Low Season strategy

[Karlis3]

Hi,
Do you use any particular strategy when entering Low-Season?
Maybe you know a way how to attract long-term bookings?

I will be grateful for any feedback on this. 😉

Thanks,
Karlis

[Claire2361]

Hi Helen,

what are the relevant platforms other than facebbok?

I only use the airbnb booking system, no social media and since winter arrived , have no bookings!

All suggestions welcome, and its my home, so i cant just take last minute bookings, 

thanks in advance, 

Claire 

[Sherri176]

Looking for a guest to stay long term/mid term during a low season? Try searching your area for 1 week and 1 month long stays in your same type of place Room/ or entire space. Get an idea of what the others are charging. Nothing to compare nearby? Try searching in a comparable city near you.

Then place your daily rate as the same daily rate of hotels nearby....then go to your calendar and set a 1 week discount and a 1 month discount. I use a daily rate of around $80 a day...I then rent out an entire room for around $1100 for the month. Feel free to browse my listings. Not sure if you are a luxury bnb or just old fashioned good neighborhood with a nice home. Mine is the latter. Hope this helps!

[Karlis3]

Nice and practical tip! Thanks 😊👍

[Kay1521]

I am experimenting with a sales discount that seems to help fill in during this slow season.  I already have discounts for week long and month long stays.  I also monitor what others with similar spaces are charging and keep mine just a little bit below that.  I am considering just lowering my regular rate rather then running the sale.

[Karlis3]

Thanks, Kay, for your advice! 😊👍

[Kimberley94]

I don’t….I just set ‘Smart Pricing’and let it run its self…..it tried for awhile, long booking are nice, but, this is my main job all I have to do…So the short term aren’t too bad for me.  I don’t mind the length of term….for right now any way… pretty new to having 2 properties going….not any sort of text nerd….smart pricing set it and, forget it🙂

[Mark4999]

What we do for low season is pay attention to our market area research and price change slightly below the average nightly rate. We also accept more 1 night/last minute bookings (weekdays only) slightly above the local hotel nightly rates. We also use Pricelabs software and adjust according to the local area activities.

[Hello6]

We have switched to a seasonal model and include the following for strategy:

- full / partial closures;

- 3 night minimum booking;

- discount promotion offers vs set weekly, weekend or monthly discount models;

- live in hosting vs employee hosting models;

- free use / access (not advertised) laundry offered to guests who do arrive;

-absolutely no same day booking acceptance;

-absolutely no walk-ins or check-ins without scheduled appointments;

 Good luck, we have adopted the above strategys for long term growth and long term sustainable profit development.  This comes from the bad and losses suffered from experience doing the opposite of the above strategys. 

[Serge854]

Hi, 

We operate 25 units in Puerto Rico and we had some low season  but we managed to eliminate it. 

I think the trick is to sell an experience, not just a place to stay. If that makes sense.