Reservations

[Jonelle1]

Good day,

We are not receiving any reservations from Airbnb recently. 

How is the marketing overall because enquiries are lighter this month?

Business is good as usual but what can we do to start to generate some more reservations?

Look forward to your response shortly. 

Best wishes,

Jonelle 

[Marzena4]

Hello @Jonelle1. The first thing that comes to mind is you are NOT using Instant Booking and thus are low in search results. I don't know how you compare to other listings in prices. 

[Jonelle1]

Hi Marzena,

The reason why we are not using Istant booking is because we have to manage our dairies on other websites as well. 

We don't make use of 3rd party. We do everything ourselves. 

Therefore we can review request before we approve.

Thanks

Jonelle

[Marit-Anne0]

@Jonelle1

There are tools to sync calendars and as @Marzena4 says, not using Instant Book will affect your ranking in search results.  In low season with high competition, you will become invisible.

A strict cancellation policy will also count against you. 

[Colleen47]

@Marit-Anne0 Why would the strict cancellation policy count against you? In seasonal regions with stiff competition it seems reasonable to have a strict cancellation policy. I was afraid to use it until I had half of my bookings cancel this summer with no hope of rebooking. I then changed from moderate to strict and have more bookings then before. 

[Marit-Anne0]

@Colleen47

1. Guests are more reluctant to book with a strict cancellation policy.

2. I believe you are ranked lower in the search results.  

A lot of the airdna statistics and rankings were until lately public - it did say that their top property rankings were based on cancellation policy among others. But if you fill up with a strict policy, I see no reason why not.  

But it can also happen that some of those who now have booked had saved your place for later and did not notice the change in cancellation policy at the time of booking.