20-22 Wenlock Road N1 7GU
info@foxter.co.uk
020 8191 1512
Foxter Properties
Foxter Properties
For those venturing into the vacation rental market, grasping the art of keeping an accurate calendar is essential. It not only aids in securing more bookings but also safeguards against double bookings for your property. Employing a unified calendar view streamlines the operations of vacation rental owners and property managers, leading to remarkable occupancy rates. Bearing this in mind, this blog post is dedicated to imparting top-notch strategies to simplify your calendar management process.
A vacation rental calendar stands as an indispensable resource for property owners and managers to monitor their rental property’s scheduling and reservations. It offers a visual representation of dates and availability, simplifying the process of managing bookings and identifying when the property is occupied or unavailable for potential guests. Furthermore, this calendar is often publicly viewable on travel websites, enabling prospective guests to make reservations should the desired dates be open for booking.
When your property is listed on various travel platforms, there exists the potential for multiple guests to vie for the same booking dates concurrently. For instance, if your property graces both Booking.com and Airbnb, but their calendars are not synchronized, a scenario may transpire where a guest books the same dates on Airbnb, ultimately necessitating the cancellation of one booking. Such cancellations can have adverse repercussions on your listing’s performance.
It’s worth noting that major platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo may impose cancellation fees if you decide to cancel a booking, resulting in financial setbacks.
At Foxter, we empathize with the challenges of managing multiple channels for property owners and managers. To simplify matters, our valued customers have the option to utilize tools such as iCal or compatible software to import and export additional calendars into Foxter. This integration ensures a synchronized view of bookings, effectively thwarting the occurrence of double bookings, even when your property is listed on other platforms beyond Foxter.
Exercising complete authority over your vacation rental property’s availability stands as a paramount responsibility. Whether you plan to take a vacation or intend to rent out your space during particular seasons, it’s essential to have a firm grip on your property’s accessibility.
For Foxter patrons, the process of updating availability is straightforward. You have the capacity to designate specific dates as unavailable in your calendar, ensuring that your property remains unbooked during your personal use or at times unsuitable for guests. These alterations are seamlessly synchronized across all your listings and distribution channels, a time-saving and efficient feature. Additionally, you possess the flexibility to tailor your calendar settings by establishing a booking notice. This empowers you to stipulate the requisite lead time between a guest’s booking and their anticipated arrival. You can opt for a booking notice period of 1, 2, 3, or 7 days, aligning with your preferences and requirements.
In the fiercely competitive realm of property rentals, the key to expanding your reach and optimizing booking numbers hinges upon the adaptability of your calendar. Our data-driven insights illuminate a noteworthy trend: properties that rank among the top 20% in flexibility achieve nearly double the bookings compared to their less flexible counterparts.
Embrace Flexibility with Check-In and Check-Out Times: Many property owners traditionally adhere to fixed check-in and check-out days and durations, especially during peak holiday seasons, like Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday with a minimum 7-night booking requirement. While this approach proves effective in high season, it can inadvertently restrict potential bookings during off-peak periods. By permitting check-ins and check-outs on any day, you ensure that your property garners visibility in a wider array of search results.
Encourage Shorter Stays: Properties that offer shorter stays, such as 1, 2, and 7-night options, tend to thrive in the market. A minimum stay requirement of 3 to 6 nights may inadvertently deter weekend or business travelers from booking. By reducing your minimum stay criteria, you open the door to the possibility of doubling your bookings.
Foxter Pro Tip: It’s paramount to conduct a thorough assessment of your target audience’s preferences before implementing these calendar adjustments. For example, larger properties catering to groups may find extended stays more appealing, whereas smaller properties tailored to couples should contemplate offering shorter stays. Embracing calendar flexibility renders your property a more enticing prospect for a diverse range of potential guests, ultimately resulting in heightened bookings and increased revenue.
