How to turn Airbnb guests into Direct Re-bookers
3 minute read // updated
by Kelly Odor, Marketing DirectorKey Takeaways
- Reward returning guests and their network with a shareable discount
- Brand everything so your property name sticks in guests’ minds
- Make stays memorable and ask clearly for direct rebookings.
Getting Airbnb guests to book direct next time is all about staying memorable, staying visible, and making it effortless for them to choose you over the platform.
This means combining smart offers, strong branding, and simple processes that nudge them back to your own website or booking channel instead of defaulting to Airbnb.
Guests rebook places that are truly memorable, not just another Airbnb.
How can I get Airbnb guests to book direct next time?
Offer repeat booking discounts
Lots of our clients offer a discount code to returning guests, that they allow to be shared with their friends and family.
This gets the message to a wider audience than just the past guest.
By turning one happy stay into a small network of potential visitors, you are effectively using word of mouth plus a clear financial incentive to keep bookings coming back to you rather than through third‑party channels.
Add branded goods in your home
There was a good presentation at the Scale UK conference in 2025 by Kate Allen of Finest Stays, called "The Art of Complete Branding (How to Brand the Sh*t Out of Everything)", and she covered all the different ways she brands items that are in the property for the guest to use, and those she includes in the welcome basket to take home with them.
This is key for remembering the name of your property when they want to rebook.
Branded mugs, WiFi cards, keyrings, tote bags or fridge magnets all work as tiny, everyday reminders that keep your property front of mind long after guests have gone home and started thinking about their next break.
Make your guests' stay truly special
Setting aside the technical processes of rebooking, I'd add in that guests rebook places that are truly memorable.
Making sure that the guests stay stands out in their memories, so they want to come back to your property specifically, rather than just another Airbnb.
That could be the special welcome they felt, something unique in the property, how the dog/children were welcomed etc.
Little emotional touches are often what people tell their friends about afterwards, and those stories are exactly what turn a one‑off stay into a habit of returning to 'their' place each year.
On the Business Growth Central podcast the hosts advised that the best way to get repeat purchases from clients, is to ask.
So building in a process that asks, and your property is the best way to do this.
A simple checkout message, follow‑up email in your Email Marketing or note in your guidebook or Guest Area that says “Next time, book direct with us here” can be enough to prompt action, especially when combined with that returning‑guest discount mentioned earlier.
Add unique WiFi codes
And finally, I love the idea of having the wifi code of 'BookDirect' or "BookDirectCottageName". Much better than the crazy long codes any day 🙂.
This turns something guests already need and use multiple times a day into a subtle marketing message, reinforcing your brand and planting the idea of booking direct every time they log on during their stay.
Building a direct-booking habit is an ongoing process, not a one-off tactic.
Layering shareable discounts, strong in-stay branding, memorable experiences and a clear, confident ask will steadily shift more of your Airbnb guests into loyal, repeat guests who come straight to you next time.
