Attract more midweek bookings to your holiday home

Attract more midweek bookings from your local market

Holiday homes aren’t just for summer holidays and weekend escapes.

They can be a perfect base for people who already travel to your area for work, study or medical reasons, often midweek.

In this article we'll cover:

1. Map who already comes to your area midweek
   
   1. Hospitals and medical centres
   2. Universities and colleges
   3. Corporate and contractor demand
2. Make it easy for midweek guests to find – and book – you
   1. Optimise for local and long‑stay searches
   2. Offer the right stay patterns and pricing
   3. Use your tools to manage demand
3. Build relationships, not just one‑off stays

Let's look in detail.

1. Map who already comes to your area midweek

Start with what’s on your doorstep.

Every strategy will depend on your location, property size, quality and what’s nearby. Here are some possibilities:

Hospitals and medical centres

• If you’re near a hospital, clinic or specialist centre, think about travelling medics, locum staff and families visiting poorly relatives.

• Create a dedicated page on your website like “Accommodation near [Hospital Name]” and mention flexible check‑in, parking and quiet spaces for shift workers.

• Highlight practical details: distance to the hospital, public transport links, and whether you offer longer stays, extra services or repeat‑stay discounts.

Universities and colleges

• Universities attract visiting lecturers, researchers and families attending graduations and open days.

• Build a simple “Stay near [University Name]” landing page and mention term‑time visits, graduation dates and family‑friendly sleeping arrangements.

• If you allow midweek-only stays, make that clear in your copy and pricing so you stand out from “week‑only” holiday lets.

Corporate and contractor demand

• Nearby business parks, financial services firms or industrial estates bring weekday business travellers. They value Wi‑Fi, a decent desk space and easy parking.

• Create content for “business stays” or “contractor accommodation”, explaining things like early check‑in, weekly cleans and invoices in a company name.

• Construction and engineering firms often need 3 to 10 week stays for teams. Make it easy for them with clear maximum occupancy, bed layouts and simple, all‑in pricing.

2. Make it easy for midweek guests to find – and book – you

Once you know who to target, help them discover you.

Optimise for local and long‑stay searches

• Use headings and copy that match what these guests search for: “short‑term accommodation near [Hospital]”, “contractor digs in [Town]”, “family accommodation for [University] graduation”.

• List on local business directories and chambers of commerce, and update your Google Business Profile with “serviced accommodation”, “business travel” and “contractor accommodation” where appropriate.

Offer the right stay patterns and pricing

• Allow flexible midweek check‑in/out (e.g. Sunday–Thursday), even if you keep stricter rules at weekends.

• Consider corporate or contractor rates for longer midweek blocks, with clear terms and a simple way to extend stays.

Use your tools to manage demand

• If you use holiday rental software like Bookster, set up specific rate plans and promo codes for “NHS stays”, “corporate stays” or “contractor midweek”. This lets you test what works without changing your whole pricing structure.​

• Promote your mid-week availability on your social media platforms, specifically mentioning who the property would suit, eg, nurses, office workers etc. If you struggle with creating your social media content, try Bookster's social Post Suggester, which comes in the Book Direct Toolkit. This tool will suggest social media messages from the information in your property listing and local information, tailored for the social media channel of your choice.

3. Build relationships, not just one‑off stays

You don’t have to cold‑call everyone in town, but a little outreach goes a long way.

• Use your email marketing to send an email, followed up with a call to introduce yourself (briefly) to HR or staff‑bank teams at hospitals, universities and local employers, and share a simple one‑page PDF with your important info, pricing and booking calendar.

• Let construction and engineering firms know you can host teams, and ask what they usually struggle with (parking, storage, flexible dates). Reflect those solutions in your listing.

• When you host a great midweek stay, ask if you can stay in touch with the booker as the “go‑to” option for their next project or visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I price my holiday home for corporate and contractor stays?

Start with your normal nightly rate, then create discounted “weekly” or “Monday–Friday” packages that reflect longer stays and lower cleaning/admin costs. Make sure the rate still covers utilities, wear and tear, and any extra services like weekly cleans.

Should I accept single‑night midweek bookings for business guests?

If you’re in a high‑demand area (near airports, hospitals or stations), single‑night stays can work well. Otherwise, consider a 2–3 night minimum midweek to keep cleaning and turnaround manageable, while still being attractive for short work trips.

What information do business and medical guests want to see first on my listing?

They usually look for distance to their workplace or hospital, Wi‑Fi speed, parking, check‑in times, bed layout and how flexible you are on check‑in/out. Put these details high on the page, not buried at the bottom.