Welcome to Hassle-Free RE! In this episode, Dave Menapace and Will Van Wickler tackle a crucial topic for short-term rental hosts: breaking away from reliance on OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) like Airbnb and VRBO. They dive into effective strategies for transitioning guests to direct bookings, helping hosts build stronger, more profitable relationships with their guests.
Dave and Will share both simple and tech-driven methods for capturing guest contact information, including tools like StayFi for gathering emails from all visitors. They also explore creative ways to use social media and Google Business pages to increase visibility and attract repeat bookings. By focusing on automation, thoughtful marketing, and delivering value, they outline a clear path to reducing OTA fees and boosting profits.
If you're looking to grow your short-term rental business by creating a loyal customer base and taking control of your bookings, tune in now for actionable tips on how to successfully break away from OTAs.
TIMESTAMPS
01:00 – How to transition guests from OTAs to direct bookings
02:01 – Simple ways to collect guest information
04:50 – Using StayFi to gather emails from all guests
07:00 – Leveraging Instagram and Facebook to build your brand
10:45 – Setting up a Google Business page for your property
12:02 – Direct booking websites: best practices
16:01 – Offering discounts and incentives for direct bookings
18:00 – Closing thoughts and sponsorship opportunities
#DirectBookings #VacationRentals #ShortTermRentals
