How far do you discount?
-
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2017 6:50 pm
- Location: Norfolk
How far do you discount?
We are fully booked for the school holidays but lots of gaps till then.
We have tried 15% off in May and 10% off in June and July.
If we go lower do we sound desperate or attract the wrong sort of guest?
We are with an agent.
What level of discounts work for you?
J&K
We have tried 15% off in May and 10% off in June and July.
If we go lower do we sound desperate or attract the wrong sort of guest?
We are with an agent.
What level of discounts work for you?
J&K
Hi,
Could it be that you need to look at this from a different angle?
You have an agent - what is your agent doing for you? Look very critically at your advert,photos, write up. Etc
It’s all too easy for an agent to say “discount” in the same way an estate agent says “drop your price” when you question them.
That is because they lose far less in reduced commission than you do in income.
I would agree with Cymraes - many people are booking later these days. You should market from the point of view that you believe your prices are correct. If the sites you advertise on or the agent doesn’t get you bookings then change something.
Could it be that you need to look at this from a different angle?
You have an agent - what is your agent doing for you? Look very critically at your advert,photos, write up. Etc
It’s all too easy for an agent to say “discount” in the same way an estate agent says “drop your price” when you question them.
That is because they lose far less in reduced commission than you do in income.
I would agree with Cymraes - many people are booking later these days. You should market from the point of view that you believe your prices are correct. If the sites you advertise on or the agent doesn’t get you bookings then change something.
-
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:12 pm
- Location: Chester, North West England & Sidmouth, East Devon
- Contact:
10% for returning guests. We've tried various other discounts - 10% if you book before end of January or up to 20% for a late booking. They don't seem to work so I'm thinking about just having the 10% for repeats. Each year we get more and more repeat bookings so I'm hoping we'll reach a point when we don't need to work so hard to attract new guests.
Jo
Joint owner of Baker's Cottage in Chester & Chandler's Cottage in Sidmouth
Joint owner of Baker's Cottage in Chester & Chandler's Cottage in Sidmouth
-
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2017 6:50 pm
- Location: Norfolk
- NeatandPicky
- Posts: 377
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:58 pm
- Location: Pissouri Bay, Cyprus
- Contact:
Offering discounts did not work for us. We tried it in the early days and in every instance had issues - concluding we had undervalued our product and sent the wrong message to guests.
Also it gets tricky if/when you've offered a shoulder season discount then they ask to return in peak weeks.
No takeup offering early booking discounts to potential returners. (Conclusion: everyone says they would love to return to keep the owners sweet.)
What has been appreciated is the offer of a low initial holding deposit for a return stay, with the balance of the deposit in January (peak booking time).
We are in a highly competitive market with similar villas built by the same developer, but (naturally) we think our offering is better. We are lucky that there is a large pool of returning guests to the resort. Feedback indicates that regular maintenance and investment in fixtures and fittings are the key for us. Not only do we devote a lot of time and effort, but we are constantly updating and improving. We benefit from the fact that quite a few owners around us don't want this hassle.
Oh and I spend a LOT of time on the website - albeit in fits and starts. This is our sole source of advertising, apart from recommendations.
Also it gets tricky if/when you've offered a shoulder season discount then they ask to return in peak weeks.
No takeup offering early booking discounts to potential returners. (Conclusion: everyone says they would love to return to keep the owners sweet.)
What has been appreciated is the offer of a low initial holding deposit for a return stay, with the balance of the deposit in January (peak booking time).
We are in a highly competitive market with similar villas built by the same developer, but (naturally) we think our offering is better. We are lucky that there is a large pool of returning guests to the resort. Feedback indicates that regular maintenance and investment in fixtures and fittings are the key for us. Not only do we devote a lot of time and effort, but we are constantly updating and improving. We benefit from the fact that quite a few owners around us don't want this hassle.
Oh and I spend a LOT of time on the website - albeit in fits and starts. This is our sole source of advertising, apart from recommendations.
I had a guest requesting a discount for my ast 2 summer weeks which I didn't accept and I have since sold both the weeks at the full price. September is still empty but I am hopeful some weeks will shift without a reduction.
I am never keen to reduce as I think it devalues what we offer. Many of us already work within tight budgets plus guests then expect to get things cheaper, not understanding the real value of their holiday. I do sometimes go the other way about this and offer an extra such as a special welcome basket of local foods but I have no idea if this is what tips people to book or they would have booked anyway!
I am never keen to reduce as I think it devalues what we offer. Many of us already work within tight budgets plus guests then expect to get things cheaper, not understanding the real value of their holiday. I do sometimes go the other way about this and offer an extra such as a special welcome basket of local foods but I have no idea if this is what tips people to book or they would have booked anyway!