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increase off-peak bookings
increase off-peak bookings

With the busy summer holiday letting season fast becoming a distant memory, now is the time to be thinking about how to increase off-peak bookings during the low season. 

As you’ll already know, the opportunities for parents to take their children out of school during term time are now limited, meaning that focus needs to be moved to other target markets where competition is becoming increasingly fierce. 

We take a look at some of the potential markets you could be attracting as the summer sun sets and Autumnal and Winter breaks begin…

Dog owners – there are 14 million dog owners in the UK

If your cottage welcomes dogs, then the great news is that a lot of us have one; 14 million in the UK to be precise! With as many as 44% of Britain’s households owning a pet, this is a market certainly worth taking advantage of to increase off-peak bookings.

If you’re wanting to attract the dog-friendly market, you’ll need to:

  1. Make sure it’s immediately obvious that you welcome dogs – you don’t want potential guests having to root around for the information as the more effort they have to put into finding it, the more likely you’ll lose the online conversion.
  2. Tell them what’s available for their pet in your cottage.  This should also include whether you have an enclosed garden and policies on leads etc.
  3. Build a dog-friendly destination for them – what there is to do in the local area with their dog? Walks they can go on, dog friendly pubs, dog friendly beaches and attractions.

When welcoming dogs to your holiday home our top tip is to ensure that your holiday home insurance is dog friendly too!

Young families with toddlers

Because school-aged children will need to take their holidays outside of term time you often find that pre-school families will look to take advantage of shoulder months when prices are lower and crowds more dispersed.  

If you’re wanting to attract the pre-school market, you’ll need to:

  1. Highlight everything you have in your cottage for their children, so they’re clear on what they need to bring and what you’ll be providing.  Car space can be at a premium so think of ways in which you can make their life easier.
  2. Tell them where can they go and what can they do with their children. They won’t want to be cooped up so giving them specific days out suitable for younger children will make your proposition stronger. If you can give personal recommendations, they’ll be more credible than just providing a standardised long list.
  3. If you’ve got additional features such as animal feeding, these can prove to be extremely popular with younger children so feature them prominently.

Walkers, hikers and cyclists

There’s nothing better than a good walk in fresh air.  Don’t just take our word for it; 42 million people take to the Wales Coast Path each year while that figure is equalled and eclipsed in the South West of England. 

If you have good cycling or walking routes near your holiday cottage you should:

  1. Include information on all routes on your website and promote them through your social media. 
  2. There should be routes for all levels and ages of walker with varying difficulties.
  3. Make sure you share the best photos and videos from your routes. Encouraging guests to do the same can gain you even more social media traction.
  4. Make use of local walking organisations and coastal paths in your marketing – some will have great video and photography you can tap into.
  5. Try to turn your walking routes into an event – where are the best places to stop for food and drink on the way? What else can they do? Create a day rather than a walk.

Boshers offer specialist holiday home insurance to owners across the UK. Need an insurance quote for your holiday let? Give us a call on 01237 429444 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.

Holiday letting tips

Holiday letting tipsAs a holiday home owner there’s so much to think about; from guest safety to website photography and Facebook posts to the internal fixtures and fittings. Or even who’s doing the changeovers and mowing the lawns before those guests roll up the driveway.

The good news is that we’re here to help. We talk with holiday homeowners and letting agents every day giving us an insight into many aspects of holiday letting. As a result we’ve put together some of our most useful articles containing holiday letting tips all in one place.

No matter if you’re looking for ideas on how to cut electricity bills or keep the visiting kids safe in the garden, here are some of our top holiday letting tips when it comes to getting the most out of your holiday home this year….

Keeping your guests safe – checks to make before the peak season

You’ll undoubtedly want your guests to have a great time in your cottage and that means that they’ll also need to have a safe time. There are a number of checks and processes you should have in place and these should always be done prior to the busy summer season.

Here are a few checks that you need to tick off the to-do list as a priority:

How to make your cottages dog friendly

There are nearly nine million dog owners in the UK and almost 40% of visitors now want to take their pet with them on holiday. If you’re looking to make the most of this continually growing market or want to fine-tune your cottage to welcome our furry friends then here are some great pointers…

Engaging with the growing green tourism market

It’s not just a welcoming cottage for our trusted canines that piques potential booking interest, as more and more of us are becoming driven by sourcing eco-friendly accommodation. A whopping 58% of English consumers surveyed by VisitEngland indicated they’d want to stay in green accommodation with awards or environmentally friendly practices. Here’s how to communicate your green credentials and a few ideas to grow them, too…

How to make your cottage a haven for families

If you’re welcoming young children into your cottage this year, you’ll need to answer all of the needs that your paying parents arrive with. Here are just a few ideas on how to make your cottage perfect for each family, no matter what the weather….

Keeping children safe on outdoor play equipment

If you’re welcoming children to your cottage then it’s certainly not uncommon to have an outdoor play area for them to enjoy. Ever wondered what you need to do in order to keep them as safe as possible whilst playing on your outdoor equipment? Here’s our guide on everything you should be doing in order to minimise the risks of an accident…

How to make a first impression

Your guests will only ever walk into your home for the first time once. It’s therefore vital you achieve that wow factor which will leave a positive lasting impression. Hampers are an easy and popular welcome gift for guests and, if used well, can start someone’s holiday off on the right foot. Here’s how to get the content right whilst also catering for those with allergies and those who like a tipple!

How to get your property photography right

A photo speaks a thousand words, so getting them right is definitely a priority! Here’s our guide to make sure your images are immaculate. Also included are some elements you might not have thought of until your photographer has made his way home!

Increase bookings by promoting your cottage as a destination

Visitors spend 80% of their time outside of your cottage, yet the average cottage website has 80% of its content focussed on what’s inside. Here’s how to promote your destination and experience in order to grab people’s attention and bookings…

Become more energy efficient

Energy bills across the UK risen considerably; by up to 10% this year and for some by more than 30% in the past 30 months. Being energy efficient is becoming increasingly important, not only to prove your eco credentials but also to keep costs down. Here’s a few ideas on how to do just that…

Electric vehicle charging points

The UK is going electric when it comes to cars and the growth continues to be exponential.  In 2012 there were just 2,254 electric cars sold in England. Fast forward to 2015 and that figure was hitting 30,000. Last year? Near 60,000 electric plugin cars were sold. If you want to welcome this growing trend of traveller then here’s all you need to know about your electric hook-up point….

Getting your insurance right

We’ve been working with holiday home owners for more than 30 years and we’re specialists in making sure that cottages across the UK have the insurance in place that they need. For more information on insuring your holiday home or cottage complex please give our experienced team a call on 01237 429 444.

The Dog Friendly Holiday Home Market

Cute dogA dog has long been regarded as a man’s best friend and for a nation of pet lovers it doesn’t stop there; from your pampered pooch to the fastidious feline, an estimated one in three UK households now has a pet to call their own.

The question for owners has long been what happens to their animals while they’re on holiday?

36% of respondents to a recent survey indicated a pet was their biggest cause of worry while away, with 72% indicating it was at least a concern.  When combined with the potential costs of boarding facilities such as kennels this has led to two in five of us now bringing them along with us!

Benefits of marketing your holiday home as dog friendly

Reaching a wider marketplace

With an estimated 40% of guests now looking for pet friendly holiday accommodation it’s becoming increasingly hard for holiday homeowners to ignore this potentially lucrative marketplace. If your holiday home is located in an area suitable for the pet owners among us you’ll be opening up your holiday home to an increased number of would-be guests. Marketing your holiday home as dog friendly will increase your bookings.

13% of people have indicated they’d rather go on holiday with their pet than their partner!

Paying a premium to stay with you

Not only will the volume be greater, but guests are also willing to pay a premium for pet friendly accommodation, understanding that an increase in potential tariff will be less than the cost of kennels or pet boarding and accommodation, which can be five times the cost to take them on holiday with you.

Year round bookings

Certain places including beaches will prohibit animals during busier summer periods. This means that dog owners in particular can look to enjoy a break during the winter and shoulder months, giving you greater bookings around the year.

Marketing your property to pet owners – communicating the right things

In order to attract these potential guests you’ll need to make sure you have all of the information they’re looking for:

  • When someone visits your website or reads your marketing literature they’ll be looking to understand if your holiday cottage is suitable for them.  As whether or not you allow pets is an important part of their decision making process ensure it’s adequately highlighted.  Imagery can be a quick and easy way to convey that you’re a pet friendly location.
  • Manage visitor expectations by outlining what you do and don’t accept, along with the facilities available for their pets.  Having clearly communicated ground rules can also help with any issues that arise with guests during or after their stay.
  • Remember that your visitors are likely to be active if they’re bringing pets such as dogs. Providing information on where they can go, local walks, along with places to visit and enjoy with a pet can sway and secure their decision to stay with you.
  • This information should be included in all of your marketing materials, from your website to your welcome pack, where a nice treat for the pet can be an added extra when your guest arrives.
  • If you have a holiday letting agent make sure they know you’re able to accept pets so they can update their own details and promote you to those looking to stay in pet friendly accommodation.

The Potential Pitfalls to Pet Friendly Accommodation

Whilst there are many benefits to opening up your holiday home to pet owners there are also some other aspects you’ll need to consider:

  • Some guests may have allergies that would prevent them from staying in pet friendly accommodation.
  • If you’re going to be promoting your accommodation as pet friendly you’ll need to commit to and invest in it. This will include providing adequate facilities for pets such as dog mats and bedding to considering appropriate flooring.
  • Pets will cause a greater wear and tear on your property, particularly if you have a large amount of soft furnishings.
  • If pets are staying in your property during winter and wetter shoulder months the costs of cleaning can be significantly increased.
  • Consider your neighbors and nearby accommodation; if none currently offer pet friendly accommodation will there be complaints from potential barking and animal noise?
  • Ensure that your holiday home insurance does not exclude damage by pets

Feel free to leave your tips and experiences of marketing your holiday home as dog friendly in the comments below.

Boshers are specialist providers of holiday home insurance. For more information on how a specialist insurer can help and support your holiday home business, please give us a call on 01237 429444.