An OTA extranet is the free partner portal an online travel agency gives hotels to manage rates, availability, content and bookings on that one site. In India that means the InGo-MMT extranet and the "Connect by MakeMyTrip" app for MakeMyTrip and Goibibo, the Booking.com extranet (Partner Hub) and Agoda YCS. A channel manager is paid software that connects to many OTA extranets at once, so that a room sold on one channel is closed on all the others and rates change everywhere from one screen. A property on one or two OTAs can manage extranets manually. Once you are on three or more channels, or have a booking engine on your website, a channel manager such as AxisRooms, STAAH, SiteMinder or DJUBO usually pays for itself by preventing overbookings and staff time. OTA commission, not software, is the largest distribution cost, and it is set in each OTA's partner agreement.
Executive summary
- Extranets are per-OTA; channel managers are many-to-one. Every OTA extranet is free to access, but each only controls its own channel.
- MakeMyTrip and Goibibo share one extranet. Go-MMT's partner guide describes listing properties on both through the InGo-MMT extranet, and the partner app is now called "Connect by MakeMyTrip" (formerly InGoMMT).
- Channel manager prices are published by some vendors. AxisRooms lists its channel manager from $50/month for 1–10 rooms and OTA extranet or hotel exchange products from $30/month, in USD on its page. DJUBO states its prices are in INR, excluding 18% GST, with a 10% annual increase, but amounts were not readable on the page we could access.
- Commission is contractual. Booking.com, Agoda and Go-MMT did not show a public commission rate on the pages we could access. Read your agreement and the finance section of each extranet.
- Direct bookings reduce commission exposure. A booking engine plus metasearch presence is the usual companion to a channel manager.
App Advisor is not affiliated with MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Booking.com, Agoda or any vendor named here. For property management systems (PMS), see our hotel and resort management software guide.
Market context
India's Ministry of Tourism publishes official statistics on domestic and foreign tourism through its India Tourism Data Portal. We have not quoted figures here because the underlying documents were not readable from our access. Consult the portal for the latest domestic tourist visits and foreign tourist arrivals in your state. For hotels, the relevant structural facts come from how distribution works:
InGo-MMT and Connect by MakeMyTrip. Go-MMT's partner help centre explains how homestays, villas and hotels "get listed with MakeMyTrip and Goibibo via Ingo MMT Extranet". The steps start with "Get started for free", and the property submits details including photos, amenities, pricing, policies and finance and legal documents: lease or registration document, Aadhaar verification (optional), bank details, PAN and GSTN if applicable, and TAN if applicable (Go-MMT partner help: listing a homestay or villa). The official partner app is listed as "Connect by MakeMyTrip" on Google Play (Connect by MakeMyTrip app). The guide does not state commission.
Booking.com and Agoda. Booking.com provides partners with an extranet and help centre (Booking.com for Partners), and Agoda provides YCS (Yield Control System) (ycs.agoda.com). Commission terms are set in the property's agreement and visible to logged-in partners. Public commission percentages were not published on the pages we could access.
Channel managers. Channel managers connect to OTA extranets through certified integrations. AxisRooms, an Indian vendor, publishes tiered USD pricing for its channel manager, booking engine, revenue management, rate shopper, hotel exchange and OTA extranet products (AxisRooms pricing). DJUBO publishes a pricing page for Growing, Pro and Master Hotelier plans. It states "All prices are in INR and exclude applicable taxes. GST @18% will be charged additionally", that subscription prices increase 10% annually, and that a minimum of 10 rooms applies (DJUBO pricing). SiteMinder's pricing page directs properties to a price estimate and lists a 14-day free trial (SiteMinder pricing).
Evaluation framework
App Advisor methodology: weights reflect an independent Indian hotel or resort with 15–80 rooms selling on 3–8 online channels.
| Criterion | Weight | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| OTA connectivity in India | 20% | Certified two-way connections with InGo-MMT, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia and others you use; fast inventory updates |
| Rate and inventory control | 15% | Rate plans, derived rates, stop-sell, minimum stay, close-out rules pushed to all channels |
| PMS integration | 15% | Two-way sync with your PMS (eZee, Hotelogix, DJUBO or others) so bookings create reservations automatically |
| Booking engine and direct channel | 10% | Mobile booking engine, payment gateway, metasearch links |
| Overbooking protection and reliability | 15% | Update latency, error alerts, audit logs, support during peak |
| Reporting | 5% | Channel production, commission cost, pickup, ADR and RevPAR by channel |
| Pricing transparency | 10% | Published or written per-room pricing, setup fees, per-channel charges |
| Support | 10% | India-hours support, onboarding of each OTA mapping |
Vendor comparison
OTA extranets (free access; commission per agreement)
| Extranet | Covers | Access fee | Commission | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MakeMyTrip extranet (InGo-MMT / Connect) | MakeMyTrip and Goibibo | Listing starts with "Get started for free" | Not published on the page we could access | Go-MMT partner help |
| Booking.com extranet | Booking.com | Not stated on the page we could access | Not published on the page we could access; set in agreement | partner.booking.com |
| Agoda YCS | Agoda | Not stated on the page we could access | Not published on the page we could access | ycs.agoda.com |
Channel managers and distribution software
| Product | Published pricing (as shown) | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AxisRooms | Channel Manager: 1–10 rooms $50/month; 11–30 $80; 31–70 $100; 71–100 $120; 100–150 $160; 150–200 $220; 200+ $270; enterprise contact. Booking Engine from $30/month (1–10 rooms). Hotel Exchange and OTA Extranet: $30/month (1–10 rooms), $35–$40 (11–100), $50 (101–300). Prices in USD | Indian vendor with modular products | axisrooms.com/pricing |
| DJUBO | Growing, Pro and Master Hotelier plans; prices in INR excluding 18% GST; 10% annual increase; minimum 10 rooms; plan amounts not readable on the page we could access | Bundles CRS, channel manager, booking engine, PMS options | djubo.com/pricing |
| STAAH | Not published on the page we could access | Channel manager, booking engine, RMS | staah.com |
| SiteMinder | Price estimate via sales; 14-day free trial | Global channel manager | siteminder.com/pricing |
| eZee Absolute | Not published on the page we could access | PMS with channel manager options | ezeetechnosys.com |
| BookingJini | Not published on the page we could access | Booking engine and distribution | bookingjini.com |
For more tools see hotel software, travel software and consumer travel booking apps.
Total cost of ownership
Illustrative model — assumptions stated.
Property profile: 30-room hotel, 65% occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) ₹4,500, 60% of room nights from OTAs.
- Annual room nights sold: 30 × 365 × 65% = 7,117.5, rounded to 7,118.
- Room revenue: 7,118 × ₹4,500 = ₹3,20,31,000.
- OTA room revenue (60%): ₹1,92,18,600.
| Cost line | Assumption | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| OTA commission | Placeholder blended rate c (not a published rate; use your agreements) | ₹1,92,18,600 × c |
| Commission at c = 15% (sensitivity only) | — | ₹28,82,790 |
| Commission at c = 20% (sensitivity only) | — | ₹38,43,720 |
| Channel manager | AxisRooms 11–30 rooms tier at $80/month (USD, as published) | $960/year plus applicable taxes and FX |
| Booking engine | AxisRooms 11–30 rooms tier at $50/month (USD, as published) | $600/year |
| Overbooking cost avoided | 12 overbookings/year × relocation cost ₹6,000 | ₹72,000 |
| Staff time saved | 1.5 hours/day updating extranets × 365 × ₹200/hour | ₹1,09,500 |
Direct-booking lever: shifting 5 percentage points of room nights from OTAs to direct bookings moves ₹16,01,550 of revenue (5% of ₹3,20,31,000) out of commission. At a 15% placeholder commission, that avoids about ₹2,40,000, more than the channel manager and booking engine combined.
Implementation roadmap
| Phase | Weeks | Activities | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Channel audit | 1 | List every OTA, extranet login, room type and rate plan; collect contracts and commission terms | Channel inventory |
| 2. Rate architecture | 1–2 | Define room types, base rate, derived plans (breakfast, non-refundable), restrictions | Rate plan map |
| 3. Channel manager setup | 2–3 | Property content, room and rate mapping per OTA, PMS connection | Mapped channels |
| 4. Connect OTAs one by one | 3–5 | Request connectivity inside each extranet (for example InGo-MMT, Booking.com, Agoda); test availability and rate pushes | Live two-way sync |
| 5. Booking engine | 4–6 | Website booking engine, payment gateway, Google hotel links | Direct channel live |
| 6. Parallel run | 5–6 | Monitor every booking in both extranet and channel manager for mismatches | Zero mismatches for 14 days |
| 7. Optimise | 7+ | Weekly channel production review; rate parity checks; promotions | Distribution scorecard |
Risks and compliance checklist
- Overbooking during mapping: close inventory carefully while connecting each OTA, or run a parallel check for two weeks.
- Rate parity clauses: read OTA agreements for parity obligations before pricing your direct channel lower.
- Commission and invoicing: reconcile OTA commission invoices monthly against bookings, cancellations and no-shows.
- GST: confirm GST on room tariffs and on OTA commission invoices with your adviser. Keep GSTIN details consistent across extranets.
- Guest data: OTA bookings contain guest personal data, protected under the DPDP Act, 2023. Limit access and retention in the channel manager and PMS.
- Foreign guest reporting: hotels must meet legal obligations to report foreign guests. Make sure your PMS captures the required details.
- Currency and card charges: USD-priced software adds foreign exchange and card fees. Budget for them.
- Credential security: use individual logins and two-factor authentication on every extranet.
KPIs to track
| KPI | Definition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Channel mix | Room nights by channel ÷ total room nights | Commission exposure |
| Net ADR by channel | ADR minus commission and payment costs | True channel profitability |
| Direct booking share | Direct room nights ÷ total | Progress on reducing commission |
| Overbookings | Count per month | Channel manager reliability |
| Rate parity violations | Instances where OTA rate is below direct rate | Contract and revenue risk |
| Cancellation rate by channel | Cancelled ÷ booked | Rate plan design |
| RevPAR | Room revenue ÷ available rooms | Overall performance |
| Update latency | Seconds from change to channel reflecting it | Technical health |
How to choose
- One or two OTAs, small property: manage extranets manually through Connect by MakeMyTrip and the Booking.com app, with strict daily inventory checks.
- Three or more channels: buy a channel manager with certified connections to every channel you use, especially InGo-MMT for Indian demand.
- Already on a PMS: choose a channel manager with a proven two-way integration to that PMS, or one bundled with the PMS.
- Want direct bookings: buy a booking engine from the same vendor, or one that integrates tightly with the channel manager.
- Compare pricing like for like: per-room tiers, per-channel fees, setup fees, currency, GST and annual escalation.
- Ask for India references from properties on the same OTAs as you.
Vendor demo script
Channel managers all claim "two-way connectivity". The difference is in speed, mapping flexibility and how errors are surfaced. Use this script in a sandbox or on a test property.
Scenario 1: Mapping. Map three room types and four rate plans (room only, with breakfast, non-refundable, long-stay) to InGo-MMT, Booking.com and Agoda. Check that:
- Derived rates (for example breakfast plan = base + fixed amount) calculate automatically.
- Restrictions such as minimum stay, closed to arrival and stop-sell push to every channel.
- Channel-specific rate adjustments can be applied without breaking parity rules you have agreed to.
Scenario 2: Last-room sale. Set availability to one room for a date, create a booking on one OTA, and time how long the other channels take to close the room. Repeat during a simulated high-traffic period. Ask the vendor how they alert you when a channel update fails.
Scenario 3: Modifications and cancellations. Modify a booking's dates on one OTA, cancel another, and create a no-show. Check that availability is restored correctly and that the PMS reservation updates without duplicates.
Scenario 4: Booking engine. Make a direct booking on your website on a mobile phone, pay through the gateway, and confirm that inventory closes on all OTAs. Check the confirmation email and the reservation in the PMS.
Scenario 5: Reporting. Show production by channel, cancellations, average length of stay and commission estimates. Export it to a spreadsheet.
Scenario 6: Support. Raise a test support ticket at night or on a weekend and measure response time.
Extranet hygiene checklist
Even with a channel manager, each OTA extranet needs regular attention:
- Keep photos, amenities and policies consistent across InGo-MMT, Booking.com and Agoda.
- Review promotions you opted into, because some programmes change the effective rate or commission.
- Check the finance section monthly for commission invoices and payment reconciliation.
- Respond to reviews on each platform, since review scores affect conversion.
- Remove access for staff who leave, and enable two-factor authentication where offered.
Rate strategy basics
A channel manager distributes whatever rates you set. It does not decide them. Basic disciplines:
- Set a clear base rate per room type by season, and derive other plans from it.
- Use restrictions (minimum stay, closed to arrival) on peak dates rather than blanket price hikes alone.
- Monitor competitor rates with a rate shopper or manual checks, and adjust weekly.
- Offer direct-booking value, such as flexible cancellation or breakfast, within the terms of your OTA agreements.
- Review net ADR by channel after commission, not only gross ADR.
These steps turn distribution software from an overbooking safeguard into a revenue tool.
FAQs
What is the MakeMyTrip extranet?
The MakeMyTrip extranet, known as InGo-MMT and accessed through the "Connect by MakeMyTrip" app, is Go-MMT's partner portal for hotels, homestays and villas to manage listings, rates, inventory and bookings on MakeMyTrip and Goibibo.
Is listing on MakeMyTrip and Goibibo free?
Go-MMT's partner guide begins the listing process with "Get started for free". Commission on bookings is governed by the partner agreement and was not published on the page we could access.
What is the difference between an OTA extranet and a channel manager?
An extranet is one OTA's own portal for managing your property on that OTA. A channel manager is software that connects to many OTA extranets at once, syncing rates and availability so a room sold anywhere is updated everywhere.
How much does AxisRooms channel manager cost?
AxisRooms' pricing page lists its channel manager at $50/month for 1–10 rooms, $80 for 11–30, $100 for 31–70, $120 for 71–100, $160 for 100–150, $220 for 150–200 and $270 for 200+ rooms, with enterprise pricing on request. Prices are in USD as published.
What commission does Booking.com charge hotels in India?
Booking.com did not publish a commission rate on the pages we could access. The commission applicable to your property is set in your agreement and shown in the extranet. Check it before pricing your rooms.
Can I connect MakeMyTrip to a channel manager?
Yes. Many channel managers offer connectivity to InGo-MMT, covering both MakeMyTrip and Goibibo. Confirm certification and mapping support with the channel manager vendor before signing.
What is hotel distribution software?
Hotel distribution software is the set of tools a hotel uses to sell rooms across channels: channel manager, booking engine, central reservation system, GDS connectivity and metasearch tools, often integrated with a PMS.
Do I need a PMS if I have a channel manager?
A channel manager distributes inventory. A PMS runs front desk, housekeeping, billing and guest records. Most properties beyond a few rooms need both, integrated. See our hotel management software guide.
Sources
- Go-MMT partner help: listing with MakeMyTrip and Goibibo
- Go-MMT partner community home
- Connect by MakeMyTrip on Google Play
- Booking.com for Partners
- Agoda YCS
- AxisRooms pricing
- DJUBO pricing
- SiteMinder pricing
- STAAH
- eZee Technosys
- BookingJini
- India Tourism Data Portal, Ministry of Tourism
- MeitY data protection framework (DPDP Act, 2023)
