BooksterHoliday booking trends As the holiday rentals industry changes, we're seeing a change in guest behaviour and booking trends. We review all bookings taken through Bookster software and analyse these for trends and behaviour change. This data is essential to understand travel behaviour and consumer confidence in the short and medium-term, and how this impacts opportunities for growth for holiday rental managers. Bookster property management software offers an all-in-one solution, including an integrated Channel Manager as well as template and custom Websites; providing a full view of booking trends of Bookster clients. We focus on three key aspects, helping you attract bookings to your holiday lets, manage bookings, and wow your guests. Holiday booking trends of 2024-25 There are a lot of changes happening in the industry and in the wider economy, and this is having an effect on bookings. Take time to reflect on what's happening, and be proactive. Look at your own data Compare occupancy, revenue, average daily rate (Pacing) Look at same data from last year and see how that compares. Create your plan to communicate Communicate before booking highs, so if people are more likely to book on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, plan your communications to reflect that. This also applies to months. Booking trends Let’s work through the trends that we see in Bookster, and recommendations to benefit from them. Booking window and length of stay The biggest trends are the slightly reduced length of time between booking and arrival is short + the shorter length of stays. Consider allowing shorter bookings in your low and shoulder seasons. Set a minimum price per stay so even if you take shorter bookings, that you’re getting a profitable value for the booking. January booking window January is a big booking time, and even in 2024 there were higher volumes than 2023, so plan how you can communicate to potential clients before the January booking window opens. It could be a christmas card with a photo of your local area, or an email with details of what’s happening in your area or something that’s new, but just get in front of your potential guests. Recommendations for your website If you want to focus on taking direct bookings, then you need to work on your website. Review your website - how easy is it for the guest to book? Fast Attractive photos Quick process No distractions It all has to work well, because that’s going to improve the number of bookings that you get. Market trends There are trends in the market, the channels talk about them a lot, such as trends for travelling for wellness, or to be near their favourite film setting. Consider how you can attract these guests - talk about the local area - for walks, wild swimming, and any local highlights. Let me give you an example - my parents are wanting to go star-gazing in Northumberland next month, so they will be specifically searching for properties that are near the observatories, and preferably ones where they can view the stars from the property. For these properties, wording in the listings about dark skies, and views of the skies will attract them to choose one holiday home over another. Industry changes There is a lot happening in the industry - be on top of what’s happening and how it impacts you, and consider what you can do to protect your business. Legislation in Scotland and England Restrictions in Europe Tourist Levy Wales Rules on number of bookings to be eligible for Business rates instead of Council Tax.
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Holiday booking trends for holiday rentals in 2024-25

Kelly Odor
3 minute read

Key Takeaways

  • Bookster reviews the latest trends, and reports them here
  • Review your own booking data, it's a precious asset
  • Length of stay has reduced slightly, demonstrating demand for short breaks
  • The time between making the booking and arrival has reduced
  • Guests make a lot of bookings in January - be prepared.
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Holiday booking trends for holiday rentals - Analysis of holiday bookings, for 2021, 2022 and 2023 trends for holiday rentals

There are a lot of changes happening in the industry and in the wider economy, and this is having an effect on bookings. Take time to reflect on what's happening, and be proactive.

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Holiday booking trends

As the holiday rentals industry changes, we're seeing a change in guest behaviour and booking trends.

We review all bookings taken through Bookster software and analyse these for trends and behaviour change. 

This data is essential to understand travel behaviour and consumer confidence in the short and medium-term, and how this impacts opportunities for growth for holiday rental managers.

Bookster property management software offers an all-in-one solution, including an integrated Channel Manager as well as template and custom Websites; providing a full view of booking trends of Bookster clients. 

We focus on three key aspects, helping you attract bookings to your holiday lets, manage bookings, and wow your guests.


Holiday booking trends of 2024-25 

There are a lot of changes happening in the industry and in the wider economy, and this is having an effect on bookings.

Take time to reflect on what's happening, and be proactive. 

Look at your own data

    • Compare occupancy, revenue, average daily rate (Pacing)

    • Look at same data from last year and see how that compares.

Create your plan to communicate 

    • Communicate before booking highs, so if people are more likely to book on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, plan your communications to reflect that.
    • This also applies to months. 

Booking trends 

Let’s work through the trends that we see in Bookster, and recommendations to benefit from them. 

Booking window and length of stay

The biggest trends are the slightly reduced length of time between booking and arrival is short + the shorter length of stays. 

    • Consider allowing shorter bookings in your low and shoulder seasons.

    • Set a minimum price per stay so even if you take shorter bookings, that you’re getting a profitable value for the booking.

January booking window

January is a big booking time, and even in 2024 there were higher volumes than 2023, so plan how you can communicate to potential clients before the January booking window opens. 

It could be a christmas card with a photo of your local area, or an email with details of what’s happening in your area or something that’s new, but just get in front of your potential guests. 

Recommendations for your website

    • If you want to focus on taking direct bookings, then you need to work on your website.
    • Review your website - how easy is it for the guest to book?
      • Fast

      • Attractive photos

      • Quick process

      • No distractions

It all has to work well, because that’s going to improve the number of bookings that you get. 

Market trends

There are trends in the market, the channels talk about them a lot, such as trends for travelling for wellness, or to be near their favourite film setting.

Consider how you can attract these guests - talk about the local area - for walks, wild swimming, and any local highlights. 

Let me give you an example - my parents are wanting to go star-gazing in Northumberland next month, so they will be specifically searching for properties that are near the observatories, and preferably ones where they can view the stars from the property.

For these properties, wording in the listings about dark skies, and views of the skies will attract them to choose one holiday home over another. 

Industry changes

There is a lot happening in the industry - be on top of what’s happening and how it impacts you, and consider what you can do to protect your business. 

  • Legislation in Scotland and England

  • Restrictions in Europe

  • Tourist Levy
  • Wales Rules on number of bookings to be eligible for Business rates instead of Council Tax.


Would you like to work with a company that keeps watch over the industry trends, so that you don't have to? 

Get in touch to discuss what you need to help your business grow. 

Graphic of attracting bookings with Bookster on a smart phone

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