How do I get more bookings outside of peak booking seasons?
One of the major obstacles of the vacation rental industry is that business is highly seasonal. Unless you're lucky enough to own a property that's in demand all year round, chances are your bookings depend a lot on things like the weather or local events.
However, that doesn't mean you can't still get plenty of bookings outside of peak periods - it just takes a little creativity. Your.Rentals has plenty of features to help you get more bookings, so read on for some top tips on how to get more bookings when demand is lower.
1. Understand your seasons
This might seem obvious, especially to experienced property managers, but it's important to understand the reasons for your seasons - why do you get more bookings during one period than another?
If you've got a beach front property then it makes sense that most of your bookings will come when the weather's good. Or if you're in a location that hosts a high profile event, you'll probably see a lot more demand when it comes around. But if you don't have an obvious answer for your seasonality the first thing to do is to sit down and track when bookings (and demand) is highest and lowest and try to list some possible reasons why.
Do your guests all want to visit a local attraction that's only open part of the year? Are there times when it's easier or more difficult for people to travel? For example, if most of your guests are from Germany, you might want to take a look at dates of public holidays in Germany and see if that could explain your booking trends.
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2. Market for all seasons
Once you've figured out when people book (and don't book), it's time to think about why. Chances are, your property only seems appropriate for certain times of the year. Whilst of course you're unlikely to get many bookings in a ski-chalet in the middle of a summer heatwave, that doesn't mean your property doesn't have something to offer all year round.
If all guests see when they view your listing is pictures of a glorious sunny day, and constant references in your description to sipping ice cold drinks by the pool, they're going to assume your property is only worth visiting in the summer. Increase demand for other periods by making your listing enticing all year round.
Take great photos of your property and the local area in other seasons to make it look appealing, and write a description that specifically mentions things to do that don't depend on the weather, such as museums, art galleries, or cuddling up on your cosy sofa! You can even make bad weather a selling point - a bracing seaside walk in the rain might attract a few outdoors-y Scandinavians!
3. Add amenities and facilities
One way to get more bookings is to widen the market of people you appeal to. Holidaymakers might only be interested during certain times of year, but business travellers are searching for somewhere to stay all year round. Make your property more appealing to those on business trips by adding business-friendly facilities such as Wi-Fi, an iron & ironing board, or car rental.
You can also add optional extras and services such as Laundry Service, Airport Transfer or Cleaning. The more you emphasise the great service you offer, the more appealing you will look in comparison to your competitors.
4. Add seasonal rates and discounts
One of the most effective tools Your.Rentals offers to help Property Managers maximise their bookings is the ability to add Seasonal Rates. This allows you to adjust your Basic Rates up during peak season, or down during off peak (or however else you might choose to set your prices).
The idea of lowering prices isn't often very appealing to property managers, but a slightly reduced rate might be the difference between you getting a much-needed booking and your property sitting empty.
To make things even more appealing to your guests, try combining seasonal rates with discounts, such as reduced prices for Early Bird, Last Minute or Longer Stay bookings. Some channels will show both the original and reduced price; which makes guests more likely to take advantage of the offer - everyone loves a bargain!
5. Relax your rules
Even if you don't like the idea of lowering your prices in the off season, you can still adjust other aspects of your listing to add some flexibility. Within the Seasonal Rates tool, you have the option to adjust the minimum and maximum nights a guest can stay for, as well as the days the guest can check-in.
You can also adjust your Booking Rules for things like Advance Notice and the Guest Cancellation Policy. A more generous or flexible policy might encourage a few hesitant guests, though be aware that these Booking Rules apply to all dates, not just for specific seasons.
Seasonal variations in bookings is a somewhat inevitable aspect of the vacation rentals industry. But by following these simple tips in Your.Rentals you'll give yourself a great chance to get more bookings, even in low season 😎
Good luck and happy renting! 👍