Week 1 - Easy Wins

Topics in This Section:

1.0 Convert Returning Guests Into Direct Stays

Shifting away from the reliance of a third-party OTA means you have the ability to own every aspect of your business, including the guest relationship. The key to growing a successful direct booking business is to build and nurture a guest database. Rather than always counting on acquiring new guests, growing an email list and implementing an email strategy will drive more direct stays by enabling you to rebook guests who have already had a pleasant experience staying with you. How

1.1 Reach Out to Current Guests

Often, current guests staying may want or need to extend their stay. The easiest way to convert these guests to a direct stay is to:

Contact all current guests via email or text and ask if they’d like to extend their stay.

If you don’t have their email or phone number, send them a DM on the platform they’ve booked with you and send them a message asking if they’d like to extend their stay and for their email and phone number. If the guest confirms they want to extend, get their email and send them your Dtravel listing via email so they can book directly with you. Let them know the benefits for them within the email with your direct listing link - 0% fees if paying with crypto and only 3% if paying with a credit card, which is 12%-15% less than OTA platforms.

Send them a message via text or email. Here’s an example:

“Hey Bob, do you have plans to extend your stay? Book with our direct booking site below and get discounts on booking fees.”

It’s important to get their email address so that you can start building our your list as we identified in the step above.

1.2 Reach out to Past Guests

Previous guests, especially those that have enjoyed their stay, are a rich source of bookings.

Go through your previous bookings and create a list of guests who rated you at least 4 stars and higher. Add this contact list to your PMS for future outreach.

Create a template to use that suggests they book direct next time they or their friends and family will be visiting your destination, as doing so will save them 12%-15% over OTA platforms Here’s an example:

“Hey Bob, if you or your family or friends plan to visit [city] in the future, book with our direct booking site below and get discounts on booking fees.”

Contact these guests via chat, text or email, depending on what contact method you have available using your prepared copy and Dtravel landing page

1.3 Leverage Friends and Family

Our friends and family members are another great source of bookings, especially in peak season months for your area when people are often visiting:

Create a list of all your friends and family members and call, text or email them and ask if they know anyone who will be visiting and are looking for a short term or vacation rental. Even if they don’t, be sure to send them your Dtravel listing so that in case they come across someone who may need one, they have your link handy.

Pro tip: Create a QR code that you can send to all your friends and family and they can share with anyone who might be looking for a short term or vacation rental in your area.