Hi, I’m Yorick Roos, an Experience Designer at Hosting Guests. With over 10 years of experience in the travel industry working with major tour operators, I’ve seen time and time again how essential having your own website is for the success of a vacation rental. In this blog, I’ll share tips to help you get started and show you why it’s a smart investment.
Table of contents
- Take control of communication
- No more paying commissions
- Build trust with a professional look
- Avoid dependence on one platform
- Inspire your guests
- Improve visibility in search engines
- Increase repeat bookings
- Always an information hub
- Gain insights through data
- A website that grows with you
- Easily advertise with targeted campaigns
- Let us help you
1. Take control of communication
With your own website, you’re no longer dependent on external platforms to communicate with your guests. Everything—from bookings to questions—goes directly through you. This allows you to build a personal connection with your guests without third-party restrictions.
2. No more paying commissions
Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com charge significant commissions per booking. With your own website, you save on these fees. Guests can book directly with you, which not only saves money but also builds trust. You can still use these platforms for visibility, but your website gives you an affordable and independent alternative.
3. Build trust with a professional look
A well-designed website makes it easy for guests to book and gives them confidence in your rental. Guests are increasingly looking for extra reliability. A professional website shows you take your vacation rental seriously and provides a sense of security. Enhance this trust with a visually appealing site, high-quality photos, and even a video tour of your property. Including yourself as the host in the content can also help guests feel more connected and reassured.
4. Avoid dependence on one platform
The downside of relying solely on platforms like Airbnb is dependency. A single negative review can lower your visibility. Airbnb might even penalize you by lowering your rating or removing your “Superhost” label. With your own website, you’re in full control of your reputation and can build trust independently.
5. Inspire your guests
Your website isn’t just for bookings; it’s the foundation of the guest experience. Share your story, inspire guests with photos, and provide tips about local attractions. This inspiration can also fuel your newsletters to past guests or those who’ve expressed interest. Social media platforms are another great place to share blogs about your area and activities, making your rental more appealing and increasing your bookings.
6. Improve visibility in search engines
Think of Google as a long boulevard. Without a website, you’re not on the map; with a poorly maintained site, you’re at the back. A well-optimized website can push you higher in search results. For example, if someone searches for “family vacation Costa Brava” or “vacation rental for cyclists in nature,” having a blog on these topics increases the chance of them finding your site—bringing in almost free traffic with minimal effort.
7. Increase repeat bookings
Your website is the perfect tool for staying connected with guests after their visit. Use email marketing to remind them of their great vacation, send special offers like last-minute deals or birthday surprises, and invite them to book again. Returning guests are valuable because they already trust you and know your rental. If your site includes a webshop, repeat guests may even spend more on additional services.
8. Always an information hub
Your website isn’t just useful for attracting guests; it’s a key resource during their stay. While in-stay brochures, like those in our in-stay package, are helpful, your guests won’t always have them on hand. A website serves as a central hub where they can easily find local tips, house rules, or the Wi-Fi password no matter where they are.
9. Gain insights through data
With your own website, you can measure everything using tools like Google Analytics. Track visitor numbers, interest levels, and even uncompleted bookings. As Experience Designers, we can make this data easy to understand so you can adjust your strategy and re-engage potential guests, for example, through newsletters.
10. A website that grows with you
A website is flexible and grows with your needs. You don’t need a fully developed site from day one. Start small and expand over time. Whether you want to add more accommodations, start a blog, or share special offers, your website can handle it all. A website is never truly finished—and that’s a good thing!
11. Easily advertise with targeted campaigns
With your own website, advertising on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Google becomes simple. Focus on busy booking seasons and target specific audiences. Using keywords that guests frequently search for, you can achieve great results with a small budget. This ensures you reach exactly the right people for your vacation rental.
12. Let us help you
We’re here to make creating your website easy and professional so you can focus on your guests. Whether you need just a website or a complete package with branding, email marketing, and maintenance, we’ve got you covered. Want to handle it all yourself? That’s possible too! We ensure your website is user-friendly and ready to go.
An independent website isn’t just a smart choice; it’s the foundation for the success of your vacation rental. Want to know more? Get in touch—we’re happy to help!