Forgot Password
User registered successfully!
You will be now taken to Dtravel website to complete the registration. Enter the email with which you registered in the next screen.
Terms and Conditions
1. Terms
By completing this online account registration, you are agreeing to be bound by these website Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this website are protected by applicable copyright and trademark law.
2. Use License
Permission is granted to utilize one online website account of the materials (information and software) provided by the RentalBell site for commercial usage. This is the grant of a license, solely for the duration of time that you are a user of RentalBell, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not: modify or copy the materials besides through the methods instructed by the guide; attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on RentalBell’s website or the website that we provide you with; remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or transfer the materials to another person or “mirror” the materials on any other server.
This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by RentalBell at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.
3. Specificity of Utility
Permitted usage of the RentalBell platform is limited to short term rental of residential or commercial properties that you are legally permitted to rent out for sub 30 day stays. Any other uses are impermissible. Any illegal activity sanctioned by your business in the destination of your property or any activities deemed illegal by the province of British Columbia are cause for immediate termination of your RentalBell account and will result in information being shared with local authorities in destination. Illegal activities prohibited include, but are not limited to theft, fraud, prostitution and human trafficking.
4. Disclaimer
The materials on RentalBell’s web site are provided “as is”. RentalBell makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, RentalBell does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet website or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.
5. Limitations
In no event shall RentalBell or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials provided by RentalBell’s Internet site, even if RentalBell or a RentalBell authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you. RentalBell is also not liable to your customers or web visitors for any damages or difficulties incurred as a result of our materials or your content.
6. Revisions and Errata
The materials appearing on RentalBell’s web site could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. RentalBell does not warrant that any of the materials on its web site are accurate, complete, or current. RentalBell may make changes to the materials contained on its web site at any time without notice. RentalBell does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials.
7. Links
RentalBell has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Internet web site and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by RentalBell of the site. Use of any such linked web site is at the user’s own risk.
8. Site Terms of Use Modifications
RentalBell may revise these terms of use for its website at any time without notice. By using this website you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
9. Governing Law
Any claim relating to RentalBell’s web site shall be governed by the laws of the province of British Columbia, Canada without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
General Terms and Conditions applicable to Use of a Web Site.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Scope
This Privacy Policy governs the collection, storage and use of personal information collected by Grand Fir Inc. (dba RentalBell), a company organized under the laws of Canada, in connection with our website at http://www.rentalbell.com, http://www.accommodationcalendar.com, our mobile applications available to download (“Apps”) and other products and services offered by us through the Website and/or the Apps (collectively, the “Services”).
Personal Information
Your personal information is very important to us and we do all we can to protect it. This Privacy Policy provides you with details about the personal information we collect from you, how we use your personal information and your rights to control the personal information we hold about you. Please read this Policy carefully. Once you use the Website, the Apps or the Services you will be deemed to have read and accepted the Policy in its entirety and consented to the processing of your personal data in accordance with this Policy. If you do not agree to this Policy in its entirety, you must not use the Website, the Apps or the Services.
Cookies
Visitors to the RentalBell website must activate cookies on their browser and will be able to stay logged in for extended periods, will have their preferences and choices remembered, and will experience easier logins. Cookies will not be shared with third parties except in the case a social media service is used to log into RentalBell.
Disclosure
RentalBell works with third parties who deal with end consumers. RentalBell will pass customer details between parties as required to facilitate bookings. If you have signed with one of these third parties you should be aware that customer details are also stored at RentalBell. Credit card and login information is not stored by RentalBell and the details are encrypted during transmission. User information will not be disclosed to any third party without the user’s consent except 1) as required by law or legal proceedings 2) in order to establish our legal rights 3) as part of a sale of RentalBell.
Security
Your information is treated as confidential and, although it may be disclosed to third parties, which provide services to RentalBell, the use of such information will be limited to their duties towards us. Users should note that the internet by its nature cannot guarantee 100% privacy and security.
Statistical Data Collection
Anonymous data may also be collected for statistical analysis, meaning no individual person can be identified using this data.
Adwords
We use google adwords conversion tracker and google analytics for analysing and improving our website and marketing. None of the information gathered is shared with any third party. The information gathered may be used for marketing and advertising.
Fair Use Of Non Personal Data
Information provided to us by end users, which is not deemed to be personal, will be retained and may be reproduced and disclosed in full or in part.
Rights
Users may request any information held on them at any time, and may request deletion or editing of the data if it is incorrect.
