How to Boost Your Bookings with Holidu's Last-Minute Discounts

Do you have empty nights coming up? Holidu offers two powerful tools to help you fill those gaps and increase bookings automatically: Last Minute Discount and Lower your minimum stay for last-minute dates. These features use market data and guest behavior patterns to attract spontaneous travelers without requiring constant manual adjustments.

What is the Last Minute Discount Feature?

How it works

This feature suggests the optimal discount at the right time, based on demand and comparable properties in your area. You maintain full control—nothing changes automatically unless you approve it.

Key benefits

• Fills empty nights close to check-in
• Attracts spontaneous travelers and last-minute business trips
• Works alongside your existing discounts (except the "New Listing" discount)

How to activate

1. Log in to your Holidu Host account
2. Select your property
3. Go to Opportunities or Discounts
4. Review suggestions and apply the ones you prefer

What is the "Lower your minimum stay for last-minute dates" Feature?

How it works

If your minimum stay requirement is too long, you may miss bookings from guests looking to book close to check-in. This tool automatically reduces your minimum stay during a time window you set, allowing short-stay guests to book your property.

You control:

• New minimum stay duration (e.g., 2 nights)
• How many days before check-in this applies
• Whether to add an additional discount

Key benefits

• Boosts occupancy, especially for properties with longer standard minimum stays
• Improves visibility on booking platforms
• Runs automatically once activated

How to set it up

1. Log in to your Holidu Host account
2. Go to Discounts
3. Scroll to Lower your minimum stay for last-minute dates and select Configure
4. Set your preferred values (e.g., 2-night stay, 27-day window)
5. Click Activate

Understanding advance notice settings

This feature respects your advance notice setting, which controls how far in advance a booking must be made before check-in. To update this:

1. Log in to your Holidu Host account
2. Select your property
3. Go to Configuration → General information
4. Scroll to Plan for your guest's arrival → Advance notice
5. Click Edit, choose your preference (same day, 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days), then click Save

Recommended defaults for best results

• Minimum stay: 2 nights
• Check-in window: 27 days
• Expected results: approximately 5% more occupancy and 5% more net income for properties with 3+ night minimum stays

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this feature override my seasonal minimum stay rules?

Yes—but only within your defined last-minute window. Outside that period, your standard rules apply.

Can I use one feature without the other?

Absolutely. The Last Minute Discount and the lower minimum stay feature work independently, so you can activate either, both, or neither based on your property strategy.

What if my settings already allow short stays?

The system applies the shorter stay duration between your current and last-minute settings, ensuring you always offer the most flexible option during the last-minute window.

Are check-in and check-out rules affected?

Check-in and check-out restrictions are temporarily eased for last-minute bookings to facilitate shorter stays.

Will my existing discounts change?

No. Your existing discounts remain unchanged unless you choose to apply new ones alongside these features.

How does Holidu determine the recommended time period?

We use market data and booking patterns specific to your property type. The default 27-day window aligns with when approximately 20% of bookings for properties like yours typically occur.

Get Started Today

By combining last-minute stay flexibility with strategic discounts, you can boost your property's visibility, increase occupancy rates, and attract more guests—all without the hassle of constantly updating settings manually. Activate these features in your Holidu Host account today and watch your bookings grow.