Navigating the landscape of the short-term rental market often feels like steering a ship through rapidly changing tides. One concept that frequently arises is the idea of blackout dates.
Understanding and strategically employing blackout dates can be a make-or-break element of a successful business strategy. In this guide, we’ll cruise through everything short-term rental hosts need to know about blackout dates, how they can impact your business, and how to manage them effectively.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
What are Blackout Dates in Short-Term Rentals?
Blackout dates are days or periods during which you deliberately restrict or block off rentals. This could include holidays, personal use, maintenance, or any other scenario where you would prefer to keep your property unoccupied. It’s essentially a strategic “no vacancy” notice that you set for your calendar.
Blackout dates are important to maintaining your business’s operational integrity. They help in planning property management and give you time for personal use. Additionally, they’re part of a broader pricing strategy that allows you to charge a premium for high-demand days.
While the immediate effect of a blackout is no rental income for that period, the strategic implementation can actually contribute to maximizing your overall revenue. By selectively choosing which days to block, you can ensure that when your property is available, it’s at the best price point. Blackouts can also prevent wear and tear on your property, allowing you to maintain higher value for longer.
Common Blackout Dates in the U.S.
Understanding the ebb and flow of the vacation rental market and the typical travel patterns of your potential guests is essential when considering blackout dates. Several days stand out as traditional blackouts that many hosts prefer to block:
- Christmas Eve (December 24)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- Easter Weekend
- Father’s Day Weekend
- Labor Day Weekend
- Memorial Day Weekend
- Mother’s Day Weekend
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- New Year’s Eve (December 31)
- Olympics
- Superbowl Sunday
- Thanksgiving Weekend
- Valentine’s Day (February 14)
- World Series
The periods around major holidays are popular for family travel, and many hosts block these times to either enjoy the holidays themselves or prepare for the wave of holiday travelers. Cities that host major events like Mardi Gras in New Orleans or music festivals often see property managers block rentals to either attend or accommodate the surge in demand from event attendees.
Should You Use Blackout Dates in Your Business Strategy?
In short, yes. Blackout dates are more than a practical necessity. They allow for personal use, maintenance, and strategic pricing. Incorporating them into your annual business planning ensures that you’re maximizing your property’s value.
Analyze your property’s performance data over previous years to identify trends and peak seasons. Leverage this insight to strategically plan maintenance blackouts and set rental prices for the most lucrative periods.
How to Block Out Dates on Airbnb
With platforms like Airbnb, managing your rental calendar and implementing blackout dates is designed to be relatively straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to blocking out your dates:
Using the Airbnb Calendar
Log in to your Airbnb host account and access your hosting dashboard. Navigate to your calendar and select the dates you want to block. Click the ‘Block’ button to confirm the block-out period.
Block Dates on Host Tools
If you have enabled availability syncing on your listings, then Host Tools acts as your “parent calendar”. This means that Host Tools will only consider actual reservations from each of your connected channels (such as Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).
However, any blocked days on those calendars will not be recognized by Host Tools, and it will open them back up. Therefore, any dates you want to block should be directly blocked on the Host Tools calendar.
Here are the steps to blocking dates on your calendar:
- Click and drag across dates on the pricing calendar as you would to manually add a reservation.
- Click on the “switch” next to “availability override” to change the dates from available to blocked.
- Hit save!
Final Thoughts on How to Block Out Dates on Airbnb
Blackout dates are a significant but often misunderstood aspect of short-term rental management. They offer more than just a way to close your doors temporarily; they are a fundamental piece of your pricing and inventory management strategies. By utilizing them effectively, you’ll not only protect your business but enhance it for greater long-term sustainability and growth.
For hosts new to the game, taking the time to understand the power of blackout dates can set you apart from the competition. For seasoned veterans, periodic review and adjustment to your blackout strategy can keep your business sailing smoothly. With the right approach, blackouts become an asset to your business that you control to your advantage.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
