Maximising Your Airbnb Success: Setting the Perfect Booking Window
One important decision you’ll face when listing your Airbnb is determining how far in advance guests can book—this is known as the booking window. All booking platforms, including Airbnb, require you to set a booking window, so it’s essential to get this right. It’s generally advisable to set a booking window of 12 months. Doing so allows guests to secure reservations well in advance, especially for in-demand periods like holidays or school breaks.
Why a 12-Month Booking Window is Ideal
Many travellers plan their holidays up to a year in advance, particularly for busy periods like Christmas, Easter, or peak summer. Setting your booking window to 12 months gives you the opportunity to capture these early bookings, ensuring your property is booked during these high-demand times.
Unsure About Your Pricing?
If you’re still refining your pricing strategy—particularly for peak periods—you may want to set a shorter booking window. For instance, if you’re uncertain about your Christmas pricing, you could set your booking window to six months. This approach allows you to monitor your occupancy and revenue during key periods without locking in bookings at potentially too-low rates.
Example: Testing Your Christmas Pricing
Let’s say you’re unsure if your Christmas rate is competitive or high enough. By setting a six-month booking window, you can assess how your Airbnb performs during the Christmas period without locking in bookings for the following year at a bargain price. Once you’ve gained confidence that your pricing is on point, you can extend the booking window to 12 months or more.
Always Stay on Top of Your Pricing
It is crucial to always be 100% on top of your pricing. Platforms like Airbnb now impose significant penalties if you need to cancel a booking due to pricing errors—even for bookings more than nine months in advance. These penalties can affect your property’s ranking on the platform and damage your reputation as a host. To avoid this, regularly review and update your rates to reflect market demand and seasonal changes.
Keep Your Pricing Up-to-Date
While a 12-month booking window is standard, it’s wise to keep your pricing updated for up to 18 months in advance. This way, you’re never caught off guard by early bookings at rates that may no longer be appropriate due to shifts in demand. Regularly reviewing and adjusting your pricing ensures you’re always maximising your property’s earning potential.
By managing your Airbnb’s booking window strategically and maintaining accurate pricing, you can balance early bookings with confidence, ensuring both occupancy and profitability—without risking penalties from platforms like Airbnb.
