Last-minute bookings for your holiday rental

April 2024

There are times when it may happen that your booking calendar, for an immediate date, is quite quiet. And therefore, you don’t expect any new bookings to come through. So, you simply relax and accept that there won’t be any bookings for that date, but… suddenly a last-minute one arrives! Do you let it slip away? Of course not, every booking is an opportunity to grow in the holiday rental business.

This last-minute booking practice, both for flights and holiday rentals, is becoming increasingly common and is expected to become even more of a trend in the coming years. The technological era has changed our way of travelling, which includes how travellers book a holiday rental. It can be done from any mobile device and at any time and place.

Furthermore, there are also websites that promote last-minute trips with special promotions. To help you improve your profitability, we present a series of strategies and tips to deal with this type of traveller. After all, all guests have the right to enjoy the property equally, whether they book in advance or at the last minute.

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Strategies for renting out your holiday home at short notice

Behind every holiday rental, there are countless strategies to attract the final guest. One of them is the tactic of dynamic pricing, which we will discuss further below, which is very important to maximise profits. However, careful customer service is also essential to attract tenants.

Advertise on the holiday rental website to make yourself visible. The competition is huge, and every bit of help counts. Also, you should advertise holiday accommodation with complete transparency; the guests should not be surprised when they arrive at your property. Everything should be in good condition and as depicted in the photographs.

To rent out your holiday home to last-minute travellers, we must have it prepared before their arrival. Don’t wait until the last moment because you might only have a few hours to get it ready. Therefore, implementing a discount policy for last-minute bookings is an excellent option to fill in the gaps in the calendar and not lose money.

Practical tips to maximise bookings

Generally, people who decide to enter a holiday rental portal to formalise a last-minute booking will not know the destination. They have hardly had time to see the most interesting tourist attractions or the most relevant events. It has been a spontaneous decision, without prior planning. To increase these types of bookings, fill your calendar, and achieve greater profitability, we advise you to:

• Opt for dynamic pricing.
• Take a look at the competition to see their services and rates.
• Cover as many needs of this profile of travellers as possible.
• Have a good internet connection for them.
• Respond quickly to their emails and phone calls.
• Be active on social media when the property’s calendar is empty.
• Study the profile of this type of guest (travel alone, interests…).
• Launch sporadic promotions when you have few clients.

What are dynamic rates?

Rates should always be in line with the characteristics of the property and the services you offer. If the rate is too high, the guest will lose out, and they will also have a negative opinion as the price does not correspond to the quality. And if it’s too low, the host will lose out. Therefore, you should always aim for balance.

However, adopting a dynamic pricing policy will allow you to personalise the rates of your rental property. Take as a starting point the time of year, the supply and demand of the moment, the prices that your competitors have, or if there will be any public interest event near your holiday home. Everything influences prices.

In fact, it’s not possible to set a fixed price throughout the year because it’s not realistic. Paying €60 per night in July is not the same as paying in February. And what potential guests will do is choose another cheaper accommodation with the same characteristics or even better ones.

How to prepare the property for receiving last-minute guests?

The best scenario for a holiday rental host is to encounter guests who decide to rent a holiday property for a long season, as they can partially detach from the flat until their departure time. However, when they come for very short periods, things change, especially when done through last-minute bookings. Here are some tips to have the property ready and not be caught off guard by last-minute bookings:

• Clean shortly after the guests leave.
• Replace used or depleted products.
• Wash bedding, towels, and other fabrics.
• Ventilate the rooms well.
• Check that everything works correctly (lights, television…).

From Holidu, we recommend doing it as soon as possible, as you will have to do it anyway. And so, the property will be ready for the next traveller’s arrival. You also have the option of hiring a cleaning company if you cannot do it yourself or if it’s more convenient for you.

Advantages of last-minute holiday rental bookings

Every night your holiday home is occupied will generate profits for you; therefore, these last-minute travellers are an opportunity for hosts. And vice versa, as these guests also get a property at a cheaper price than usual. From Holidu, we recommend building loyalty for possible future trips.

Furthermore, for these travellers, the condition of the property is very important. They have hardly had time to look at the images and read the information carefully, so the initial impression upon arrival at the holiday home will stick. The property should be welcoming and comfortable.

Moreover, it is a common mistake to reject price reductions because reducing it will give you greater benefits than having it empty. Does an empty flat generate any profit? It is better to have it occupied for the whole month at a lower price than not to have it occupied for 10 days at a much higher price. The accounts in the first case will work in your favour.

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