Building a direct booking platform for a serviced-apartment business

I worked with a UK serviced-apartment operator on an AI strategy and a single platform for its website, direct bookings and guest experience, helping it reduce its dependence on online travel agencies.

At a glance

Client: A UK serviced-apartment operator with around 140 apartments
Role: AI strategy and platform development
Sector: Accommodation
Type of assignment: Client engagement
Status: Live platform

The client is not named, to protect confidentiality.

The challenge

The business wanted to increase direct bookings and reduce its dependence on online travel agencies, or OTAs. It also had an existing software stack costing more than £40,000 a year.

My role

I worked with the business on an AI strategy focused on reducing dependence on third-party booking platforms, then helped translate that strategy into the development of a single platform.

What we developed

Using AI to support development, we built a platform that brought together the business’s website, booking capability and a personalised guest experience. It was built to replace the existing software stack and give the business more control over the direct customer relationship.

Results

Direct booking conversion improved, helping the business begin reducing its reliance on OTAs and the associated costs. The business began seeing a return within three months.

Why it matters

This connects AI strategy with a commercial problem: improving the direct booking journey, bringing capabilities together and reducing dependence on external platforms.

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Read the full account

Completed engagement

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