What it means in plain language
OTAs charge 15-25% commission and dominate hotel demand discovery. Loved for the volume, hated for the margin. The right OTA strategy treats them as a billboard for first-time guests, then moves repeat business to direct via loyalty, member rates, and remarketing. Avoid going dark - OTAs reward inventory; punish silence.
How OTA fits in the bigger picture
OTA doesn't live alone - it sits inside the Distribution & Channels category and connects to 3 closely related concepts most working revenue managers track in the same breath. Pair this definition with the related terms below to build a working mental model - definitions in isolation are easy to memorize and easy to misuse.
Related terms you should also know
Each of these is one click away - start with whichever you don't already use daily: