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

Empty nights coming up? Holidu offers two powerful tools to help you fill those gaps and increase bookings automatically. Learn how to use Last Minute Discounts and Lower Your Minimum Stay features to attract more guests without constant manual updates.

What is the Last Minute Discount Feature?

The Last Minute Discount feature suggests the best discount at the right time based on demand and similar properties in your area. You decide whether to apply it—nothing changes automatically.

Why it helps:

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

How to use it:

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

What is the "Lower Your Minimum Stay for Last-Minute Dates" Feature?

This tool automatically lowers your minimum stay during a set time window, allowing short-stay guests to book when dates are close to check-in. You decide the new minimum stay, how many days before check-in this applies, and whether to add a discount.

Why it helps:

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

How to activate:

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

How it works:

• Respects your advance notice setting (managed in Configuration → General information)
• Temporarily relaxes check-in and check-out restrictions to allow shorter stays
• Always applies the shortest option between your current and last-minute settings

Recommended defaults:

• 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 these features override my seasonal minimum stay rules?

The Lower Your Minimum Stay feature will only apply within your defined last-minute window. Your seasonal rules remain intact outside this period.

Can I use one feature without the other?

Yes, absolutely. Each tool works independently, so you can activate Last Minute Discounts, the minimum stay feature, or both together.

What if my settings already allow short stays?

The system applies the shorter stay duration if needed; otherwise, your existing settings remain unchanged.

Are my check-in and check-out rules affected?

They are temporarily eased for last-minute bookings to allow greater flexibility for short-stay guests within your configured window.

Will my existing discounts be changed?

No. Your existing discounts remain untouched unless you choose to apply new ones suggested by the Last Minute Discount feature.

How does Holidu determine the recommended period?

Holidu uses market data to identify when approximately 20% of bookings for your property type still occur, ensuring recommendations match real booking patterns in your area.

Get Started Today

By combining last-minute stay flexibility with strategic discounts, you can boost your visibility, increase occupancy, and attract more guests without the hassle of constant manual updates. Activate these features in your Holidu Host account and start filling those empty nights.