Make Sure Your Property Is On the Reservation List This Holiday Season
The holidays are a busy time of year and a great opportunity for short-term rental hosts to up their holiday hosting game and delve into new marketing strategies. While many families travel back to their homestead for the holidays, a more modern trend is to take a retreat with the whole family. With the benefits of no prep-cleaning, more space, and convenient or luxury extras, short term rentals like the those found on Airbnb and VRBO are the preferred choice for family centric holiday stays. If you have a larger property, or one with crave worthy amenities, marketing as a holiday escape is a win-win for all involved and, many times, only requires some quick additions or revisions to your property and listing.
Be the “It” Property With the Proper Tagline
Any established STR owner knows that consistent bookings are not always just about the best properties and the best locations. The ability to grab your potential customer’s attention with the right listing can be a total gamechanger. Taglines used within your listing don’t just help prospective guests find your property, they can also set it apart in a growing pool of available options. During the holiday season, drum up your listing views with key phrases and buzzwords that are bound to inspire more clicks. Appealing to your property’s size and offerings while evoking emotion is the perfect trifecta for an effective headline, tagline or hashtag.
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Let Your Pictures Do the Talking
Want your guests to envision your property for their holiday plans? There are many ways you can tailor your listing photos to make just the right impression. With warm lighting and a visionary photographer, you can truly capture the essence of what makes your property amazing while helping your guests imagine a picture-perfect holiday escape.
Include pictures within your listing that show off the amenities and space in action. Showing how your space can be used and occupied might inspire a push to book.
Feature everything your property has to offer! Parties with ten or more guests want to be assured that there is indeed enough room for all. Angle your shots in a way that speaks to the space. Open concept kitchens, large dining areas, and places to roam are all great grabs for large group gatherings.
Don’t forget the need for solitary time. Large parties can require a social battery recharge. Capture those niches within your property that foster alone time or relaxation. Incorporate soft or natural light or create a space outside that inspires. Feature comfy furniture, cozy blankets and small tables that lend themselves to that morning cup of coffee or daily reflection.
Capture photos of your property’s exterior warmly lit. This can evoke feelings of hominess and comfort- the perfect combo for a holiday retreat.
Vanesa’s Lake Harmony Chalet in Pennsylvania can accommodate up to twelve. We love how this property features a table for days and an outdoor space that can be enjoyed by all.
Host Christopher features photos throughout his listing that highlight the versatility and relaxing elements of his beautiful brick Victorian Airbnb property in Columbus, Ohio.
Cheryl’s Modern Lodge in Angel Fire, New Mexico, features large spaces to gather and intimate places to unwind.
This exterior shot of Lake Harmony’s family friendly chalet hosted by Vanesa screams warmth and holiday memories.
Cheryl's Angel Fire property lives up to its locale name with this picturesque exterior that beckons prospective guests.
Don’t Have It, Add it
We aren't talking about a whole house renovation, but there are some simple additions or changes you can make to your property to accommodate larger groups for festive get-togethers.
Be Prepared for Long Winter Naps
In the ultimate holiday property, one of the most basic needs is a place for everyone to lay their head. Most properties that accommodate 10+ guests do not have 10+ rooms, so take advantage of all of the spaces within your STR. Revisit the layout of your rental to come up with floor plans that take advantage of each and every square inch. Bunked or lofted beds can make a huge difference in usable bedroom space. Trundles are also an option and can double occupancy with no additional square footage needed. Offering air mattresses, hideaway, or roll away beds that can be used in versatile spaces can also check the box for many larger families traveling with a variety of age groups.
Pro Host Hint- Remember, if you offer it as a sleeping option, count on it being used. This means for each usable bed in your property, you should be prepared with the proper bed linens. Stock up on the industry standard of at least two sets of sheets for each bed and one additional extra sheet set for each sized bed offered within your property. Check out our FIX’s Ultimate Bedding Set-up Guide for more detailed information.
Vanesa makes great use of this cozy versatile loft space with the addition of two twin trundled daybeds in her immaculate chalet located in Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania.
A Place at the Table
Another requirement for most large groups during holiday stays is an expansive table for festive meals. If you don't have this amenity, don’t count yourself out. Purchasing high quality folding chairs and tables is an easy fix and can be a good investment. These additions can serve to extend the dining space indoors or, if your property features an outdoor space and the climate permits, can give guests the option to expand to the outside. If you use a folding or portable table to add on to a traditional dining table, make sure to get something of the same height to prevent awkward transitions. A table with storable leaves is also a great option as it can provide space for a larger group without taking up valuable permanent square footage.
Holiday Hosting Pro Tip Hint- Keep in mind, the number of guests your listing advertises should be the number you can accommodate in every way. Make sure to stock table settings for all. Providing extra table linens, serving dishes, utensils and even elements that can be used to create a festive tablescape is always appreciated.
Time Well Spent
Creating versatility with your listing helps attract a variety of guests. Marketing your property for larger groups isn’t something that is only useful during winter holidays. Families vacation throughout the year, and making your property a destination can only enhance your overall success.
For more helpful hosting tips, check out our blog and everything FIX Linens has to offer at fixlinens. com
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Written by : Cary Ballard - Freelance Writer for FIX Linens