Branded & Booked · 2026-06-11 · 22 min
In this episode of Branded & Booked, I'm pulling back the curtain on the real booking and revenue numbers from May at Cabins on the Cumberland. If you've ever wondered whether investing in direct bookings is actually worth it, this episode provides the proof. I break down exactly where our bookings came from, how much revenue each channel generated, and why direct bookings continue to outperform Airbnb when it comes to profitability. I also share the pricing strategies, marketing tactics, and guest experience considerations that have helped us grow direct bookings into a meaningful part of our business. During the episode, I walk through our May booking breakdown, explain why 29% of our bookings generated 43% of our total revenue, and share how Airbnb and direct bookings compare from a profitability standpoint. I discuss the pricing strategy behind maintaining rate parity across channels, how promo codes and email marketing support direct booking growth, and why direct guests are often less price-sensitive than OTA guests.
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