Home to the Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO, is a hot destination for a diverse group of visitors, including adventurers, photographers, and explorers. According to a 9News report, the park alone receives over 4 million visitors a year.
The thriving tourism industry has transformed the town into a lucrative market for short-term rental housing owners. However, while there's a good flow of visitors throughout the year, there are peak and low seasons. Attracting guests in the off-season months is key to maximizing your vacation rental income.
This article digs into some of the top strategies you can use to maintain a high booking rate year-round.
Focus on Getting Return Customers
During peak travel seasons, you're probably more focused on managing the check-in and check-out processes and keeping the rental in the best condition. That's understandable, but you should also use the high season to cultivate positive customer relationships with the goal of luring them back when the off-season rolls around.
A guest who has had a memorable experience in Estes Park can decide to visit again in the future, but will they want to book another stay in your rental? Offering an exquisite property is an effective way to capture a guest's attention, but it's your customer service that will win their heart.
Go above and beyond to provide a personalized service. Keep an open line of communication and respond to issues/complaints quickly. As you do this, remember to build a contact/email list.
Offer Promotional Offers
According to a Tuck Business School study, 60%-70% of consumers have made a purchase they weren't planning for after being confronted with a promotion. You can use the psychology of price promotions to attract vacation guests in the low season.
This is where the contact list you've been building comes in. Sending a promotional offer to guests who have stayed at your rental is likely to yield good results. For instance, giving one night off when a minimum of three nights is booked, or 50% off the second night, can cause a consumer who wasn't even planning to visit Estes Park to make an impromptu visit.
In addition to, or besides, promotional offers, you can curate special packages that could be appealing to prospective guests. How about throwing in a guided tour of the Rocky National Mountain Park or dining credits to a local restaurant for every multi-night booking?
Don't Ignore Local Travelers
Your target market chiefly comprises travelers from outside Estes Park. Understandably, your digital marketing strategy is designed to target these people.
There's nothing wrong with that, but when the low season strikes, it's time to target the locals in your marketing. Create brochures and flyers and hand them to locals attending events. If you're running digital marketing ads, include Estes Parks as one of your target locations.
Attracting Guests in the Off-Season Simplified!
Attracting guests in the off-season, especially in winter, can seem like an impossible mission, but it's doable. With a good marketing strategy and an awareness of travel trends in Estes Park, you'll be able to bring in a steady stream of bookings.
In addition to your efforts, you can reach out to us at PMI Estes Park. As a full-service vacation rental management company, marketing is one of our core offerings. We have the experience and technology to deploy a marketing strategy that will keep your rental occupied even in the off-season.
