Increase booking rate

[Elisa4174]

My Sun Valley / Ketchum home has 5 star reviews but a very low booking rate -- between 3 and 1%. I want to try to boost this for the 2025/2026 winter season.  Any suggestions?

Link: https://www.airbnb.com/hosting/listings/editor/561790781439095401/details/custom-link

[Helen3]

What sort of booking rate were you expecting from the market research you carried out around likely demand and supply for your type of listing @Elisa4174 

[Joan2709]

@Elisa4174 

Took a quick look...

Professional Photos

I always suggest to my clients they get professional photos done. This is the number one thing you can do to increase bookings and revenue. Market research shows that guests make booking decisions based on photos and price. The cost is minimal, can be written off as a business expense and pays for itself with increased bookings. The photos you have are not doing your place justice. Think about your photos as "curb appeal" - buyers will simply drive by if it doesn't look good from the outside. The same is true for your listing. Your "curb appeal" is the 1st 5 photos. They should be professional photos and highlight the best amenities and unique features of the property - yours are not serving you well I'm afraid. Do an internet search for Airbnb photographer, or ask around town. You can take a look at other listings that are ranking high in searches and have full calendars. What do their photos look like? You get the idea 😊

Here is a good YouTube video on the importance of professional photos:

Airbnb Photography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GftpgYan6w&t=69s

Here is an Airbnb Photographer in Coeur d' Alene - take a look at his photos and you'll see what I mean:

https://fixedfocusmedia.com/airbnb-and-vacation-rental-photography/

It's best to hire a photographer that has experience shooting Airbnb's - not just real estate photos. A good Airbnb photographer conveys what a guest can do, feel, or experience in the space. A real estate photographer conveys just the space itself.

For example, your living room photo appears "dead" - it could be sooo much better! It needs staging! There should be a fire going in the fireplace and a beautiful mountain scene on the TV. Add a few cozy throws and a bowl of popcorn. It would probably be better if shot at an angle instead of straight on and the blinds up are creating window washout. A good Airbnb photographer would know how to convey, "warm", "cozy" or even "fun" in photos. Your photo captions should also convey what guests can do, see, or experience in the space as well: "relax in front of the fireplace after a great day on the slopes and enjoy a movie night on the 75" TV."  

Cover Photo

This should be a WOW photo. Until you get professional photos done, I would one of the these as your cover photo since you are skiing destination and you are close to the slopes:

I would change the text box to say:

" Lodge at base area - (Warm Springs Lodge)"

Your outdoor deck photo could be so much better! I would add some string lights and reshoot at twilight and maybe some wine glasses with wine on the table. I would take another photo different angle of the BBQ with the lid up, charcoal lit inside and BBQ utensils. Maybe even some smores fixings ready to go. Again, you are conveying what guests can do, see, experience or enjoy in the space - not just showing the space. 

Title

Your title should convey the best, unique amenities/features of your property. Your current title doesn't do that. A good way to know what should be in the Title is to look at your guest reviews. If you see something mentioned 3+ times in different reviews, that probably should be in the Title. I suggest:

3min to Ski/Town w Garage/King Beds/Steam Shower

Min Stay

Your 3night min stay does reduce the number of times your listing will appear in guest searches. I would guess many go skiing on weekends and arrive Thurs night and leave on a Sunday. Guests can't book your place if it doesn't appear in a search. Since your price will be much higher during ski season, you might consider a 2night min during the week Mon/Tues/Wed and use 3nights just for weekends (Thu/Fri/Sat) as weekend skiers will probably go home on Sunday. You can change the min stay by day of the week on the calendar.

Offer Custom Promotions & Discounts

You can offer length of stay discounts to reward guests who stay3-4+ nights. You can use Custom Promotions to get free advertising from Airbnb.

Custom Promotions

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2982

[Oksana127 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Elisa4174 !

I took a look at your Sun Valley/Ketchum listing — it sounds amazing! Low booking rates despite 5-star reviews are common in competitive winter destinations, but there are ways to boost it:

1. Pricing & Booking

Check local competitors and price slightly below top listings to attract guests.

Offer early-bird discounts or reduce minimum nights for short winter getaways.

2. Title & Description

Highlight what makes your home special: ski access, cozy fireplace, mountain views.

Start with an emotional hook and break text into easy sections: The Space, Amenities, Neighborhood, Getting Around.

3. Photos & Design

Strong cover photo with daylight and cozy winter vibe.

Show all rooms, details like blankets or coffee setup, and outdoor areas with snow or views.

4. Guest Experience & Extras

Make sure all key amenities are listed.

Small touches matter: coffee/tea setup, guidebook, cozy blankets, fireplace, ski tips.

5. Visibility & Keywords

Use seasonal keywords: “Ski-in ski-out,” “Winter retreat,” “Sun Valley cozy getaway.”

Refresh photos and description for winter season and consider social media promotion.

6. Trust & Reviews

Respond quickly to inquiries, enable Instant Book if suitable.

Highlight 5-star reviews and create a great experience for first-time guests to get more feedback.

With these tweaks, your beautiful home will attract more winter bookings! ❄️🏔️

[Alex]

Hi @Elisa4174! 

Thank you for sharing your listing with the Community. Were you able to check the suggestions that other hosts shared in the thread? Let us know if you’ve started implementing any of the advice! 🏡