Mark SimpsonHelping short-term rental hosts get the tools, tactics and training to grow direct bookings with confidence

How to take advantage of the workcation trend that's taking hospitality by storm [HIGHLIGHTS] 🚀

22 Feb 2021 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:00

Mark Simpson explains how the pandemic shifted travel: business stay bookings jumped compared to last year, and mentions of remote work tripled in guest reviews. To capture these travelers, list your property for longer stays, highlight fast broadband, and search local Facebook groups to find demand.

Questions this video answers

February 22, 2021.

The amount of people booking a stay for business was higher through August 2020 than in August 2019.

The phrase tripled in reviews in 2020.

Airbnb was said to be introducing a filter based on wi‑fi speed (and promoting month‑long stays for fast broadband).

Chapters

We're going to talk about workcation. Well, workcation is simply people that are going away for work, remote work. Even with everything that's gone on in 2020, the amount of people that are booking a stay for business is higher through August 2020 than what it was in August 2019. The word remote work or work remotely, that phrase, that keyword has tripled in reviews in 2020. So this is something that is definitely happening and I don't personally see this trend stopping anytime soon. And make sure that your listing is relevant to somebody that would be searching for a potential business trip. That is the most simplistic way. A lot of you have have already got properties that are ideal for work occasions, but you've just not ticked the box. So that is the super simplest way. That is the super easiest way. Make sure that you're listing on the OTAs. Again, this is, you know, obviously Boostly is all about boosting your direct bookings, but I've always said this. You've got to make the OTAs work for you when you need them and times like these when you may need them the most. This is where you've got to make sure that you are at least visible on there. Look at localized groups and just search for the conversation to see who is asking questions. In every Facebook group you've got a search bar and you can just type in a couple of keywords. It could be accommodation for business or work away or whatever you want to put in there. Have a search and see what people are talking about. You've got to have a pretty empty calendar to be able to utilize this. But again, if you log on to one of your platforms, OTAs wise Airbnb and whatnot, you'll notice that Airbnb are pushing month long stays if you have super fast broadband. Shout about it. I mentioned earlier in the video that Airbnb are going to have a filter in soon based on what your wi fi speed is.