6 Tips to Boost Your Vacation Rental Success in the Slow Season
Are you trying to find ways to optimize your time when business is slow? We have a few tips to help you out!
In the hospitality industry, we’ve all been there—deep in the depths of the slow season, switching the font of the “Book Now!” button 87 times, just to have something to do. When this happens, it’s easy to lean back and take a break. Instead, it’s important to fill your time with something beneficial to the company. Slow days can turn into some of the most productive if you know how to fill your time. To help you overcome the lull, here is a list of six things that you can accomplish when your cabins aren’t filling up as quickly as you’d like them to.
1. Organize and Reflect
This first task might seem a bit cliché. However, reflecting on the workload you have when times are busy is a great way to be proactive when things are slow. Ask yourself, “What’s been taking up a lot of my time,” and make a list of the daunting tasks you usually have on your plate and strategize the best way to get them done in the future. Once you’re organized, start working ahead on those tasks—you’ll never regret filling empty time with something you need to have done in a few weeks. You’ll thank yourself later.
2. Check On Your Tech Stack
To start, what is a tech stack? A tech stack is your toolkit of the software you use to help run your operation. When developing a tech stack, you want to find tools that work well together and are compatible with your business. When auditing your stack, start by identifying the essential systems and ask if they are a good fit for your business. Do your employees like using them? How do your customers feel? Then, move to the smaller systems. Are there better options out there? Do these systems help you achieve your goals? Knowing if the methods you have in place are best for your company can make a big difference in your business's success.
3. Is your website working well for when bookings pick up?
Taking a look at your website and booking system is something we highly encourage. When things are busy, small bugs in your system are an easy thing to let slip through the cracks. Use this opportunity to investigate your site and either find errors that need fixing or brainstorm ways to improve your current system. Your booking process is a crucial element of your design, so it’s always good to make sure it’s up to your standards!
For this step in the process, it's helpful to have a second opinion. Click here for a free site audit with the Ankerpoint Marketing team, and we will help bring your site to the next level!
4. What are your team's frustrations?
Your employees are the most valuable part of your company. When things are slow, take the chance to send out questionnaires and set up meetings to gauge how your employees are doing in their roles. Ask questions like, how do you feel about your workload? Or, is there anything on your plate that is draining you?
Investing in your employees and demonstrating that you care goes a long way for morale. Even if this is something you normally excel at, using this chance to focus on it even more will be felt by your team.
5. Examine Your Housekeeping System
In the vacation rental space, having a reliable, well-oiled housekeeping system is vital to your business. Look into what services you are currently using and decide if they are still the best fit for your business. Compare their prices to those of others in the area and determine the quality of service you have experienced from them so far. Look into what your guests have to say about them and check with your employees as well.
On your end, what will help you reduce mistakes in taking care of your properties? What are some ways that you can add special touches for your guests to make their stay even better? Answering these questions will not only fill your time but also improve your business for the future.
6. Check On Your Marketing
When it comes to small or even medium-sized businesses, marketing is often pushed aside as “something we’ll get to later”. So in those moments when you don’t have as much on your plate, figure out what needs to change so your marketing doesn’t get put on hold when things get busy again.
However, if you realize that marketing is just not in your wheelhouse and it’s not something you can make time for, give us a call, and we can help you sort out the next steps. Click here for more information.
During the slow seasons, it can be difficult to find ways to be productive. Following these tips will improve your productivity and help prepare you for when things pick up again. Filling your time wisely will make a difference for you, your team, and your clients.