Your Holiday Cottage Deserves More Bookings!

Five Top Tips to Boost Your Bookings

So, your holiday cottage is prepped for the season ahead and equipped with all the essentials needed for a relaxing retreat. Now comes the key (and often difficult!) part – securing those bookings.

With that in mind, we’ve put together five top tips to help boost your customer enquiries, ensuring your holiday cottage is booked up for the coming year, and beyond!

Pet-Friendly Bookings: Boost Your Appeal with Four-Legged Guests

Pets are a key part of the family, so many look to holiday cottages that can cater to four-legged friends when booking their next holiday! According to the Sykes Cottages’ Holiday Letting Outlook report, properties that accept pets can earn 9% more by doing so. It’s also a great way to increase your profit per booking as you can add an additional charge per pet, per week.

With a number of pet-friendly shops and restaurants, beaches and coastal paths, Whitby and the Yorkshire Coast is a particularly popular location for dog owners to holiday. Accepting pets can encourage more bookings outside of the peak season holiday periods, as often dog owners choose to holiday after the 31st of October when dog restrictions are lifted on beaches.

You must outline any guidelines on your website for those bringing pups – from only accepting waggy-tailed guests that are well-trained, to having a set policy in place for any accidentally chewed furniture.

Finally, and most importantly, be sure to stock up on those treats!

Promote Your Holiday Cottage with Professionally Styled Photography

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – so why not make it count? Professional, well-styled photography can make all the difference when showcasing your holiday cottage.

From sunlit exterior shots that capture your property’s charm to those inviting, cosy corners that make guests feel right at home, a gallery of high-quality images can help turn browsers into bookings.

Not sure where to begin? Let us guide you. Contact us today to learn how we can bring your holiday cottage to life through beautiful photography!

Streamline Bookings with an Integrated System on Your Website

Eliminate common booking hassles and enhance guest experience with an integrated booking system right on your website. Displaying everything from availability to minimum night requirements, this streamlined setup makes it as easy as possible for guests to secure that much-needed staycation at the click of a button.

But the benefits don’t stop there. By offering direct bookings, you can also cut out those hefty letting agent fees, putting more revenue back into your business.

Did you know? Adding a direct booking system can lead to a significant boost in reservations—some properties see an increase in direct bookings by up to 85%. Imagine what this could mean for you!

Ready to make the switch? Let’s discuss how we can help you implement this game-changing tool.

Build Your Presence on Social Media

We don’t know about you, but if we’re looking to book a relaxing getaway, we’re heading straight to social media to scout out our next potential stay.

Our top tip when it comes to socials? Allocate a consistent and achievable post frequency.

It’s better to share one high-quality post every fortnight than to post more than is attainable (we know you have a busy schedule, after all!) – and resultantly forget about updating your profile for a year. Quality over quantity also goes hand-in-hand with this, every time!

Social media is more than just a platform; it’s an opportunity to give guests an authentic glimpse into the experience your holiday cottage offers. Share behind-the-scenes content that highlights those thoughtful details—from a sneak peek at the luxurious toiletries and indulgent Bothams welcome hamper to the nearby local gems that make each stay special.

These little insights build excitement and create a personal connection with your followers. And don’t forget, when guests show their support by commenting or sending a DM, a quick, friendly reply can go a long way. It shows you value their interest and helps foster a loyal community that keeps your property top of mind.

Give potential guests a taste of what’s waiting for them and keep the conversation going – your next booking could be one post away!

Encourage Your Guests to Share Reviews

Reviews are a powerful factor in helping potential customers decide between booking a stay with you or looking elsewhere. Positive feedback from past guests builds trust and can make all the difference.

Whether it’s sending post-holiday emails requesting Google reviews, Facebook or TripAdvisor those positive comments add up!

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