10 ways to make the most of holiday hosting

[Airbnb]

The holidays are just around the corner. Are you ready for the busy booking season? From taking advantage of the high demand to adding festive touches throughout your space, there are so many ways to make the most of this time of year. Here are our top 10 tips.

1. Get ahead of the rush

Did you know that New Year’s Eve is one of Airbnb’s most-booked nights of the year? “We usually get bookings for New Year’s Eve as early as August,” say Branka and Silvia from Zagreb, Croatia. And it’s not just the New Year. Guests typically make their travel plans months in advance, so it’s never too early to update your calendar for the season. What you don’t want is for someone to book your space before you’ve had a chance to update pricing, availability, and other requirements.

2. Plan your calendar

Are your holiday plans set? Be sure to block off any dates in your calendar when you won’t—or might not—be available to host. And if you’re listing your space on other websites, use the calendar sync feature to avoid double bookings and associated cancellations.

3. Take note of special events

In addition to holidays like Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, some cities have special events that draw lots of visitors. Are any popular local festivals or concerts on the horizon? These dates will be important to know as you set your calendar. Stay in the loop about what’s coming to your area by connecting with your local tourism bureau, joining social media groups, and signing up with an event app or website.

4. Play with pricing

Do a bit of market research to figure out how to best price your space for the season. That means looking at the competition, whether it’s other Airbnb hosts or local hotels. Another option? Turn on Smart Pricing, which will automatically update your nightly rate based on your settings and over 70 factors that can influence price, including seasonal demand. Just be sure to set a minimum price so your rate will never fall below a number you’re comfortable with.

5. Consider a minimum-stay requirement

Once you have a sense of all the holidays and other important dates, customize the settings in your calendar. Many hosts choose to set a minimum-stay requirement for popular dates.  Requiring guests to book a minimum number of nights can mean less time managing your space—and cleaning!—while maximizing your earnings.

6. Revisit your House Rules

With all the upcoming festivities, now’s a great time to clarify what guests can and can’t do in your space. Are they allowed to host a New Year’s Eve party? What about having a few family members over for Thanksgiving dinner? You may want to make your House Rules more strict or lenient this time of year and remind guests that they need to agree to these rules before they book.

7. Welcome families

For parents traveling with children, a family-friendly space can be its own cause for celebration. Attract more guests and make their experience even more enjoyable by stocking up on the amenities families love, like a crib, high chair, toys, and board games. Consider also providing info to help your guests make the most of your city. Superhost Elsie from Nashville puts it in her guidebook. “Having a dedicated space in your guidebook for activities to do with kids makes all the difference.”

8. Add a festive touch

Want to create an extra special stay for guests? Let the season inspire you, from bringing in festive holiday decor to sharing local foods and traditions. “[Guests] really appreciate the extra effort and ‘homey’ feel of the house,” say hosts Kelly and Larry from New Braunfels, Texas. “I am happy when I see them on the porch with the pumpkins lit or by the Christmas tree sipping hot chocolate in the mugs I left for them.”

9. Keep weather in mind

Does your area get lots of snow during the holiday season? Or maybe your summer starts in December. Visitors might not be familiar with your region’s typical weather conditions. Consider stocking your space with any must-have items like umbrellas, snow shovels, or even sunscreen—these types of amenities go a long way toward making guests comfortable. And remember to provide any need-to-know instructions. For example, host Monica from Ormstown, Canada, tells guests: “The driveway is cleared by one of our tractors when it has stopped snowing; the front steps and landing is the responsibility of the guest.”

10. Don’t forget about safety

Speaking of weather, your gas heaters, generators, and chimneys may be used more in the colder months. With that use comes an elevated risk of home fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Outfit your space with one or more fire extinguishers, along with a smoke and CO alarm.It’s also a good idea to have chimneys and heating vents serviced annually, checking for things like blockages and corrosion. It’s a hectic time of year—take a few simple precautions and make safety one less thing to worry about.

What are your tips for festive, fuss-free hosting over the holidays? Share in the comments below!

[Lorena447]

Thank you for the tips, this really helps. 

[M--Tareq-and-Shaila-0]

Tip 12: Rule "No Smoking" inside attracts families with kids more. But provide Ashtrays at designated spots outside so that cigarette butts do not mess with surrounding. 

[Marcie-and-Dan0]

Great advice!  It’s simply also a liability and  not good inside ANY home.  

[Bonita27]

Thank you! Good idea!

[Sarah-s0]

Great idea M--Tareq-and-Shaila-0 🙂 I put a terracotta plant pot on the patio table and guests that smoke respect the no smoking inside and used the plant pot, this keeps the garden nice for all guests. 

[Argent0]

Decor changes are always exciting to spirit up the holidays.  But do not go overboard with it. Whether Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmass or Valentine's  I simply change the livingroom pillows, placemats, and napkins.  I also add a few candles, lighting, and spread some alegoric decorations here there to make my guests feel like they are at home. 

[Judi71]

I agree. Thanks for the Living Room pillow idea, never thought of that, but will try it. I do the place mats and napkins though.

I love the holidays... and i am always changing the decor for such events.  Fall holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are my favorites in the North Eastern State of the US.  Fall colors, leaves changing, cool weather, etc.  

[Nancy1213]

Great tips here, we invited our guest for thanksgiving dinner. Even though the holiday is not common in his country, I think he was still able to enjoy the food and festivities. Wouldn’t feel right eating a big feast, while our guest was alone in his room. 

[Mary3609]

I was wondering about that.  I have guests staying for thanksgiving.  If they don’t have other plans I will invite them.  Thanks for the tip!

[Sheila457]

Great holiday tips.  Thank you!

[Merlinda4]

Thank you so much for the tip it is very helpful... 

[Charles928]

My offerings are deep with Vermont National Forest.  Snowmobile required in winter.  Those who do it love it.

[Edith98]

Enjoyed the great tips and will tap into my local calendar in our area!

[Tara315]

Thanks for the tips. This will be my first holiday season hosting.

[Kc42]

Excellent. I make waffles for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. Guests also like to find little tiny packages on their pillows for the Holiday days. They can just be candy and some cookies.