CraftedStays has been admitted to Google for Startups Cloud Program to bring reliable Direct Booking to more hosts. As part of this partnership, CraftedStays has access to engineering teams inside Google, training programs to Google’s suite of solutions, and access to Google’s reliable cloud infrastructure.  CraftedStays will be working with the Google team to explore how generative AI can be leveraged in the short-term-rental space to improve the guest experience and provide hosts with better tools to run their better business. CraftedStays has rebuilt its entire infrastructure on Google Cloud to ensure hosts have reliable uptime for their sites. All users are on CraftedStays new infrastructure and benefit from its new performance standards. Be on the lookout for new developments as CraftedStays and Google Cloud work together to bring more solutions to short-term-rental hosts. 

Having a direct booking site is just the start. In today’s competitive rental market, merely having a direct booking site isn’t enough to ensure success. To drive direct bookings effectively, hosts must understand and manage the different types of site traffic they encounter. Let’s delve into the key categories: While there are additional methods like referrals and sponsorships, focusing on these four traffic sources is recommended for most hosts. It’s essential to recognize that no single method guarantees a surge in direct bookings. Tailor your approach based on your property type and ideal guest profile. Understanding how your ideal avatar plans for their trips, and the places they discover content, will help you maximize the traffic coming to your direct booking site. For instance, unique accommodations lend themselves well to social sharing, while properties in popular tourist spots benefit from informative content creation. Consistently publishing blog posts can attract travelers seeking valuable insights. Above all, adopt a strategic approach and continuously evaluate your efforts’ impact. Some strategies may yield results over time, so patience and adaptability are key. Once visitors land on your site, optimizing conversion rates is crucial. Guests should feel confident booking directly with you. Consider updating your site and working with someone who understands the space well. CraftedStays is a great place to get your direct booking site up and running, but more importantly, converting those traffic into bookings.