Increase your Airbnb bookings in winter

Winter has a lot of appeal for many travellers. Some guests may be be searching for winter sun holiday homes, or alternatively looking for a winter Airbnb for activity trips such as skiing. In the winter months of 2021, Airbnb experienced a record number of bookings, despite the pandemic. Demand for travel is higher than ever, so its important to perfect your listing for these segments of travellers. You may also want to take a look at the Airbnb winter release to see how guest searched and you as a host may change going forward.

1. Add new photos and descriptions

By adding new, high-quality photos that accurately reflect what guests will see when they stay at your place, you’ll be more likely to entice people to book. 73% of travellers agreed that photos are the first thing which attracts them to a vacation rental advert. The guide attached also explains how to choose the best photos for your Airbnb listing. We also recommend updating your description to include any relevant changes or updates (such as new amenities or attractions in the area). Tailor this to the winter season too. The winter is a great time to visit the countryside or any local Christmas markets. Showcase the positive aspects of your vacation rental and the area throughout every season in all of your marketing material. 

2. Promotions and discounts

Another great way to increase bookings is by offering promotions or discounts. This could be anything from a discount for longer stays to a percentage off for guests who book during certain dates. Our partnership with Airbnb gives hosts access to using Airbnb discounts such as: Early Bird and Last Minute. New hosts can also benefit from the Airbnb New Listing promotion, which gives the first 3 guests who book a stay at your property 20% off. Proven to get new hosts booked 30% faster than usual, this is a great way for those new to hosting to build up reviews and to make your listing stand out.

3. Get great guest reviews

Finally, one of the most important things you can do to increase bookings on Airbnb is to get reviews from previous guests. In a recent survey, Travelnest found that 76% of travellers said they would not book a property which had no reviews. Reviews act as social proof and can help convince potential guests that your listing is worth booking. In addition to using photos to show guests what to expect from you property, reviews do the same. If you don’t have any reviews yet, we recommend reaching out to guests who have stayed with you to see if they’d be willing to leave a review.