Name Your Price: Real‑Time Personalized Offers That Win Direct Bookings

TL;DR: Price parity is messy and guests often see a cheaper deal on big platforms after stacked promos. Name Your Price lets a guest share what they’re willing to pay and generates a real‑time personalized offer on your site, so they book direct and feel like they won. We’ve seen a 2× conversion lift for guests who use it, with only a ~10% average discount. Results vary by market and configuration, but the pattern is consistent: it’s not just the price. it’s the feeling of a bespoke “yes.”

The combination lock of direct bookings

Growing direct bookings is like opening a combination lock. If any part is off, the whole thing fails:

1. Bring the right guests to your site

2. Prove you have their ideal place to stay

3. **Offer a price that makes them book direct
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Most STR brands are actively tackling #1 and #2. #3 is the blind spot.

Where it breaks

Brands work hard to set the right nightly prices. But guests compare your direct price to the OTA price after the OTA stacks channel‑specific discounts (mobile app promos, long‑stay incentives, memberships, coupons). Result:

• The guest sees a better price elsewhere,

• You pay extra fees,

• You lose the relationship.

The fix: “Name Your Price”

What it is: An AI-powered negotiation agent on hostFront that lets guests bid for the price of their stay. The system then instantly returns a personalized, guardrailed offer.

How it works

• Guest shares a price they’re willing to pay.

• We generate a real‑time personalized offer based on your rules.

• They book direct and walk away feeling like they won.

Why it works

• Bespoke = believable value. Guests trust prices that feel tailored.

• Momentum matters. An instant “yes” keeps them on your site.

• Parity without the chase. You neutralize OTA discount stacking—without copying every promo under the sun.

What we’re seeing so far

Among guests who use Name Your Price:

• ~2× conversion lift

• ~10% average discount to close the booking

The big insight: it’s not only the lower price , it’s the win. A personalized “yes” turns shopping into choosing.

“Getting a yes feels like winning; rather than the brand discounting.”

Illustrative math (why direct still wins)

Let’s walk through an example to show the economics. Numbers are illustrative:

• Your direct price: $300/night

• OTA stacks a 10% mobile promo and a 10% long‑stay discount

OTA price to guest

• 10% off: $300 × 0.90 = $270

• +10% off: $270.00 × 0.90 = $243

If the OTA takes a 15% commission on what the guest pays:

• $243 × 0.85 = $207 net to you (rounded)

Direct with Name Your Price

• You list $270

• Guest offers $230 (15% off your $270)

• Assume ~3% payment processing: $230 × 0.97 = $223 net to you

Net difference: $223 (direct) − $207 (OTA) = ~$16 per night

You win the revenue and the relationship.

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Where it fits in your stack

Name Your Price works alongside your current pricing and marketing tools:

• Pricing/Revenue: It doesn’t replace your revenue management system; it activates it on the website with real‑time acceptance logic.

• Analytics: Track usage, acceptance rate, conversion lift, ADR vs. accepted offers, and cannibalization checks.

• Re-targeting: Follow‑ups for offers until they book.

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Common objections (and candid answers)

**“What about ADR?”
**You’ll trade small, targeted discounts for commission savings and higher conversion, especially on long‑stays or larger units where guests have higher incentives to negotiate.

**“Will guests game the system?”
**The guardrails prevent unrealistic wins. If a guest low‑balls, they see a transparent counter. The experience still feels fair.

**“How does this differ from a standard promo code?”
**Promo codes are static and broad. Name Your Price is real‑time, contextual, and fenced.

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Getting started

If you’re serious about growing your direct bookings, Name Your Price is one of the fastest ways to close the “third lock” in direct bookings: a price that makes it a yes right now, on your site.

See a live walkthrough → Book a demo

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FAQ

**Will this upset channel partners?
**You’re not blanket‑discounting. You’re closing specific, otherwise‑lost bookings with controlled fences and floors.

**Can I target only certain dates?
**Yes. Set blackout dates to avoid discounts during peak seasons or high-demand periods.

**What about taxes and fees?
**The offer should be shown inclusive of all required fees to avoid surprises. Transparency builds trust.