An analysis by Ulrich Götz Roth reveals that, in a real one-week booking in La Palma, the owner received 263.23 euros out of the 400 euros paid by the tourist, a decrease of 34.19% due to commissions and discounts.
A tourist books a week in accommodation in La Palma through an international platform. They see the price on the screen, apply a discount, pay by card, and receive confirmation. For them, the operation has been straightforward. For the owner, however, the real accounting begins afterwards: the money they receive does not match what the guest paid.
The second part of the analysis 'Your home. Your price. Your island', prepared by Ulrich Götz Roth, focuses precisely on this money flow. The study does not question the role of the platforms, which offer useful global technology, nor does it suggest that owners should stop using them. What it brings to light is a more specific issue: the problem is not in using international platforms, but in relying so much on their visibility rules that the owner ends up accepting discounts for fear of losing presence in search results.
The real account of a booking: from 400 to 263 euros
The analysis uses a documented real case on the island to explain chronologically how the final income from a weekly booking is reduced. Against an initial expectation of 400 euros, the owner receives 263.23 euros. The difference is 136.77 euros less on a single booking, which represents a reduction of 34.19% even before deducting the owner's own activity costs, such as cleaning, maintenance, supplies, laundry, replenishment, or taxation.
The analysis warns that, when mandatory operating expenses are deducted from that amount, the actual net yield of the booking can be around 40% less than initially expected.
The discount is enjoyed by the traveller, but paid for by the owner
According to the report, the discount that appears on the tourist's screen is not funded by the platform, but by the owner themselves. The platform applies a reduction on the price set by the owner, and then also deducts its commission and digital payment costs. The traveller thinks they have snagged a bargain, but in reality, the owner is bearing the cost of that promotion to avoid losing visibility in the search engine.
For an accommodation owner in La Palma, this dynamic can translate into significantly lower income than expected. If the booking is repeated several times a month, the accumulated loss is substantial. The analysis recommends that owners review the terms of loyalty programs and automatic discounts, and assess whether it truly benefits them to participate in them.
From the island's tourism sector, some voices suggest that the solution lies in diversifying marketing channels and not relying exclusively on a single platform. They also suggest that owners calculate the real cost of each booking, including all expenses, before setting their prices.
The study concludes that if the owner wants to maintain a reasonable margin, they must consider that the price they set on the platform is not what they will receive, and that each discount or promotion comes directly out of their pocket. For the tourist, the offer is attractive; for the owner, it can be a headache.
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