5 reasons to create a website for your holiday rental in 2024

Advertising your holiday rental on platforms like Airbnb or HomeAway is important to reach a wider audience and increase international visibility. However, what should you do if you are tired of paying fees and commissions, or have regular clients who want to book directly with you? The answer is simple: create your own website for your holiday rental. A dedicated website will allow you to increase your bookings and take greater control of your business's online presence. However, not just any website will do! You should create an attractive and optimised page for property rentals, which includes functionalities such as a booking engine and a payment platform, among others. Below, we give you 5 reasons why you should create a website for your holiday rental. Keep reading!

1. Accept direct bookings

One of the main reasons to create your own website for your holiday rental is to be able to accept direct bookings. A recent study on hotel occupancy showed that 65% of users prefer to make their hotel bookings directly through the provider's website instead of through tourism agencies, like Booking.com, or intermediary platforms. Furthermore, accepting direct bookings will save you from paying host fees and will save your guests the commissions that many agencies impose. A win-win situation!

Download the free tax guide for tourist accommodations.

2. Generate online credibility

Currently, any company with a minimum of reputation has a website. If not, wouldn't it seem suspicious to you? The same mentality could apply to your holiday rental. While it is true that OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are perfect showcases, having your own website will help you differentiate yourself from your competitors and increase your online credibility. In addition, your own website will also allow you to position yourself on the Internet independently and appear in direct Google searches, which will contribute to improving your credibility. Think of a website as a business card: if someone is interested in your property, what URL would you give them? Do you think it is beneficial for your business to direct them to an external platform's website? The answer is: no; and for this reason, a dedicated page is fundamental for any owner.

3. Strengthen your own brand

Creating a website is the first step to building a solid brand presence on the Internet. However, to achieve this purpose, consistency is essential and must be present in each of your sections and communications online. Always use the same corporate colours, the same tone of voice, and the same photographic style so that users associate it with your brand. Precisely, your brand will be what allows you to stand out from your competitors and will help your guests associate your business with more than just “another holiday rental”. Platforms like Airbnb have thousands of listings: turn your brand into that differential factor that attracts hesitant guests!

4. Enjoy total freedom

Having your own website will allow you to control 100% of the content published on it. Do you want more photos on the main page? No problem. Do you want to add a new section with instructions on how to get to your property? Go ahead! Holiday rental portals and OTAs impose certain restrictions on the content that hosts can publish, from the number of characters to the number of photos allowed. On your website, you set the rules. Customise your site to offer the content you consider relevant to your guests, without limits or restrictions.

5. It's very simple!

Setting up your own website doesn't have to be a headache. In fact, companies like Lodgify offer website templates for holiday rentals, fully customisable, and which include all the necessary functionalities to promote your property online: booking engine, payment platform, and optimisation for mobile devices and SEO, among others. Setting up your own website will take you barely a few minutes and in less time than expected, you will be receiving your first direct bookings via the Internet.‍

Did you like this post about creating a website for your holiday rental? You can subscribe to the newsletter by filling out the form below. You will receive a weekly email with practical tips to increase the productivity of your holiday rental business. Furthermore, if you want to save time and money with key handover, you can check out Raixer's smart lock here.