Ideally the monsoons are seen as a lean period by most holiday home/ homestay owners and by travelers as the period that rains discounts and travel offers. However with a good mix of marketing and planning owners can boost occupancy even during this period. Having said that, just plain vanilla discounts will not do the trick. It is the rain experience that you will have to offer that will help you boost your occupancy. But, first things first. The beginning of the monsoon/ rainy season calls for making changes in the description of your holiday home online listing. Here is what you can do to make your online listing really stand out and attract maximum potential guests:
1. Location: Write how the location of your property turns magical during the rainy season, when the landscape wears a fresh green look, creating an atmosphere of romance and thrill. However do not exaggerate. Just give the facts.
2. Images: It goes without saying that images play a vital role in the decision-making of travelers looking to book an accommodation. So if you have images depicting the hues of the rainy season in the backdrop of your locality and your property, upload them.
3. Activities: Make a list of the outdoor activities that one can enjoy in the vicinity of your holiday home/ homestay and put them in the description of your listing. Usually, the monsoons are the perfect time to enjoy overwhelming waterfalls and checking out the flora and fauna of the region. Keep a couple of umbrellas and rain coats for the guests. Also make sure that your property is equipped to keep guests occupied, should they decide to stay indoors. A good collection of books, DVDs and board games can be really helpful to keep guests preoccupied.
4. Offers/ discounts: Since the rainy season is a lean period, it won’t hurt to give a discount. Ideally travelers who travel during the monsoons do so because they know most accommodations during this time come out with various discounts and offers. Better still; make a package – a romantic monsoon package, maybe, where you can offer the experience of staying amidst lush greenery, flowers, butterflies and the scenic beauty that is very peculiar to this season and give them one night free if they stay for a considerable period.
5. Appeal to the young couples: It is a fact that most travelers who venture out during the monsoons are young couples looking for a romantic getaway. So try to capture this segment of travelers. You can entice them with activities they can do together, even if it is a cooking session or offering them a gift voucher of the nearby spa.
But, before you start the marketing plan make sure your house is well prepared to welcome guests during the monsoons. For more on how to prepare your holiday home/ homestay read our article on ‘Preparing your holiday home/ homestay for the rainy season.’
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