While the summer months often represent the best time of year for bookings to rentals not in the mountains, you can still find plenty of bookings during the low season. The trick is to know how to do it. A few simple changes could make it easier to get the results you want.
Make changes to your website and listings
If your holiday rental is currently shown in brilliant sunshine with flowers blooming and a BBQ ready for use, it doesn’t indicate what guests can expect when they visit during autumn or winter months.
This is your opportunity to make your holiday let look inviting. Think of photos with frost on the ground or a crisp mist in the air. How about showing your property dusted with snow? Holiday rentals can look superb at any time of the year, but you have to present them in the most appropriate way.
Don’t forget to display the interior of the property in the best way too. A roaring fire is the most obvious addition, as well as cosy blankets on the beds – what other attractions can you highlight?
Promote anything going on locally
Most places have events and attractions to look forward to throughout the autumn and winter months. What’s going on close to your holiday rental? Perhaps there is an autumn fair or a festive Christmas market nearby. Find out what’s happening and mention particular events or attractions that may draw in more guests.
Focus on different audiences
Once the school holidays are over, couples and older people who want to avoid lots of kids will start thinking about going away. Alter the wording on your website to attract these people highlighting the great walks, or restaurants, or places of interest nearby.
You can also focus on attracting bookings from people who may not want to go away for a week. Think about offering your holiday rental for long weekends or even a mid-week break. Nightly rates might also be worth thinking about as they mean people can pick and choose when they want to stay. Better flexibility means you can expect more bookings for your holiday let.
Ramp up your marketing
You can do this in two ways. Firstly you can target the people you’ve identified in the section above – those who normally like to avoid going away in the school holidays. Secondly you can promote special deals and offers that will attract more business. For example you could promote a special discount that’s only applicable for a limited time. This encourages people to book in advance so they can take advantage of a lower price.
There are plenty of ways to help you get more bookings in the low season, the secret is to prepare for it, get creative, and be willing to make a few adjustments to your website and marketing efforts. If you do, you might be surprised at the bookings you’ll get in return.
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