Capturing bookings year-round is a key part of hosting a successful holiday home and growing your business.
Six ways to capture bookings year-round
Whether it's including thoughtful, versatile amenities—after all, 70% of travellers are willing to pay extra for properties that have their favourite amenities and services—or offering competitive rates, creating a great guest experience is key.*
Here are some tips to help you grow your listing and welcome more guests year-round:
1. Maximise holiday bookings
Whether you’re renting out your summer lake house during the winter holidays, or your ski-friendly chalet during the summer, take advantage of the holidays. No matter the season, people need places to stay for their festivities—so consider special rates for holidays that take place during your off-season, and include holiday-friendly language in your listing.
You’ll also want to highlight holiday-centric amenities to capture bookings from travellers all year long, such as a large family room that’s perfect for opening gifts, or an outdoor barbecue area that’s ideal for summer gatherings.
2. Focus on the guest experience, no matter what
While certain aspects of a property may change depending on the season, the guest experience should be consistently excellent year-round. To create a four-season rental that continually attracts travellers throughout the year, pay attention to the items that matter regardless of the season—and make sure you deliver on your promises too. From thoughtful additions like a great coffee maker and a cosy lounge area, to small updates like fresh paint and new linens, always keep your guest experience in mind–and watch it pay off.
3. Offer competitive rates during all seasons
Maximise your rental earnings by setting competitive rates that attract seasonal travellers year-round—including rates for your market’s peak rental seasons, major holiday weeks and during large local events that may attract other visitors.
If you’re wondering how to experiment with and optimise your rates, use MarketMaker™, our tool that delivers detailed market data to inform your rate decisions.
4. Inspire guests to enjoy the season at your property
Travellers are often looking for places that offer unique, fun opportunities no matter the season—so capture those bookings by providing seasonal suggestions and language in your listing, and then follow through with your guest experience.
Whether you stock your rental with seasonal sports equipment, provide a Welcome Guide packed with local seasonal activities upon check-in, or focus on little details like extra blankets for movie nights in the winter and extra towels for pool days in the summer, small tweaks can make all the difference in creating a memorable guest experience.
5. Share photos of your property and the surrounding area in all seasons
To help travellers envision their stay at your property, update your photos regularly to showcase your property in different seasons. Highlight things like your pool and barbecue for summer guests, show off your cosy fireplace and festive decor for winter travellers and take photos of your porch seating area for spring holidaymakers. It’s also a good idea to pay extra attention to exterior and surrounding area photos—think balconies, pools and nearby paths to hiking trails, ski slopes or the beach.
6. Include seasonal amenities
A key piece of running a four-season rental is providing amenities that can be versatile for all seasons. When listing your amenities, use seasonal keywords and show travellers what your property offers depending on the time of year.
For instance, you can stand out to summer travellers by highlighting features like your outdoor barbecue, sparkling swimming pool and ready-to-use kayaks. On the other hand, you can attract winter travellers by highlighting features like your heated bathroom floors, cosy fireplace and proximity to ski trails.
Looking for some inspiration? Take a look at this holiday home makeover, courtesy of Vrbo and The Home Depot, to see how some key amenity updates can make all the difference to your guest experience—no matter the season.
