Marketing tips
Fill your vacation rental calendar with Smart promotions
30 Jul 2024
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By Sophie Eminson
Owning a vacation rental property can be a roller coaster ride. During peak times, it feels like you can’t fill your dates fast enough. But there are also those dreaded periods when a booking feels as rare as a drop of rain in the desert. Even during busy seasons, you might have a rogue few days that stubbornly remain unbooked. In this blog post, we'll explore how you can fill your vacation rental calendar using smart promotions with Travelnest, leveraging industry best practices and insights. Read on to discover how you can maximise your bookings and boost your revenue.
Why promotions matter for vacation rentals
Promotions are your secret weapon for those difficult months and tricky dates. They can not only help you fill your calendar but also attract a wider audience. Think of promotions as fishing bait; the right offer can reel in those elusive bookings.
We recommend opting into one or more of our channel promotions to fill your booking availability and increase your visibility. A badge will appear next to property listings that have a discount applied and will be ranked higher in searches. This increased visibility can translate into more bookings and higher occupancy rates.
Genius loyalty programme with Booking.com
The Genius loyalty programme with Booking.com offers discounted stays at over 390,000 participating properties worldwide. Each booking counts towards hosts’ progress in the programme. Once unlocked, your discounts and travel rewards are yours to keep forever. This programme can attract repeat customers who value loyalty perks. Find out if your property is eligible.
Early bird discounts with Booking.com and Airbnb
Encourage early bookings and boost occupancy rates by offering a 10% discount to guests who book their stay three months in advance. Early bird discounts are a great way to secure bookings well ahead of time, giving you peace of mind and steady income.
Booking.com and Airbnb last minute
Boost occupancy and fill availability with guests who are looking for last-minute stays. Offer 10% off to last-minute bookers who book within seven days of arrival. Last-minute promotions can help you avoid empty dates and maximise your revenue.
Airbnb new listing promotion
Offer a 20% discount to the first three guests who book a stay at your property. Proven to get hosts bookings on new listings 30% faster than usual, this is a great way for new hosts to build up reviews and make your listing stand out. To be eligible, a listing must have zero bookings. The discount expires for each enrolled listing after the third promotional booking or 30 days after your promotion opt-in date, whichever happens first.
Booking.com preferred partner commission deal
Make your listing stand out from the crowd by joining the exclusive Booking.com Preferred Partner Programme. Increase the channel commission by 3% and see your page views go up by up to 65%. To be eligible to enable this promotion, you must meet the following criteria:
You need to have a property score of at least 70%.
A score of at least seven is necessary.
You need to be competitive to join the programme. We highly recommend enabling Smart pricing to help you stay competitive.
Booking.com mobile rates
Eighty percent of guests search for trips on mobile devices, and over half of all bookings on Booking.com are made on mobile. You can now offer an exclusive discount of 10% for users who book on mobile. Properties that added Mobile Rates get, on average, 19% more bookings each week than those without.
Benefits of using promotions
Promotions can significantly impact your booking rates and overall revenue. By strategically using promotions, you can:
Increase your property's visibility in search results on major booking platforms.
Attract a broader audience, including early planners, last-minute bookers, and loyal customers.
Fill gaps in your booking calendar, ensuring steady income throughout the year.
Build up reviews for new listings, making them more attractive to future guests.
Stay competitive in a crowded market by offering value-added incentives.
Making the most of Travelnest's Smart promotions
With Travelnest, you'll have access to a variety of smart promotions designed to boost your booking rates and enhance your property's appeal. From loyalty programmes to early bird discounts, these promotions can help you maximise your rental income and achieve higher occupancy rates.
Conclusion
Promotions are a powerful tool for vacation rental owners, property investors, and Airbnb hosts. By leveraging Travelnest's smart promotions, you can increase your property's visibility, attract a broader audience, and fill your booking calendar with ease. Whether you're offering early bird discounts, last-minute deals, or loyalty programme perks, these promotions can help you maximise your rental income and achieve higher occupancy rates.
Ready to fill your vacation rental calendar? Sign up for Travelnest today and start using smart promotions to boost your bookings and revenue. Join a community of successful hosts and property owners who have transformed their rental businesses with Travelnest's innovative solutions.
If you found this guide helpful, please share it with other vacation rental owners and property investors. Together, we can create a thriving community of successful hosts who make the most of their vacation rental properties.
