Suddenly no bookings 2024

[Michele511]

I have 7 years of 5 star ratings in Santa Monica, California. Suddenly I had hardly anything in December ‘23, only one booking in January, one booking in March, then nothing at all. I’ve always been fully booked. I dont’ understand.

Is anyone else having this problem?

I would appreciate any insights!

[Zheng49]

@Michele511 

Are you still with us? I don't see your listing anymore.

Anyways yea, the November release has been pretty brutal for me. Bookings slowed way down after that update for some reason. 

[Michele511]

@Zheng49 Hi there. No it’s open. But today is another day I was too busy to answer inquiries.

Regarding my bookings, they are almost back to normal, for whatever reason. I lowered my price to something sustainable, but not as high as it used to be. May is fully booked. June and July will hopefully do the same. Fingers crossed. Still, I used to be fully booked a few months in advance. 

I hope your place gets going soon! I think it helps to keep checking the listing and how it shows up. You can do that when you search in “private mode” on your browser. They rotate around on the different listings in the area, I’ve noticed.

[Zheng49]

Bookings have been picking back up for me as well. But I had to lower prices a bit. I raised my prices back to normal in June, will see how that goes.

[Roland31]

I own and manage 2 100+ 5-star review rated La Jolla\WIndanSea Beach rental homes for 13 years and I can infactically say that rentals (Min 3 nights) are way down this YTD compare to every previous year with this year being the worse . It is a terrible Biden time in the American travel economy. Our listings appear either 1st or 2nd listing on either search by (Recommended, Rating, or lowest price) so there is zero problem in seach ranking. As I said our homes are a perfect 10 rating with over 100 reviews. (We work exceptionally hard to earn that)

We have had to adjust our rates almost 30% from previous years. 

I live down the street from VACASA's acquired Seabreeze Vacation Rentals office and the parking lot is filled with the work vans as they laid off sll but 1 driver well over a year ago and laid off 17 SEVENTEEN CLEANERS.! Having just 2-3 this told to me in person when I walked in the back door to ask the SOLE young girl attempting to coordinate cleanings and she stated they are continiously slashing rates to stem the tide of VR owners who are either selling their VR homes or going with another VR agency. VACASA manages 43,000 VR's around the world and went public in 8\2020 and opened at $224\share. Today, 4\2024 their stock price is $7.79 share and this should scream volumes of how poorly the VR travel industry is now. Its a strap in and hang on tight time right now. 

[Michele511]

I did great under Obama.

Plus, the travel industry in general is doing very well right now. Has nothing to do with Biden or political party. But either way, it’s not helpful to blame it on a politician you don’t like. 

[Sandra707]

Same here in Florida! I always had excellent bookings but now I have barely any. I did notice a change post-covid: less Europeans and more last minute bookings as well as shorter stays. 

This year ‘24 is exceptional, but cruise ships in our area are completely booked. Don’t know about hotel occupancy. I have been wondering if something on the platform changed to attract less guests?

P.S: In case it helps anyone - I have been switching to mid-term stays for professionals working in the area… as I am also reluctant to get back into longterm rent. 

[Michele511]

@Sandra707

It’s been much better here in Santa Monica. But I’m curious, do you only accept medium term stays now? Many questions….

-are you getting more regular bookings? 

-did you have to lower your price a lot?

thanks!

[Sandra707]

I’m still renting on Airbnb and I lowered my prices today 🙂 will see if that helps. 
Normally Jan-April I have a solid 90% booking rate in all my places (I have 3) … not this year. Thankfully I have some renters coming up who booked for month-long stays… will see what the rest of the year brings. 

[Risha0]

yes same here Catskills ny total slow down 2024... last minute bookings .. are people looking at the weather or are people traveling to Europe or inflation???

[Lakota0]

I started hosting in 2019.  I was slammed with bookings every year until this summer 2024.  June - October is empty.  I haven't changed anything.  Still have same prices but I noticed a cottage nearby on the Hudson River is completely booked with 2 night minimum stay, $274 per night.  There is a new hotel that opened down the street from me which is a Marriott at $300-$400 per night

[Risha0]

slowdown here in the catskill NY... mine are pretty cheap smaller cabins ... it is weird never been this slow .... since the pandemic been a slow down every year... 2024 worst

[Judy1048]

I am in Venice, Florida… Same deal… Super Host for seven years know that I am competitive with other listings in my area. 2023 was down tremendously and this year has been awful!

there is nothing different about me or my listing or my space but bookings are horrible… Don’t know what to do? Is it Airbnb that has lost its luster? I don’t believe people have stopped. Traveling? I’m at wits end.

I cannot list on Verbo and others because I have a suite in my home without an outside entrance.

[Joseph2419]

I have been listed for these last 2 months and never had a booking. On the other hand with booking.com bookings are coming every now and then.

[Alyssa480]

Yikes, sorry to hear that! If  bookings pick up and you (or any other LA County property owners you know) need a local co-host or cleaner for your property, let me know. I know someone who's looking for more of this type of work locally.

[Richard2382]

Hi Michele,

thank very much for your incites , much appreciated 😊.

i have been hosting for 6 years, 5.5  years all excellent reservations from Airbnb, I have mostly 4.8 to 5.0 guest satisfaction, and offer a high end service, price wise I use price labs to set the rate daily, depending on local market, and my input , from low price mid, and higher , again depending on the market, and what Pricelabs think are the competitive rates for my area , guests demand +++ i offer guest 2 separate villas with heated pools, designer interiors, keep updated ever 3 months.

cleanlyness top notch as I find it’s the most important part of offering your guests the best.

Since 6 months ago , I started to stop reviving reservations, by 30% then 80% month later and now it’s 100%?no reservations, luckly I have many reservations from Booking.com and VRBO , but overall I’m down by 15-20% 

I have gone through all Airbnb fact for improving your  algorithm,  but nothings changed , my 2 nd villa has happened exactly the same, but daily shows “preference guests “ listing, but no reservations, my  1st villa is superhost ranking, but as I have no reservations coming in from Airbnb, so I’ll automatically lose that badge.

Commision payed to Airbnb is 15% here in Spain, and I was paying avarage per reservation 400$ US as most my reservations are 3 to 10 nights stay. So Airbnb was collecting large amounts every month.

Only thing that I can think of that it could be affecting “no reservations “ suddenly, is due to not updating all my photos, should I do that anyway , as the villas have changed little, but still up to date in every way, furniture, decor, equipment, mostly new , payed TV is included like Netflix, and all live sport, that’s a big extra cost , but I know guests appreciate it.

many thank for taking the time for reading my issues, sorry for the bit of incorrectly wording, it’s now 3 pm here.

kind regards, Richard 

PS I offer guests a large welcome food  basket , plus more in the refrigerator, cost total around 75$ per basket , ++ fresh bread and crusants . I’m the only one offering such in my area.