Build every supplier integration, or connect them all once?
Direct integrations give you full control — and a project for every supplier, a hotel database to run and booking edge cases to handle. Here's an honest look at both paths.
UnifyStaysYour supply
Building it yourselfDirect integrations
The answers that decide it.
- Question 1What does each new supplier cost?UnifyStaysAdding credentials in your dashboard.Building it yourselfA new integration project — then maintenance for as long as you use it.
- Question 2Who stores and maps hotel data?UnifyStaysUnifyStays — one catalogue, maintained by our team.Building it yourselfYou download, store, map and refresh each supplier's dataset.
- Question 3Who handles supplier API changes?UnifyStaysWe do, behind the same API.Building it yourselfYour engineers, on the supplier's schedule.
- Question 4What stops a wrong booking?UnifyStaysPrice confirmed first, safe retries, and UnifyStays AI checking the hotel and room.Building it yourselfWhatever safeguards your team builds.
- Question 5Who owns the supplier relationship?UnifyStaysYou do — your accounts, your rates, 0% commission.Building it yourselfYou do.
The full comparison, in plain words.
| Feature | UnifyStays | Building it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier contracts & rates | Yours | Yours |
| Engineering per supplier | None — add credentials | A full integration, then upkeep |
| Hotel content | Included, maintained by our team | Download, store and refresh each dataset |
| Hotel & room mapping | Built in | Build it, or buy a mapping product |
| Rate comparison | Every supplier's rate for the same room | Possible once mapping is done |
| Booking safeguards | Price confirmed first, safe retries, UnifyStays AI | Built by your team |
| Supplier API changes | Handled by UnifyStays | Handled by your engineers |
| Commission on bookings | None — 0% | None |
Choosing between them.
Choose UnifyStays if…
- You want to add suppliers without integration projects
- You'd rather not run a hotel database and mapping
- You want your engineers on your product
- You want AI-guarded bookings from day one
Choose building it yourself if…
- You only ever plan to use one supplier
- You need a supplier feature UnifyStays doesn't support yet
- You have a team ready to own integrations long term
Build vs buy questions.
Do I lose control of my supplier relationships with UnifyStays?
No. You connect your own supplier accounts, book at your contracted rates and keep the relationship. UnifyStays takes no booking commission.
When does building it yourself make sense?
When you only need one supplier for the long term, or need a supplier-specific feature that UnifyStays doesn't support yet — and you have a team to maintain it.
Can I start with UnifyStays and still go direct later?
Yes. Your supplier contracts are yours, so you're never locked in.
What happens when a supplier changes its API?
With UnifyStays, we update the connector behind the same API. Building yourself, your team makes the change.
How often are new suppliers added?
A new supplier connector roughly every two weeks, prioritised by customer requests.
Your suppliers. Your rates. One API.
Connect the supplier accounts you hold and compare them on every room — with no booking commission.