In an increasingly competitive hospitality landscape, direct bookings have become a key factor for profitability. That’s why the recent success of Engenho da Serra Hotel EcoResort, located in Brazil, is worth celebrating.
With the strategic support of Unity Hotelaria, the resort saw a 32% increase in direct reservations through its booking engine in the first half of 2025, compared to the second half of 2024.
This impressive growth reflects a tailored digital marketing strategy focused on boosting direct revenue, reducing OTA commissions, and enhancing guest loyalty.
For many independent hotels, overreliance on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) leads to high commission costs, limited control over guest relationships, and reduced profit margins. Direct bookings, on the other hand, maximize revenue, strengthen brand loyalty, and give hoteliers more control over pricing and communication.
Unity Hotelaria partners with hotels like Engenho da Serra to flip the script — turning dependence on third-party platforms into a sustainable and profitable direct sales model.
“Our goal is simple: help hotels take control of their sales channels and build a more profitable business,” says Emanuel Lopes, CEO of Unity Hotelaria.
Unity revamped the resort’s website to be fast, mobile-friendly, SEO-optimized, and designed to convert. Clear CTAs (calls-to-action), real-time booking integration, and user-friendly navigation improved the online experience and increased bookings directly from the hotel’s site.
Targeted Google Ads and Meta campaigns were launched to attract travelers actively searching for nature-focused getaways. Each ad led to high-conversion landing pages with exclusive offers for direct bookings, helping the resort bypass OTAs.
The resort’s Instagram and Facebook presence was transformed into a sales-driven channel, with inspiring content, storytelling, guest reviews, and reels that built emotional connection and directed traffic back to the booking engine.
Unity implemented a revenue strategy based on real-time market trends, optimizing pricing according to demand, seasonality, and regional events. This made it possible for the resort to remain competitive without undercutting its value.
To encourage guests to book directly, we created exclusive perks, discount codes, and time-limited offers only available through the hotel’s website — all supported by email and remarketing campaigns.
The 32% increase in direct bookings meant more than just higher occupancy. It translated into:
Lower OTA commissions and more revenue retained by the hotel
Improved guest experience from the very first interaction
Stronger brand visibility and positioning in the market
Higher website conversion rates
Increased repeat business thanks to better guest relationships
This strategy helped Engenho da Serra become less reliant on third-party platforms and more focused on long-term profitability.
At Unity Hotelaria, we specialize in helping independent hotels, resorts, and boutique properties grow their direct sales, strengthen their brand, and build long-term value. Our approach blends digital marketing, revenue management, website optimization, and humanized customer engagement.
“Every hotel has a unique soul. We build strategies around that identity — turning it into revenue, loyalty, and performance,” says Elias Junior, Commercial Director at Unity.
