From Airbnb Dependency to a Direct Booking Platform for Arabella Suites
We built Arabella Suites a custom direct-booking platform from scratch, freeing them from Airbnb and Booking.com commissions and giving them full control over their brand, pricing, and guest relationships.
The Challenge
Arabella Suites was operating as a premium holiday homes property in Nairobi, but their entire booking flow ran through Airbnb and Booking.com. Every reservation came with a platform commission eating into margins. Worse, they had no direct relationship with their guests — no brand presence, no repeat booking strategy, and no control over how their property was presented.
They needed a professional website that could stand on its own — one guests would trust enough to book through directly, bypassing the OTA platforms entirely.
Our Approach
We started from zero: no existing brand assets, no website, no digital presence. Our job was to build it all — identity, site, and booking experience — in a way that made direct booking feel safe, premium, and effortless.
Our build process:
- Brand identity development: colour palette, typography, tone of voice and visual style
- Full website design and development built around the direct-booking conversion journey
- Property showcase pages with high-quality image presentation and room details
- Integrated inquiry and booking system capturing guest information directly
- Trust signals: reviews, property credentials, and local area guides
- SEO foundation targeting 'holiday homes Nairobi', 'serviced apartments Nairobi', and related queries
- Mobile-first design ensuring a smooth booking experience on any device
The design language was deliberately premium — warm neutrals, editorial photography layout, and generous whitespace — positioning Arabella above the typical OTA listing aesthetic.
The Results
Arabella Suites now has a direct booking channel that is fully theirs. Guests who find them through search or social can book without a platform intermediary — meaning higher margins, better guest data, and a stronger brand relationship.
- Direct booking platform live and operational — zero OTA commission on those reservations
- Professional online presence elevating the property above Airbnb competitors in search
- Guests can now discover, evaluate, and book Arabella without leaving the brand experience
- Increased share of direct bookings reducing OTA dependency
- Full ownership of guest data enabling email marketing and repeat booking campaigns
Let's Build Your Success Story
Book a free strategy call and see how we can deliver results like these for your brand.