Dynamic Pricing

What is Dynamic Pricing?

Dynamic Pricing is an intelligent pricing strategy based on what guests actually paid for bookings of similar properties in your region. Instead of manually setting prices for each season, Dynamic Pricing generates a recommended price curve for the next 14 months that you can adjust and apply with just a few clicks.

As demand changes throughout the year, the system continues to make price recommendations. You have full control over how to use these recommendations: apply them manually with one click whenever you choose, or enable automatic price optimization to let the system adjust your prices automatically within limits you define.

Key Benefits of Dynamic Pricing

• Market-Based Pricing: Your prices are informed by actual completed bookings of similar properties in your area, not just guesswork
• Time-Saving: No need to manually build pricing strategies for each season—the system does the heavy lifting
• Flexibility: Apply recommendations manually or enable automatic adjustments with your own price floor and ceiling
• Always Current: Booking data refreshes weekly, so your pricing reflects real market changes
• Full Control: You can adjust, override, or fine-tune prices at any time

How to Set Up Dynamic Pricing: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Dynamic Pricing

Log in to your Holidu Host Account and navigate to the Pricing tab. If you have a new listing or no seasons configured yet, you'll see an empty state with a "Get started" button. Click this button to launch the guided setup.

Step 2: Choose Your Pricing Tier

Select which tier your property should compete in:

• Budget: Priced like the cheapest approximately 15% of similar properties in your area
• Comfort: Priced around the average of similar properties
• Premium: Priced like the top approximately 15% of similar properties in your area

If sufficient data is available for your property, Holidu will highlight the best-fit category with a "Recommended for you" badge. Your selection determines which group of similar properties you want to compete against.

Note: "Similar properties" means properties in your same focus region with the same maximum occupancy, based on completed, non-cancelled Holidu Homes bookings. This comparison is not based on listed prices from other platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com. Your comparison group is fixed and cannot be manually adjusted.

Step 3: Set Your Season Rules

The guided setup organizes your 14 months into four season types based on local demand patterns:

• Peak: Highest demand period
• High: Strong demand
• Mid: Moderate demand
• Low: Lowest demand period

For each season type, configure:

• Minimum stay requirements
• Weekend markup percentages
• Check-in and check-out day rules

Once you set these rules for each season type, they automatically apply to every date within that season. This ensures consistency without requiring daily manual adjustments.

Step 4: Preview Your New Prices

Before anything is applied, review a detailed comparison showing your new nightly rates versus your current prices. This preview helps you verify that the recommendations align with your expectations.

Important: Applying the guided setup will overwrite your existing prices and season settings, including any manual changes you've made to individual days. You'll always see the comparison before confirming, and you can still fine-tune any specific date after applying.

Step 5: Apply Your Prices

Once you're satisfied with the preview, click "Apply prices" to activate your new Dynamic Pricing strategy.

Managing Dynamic Pricing After Setup

Adjusting Anytime

Nothing is locked in with Dynamic Pricing. You can reopen the feature whenever you like to:

• Adjust your overall price level
• Modify seasonal pricing effects
• Edit specific dates, individual prices, and minimum-stay rules directly in your calendar

Staying Current with Market Changes

Dynamic Pricing keeps your strategy current through:

• Weekly Data Refresh: The booking data underlying your Similar Properties comparison updates every week, gradually reflecting real market changes in your area
• Price Recommendations: As demand shifts, Holidu surfaces price recommendations you can apply with a single click

Automatic Price Optimization (Optional)

If you prefer not to review recommendations manually, enable "Enable automatic price optimisation." With this feature:

• Set your minimum and maximum price range—your floor and ceiling
• Holidu automatically adjusts your price level within this range
• Every change is visible in your price history for transparency
• You're never locked in—return to manual pricing at any time

Note: If the Dynamic Pricing feature is not visible, there may not be enough booking data in your region yet. This typically resolves once more bookings are completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my existing prices be overwritten?

Yes. Applying Dynamic Pricing replaces all your current prices and settings, including any manual adjustments to individual days. You'll see a clear comparison of your new versus old prices before confirming. You can edit individual days manually at any time after applying.

What are the pricing seasons (Peak, High, Mid, Low)?

These are demand-based groups that organize your year into pricing periods. Peak represents the highest demand season, while Low represents the quietest season. You can adjust the settings for each season type before your final prices are applied.

Can I still control my minimum stay requirements?

Yes. Dynamic Pricing suggests minimum stay rules based on demand patterns, but you can edit them manually at any time to suit your property's needs.

Can I adjust my prices later?

Yes. You can return to Dynamic Pricing edit mode at any time to shift your overall price level or change your seasonal effects. You can also manually edit specific dates and price ranges just as before.

What do Budget, Comfort, and Premium mean?

These categories define which group of similar properties you want to compete against. Budget means your property is priced like the cheaper end of your local market. Comfort means you're priced around the average. Premium means you're priced like the top-end properties in your area.

Are cleaning fees or taxes included in these prices?

No. The suggested prices are nightly rates only. Cleaning fees, taxes, and any other charges are managed separately and are not affected by the Dynamic Pricing tool.

What if I want to go back to managing pricing manually?

You can always return to manual pricing. The price curve generated by Dynamic Pricing is a starting point, not a permanent lock-in. You have complete flexibility to adjust or abandon the system at any time.

Is the Minimum Price the absolute lowest I will ever receive for a booking?

No. The Minimum Price applies to your nightly base rate. If you have active discounts (such as a 10% Weekly Discount or a 15% Last-Minute deal), these are calculated on top of your nightly rate. This means the final price a guest pays could be lower than your "Minimum" setting.

Will this change the price of bookings I've already received?

No. Your existing bookings are completely unaffected. Any reservation that is already confirmed remains at the price it was booked at. Dynamic Pricing only updates rates for nights that are currently available and unbooked.

Why don't the similar properties prices match what I see on Airbnb or Booking.com?

The comparison range is based on actual completed bookings within Holidu's own portfolio, not listed or asking prices on other platforms. Some difference is expected because you're comparing real prices paid versus advertised prices.

Can I adjust the comparison area or radius used for the Price Curve?

No. The comparison area (your focus region) is fixed and cannot be manually adjusted. You fine-tune your own pricing level within your selected category using the Price Level slider.

How does Dynamic Pricing handle extra-guest surcharges?

Dynamic Pricing prices for the full number of adults your property accommodates. If you charge a base rate for fewer adults than your capacity allows (for example, a property that sleeps 6 priced for 4 plus 2 extra guests), lower your price level in the wizard accordingly. The system is calibrated for your full capacity.

Summary

Dynamic Pricing transforms how you manage your rental rates by automating the research and providing data-driven recommendations based on your real local market. Whether you choose manual control or automatic optimization, Dynamic Pricing puts you in charge while saving you time and keeping your strategy competitive. Start with the guided setup, review your new prices, and adjust whenever market conditions or your business goals change.