GetYourGuide just announced a change that's got people in the tours and activities space talking. Starting October 1, 2026, any booking that falls under a Digital Services Tax (DST) will come with an extra line on the invoice: a "DST-driven commission surcharge."
For a lot of operators, that might just look like one more line item. But it points to something bigger worth thinking about: you don't get a vote when an OTA decides to change its rules. And that's exactly why having your own website for direct bookings might matter more than ever for staying in business long-term.
What is a Digital Services Tax?
The Digital Services Tax was originally built to make sure companies like Google and Meta pay tax on the revenue they generate locally. But the threshold was set low enough that mid-sized platforms like GetYourGuide got swept in too.
Here's the catch: DST is charged on revenue, not profit. So even if a platform doesn't turn a profit in a given year, it still owes the tax as long as it has revenue. And the tax applies to the platform itself — not to suppliers or tour operators.
GetYourGuide’s New Policy
Starting October 1, 2026, GetYourGuide will break out DST-related costs as a separate "commission surcharge" line on supplier invoices, on top of the standard commission. Their own example: on a €100 booking, after the usual 30% commission (€30) and a €0.75 DST surcharge, the supplier ends up with €69.25.
Worth noting: GetYourGuide has said publicly that it doesn't actually agree with how the DST is structured, and it's been in talks with European policymakers to try to push for changes.
Why This Is Worth Paying Attention to
The headline here is the DST, but the real issue isn't the tax itself — it's the fact that suppliers never get a say in when or how commission structures change.
This time it's a digital services tax. Next time it could be some other cost or policy shift. As a supplier on someone else's platform, your only real option is usually to accept it.
The Hidden Cost of Putting All Eggs in One OTA Basket
Relying on just one OTA for years can quietly trap you — even if you don't notice it at first. All the photos you've uploaded, the listings you've written, the calendar you've kept up, the reviews you've built — all of that makes it really hard to just leave. So even when a platform changes a rule in a way that hurts you, most operators stay, because switching is just too costly.
And this kind of cost usually doesn't hit you all at once — it builds up slowly, hidden in the small print of your statements. Almost no one quits a platform just because of one new fee. But over time, that slow loss of profit is very real.
Having Your Own Website Doesn't Mean Giving Up on OTAs
Building your own booking site isn't about abandoning OTAs or competing with them. OTAs are still a huge source of visibility and traffic, especially if you're just getting started or don't have much brand recognition yet.
The real value of your own website is that it's a booking channel where no single platform gets to control the rules. When you have both OTA bookings and direct bookings coming through your own site, you can actually compare what each channel is costing you — and you keep the freedom to change your plans, instead of just having to accept whatever one platform decides.
rezio: Helping You Take Back Control of Your Bookings
If reading this has you thinking "maybe I do need my own website" — that's exactly where rezio comes in. Our all-in-one booking management platform lets you do all of this without hiring a developer or spending extra time and effort:
1. Your Own Booking Website
Set up a branded booking site in 10 minutes. Customers can book straight from your social channels — no OTA, no waiting on an algorithm. Here, you set the rules.
▶ Case study: Experience Singapore
2. Multiple Payments
Support multiple payment methods so customers can pay the moment they decide to book. Every booking through your own site is fully yours — no commission surprises.
▶ Case study: I Love Pilipinas Tours Inc.
3. Real-Time Calendar
Sync your OTA listings, resellers, and walk-in bookings into one real-time calendar. A backup channel — not extra work.
▶ Case study: Cookinn Cooking Class
Fill out the form below to start your free trial of rezio and see how we can give your business a boost!