How to create and customize your Direct Booking Website?

Your Direct Booking Website lets you accept direct bookings under your own brand — with calendar sync, secure payments, and your guest data managed from your Holidu account. This guide will walk you through creating your booking website, customizing it to match your brand, and activating optional features to maximize direct bookings.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Booking Website

Step 1: Access your Direct Booking Website setup

You can reach your Direct Booking Website setup from two places in your Holidu account — both lead to the same configuration:

• Direct Bookings → My website & widget in the left-hand navigation menu
• Properties → [your property] → Distribution Channels → My booking website, then click Activate channel (if not yet active) or My booking website configuration (if already active)

Note: This feature is available to primary account holders only — not secondary collaborators.

Step 2: Choose your setup type

When accessing the Direct Booking Website for the first time, you will see a setup wizard. Select one of the following options:

• Create a new website — builds a complete Holidu-hosted booking website from scratch
• Add booking module to existing website — embed the Holidu booking engine into a website you already run

Note: You can do both — the booking module is also available after completing the website setup. See Step 5 for booking module instructions.

Step 3: Complete the onboarding wizard

Follow these steps to set up your Direct Booking Website:

1. Log in to your Holidu Host account
2. In the left menu, select Configuration and scroll down to Distribution Channels
3. Click on Distribution Channels and find My Booking Website
4. Click Activate channel and follow the onboarding prompts

Accept terms and conditions

Review and accept the terms and conditions for your Direct Booking Website.

Select your website languages

Choose up to 8 supported languages for your booking website. This ensures your website is accessible to guests from different regions.

Enter your website name and domain

Provide your website's name and domain address. If you already own a domain, instructions will guide you to connect it for brand consistency. If you don't have a domain, Holidu will provide a default subdomain for your website.

Select properties and organize them

Choose which properties to display on your website and arrange their order if you have more than one property.

Publish your website

Click Finish to publish your booking website. Your personalized URL can be copied and shared right away with guests.

Customizable Features

Once your booking website is live, you can personalize it at any time by returning to the Direct Booking Website setup area. The main customization options include:

Customize your homepage

Access the homepage customization section to add personal touches that reflect your brand:

• Add your logo — it will appear at the top of your booking website
• Add a title — it will display over your header image
• Write welcome text — it will appear beneath the main header image
• Upload a header image — this becomes the main visual on your website
• Enable social media links — toggle to show your social media accounts and add links one by one

Important: Please ensure the header image is no larger than 8 MB. Use only your own images for your direct booking website. Do not use images from Google or other image platforms — you risk copyright infringement.

Customize your property cards

Each property displayed on your website includes customizable elements:

Your properties will have default images and text that you can customize yourself. The description of your property is taken from your existing property description in Holidu. Guests can select "Details" to book directly. Update your property images and descriptions to showcase your accommodations in the best light.

Add host information

Create a personal connection with your guests by adding information about yourself as a host:

1. Select "Your host" in the content area of the side panel
2. Enable the "Your host" toggle to make it visible for guests
3. Write information about yourself as a host in the text box provided
4. Upload a professional image of yourself
5. Click "Save" to apply your changes

This section appears prominently on your website, helping guests feel more connected to you as the property owner:

Customize design and layout

Personalize the look and feel of your website through design options:

1. Click on "Design" in the customization menu
2. Choose your preferred layout option for how properties are displayed
3. Enable the filter bar toggle at the top of the page so guests can search for available dates
4. Select how the header image is displayed (full width, cropped, or other options)
5. Pick the color theme that matches your brand
6. Click "Save" to apply your design choices

Note: All content except your website name is automatically translated for visitors using the site in another language.

Step-by-Step to Customize

Customization workflow

Follow this workflow to fully customize your Direct Booking Website:

1. Access your website settings — Navigate to Direct Bookings → My website & widget or Properties → [your property] → Distribution Channels → My booking website configuration
2. Update homepage elements — Add logo, title, welcome text, and header image to create a branded first impression
3. Personalize property information — Customize property cards, descriptions, and images to highlight your accommodations
4. Add host profile — Enable and complete your host information section to build guest trust
5. Configure design settings — Choose layout, enable search filters, select header image display style, and pick your color theme
6. Save all changes — Click Save after each customization section to apply your changes
7. Preview your website — Visit your booking website URL to see how guests will experience your customizations
8. Make ongoing updates — Return anytime to update any aspect of your website

Best practices for customization

• Use high-quality images: Upload clear, professional photos of your properties and a welcoming host photo
• Write compelling descriptions: Create engaging property descriptions and host bio that highlight unique features and your hosting style
• Keep branding consistent: Use colors, logos, and imagery that align with your brand identity
• Optimize for mobile: Test your website on mobile devices to ensure it looks great for all guests
• Update regularly: Keep your content fresh with seasonal updates and new property images
• Respect copyright: Use only your own images — do not use images from Google or other platforms

Step 4: Activate a direct booking discount (optional but recommended)

Encourage guests to book directly on your website by offering an exclusive discount:

1. Go to the Discounts section in your Holidu Host dashboard
2. Activate a 5%, 10%, or 15% direct booking website discount
3. The discount appears clearly on your website and in the booking flow — giving guests a visible reason to book direct

Note: The discount stacks with most promotions (except the new listing promo).

Step 5: Add the booking module to your existing website (if applicable)

If you already have your own website, you can embed the Holidu booking engine so guests can book without leaving your site.

How to set it up

1. Go to Direct Bookings → My website & widget in the left-hand navigation menu
2. In your website dashboard, click Booking module in the left-hand menu
3. Enable the Booking Module toggle and accept the terms and conditions
4. Copy the generated code snippet
5. Paste it into your existing website where you want the booking functionality to appear — compatible with WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and similar platforms
6. Select the preferred languages to match your website
7. Click Save — the module activates immediately, and availability, pricing, and bookings stay aligned with your Holidu calendar

Note: If you need help with the integration, coordinate with your webmaster or contact your account manager.

Best Practices Summary

• Use the Holidu direct booking website or module to grow direct revenue and build guest loyalty
• Activate and clearly display direct booking discounts to give guests a reason to book direct
• Promote your brand and website link across all guest touchpoints
• Automate guest messaging, check-ins, and payments to cut admin time and improve the guest experience
• Keep your site and Holidu property data updated for better conversion
• Use testimonials, personal details, and a mobile-friendly layout to encourage repeat, direct bookings