Direct Booking

A direct booking is one made on a website TIDY hosts for you, instead of through a marketplace — so there’s no channel commission on the stay. TIDY gives every property its own booking site, and you can point your own domain at it.

Your Booking Sites

Every property gets a direct booking site automatically — it’s built straight from that property’s Listing Details (title, description, photos), so there’s nothing extra to design. Update the listing details and the site updates with it.

Each property has a direct booking site with:

A hosted site URL — a ready-to-share link TIDY hosts for the property.
A template — the look and content of the site, pulled from your listing details.
An optional custom domain — point your own domain at the site so guests book on your brand.
A Listed / Paused control — Listed turns the site on so guests can book; Paused turns it off.

Connect a channel first. Direct booking pulls its listing content and calendar from a connected channel like Airbnb. Turn on a property’s booking site only after connecting it to a channel, so the site isn’t empty and the calendar stays in sync.

What Guests Can Do

The public booking pages let a guest check availability, get a quote, send a booking request, or send an inquiry.

Inquiries

Each inquiry row shows a status badge. If a pre-approval lapses, it expires. You can approve an inquiry and charge it on the TIDY platform. Security deposits are supported — see Deposits for how deposits are tracked.

Booking Links

Send a guest a booking link when you’ve already agreed on the stay: pick the dates, set your own price, and share the link. Because the terms are already set, a booking link skips the approval step — the guest books and pays right from the link.

Billing

Direct booking billing works on the TIDY-hosted site. When a guest books through the public site, nothing is charged right away — it comes in as a request you approve; approving is what charges the guest. A booking made through a booking link is charged immediately, since you already set the terms. Guests can be charged for the stay and any deposit you set.

After the stay, TIDY settles the reservation — any damage costs are deducted, the security deposit is returned, and your remaining balance is paid out to you.

Direct booking payouts need your bank details on file separately. Guest funds are collected upfront and held in TIDY’s account until the stay settles. The bank account you’ve connected in the TIDY app for other billing doesn’t cover this payout — send your account and routing number directly to your Concierge or Account Manager so they can process the payout from the settlement page.

Why Direct Bookings Matter

Direct bookings skip the marketplace commission, so you keep more of each stay. Direct traffic usually starts small and grows as TIDY builds your booking presence and as past guests return. Revenue Optimization covers the economics of direct versus channel bookings, and Wi-Fi Marketing can help capture guest contact details to bring them back.

Where Guests Find Direct Booking Sites

Many guests who find a home on Airbnb or VRBO go looking for the host’s own site to book without the platform fees. From The Host is a free directory of vacation rentals you can book straight from the host, organized by state and city and linked to the same home on Airbnb and VRBO. TIDY sponsors it.

Direct is one channel, not the only one. TIDY prefers direct bookings for their better margins but keeps your properties on the major marketplaces too — a healthy, actively managed mix almost always earns the most.