can I send a special offer to someone who has already booked a date?

[David715]

I want to send someone a special offer for the month of October.

I asked her to send an enquiry so that she would appear in my inbox and I could send her a special offer.

She has booked the first day of the month - I think instant book is on so I now only have the choice to approve or decline.

How can I, from this situation, send her a special offer without asking her to change her booking or me risking blocking the first date.

I don't want to waste her time, simply send her a special offer that meets her needs exactly.

[Gwen386 · Accepted solution]

@David715 You could accept the IB, and then send guest a change request with the revised dates and updated price. Make sure those dates aren’t already blocked and keep your fingers crossed that you don’t get another IB in the meantime. 

[David715]

Thanks @Gwen386 for being so prompt! (I was hanging on the phone, waiting for Airbnb help)

I checked, and instant book isn't on.

I don't know what a change request is (too late now for me, see below) but I will check this out.

I had to act quickly, so I declined her booking and then sent her a special offer, which then had to exclude the day she had requested. I've messaged her privately (she is a friend's colleague, visiting from overseas) explaining that I will definitely be welcoming her on the original day she requested and for the full period of the special offer.

A solution, of sorts, in the end.

Sometimes I find Airbnb's policies not helpful and maybe this is another occasion?

[Gwen386]

@David715 You’re welcome and here is the link for in the future

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/50/modifying-a-reservation-as-a-host

I sure hope you weren’t charged for declining the booking. 

[Helen3]

Hi @David715 

Do you use the Airbnb Help website ? If not it's a good resource when you have questions about managing your STR business on Airbnb as it has lots of FAQs including how you create a special offer.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/35/sending-special-offers#:~:text=When%20someone%20sends%20you....