What Is Dynamic Pricing?

Dynamic Pricing is a pricing tool that sets your nightly rates based on what guests actually paid for bookings of similar properties in your region. When you set it up, you get a recommended price curve for the next 14 months. You can adjust that curve and apply it, so you don't have to build each season's prices by hand. As demand changes, Dynamic Pricing keeps making price recommendations. You decide how to handle them: apply them yourself with one click, or turn on automatic price optimisation and let Holidu adjust your prices within the limits you set.

How to Set Up Dynamic Pricing

Step 1: Open Dynamic Pricing

Log in to your Holidu Host Account and go to the Pricing tab. If you have a new listing or haven't configured any seasons yet, you'll see an empty state. Click "Get started" to launch the guided setup.

Step 2: Choose Your Tier (Category)

Select Budget, Comfort, or Premium. This choice defines which group of similar properties you want to compete with:

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

If enough data is available for your property, Holidu highlights the best-fit category with a "Recommended for you" badge.

"Similar properties" means properties in your same focus region with the same maximum occupancy. The comparison is based on completed, non-cancelled Holidu Homes bookings, not listed prices and not listings on other platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com. This comparison group is fixed and can't be manually adjusted.

Step 3: Review Your Price Curve

After you pick a category, Dynamic Pricing shows a suggested 14-month price curve based on seasonality and local demand. You can adjust it with two controls:

• Price level: shifts the whole curve up or down to set your overall nightly rate
• Seasonal effect (Advanced settings): controls how much prices move between seasons, from flat year-round pricing to a more pronounced seasonal curve

Step 4: Set Your Season Rules

The guided setup groups your 14 months into season types: Peak, High, Mid, and Low. These groups are based on local demand. For each season type, set the minimum stay, weekend markup, and check-in and check-out days once. These settings then apply to every date in that season.

Step 5: Preview and Apply

Before any prices change, you'll see a preview that compares your new nightly rates with your current rates. Review the comparison, then click "Apply prices."

Important: Applying the guided setup overwrites your existing prices and season settings, including any manual changes you've made to individual days. You'll see the new and current prices before you confirm, and you can still fine-tune any date afterwards.

Step 6: Adjust Anytime

Nothing is locked in. You can reopen Dynamic Pricing whenever you want to re-adjust your price level or seasonal effect. You can also edit specific dates, prices, and minimum-stay rules directly in the calendar.

Keeping Your Prices Current

• Holidu refreshes the underlying booking data weekly, so your Similar Properties comparison gradually reflects what is happening in your market.
• As demand shifts, Holidu surfaces price recommendations that you can apply with one click.
• If you'd rather not review recommendations manually, turn on "Enable automatic price optimisation." You'll set a minimum and maximum range (your floor and ceiling) for Holidu to work within. Holidu then adjusts your price level automatically inside that range, and every change appears in your price history. You can return to manual pricing at any time.
• If you don't see this feature, there may not be enough booking data yet in your region.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dynamic Pricing

Will my existing prices be overwritten?

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

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

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

Can I still control my minimum stay?

Yes. Dynamic Pricing suggests minimum stay rules based on demand, but you can edit them manually at any time.

Can I adjust my prices later?

Yes. You can return to the editing mode at any time to change your overall price level or your seasonal effect. You can also edit specific dates and price ranges manually.

What do Budget, Comfort, and Premium mean?

These categories define which group of similar properties you want to compete with. Budget means you are priced like the more affordable end of your local market. Comfort means you are priced around the average. Premium means you are priced like the top-end properties in your area.

Are cleaning fees or taxes included in these prices?

No. Suggested prices are nightly rates only. Cleaning fees, taxes, and other charges are managed separately and are not affected by this tool.

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

You can do that at any time. The price curve is a starting point, not a lock-in.

Is the minimum price the lowest amount I will ever receive for a booking?

No. The minimum price applies to your nightly base rate. Active discounts, such as a 10% Weekly Discount or a 15% Last-Minute deal, are calculated on top of your nightly rate. This means the final price a guest pays can be lower than your minimum setting.

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

No. Confirmed reservations keep the price they were booked at. Dynamic Pricing only updates rates for nights that are currently available and unbooked.

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

Dynamic Pricing is based on actual completed bookings within Holidu's own portfolio, not on listed or asking prices on other platforms. Some difference is expected.

Can I adjust the comparison area or radius used for the price curve?

No. Your focus region is fixed and can't be changed. To fine-tune your pricing within the category you selected, use the Price Level slider.

How does Dynamic Pricing handle extra-guest surcharges?

Dynamic Pricing prices for the full number of adults your property accommodates. For example, if your property sleeps six adults and you charge a base rate for four with a surcharge for two extra guests, lower the price level in the setup wizard to reflect your base rate. The suggested curve is calibrated for your full capacity.