How to increase weekday bookings?

[Samantha1640]

Hello All! 

I'm new to Airbnb and I'm still learning all the pros and cons while making adjustments. I have noticed that I'm able to easily book weekends while weekdays are more difficult to come by. Do you have any recommendations for adjustments or marketing strategies I could use? 

Thank you!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Samantha1640 It is a different market for weekday bookings. We found we had to price low to attract workers staying for the weekdays which does bring some risk although most did treat the place with care.

[Debra300]

@Samantha1640,

You have a lovely place.  What type of information did you gather while doing market research before starting your rental?  Are rentals in your area driven by seasons and special events?  If so, is this the shoulder season, and falling autumn leaves and winter will be the next peak seasons?  Is it a popular place for weekend getaways?  Who is the typical guests for your kind of rental?  Is there a demand from business travelers to stay in your type of rental?

I noticed that you allow one night stays and you may want to increase the minimum stay during the winter, when demand for your place is likely to increase.  Also, I recommend that you have descriptions on all of the listing's photos.

[Keith985]

Hello @Samantha1640 , let’s see advice would be change your minimum stay to two or three days cause right now you’re giving them option to pick one day and those visits won’t get too far. If you go to three days that would fill your weeks.

it looks like you’ve just started. I have been lucky to get returned customers, but I kinda just live with a three day minimum and live with the fact that Monday Tuesday and Wednesday would be empty, which gives us extra time to clean and organize.

[Jade570]

Welcome to hosting! That’s a really common trend—weekends tend to fill faster since most guests plan short getaways. For weekdays, you might try offering slightly lower midweek rates or creating a discount for longer stays that overlap into weekdays. Highlighting your space as a good option for remote workers or traveling professionals can also help—photos of a desk setup, strong Wi-Fi, or a quiet work environment go a long way. You could also update your listing description to mention nearby weekday attractions (like business hubs, conferences, or local events). Sometimes just shifting your audience focus a bit makes weekdays book up more steadily.

[Laura8323]

Hello Samantha.  

I have had the same issue after hosting now for 3 months.  We haven’t had any weekday bookings, only weekends.    I think the price decrease and 2 night minimums sound like good ideas.  

[Lorna170]

@Samantha1640   It took several years before I started getting mid-week rentals. Weekday bookings will slowly increase/occur if your raise your weekend price by 5-10%, leaving your weekday price as your optimal desired price.  It will require patience to implement and assumes that your location has a good tourist draw.  

For example, if the desired price is $200 per night, set the listing as:

A two night minimum

Monday - Thursday at $200

Friday through Sunday at $215

Weeklong (7 night) rentals get a discount of 15%  (dangling a fat carrot) 

I would wait to offer discounts for early birds, last minute or long-term stays.  Add these in after you have a good rental record over a year or two and want to play with seasons and local events.