Top 7 Tools to Grow Your Vacation Rental Business

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Looking to grow your small hotel or vacation rental business? Check out these top 7 tools that can help you take your business to the next level! From online marketing to booking engines, these tools will help you manage and grow your business like a pro.

#1 Self-Hosted Booking Website

As a hospitality provider, you know that a big part of attracting guests is having an easily accessible and user-friendly booking system. While there are many hotel booking websites out there, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to create your own self-hosted site. Here are some benefits of having your own self-hosted hotel booking website:

• Your guests will appreciate being able to book their stay directly on your website, without being redirected to another site.
• You’ll have more control over the look and feel of your booking website, which can help create a seamless experience for your guests.
• A self-hosted booking website can also save you money in the long run by eliminating commission fees charged by third party platforms.

#2 Property Management Software/Booking Engines

If you manage a hotel, vacation rental, or bed and breakfast, you know how important it is to keep track of your reservations and guest information. A property management software (PMS) or booking engine can help take the hassle out of managing your business.

Whether you’re looking to streamline your operations or provide a better experience for your guests, a property management system can be a valuable tool. Some of the benefits include:

1. Increased Efficiency – A property management software or booking engine can help you manage your rentals more efficiently, saving you time and money in the process.
2. Easier Reservations – With a booking engine, potential guests can easily find and reserve your rental online, without having to call or email you directly.
3. Better Guest Experiences – By automating many of the tasks related to renting out your property, you can ensure that guests have a positive experience from start to finish.
4. More Time for Marketing & Maintenance – With all of the administrative tasks taken care of by your software or engine, you’ll have more time to focus on marketing your property and maintaining it in top condition.

My PMS/Booking Engines Recommendations

#3 Online Travel Agency

When it comes to booking travel, prospective guests have so many options to choose from and as a property owner, you want to be available for them to see you. One of the growing sources of bookings comes from Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and there are few reasons to avoid using one. OTAs offer a variety of benefits that can save you time and money.

However, there are some considerations to listing your property on an online travel agency such as:

OTA Recommendations

There are several options here and based on your location, property size, and needs the best Online Travel Agency for you would vary. I would recommend you do some research or check out this analysis of major OTAs by Cloudbeds

#4 Email Marketing Tools

Email Marketing is one of the most effective ways to communicate with your customers. Not only is it convenient for them to receive communication in their inbox, but you also have the ability to track how many people open and click through your messages. This valuable information can help you improve your marketing strategy and keep your customers engaged.

Here is a list of email marketing tools I use:

#5 Social Media Platforms

Though some business owners may be hesitant to use social media platforms, there are many benefits to doing so. Social media can help you connect with customers, boost your SEO, and drive traffic to your website.

In addition, using social media can help you build a brand for your business and create a community of loyal customers. If you’re not using social media yet, now is the time to start!

#6 Online Payment Gateway

In today’s digital age, more and more consumers are using online payment methods to make their purchases and bookings online. This is why it’s important for you as a hospitality provider to offer your prospective guests the option to pay with a credit card or debit card. One way to do this is by using an online payment gateway.

Here are some of the benefits of using an online payment gateway for your vacation rental property:

1. Increased security – An online payment gateway provides increased security for your customers’ financial information.
2. Convenience – Customers can use their cards to pay for their booking from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.
3. Enhanced customer service – With an online payment gateway, you can offer your customers real-time order booking confirmation and other booking details.

Some of the most popular online payment gateways include Paypal and Stripe. However, they are many local payment gateway providers that may be more convenient for you to utilize in your region.

#7 SEO Software

If you’re running a hospitality business, then it’s important to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to get the word out there. One of the best ways to do this is by using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) software.

SEO software can help you improve your website’s ranking on search engines, which means more people will be able to find your business online. In addition, SEO software can also help you track your website’s analytics, so you can see how well your marketing campaigns are performing. Overall, using SEO software is a great way to boost your hospitality business’ visibility online and increase traffic and sales.

Conclusion

While there are many tools and software that can help you grow your small hotel or vacation rental business, the ones we’ve listed here are some of the most essential.

If you don’t have a website, start with that. Once you have a website, focus on getting a property management software/booking engine to make it easy for guests to book their stay.

From there, consider working with an online travel agency to reach even more potential guests and boost your sales. Finally, make sure you’re using email marketing tools to keep in touch with past guests and drive bookings for future stays.

With these essential tools in your arsenal, you’re ready to take your business to new heights!

What tools are you using to grow your vacation rental business? Let me know in the comments!