The Fourth of July is just over two weeks away. Is your vacation rental booked?
If you still have vacancies, don’t fret: Our 2023 Summer Report showed a year-over-year increase in last-minute bookings, and there’s no reason to think the trend won’t continue this summer. After all, 24 million seats are expected to depart from U.S. airports over Fourth of July weekend. Chances are, some of those travelers are still looking for accommodations, and your vacation rental might be just what they’re looking for.
So, let’s review some effective ways to market your vacation rental for the Fourth of July this year. Before you know it, you’ll be booked and on your way to your own celebration!
1. Provide routes to nearby fireworks
Everyone wants to catch a memorable fireworks show on the Fourth of July, so be sure to highlight how close your rental is to nearby shows. Be sure to include distances to the location via car, bike, and foot, if possible! In addition, mention any times to be aware of, your own local tips (i.e., free parking lots), and suggestions for nearby dinner spots.
If there are numerous shows that happen nearby, list them all to give potential renters a variety of options. If your guests are staying for multiple nights and can catch more than one show in the surrounding towns, they may be more likely to choose your property over a competitor’s.
2. Highlight room for big groups and families
Nothing beats a Fourth of July party with all your family and friends. So, chances are your guests will be looking for properties that can host large groups of people.
If your vacation rental has an abundance of space to offer, you should emphasize this in your listing. Having plenty of room for a larger number of guests is one of the biggest advantages you hold over hotels and smaller rentals, and you should take advantage of that.
Targeting traveling families or bigger groups with your listing will definitely be worth your while for this holiday season.
3. Offer outdoor gathering space
Next to Labor Day and Memorial Day, the Fourth of July may be one of the most popular holidays for gathering with family and friends for a barbecue to remember. So, if you have outdoor space your guests can use, be sure to mention this in your listing. You may also want to stock up on (and highlight) outdoor amenities your guests will appreciate, such as a grill, outdoor seating, a fire pit, string lights or tiki torches, and kid-friendly outdoor toys.
Include high-quality photos of the outdoor area if you don’t already have them posted on your listing sites. Remember to remove clutter and clean up the space before taking and posting any photos. You want potential renters to see themselves hosting their friends there or spending a relaxing afternoon with their family.
4. Go all out on security
As with any big national event, July Fourth can have its downsides—particularly when it comes to petty crimes. Each year on July 5th, the “crime recap” of the night before will often include home robberies as everyone is gone with family and friends to watch the fireworks or barbecue for the day.
Use this as a perfect opportunity to remind potential renters that your property is their best bet by promoting the security measures you have in place. Mention specific features and why they’ll help keep your renters safe.
Good options to consider include outdoor security lighting, a wireless security system, window and door sensors, and keyless entry or smart locks.
5. Incentivize travelers with last-minute deals
As we mentioned above, our 2023 Summer Report showed a year-over-year increase in last-minute bookings. Encourage these late planners to choose your rental by running a deal for those who have last-minute time off or a change of plans.
If you have a large social following, this makes for an ideal social media post. Use hashtags like #flashsale and #lastminutedeals to attract people who are scouring social channels for opportunities. Pair your post with an epic, eye-catching shot of your backyard or the local fireworks show to drive interest and engagement.
6. Use dynamic pricing
Unsurprisingly, demand for accommodations during Fourth of July weekend is high. Make sure you capitalize on this demand by using a dynamic pricing tool to help you get the best rate possible.
Dynamic pricing tools use an algorithm to calculate and adjust prices in real time. The algorithm takes into account supply and demand, market conditions, local trends, listing attributes, and more to automatically optimize your rates. So a dynamic pricing tool could, for example, increase your rates for Fourth of July weekend and then lower them once the holiday is over, maximizing your revenue while ensuring you remain competitive as well.
Want to try out dynamic pricing? Lodgify Dynamic Pricing is incredibly easy to implement, lets you set minimum rates so you remain in control of your pricing strategy, and generates an average revenue increase of 20%.
Happy Fourth of July!
So there you have it! Six great ideas to ramp up your marketing before the Fourth of July. Use these suggestions to catch last-minute planners and remind them why your vacation rental is the perfect spot to celebrate our nation’s independence this year.
About the Author
Jessica Thiefels has been writing for more than 10 years and spent the last five years in marketing. After stepping down from a senior marketing position, she’s focusing on growing her own startup and consulting for small businesses. Follow her on Twitter @JThiefels.