People usually have more time to travel during major holidays, such as The Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Families, in particular, can schedule their vacations around not just the holidays, but the school calendar (spring and summer breaks). When preparing your vacation rental properties for peak and off-seasons, don’t forget about holidays.
Holidays offer a huge opportunity for vacation rental managers and owners to maximize their revenue. Find out how to boost holiday bookings and profits, with these four tips from BookingTeam.com.
1. Offer exclusive deals and promotions.
For holidays that may not be as busy, increase your booking rate by offering special promotions. These can go beyond the typical 10% off one night discount. For example, for Mother’s Day, you could offer one free trip to a local spa or salon when guests book with you. However, make sure to customize your promotion to the specific holiday. A property that is marketed as a couple’s retreat with complimentary tickets to a romantic four-star dinner and boat ride probably wouldn’t work for a family Thanksgiving
2. Accommodate for groups.
Most people travel for the holidays with family or larger groups. Adding a simple pull out bed or other extra bed accommodations for guests at a little extra cost can attract holiday crowds.
However, you may want to set a maximum occupancy limit. If you do, make it absolutely clear in your listings, property descriptions, during the booking process and check-in. This will avoid any confusion and frustration later on.
3. Create holiday-themed packages and activities to do.
When considering which locations to go on holiday, some guests might not know everything that the surrounding area has to offer. By acting as a local insider, you can enhance the guest experience and attract holiday travelers. If there is a local festival, include the specific dates in your listing description and in a welcome package for guests. You can also partner with local businesses and offer custom-designed experiences like day trips to local tourist attractions or fun activities like kayaking, rock climbing, snorkeling, skiing, etc.
4. Set optimal pricing rates.
Holidays can bring in a lot of revenue if you are pricing right. For example, major holidays such as the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas can generally be priced at a higher rate. You can also require longer minimum stays to maximize the profit potential.
Although, you need to consider location. A destination Christmas holiday in Florida may not warrant a price hike. (Unless you offer a highly customized and luxurious experience.) For many travelers, it’s all about the “snow, white Christmas” experience, so properties in the snowy mountains of Montana or Colorado can bring in double or triple their peak rate. How can you tell when to adjust your holiday rental pricing and by how much?
BookingTeam.com works with smart tools like PriceLabs, to help property managers and owners find and set prices that will increase bookings and maximize revenue. Find out more about our platform and how our team can help you manage everything from pricing to listing your properties.