Less than 10% of multi-day operators currently use OTAs for distribution. That means 90% are missing out on a channel that could introduce them to high-value customers who book repeatedly over years. The problem isn’t that multi-day OTA distribution doesn’t work—it’s that operators don’t know where to start, which platforms exist, or how to evaluate if they’re a good fit.
Peter Syme, Jorge Pittaluga, and Hana from Tour Amigo break down the practical strategy for getting started. The session solves three core problems: awareness of which OTAs exist beyond the big day tour names, understanding how multi-day distribution operates differently than day tours, and building a research and evaluation framework to pick partners that align with your business model. The tone is pragmatic and action-oriented. No theory—just the steps to take, the tools to use, the questions to ask, and the deal breakers to identify before signing anything.
You’ll learn why algorithms work differently for tours with four departures per year versus daily availability, how cash flow timing creates operational risk, what makes customer lifetime value change the commission math, and how to use AI to compress weeks of strategy work into hours. The biggest operators in the Tourpreneur community have 30-40+ distribution partners. Most small operators have fewer than five. This session shows you how to start closing that gap.
Ready to get started?
Download the Multi-Day OTA Playbook. This playbook will make sure you’re ready to take full advantage before your competitors do.
Top 10 Takeaways:
1. Start with one or two OTAs maximum. Don’t try to distribute via 15-20 partners right away. Get comfortable, get some sales, build confidence, then expand.
2. Know your deal breakers before evaluating partners. If an OTA doesn’t allow sufficient customer communication, transparent marketing, or the features critical to your business, eliminate them early. Identify what’s non-negotiable for you.
3. Do your research before signing anything. Check terms and conditions, read what other operators say in communities like Tourpreneur, use tools like SEMRush to check traffic, and search your own tour in Google AI to see which OTAs rank well.
4. Understand the algorithm and become an expert. Focus on reviews (heavy weight), quality photography with people not just landscapes, strong copywriting, proper filters, and regular monitoring. If an OTA punishes you for limited departures, it’s not the right fit.
5. Price parity exists but enforcement is weak. You can often have different products for different channels. Create OTA-specific packages to drive traffic while keeping your best tours for direct or other partners.
6. Use AI to build your OTA strategy. Tools like Claude can generate a complete strategy in hours: which OTAs to target, questions to ask, deal breakers, 30-day action plans, and revenue projections.
7. Build a spider’s web of distribution. More partners equals larger businesses. The data shows operators with 30-40+ partners are the biggest. Even a partner sending five bookings per year is worth keeping because that’s 25 bookings over five years.
8. Factor in lifetime customer value when evaluating commissions. Multi-day customers have 25-75% return rates. An OTA is introducing you to someone who could be worth five to ten years of repeat business at significant value.
9. Manage cash flow carefully. Understand payout terms before signing. Start with one or two tours on an OTA to test your ability to manage supplier payments while waiting for OTA payouts.
10. OTAs are shop windows, not your storefront. Customers will bounce between your OTA listing and your direct website. Being on multiple OTAs actually drives direct traffic and doesn’t hurt your SEO. Keep your website strong with detailed content and transparent pricing.
Ready to get started?
Download the Multi-Day OTA Playbook. This playbook will make sure you’re ready to take full advantage before your competitors do.
