Every property has good months and slow months. This is part of the hospitality cycle. Festivals and holidays fill the rooms, but once the peak rush is over, bookings drop suddenly and the stay becomes empty.
For many small hosts, the low season can feel scary. The room is ready, everything is clean, but no one is coming. The good news is: low season does not mean zero income. There are many simple and effective ways to earn even during slow months.
1. Focus on Long Stays
During low season, guests may not book for weekend trips, but they are willing to book for longer stays such as 7, 14 or 30 days.
Long stay guests include:
- Work-from-home travellers
- Students doing short programs
- Minimalist backpackers
- People shifting cities temporarily
Lower rates for longer stays help keep your room occupied and generate steady income.
2. Make Weekday Offers
Most bookings come on weekends. But weekdays create silence in most homestays. Offering a small discount for weekdays can help fill the gap.
Example: “Book 3 nights (Mon–Thu) and get 10% off.”
It keeps the room active instead of sitting empty.
3. Target Locals for Staycations
You don’t always need travelers from far away. Many couples, families, and work professionals in the same city look for a quiet getaway without travel chaos.
Promote:
- Cosy evenings
- Work-friendly setups
- Calm & peaceful stay
People living in big cities are hungry for peace.
4. Offer “Work from Your Stay” Packages
Remote workers need good Wi-Fi, clean space, and privacy. If you can provide that, you can attract a new audience.
Small improvements:
- A table + comfortable chair
- Charging points near bed or desk
- Reliable internet
- Soft lighting
These cost almost nothing but add huge value.
5. Take Beautiful Fresh Photos
Sometimes the stay is beautiful but the listing does not show it. Fresh photos during the low season can help you win bookings for the next cycle.
Try: Better daylight, cleaner frames, less clutter, and warm colours.
6. Improve Your OTA Presence
Platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, and MakeMyTrip run promotions during low months. Participating in these helps ranking and visibility.
Important tip: Responding fast to inquiries during low season helps increase your listing score.
7. Capture Repeat Guests
Guests who already stayed once are easier to bring back.
You can offer:
- 5% loyalty discount
- Late checkout
- Personal message
Small kindness builds long-term booking flow. Best way to do this is using a Booking engine with property management software – it stores all your past customer contact info so you can market them easily. If this interest you reach out to us.
8. Partner with Local Cafés, Studios or Offices
Some businesses have out-of-town guests — like wedding guests, artists, creators, or interns. You can offer them a comfortable stay at a fair price.
Examples:
- Yoga studios
- Film production houses
- IT companies
- Event planners
These guests are usually respectful and book longer stays.
9. Don’t Panic — Low Season Is Normal
Empty rooms during low months do not mean your stay is bad. Even luxury hotels and premium resorts face the same pattern. The key is to adjust, not to worry.
Important reminder: Your stay has value. People will come again.
Final Thoughts
Low season is a time to experiment, improve, build repeat customers, and update your listing. With small strategies, you can keep income flowing even when demand is low.
You worked so hard to build your stay — it deserves to stay active throughout the year.
