Why Instant Bookings Are the Key to Maximising Your Airbnb’s Potential

All major booking platforms, including Airbnb, offer Instant Booking functionality. This feature allows guests to find a property, pay online, and secure the booking immediately, much like booking a hotel room on a traditional hotel website. As the host, you will receive an instant confirmation of the booking.

Guests are increasingly expecting a hotel-like, book-now experience, and booking websites are adapting to meet this demand. Properties that offer Instant Booking stand a significantly better chance of receiving bookings compared to those that do not. This is because websites promote properties with Instant Booking ahead of those without it, giving you more visibility and increasing the likelihood of securing reservations. In fact, since so few properties no longer offer Instant Booking, if you do not have this feature enabled, your property will be ranked among the lowest in search results, drastically reducing your chances of being booked.

Managing Your Pricing and Guest Types

One key factor for owners using Instant Booking is to ensure that pricing is always up-to-date and accurate. It can be frustrating to receive a booking only to realise that you’ve underpriced key dates. Keeping your rates current will prevent this issue and maximise your earnings.

Additionally, it’s important to manage the number and type of guests allowed to book. While some platforms, such as Airbnb, allow you to cancel a booking without penalty if the guest group breaches your terms and conditions, other platforms may not offer this flexibility. Make sure to review your guest policies carefully.

Is Instant Booking Right for You?

Many Airbnb owners may feel uneasy about not having final control over whether to accept a booking. However, while you’re not obligated to enable Instant Booking, opting out will likely hurt your bookings. The reality is that guests prefer properties where they can book immediately, and platforms give priority to these listings.

Guest Acceptance Without Instant Booking

If you’re not using Instant Booking, the booking process works differently. Once a guest decides to book your property, they’ll submit an inquiry through the platform. It’s critical at this point to secure payment as quickly as possible to confirm the booking.

Be cautious about reserving dates before receiving payment. Let guests know that dates are not reserved until the deposit is received, creating a sense of urgency for them to pay. It’s a good practice to give the guest no longer than 24 hours to make the payment.

Ultimately, offering Instant Booking can boost your Airbnb’s success, but it’s important to manage your pricing and guest policies carefully to avoid any mishaps. Given the current market trends, not offering Instant Booking will significantly impact your property’s ranking and visibility, putting you at a competitive disadvantage.