How to improve bookings on Airbnb and other channels

Advances in technology and the continued growth of tourism have contributed to extraordinary expansion in the holiday rental business over the last decade.

Using a property for short stays is now another established property strategy. The sector has therefore become increasingly competitive, and owners face greater challenges in maintaining high occupancy.

A healthy flow of bookings is essential for a holiday let to generate profit.

We suggest seven checks to identify where your commercial approach could improve: visibility, listing content, price, availability and service. More bookings do not always mean a higher margin.

How can you get more Airbnb bookings?

To attract more Airbnb bookings, understand and address the factors the platform considers when ordering search results.

Airbnb uses several factors, including price, quality and popularity, alongside the traveller’s search. No formula guarantees a position. When reviewing your listing, distinguish these three areas:

• The guest’s search. Dates, destination, party size and filters affect which properties are relevant. Check that your advertised offer matches the actual equipment and availability.
• Listing presentation and quality. Prices, photographs, information and reviews help travellers assess the offer. Completing a profile does not, by itself, guarantee a high ranking.
• Booking conditions. Calendar availability, length of stay, advance notice and requirements influence which searches match your accommodation.

Now that you know more about how Airbnb displays listings, what can you do to stand out?

7 tips for improving bookings on Airbnb and other platforms

1.    Choose the right area for your holiday let

Efforts to improve Airbnb bookings should begin before you buy the property. Start by researching carefully and choosing a property with suitable demand potential.

Before buying, verify that the intended use is feasible under planning and tourism rules for that property. Then study demand, comparable supply, costs and seasonality; a well-known destination does not guarantee a full calendar.

2.    Adjust prices to the season

An important advantage of holiday lets is that you can adjust prices daily. Many platforms, including Airbnb, allow a different rate for each night.

This means you can increase rates during high season to improve returns.

In lower-demand periods, compare prices and booking pace before adjusting. Calculate the margin remaining after commissions, cleaning and other costs; reducing prices is not always profitable.

Well-judged adjustments can help sell available nights, but cannot guarantee that every gap will be filled. Review occupancy alongside net income and each booking’s lead time.

3.    Make your services stand out

To compete with other hosts, your holiday let needs to offer stronger services.

Understand your typical customer: leisure or business travellers? Couples or families with children? Do they leave in the morning and return at night, or spend much of their holiday in the accommodation?

Answering these questions helps identify the furniture and services they need.

Meeting real needs makes the listing and stay more consistent. It can support satisfaction, but repeat visits and positive reviews depend on the guest’s experience and should not be taken for granted.

4.    Earn positive reviews

Reviews and ratings play an essential role, particularly if you want to achieve Superhost status.

People looking for accommodation on platforms such as Airbnb are more likely to book properties with a record of satisfied guests.

After all, many travellers only take one holiday a year and want it to be as enjoyable as possible.

The most direct route to positive reviews is making sure your property is in order: furniture in good condition, working appliances, clean towels and bedding, public transport information and other practical details.

After the stay, politely ask for an honest review. Do not tie it to discounts or benefits, or pressure guests to post only positive feedback.

5.    Present your listing with professional photographs

A picture is worth a thousand words. Familiar as that phrase is, it holds true for holiday rentals.

Whatever your descriptions say, users will often go straight to the photographs. Investing in a professional photographer to show your property at its best can therefore be worthwhile.

Show the interior and exterior of the property and each room, including the bathroom: guests want to see that it is clean and tidy.

Update photographs when the property or equipment changes and check that they accurately show what guests will find. Aim for clarity and a complete selection, not images that exaggerate space or views.

6.    Consider enabling Instant Book

Consider Instant Book if you can keep calendars, availability and operations up to date. First review the time needed to prepare the accommodation and handle an arrival.

It is a tool that allows guests to book your property without sending a request and waiting for approval.

Review the requirements and preferences Airbnb allows you to configure, such as advance notice or guest history. Keep rules clear and confirm calendar synchronisation if you advertise on other channels.

Instant Book removes the wait for manual approval, but does not guarantee conversions or eliminate overlapping bookings. Regularly check bookings and your ability to accommodate them.

7.    Hire a holiday let manager

If you own several holiday lets, keeping track of emails, messages, requests and properties can be difficult. The same applies if the property is far from where you live.

A manager can coordinate listings, prices, bookings and support under the agreed service. Compare responsibilities, costs and reports; no manager can guarantee guests at all times.

Improving commercial performance requires ongoing review. Identify whether the problem is low listing visibility, few enquiries or poor conversion, and check the effect of each change before making more.

At Alehost, we can review which management service suits your accommodation and the tasks you need to delegate.

We will be happy to help with whatever you need.

Find out what is holding bookings back

Compare visibility, enquiries, prices and available nights before deciding your next change. Discover commercial management.