Black Friday presents an excellent opportunity for short-term rental hosts to capitalize on the holiday shopping season and drive more direct bookings. With travelers increasingly seeking personalized experiences and avoiding third-party fees, direct booking websites are uniquely positioned to attract and convert guests. Below, we outline three actionable strategies to make the most of this key moment.
1. Capture Guest Emails During Thanksgiving Stays
Thanksgiving is a prime opportunity to connect with your current guests and encourage future bookings. Guests who stay at your property during this time are perfect candidates for remarketing campaigns, especially when they book through your direct booking website.
Consider embedding a QR code in your rental property linking to an email opt-in form on your website. Incentives such as exclusive discounts, early access to holiday offers, or free upgrades can encourage guests to join your mailing list. These emails are invaluable for campaigns promoting vacation rentals with no booking fees and personalized stays.
Moreover, families often gather during Thanksgiving and begin planning their next holiday trip, making this the ideal time to capture their contact information. By doing so, you’ll have a direct line of communication to remind them about your property when they’re ready to book their next vacation rental direct booking.
2. Promote Last-Minute Availability for Christmas and New Year’s
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is critical for securing last-minute bookings. Use your direct booking website to highlight remaining availability for holiday stays and emphasize the benefits of booking directly, such as lower prices and no extra fees.
Email campaigns targeting your existing subscribers should include phrases like “Book direct to save!” or “Limited holiday availability—act now!” Use countdowns or urgency-driven messaging to prompt action.
Social media is another effective channel to direct traffic to your website. Share enticing images of your property’s holiday setup or highlight perks such as “no booking fee vacation rentals” to capture attention and drive conversions.
3. Offer a Black Friday Promotion for Future Stays
Leverage Black Friday to secure bookings for the upcoming year. Guests are actively looking for holiday deals, and a well-placed promotion on your direct booking website can set your property apart. Offer incentives such as 10–15% off stays booked during Black Friday weekend, or add perks like complimentary early check-in for those who book direct.
Focus on promoting slower periods like shoulder seasons while maintaining full control over pricing and availability through your direct booking website builder. Flexible cancellation policies and secure payment options will reassure guests and further encourage them to book directly.
Why Black Friday is Key for Direct Booking Success
Black Friday isn’t just about discounts—it’s about strengthening guest relationships and showcasing the unique value of booking direct. By capturing emails, promoting last-minute availability, and offering exclusive deals, you’ll position your property for success throughout the holiday season and beyond.
If your current setup doesn’t fully support these strategies, consider CraftedStays. Our platform helps short-term rental hosts build optimized direct booking websites with tools like email capture forms, custom promotions, and seamless user experiences. With the right strategy and technology, you can maximize conversions and grow your direct booking business.
Are you looking for tools to optimize your direct booking website? Book a free demo with CraftedStays to see how we can help.