From Invisible to Fully Booked: How a 40-Room Hotel in Negombo Increased Revenue 9x in 90 Days

When this 40-room boutique hotel in Negombo reached out to us, they had everything going for them — newly renovated rooms, a great location, and a motivated team. But there was one major issue holding them back: no one could find them online. Despite investing in upgrades, the hotel was buried on the last page of Booking.com search results. In a highly competitive destination like Negombo, that meant low visibility — and almost no bookings.

10/26/20252 min read

The Challenge

Problem: Low Visibility on Booking.com
Even with attractive photos and a competitive price, the property wasn’t getting traction. Visibility drives bookings, and without it, even the best hotels can struggle to stay afloat.

Many property owners assume the quick fix is to lower their prices to climb higher in OTA rankings.
But as we’ve learned through years of experience — visibility isn’t just about price.

Our Approach

Instead of a race to the bottom on rates, our team focused on improving what Booking.com’s algorithm actually rewards:

Response Time: We trained the team to reply to every guest inquiry within 15 minutes, signaling reliability to the platform.
Flexible Policies: Introduced smart cancellation policies that appealed to guests and boosted visibility.
Content Refresh: Updated photos, descriptions, and amenities to highlight the hotel’s true value.
Reputation Growth: Actively managed reviews and encouraged satisfied guests to share their experiences.
Targeted Genius Offers: Optimized participation in Booking.com’s Genius Program — using it strategically for off-peak periods instead of blanket discounts.

The Results

Within 90 days, the transformation was remarkable.

The hotel went from being buried in search results to appearing among the most viewed properties in Negombo.
Bookings increased by 9x.
Average nightly rate rose by 20%.
Monthly revenue jumped from LKR 150,000–200,000 to over LKR 2,000,000.

The best part? The improvement wasn’t driven by discounting — it was driven by smarter strategy.

Key Takeaway

It’s not just about managing listings — it’s about managing performance.
Every small action, from response time to rate strategy, shapes how OTAs perceive and promote your property.

At Zeneth Labs, we help boutique hotels and villas across Sri Lanka play the game smarter — using data, insight, and hands-on experience to unlock true earning potential.

Want to See Similar Results?

If you’re managing a property that’s struggling with visibility or inconsistent revenue, let’s talk.
We’d love to help your stay perform at its best.

Here's what our partner had to say?

-By Paradise Holiday Village Hotel, Negombo

We’ve been working with Hansan and the team from Zeneth Labs since January 2025, and they’ve been an incredible addition to our business. With nearly 50 rooms and apartments to manage, their expertise and commitment have made a huge difference to our operations.

They’ve taken full control of our OTA management — including Booking.com, Agoda, and Airbnb — and have delivered outstanding results. When we first partnered with them, our hotel’s visibility on Booking..com was quite low, but thanks to their strategic approach, Paradise Holiday Village is now ranked among the top 10 properties in search visibility.

Their team has helped us significantly increase our online bookings and revenue, while also ensuring that all guest communications and OTA operations run smoothly and professionally.

We’re truly grateful for their ongoing support, professionalism, and results-driven approach. We highly recommend Zeneth Labs to any hospitality business looking to grow its online presence and performance.

— Paradise Holiday Village Hotel, Negombo