Unity Hospitality & Uma House by Yurbban: A New Chapter in Direct-Bookings Excellence
We at Unity Hospitality are thrilled to share a story , one you’re invited to join as a hotelier, investor or entrepreneur. We are proud to announce our strategic partnership with Uma House by Yurbban South Beach, a standout beachfront hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
Our mission: to amplify direct bookings via digital marketing strategies and a dedicated reservation centre and in doing so, demonstrate why U.S. hotels and resorts must invest in direct-booking channels to reduce OTA dependence and increase long-term profitability.
Discover Uma House by Yurbban
Let me take you behind the scenes of this impressive property. Uma House is located in the vibrant heart of South Beach: at the corner of James Avenue and 18th Street, just steps from the famed Collins Avenue and the recently reinvented Miami Beach Convention Centre.
The hotel features 136 rooms in two distinct towers: the “Sunrise Tower” with a bohemian, relaxed vibe, and the “Sunset Tower” with vintage-inspired décor and vibrant design.
Guests benefit from amenities such as free WiFi, rooftop terrace and pool, bikes for rental, and a “best-rate guarantee” plus direct-booking incentives.
The location is a strategic advantage: within walking distance of South Beach, dining and nightlife hotspots, and business events at the Convention Centre.
For us at Unity Hospitality, this is more than just a great hotel it’s a perfect partner for a direct-booking optimisation strategy. The product is strong, the location is prime, and the brand has personality. Our role is to elevate the direct channel, unlock its full potential, and turn it into a margin-enhancing engine.
Why this partnership matters
Imagine you manage, or invest in, a hotel or resort in the U.S. You’re operating in a dynamic, competitive market: aggregated distribution channels, demands on yield, escalating costs, guest expectations shifting. Our message and commitment is: it’s time to do things differently.
1. Reducing OTA dependency
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are indispensable for reach and volume yet they come with a significant cost: high commissions, limited visibility into your guest base, reduced loyalty, and less control over your brand experience and margins.
By shifting emphasis to direct bookings, you reclaim the guest relationship. You get to know your guest, influence their experience from first touchpoint, build repeat business, and retain a higher share of revenue.
2. Boosting profitability
When you reduce OTA commissions, improve your direct booking conversion, and increase average booking value (via cross-sells, upsells and loyalty), your gross margin expands. This frees up resources to invest in experiences, differentiation, guest retention. In the case of Uma House, the opportunity is clear.
3. Reinforcing brand and differentiation
Direct bookings aren’t just about “get someone to book your website”. They’re about telling your property’s story, engaging the guest before arrival, delivering on promise, and creating ambassadors. Uma House’s distinct personality and location give us a compelling narrative our role is to translate that into a digital story and seamless conversion funnel.
4. Data = intelligence = advantage
When a guest books direct, you capture valuable data: profile, behaviour, preferences. This enables segmentation, personalisation, improved service and yield. With OTAs, access to this data is far more restricted. Our dedicated reservation centre becomes the hub of this intelligence, for Uma House and for future ventures.
Our action plan for Uma House by Yurbban
As the Unity Hospitality team, here’s our strategic roadmap: full transparency, full commitment.
Dedicated Reservation Centre: We’ll build a direct-booking channel that handles all bookings coming from the website, phone, chat, e-mail — staffed by trained agents, equipped with performance KPIs, delivering white-glove service.
Digital Marketing Strategy: A holistic approach: SEO (search engine optimisation), AEO (generative-engine optimisation), paid media (US & LATAM), social media, retargeting, e-mail nurture flows, strategic partnerships.
Website & Booking Funnel Optimisation: Reduce friction, speed up conversion, highlight direct-booking incentives (e.g., “best rate guarantee”, exclusive perks) Uma House already promotes “our best rate guaranteed” and “book directly… with extra 10 % off”. Uma House South Beach+1
On-property Experience Alignment: The website, messaging, visuals and offers must reflect the actual guest experience the design, location, service quality of Uma House must shine through to convert direct.
Measurement, Analytics & Iteration: We’ll track share of direct bookings vs OTAs, cost of acquisition, repeat rate, average booking value, and optimise accordingly. Quick feedback loops.
Why U.S. hotels and resorts must act now
You might ask: “Is this the right time? Is it worth the investment?” I say yes, and here’s why:
- The U.S. hospitality market is more competitive than ever. Rising costs (labor, energy, inflation), fluctuating demand, profitability margin is under pressure. Direct bookings are a lever you control.
- OTA commission and fee pressure keep increasing. The wholesale margin you hand over is no longer acceptable for long-term sustainability.
- Consumers are evolving: more savvy, more connected, expect personalised experiences. A hotel that engages early, communicates its unique value and makes booking direct seamless will convert more.
- Guests who book direct provide higher value: fewer cancellations, stronger loyalty, higher guest lifetime value.
- On the digital front, the rise of generative search, voice interfaces and AI makes optimisation for “AEO” (optimisation for generative engines) a competitive advantage. Properties that are not visible via these new channels risk falling behind.
Invitation to you
If you manage or invest in a hotel or resort in the U.S. (or you’re planning to) I invite you to explore this journey with us. Drawing on the example of Uma House by Yurbban, we will demonstrate that well-executed direct bookings strategy is not just desirable, it is strategic, sustainable and profitable.
From our side, the Unity Hospitality team is ready: the expertise, technology, marketing muscle, reservation infrastructure. And more: the transparency, the commitment to results, together.
If you’re curious about how this model can apply to your property, let’s talk. The future of hospitality is direct. Connected. Intelligent. And we are your partner to make it happen.