What Is Dynamic Pricing?

Dynamic Pricing is a pricing tool in your Holidu Host Account that helps you set nightly rates based on what guests actually paid for bookings of similar properties in your region. Instead of building each season's prices by hand, you start from a recommended price curve for the next 14 months, adjust it to fit your property, and apply it in a few clicks.

Demand changes throughout the year, and Dynamic Pricing keeps up with it. As market conditions shift, Holidu continues to make price recommendations. You decide how to handle them: apply each recommendation yourself with one click, or turn on automatic price optimisation and let Holidu adjust your price level for you within the minimum and maximum limits you set.

Key Benefits of Dynamic Pricing

• Get a data-based starting point built on completed bookings of similar properties in your focus region.
• Plan up to 14 months ahead with a recommended price curve.
• Save time with guided season setup instead of adjusting every date manually.
• Stay competitive as local demand rises and falls.
• Keep full control, with the option to edit any date, price, or minimum-stay rule at any time.

How to Set Up Dynamic Pricing: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Dynamic Pricing

Log in to your Holidu Host Account and go to the Pricing tab. If you have a new listing or have not configured any seasons yet, you will see an empty state. Click "Get started" to launch the guided setup.

Step 2: Choose Your Tier (Category)

Select the category that defines which group of similar properties you want to compete with:

• Budget: Priced like the cheapest 15% or so of similar properties in your area.
• Comfort: Priced around the average of similar properties.
• Premium: Priced like the top 15% or so of similar properties in your area.

If enough data is available for your property, Holidu highlights the best-fit category with a "Recommended for you" badge.

Similar properties are those in your same focus region with the same maximum occupancy, based on completed, non-cancelled Holidu Homes bookings. Listed prices and other platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com are not part of this comparison. The comparison group is fixed and cannot be changed manually.

Step 3: Review Your Price Curve

After you choose a category, a suggested 14-month price curve appears. It is based on seasonality and local demand. You can adjust it with two controls:

• Price level: Shifts the entire curve up or down to set your overall nightly rate.
• Seasonal effect (Advanced settings): Controls how much prices change between seasons, from a flat rate all year to a more pronounced seasonal curve.

Step 4: Set Your Season Rules

The guided setup groups your 14 months into four season types based on local demand: Peak, High, Mid, and Low. For each season type, set the following once, and they will apply to every date in that season:

• Minimum stay
• Weekend markup
• Check-in and check-out days

Step 5: Preview and Apply Your Prices

Before anything is applied, you will see a preview comparing your new nightly rates with your current rates. Review the changes, then click "Apply prices."

Important: Applying the guided setup overwrites your existing prices and season settings, including any manual changes you have made to individual days. You will see the new and current prices before you confirm, and you can fine-tune any date afterwards.

Step 6: Adjust Your Settings Anytime

Nothing is locked in. You can reopen Dynamic Pricing at any time to change your price level or seasonal effect. You can also edit specific dates, prices, and minimum-stay rules directly in your calendar.

Keeping Your Prices Up to Date

• Weekly data refresh: Holidu updates the underlying booking data every week, so your similar properties comparison reflects current market activity.
• One-click recommendations: As demand shifts, Holidu surfaces price recommendations that you can apply with one click.
• Automatic price optimisation: If you prefer not to review recommendations manually, turn on "Enable automatic price optimisation." Set a minimum and maximum range, which act as your floor and ceiling. Holidu then adjusts your price level automatically within that range, and every change appears in your price history.
• Return to manual pricing anytime: You are never locked into automatic optimisation. You can switch back to manual pricing whenever you like.

If you do not see the Dynamic Pricing feature, there may not yet be enough booking data for your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my existing prices be overwritten?

Yes. Applying Dynamic Pricing replaces all current prices and settings, including manual adjustments to individual days. You will see a comparison of your new and old prices before you confirm, and you can edit individual days manually afterwards.

What are the pricing seasons (Peak, High, Mid, Low)?

These are demand-based groups that organise your year into pricing periods. Peak is the period of highest demand, and Low is the quietest. You can adjust the settings for each season type before your final prices are applied.

Can I still control my minimum stay?

Yes. Dynamic Pricing suggests minimum-stay rules based on demand, but you can edit them manually at any time.

Can I adjust my prices later?

Yes. You can return to the editing mode at any time to change your overall price level or seasonal effect. You can also edit specific dates and price ranges manually.

What do Budget, Comfort, and Premium mean?

These categories define which group of similar properties you compete with. Budget means you are priced like the more affordable end of your local market. Comfort means you are priced around the average. Premium means you are priced like the top-end properties in your area.

Are cleaning fees or taxes included in these prices?

No. Suggested prices are nightly rates only. Cleaning fees, taxes, and other charges are managed separately and are not affected by this tool.

Is the minimum price the lowest amount I will ever receive for a booking?

No. The minimum price applies to your nightly base rate. Active discounts, such as a 10% weekly discount or a 15% last-minute deal, are calculated on top of your nightly rate. This means the final price a guest pays can be lower than your minimum setting.

Will Dynamic Pricing change the price of bookings I have already received?

No. Confirmed reservations keep the price they were booked at. Dynamic Pricing only updates rates for nights that are still available and unbooked.

Why do the similar property prices differ from what I see on Airbnb or Booking.com?

The price range is based on completed bookings within Holidu's own portfolio, not on listed or asking prices on other platforms. Some difference is expected.

Can I change the comparison area or radius used for the price curve?

No. The comparison area, or focus region, is fixed. You can fine-tune your own price level within the category you selected by using the Price Level slider.

How does Dynamic Pricing handle extra-guest surcharges?

Dynamic Pricing prices for the full number of adults your property accommodates. For example, if your property sleeps six adults and you charge a base rate for four with extra-guest fees for two more, lower the price level in the setup wizard to match your base rate. The curve is calibrated for your full capacity.

What if I want to go back to managing pricing manually?

You can do that at any time. The price curve is a starting point, not a lock-in.