Due to the health and economic situation caused by COVID-19, the number of reservations has dropped dramatically in most of vacation rentals. For this reason, we suggest seven interesting strategies to attract potential travelers and increase reservations in your vacation rental.
Internet presence
In recent years the number of bookings made through mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones has increased. Nowadays, there is no doubt that a decisive factor for guests is being able to make their reservation online, in a few simple steps.
That is why it is important that your vacation rental must be present on different booking platforms, which will improve its visibility and increase the number of direct bookings.
Give priority to images
One of the most deciding factors when booking accommodation is the visual aspect. You can draw attention to your guests with high-quality pictures and videos that provide them in a few seconds a clear impression of what we have to offer.
Promote online check-in
The increasing implementation of online check-in is a great advantage for both the host and the guest. Guests, after making their reservation, will get a link to access a register form they have to fill in with their personal details and sign digitally before their arrival. With this solution, hosts can reduce costs and time in the check in process and guests can enter their room or apartment easily and do not need to wait online at reception.
Offer a Welcome Pack
It’s the small details that count and guests appreciate them. Those welcome packs can vary from a handwritten welcome card with the guest’s name, some bottle of water or sweets is not a big outlay for the host but it is valued by the guest and can encourage positive reviews that will increase your customer loyalty.
Make the check-in process easier with a Self Check in
After a long trip we all are looking forward to arriving at our hotel and resting. So are your guests. They are willing to check-in fast and easy. This one of the most valued aspects by travelers and the solution for that is to provide your apartment or hotel with auto check-in. As simple as sending to your guest´s phone a code to open a box that contains the keys or sending a link that allows them to open the door using a smart lock.
Allow late check-out
More and more vacation rentals offer the possibility of late check out that enables the guest to stay longer at check-out day and allows more flexibility when organizing a trip, for example if our train or plane leaves in the afternoon or in case we simply would like to rest longer our last night. This is a very attractive added value that is much appreciated by our guests who can even request this service through their smartphones.
Promote a flexible cancellation policy
Your guests will feel secure if you offer the possibility of free cancellation or for a small fee if this occurs just a few days before their arrival. In these uncertain times this will be an advantage over other vacation rentals that may have a more restrictive cancellation policy.
In the end, all these suggestions have a common objective to make the accommodation services and qualities more visible and set your vacation rental apart from the competitors. This way, you can attract the attention and interest of new customers and increase your reservation volume within a short time.
