How to get more bookings for your holiday rental

Do you want to get more bookings for your villa, gîte or guest house? You are not the only one looking at your calendar with concern. Competition between holiday rentals is fierce, and the platforms alone are no longer enough to stand out. The good news is that a few simple levers can really make a difference. Here are the concrete methods that work.

Why bookings stall

Before acting, you need to understand. The most common causes:

• A presentation that looks like the neighbours'. Same photos, same descriptions, same white beds.
• Dependence on the platforms. Your place is compared with dozens of others, often on price.
• Visibility limited to people already looking for a rental in your area.
• A price poorly matched to the seasons and to demand.
• Replies that are too slow.

Each of these points has a solution.

Photos and video

Travellers do not book accommodation, they book an experience. Yet photos show rooms, not an experience. To get more bookings, you need to convey what it feels like to stay with you: breakfast on the terrace, a swim, the calm of the evening.

That is exactly what a film does. It shows your place in motion, with its light and atmosphere, and makes people want to be there. In Rosteig, in the Northern Vosges, the film of Aux Sons des Cloches shows its chalet, its terrace with a hot tub facing the village and the valley all around: everything a photo alone cannot convey.

Social media

Travellers discover their next destinations on Instagram and TikTok, sometimes months before booking. Being in that feed means getting onto their wish list before they compare prices on a platform.

• Post vertical videos of your place in different seasons.
• Show moments rather than rooms.
• Make it clear how to book.

The places filmed by AchMedia Real Estate have been seen by more than 100 million people, without paid advertising. Read our guide to Instagram Reels for real estate.

Direct bookings

More bookings is good. More direct bookings is better: each one saves you a platform commission and builds a relationship with your guests. For that, you need a simple landing point: a website with your availability, your film and a way to book.

Our article on direct bookings explains how to rely less on Airbnb and Booking.com, and our article on a booking website for your villa helps you set one up.

Our case in Morocco

Riad O'Zeen, in the heart of the Marrakech medina, wanted to stand out among hundreds of riads and attract international guests directly. We filmed its patio, its pool and its galleries, then shared the film on social media.

The result: more than 108,400 combined views, 12,000 likes and a sharp rise in private messages asking to book directly, without going through the usual intermediaries. Read the riad's full story.

Other useful levers

• Adjust your prices to the seasons, school holidays and local events.
• Offer short stays in the low season. Read our article on filling your rental in the low season.
• Look after your reviews: reply to each one, and thank your guests.
• Reply quickly: an unanswered enquiry is a lost booking.

Look after every step of the guest's journey

A booking is won or lost at every step. Put your rental under the microscope:

1. Discovery: does your place appear where travellers dream, on social media and with your partners?
2. Desire: do your film and photos make people want to come, or do they just show rooms?
3. Checking: is the practical information easy to find? Capacity, amenities, access, price.
4. Booking: is it easy to book, in a few clicks or with a message?
5. The stay: do the welcome and the place live up to the film's promise?
6. Afterwards: do you thank your guests and invite them back?

Often, a single weak link is enough to lose bookings. Finding and fixing it can change the whole season.

Highlight what makes you unique

Every rental has something the others do not: a hot tub facing the church tower, an indoor pool heated all year round, a patio in the heart of the medina, a view over the vineyards. That is what should come first, in the film, in the caption, in the title of your listing.

In Rosteig, the Aux Sons des Cloches chalet highlights its terrace with a hot tub facing the village. At Domaine La Rosière, it is the capacity to host up to 50 people and the indoor pool. At Riad O'Zeen, it is the patio. Find yours, and repeat it everywhere.

Reviews and trust

Travellers read reviews before booking. Reply to every one, positive or critical, courteously. Say thank you, acknowledge any problem and explain what you have improved. On your own website, you can also quote a few guest comments, with their permission. Trust is often what tips a guest towards booking directly rather than through a platform.

A one-month action plan

To get your bookings moving again, here is a simple four-week plan:

1. Week 1: review your listings, photos, rates and descriptions.
2. Week 2: have your place filmed, or prepare your own videos.
3. Week 3: post on social media and update your website.
4. Week 4: get back in touch with past guests and measure the first results.

This plan will not work miracles overnight, but it gets your place moving again.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to see more bookings?

The effects of a film and a social media presence build up over a few weeks to a few months. The earlier you start before the season, the better.

Should you leave the platforms?

No. They remain useful. The aim is to depend on them less by adding direct bookings.

Does video suit a small property?

Yes. A small chalet or cabin with a lovely atmosphere can make a very successful film. It is the experience that counts, not the floor area.

What kind of content should you post?

Short videos that show moments: a sunrise, a log fire, drinks on the terrace. Vary the seasons.

Do you need to be on every platform?

Not necessarily. A few well-run channels, including your own website and social media, are better than scattered, out-of-date listings.

Can a video replace photos on the platforms?

No, they complement each other. Photos remain essential on the platforms, and video draws attention on social media and on your website.

And your rental?

Discover how we support owners on our Rent your property page, watch our films, and let's talk about your calendar in a 20-minute call.