šŸ  Travel Trends for 2025

And according to Airbnb, 40% of UK families return to the same place every year

šŸ‘‹ Welcome to this weeks newsletter. I feel this weeks newsletter is a good balance āš–ļø of providing news, useful resources and tips. Which section(s) do you find the most useful šŸ¤”?

See you next Saturday at 5pm?

Phil

Founder, My Holiday Guide

IN THE NEWS

Abolition of FHL Tax Regime

A number of the trade associations had representatives at the recent Political Party Conferences with some mixed feedback. The Lib Dem and Conservative Conference was largely positive however the Labour Conference was more concerning with PASC commenting :

We have a pile of work to do, to build an effective group of Labour MPs that will support and champion our sector in Parliament.

If you havenā€™t done so already, do check out the FREE 43 page ebook from Zeal that provides a pretty comprehensive description of the planned changes and, as an owner what actions you need to take.

Other News

  • For all owners who provide ā€˜winter letsā€™ (lets in the 3-6 month region), there is a proposed bill on its way through Parliament - The revised Renters (Reform) Bill 2023 (RRB). It is believed that, as it stands this bill will stop these type of lets from taking place. We will seek out more detail on the implications of this bill in future editions of the newsletter

  • In Scotland a major victory for campaigners over Highland Councilā€™s STL control area for Badenoch and Strathspey in overturning policy decision on license applications

  • Airbnb have revealed their top tips for booking a more adventurous family holiday :

    • UK parents eagerly book their next family trip within just a few weeks of the new school year starting

    • Over 40% of UK families choose to return to the same place every year, with half of parents admitting to finding booking holidays stressful. Another good reason to try and gain a guests email address and contacting previous guests. Read our article on how to increase repeat bookings

    • Top trending domestic categories for UK families this half term :

      • Iconic cities ā€“ 19% increase

      • Beachfront ā€“ 13% increase

      • Golfing ā€“ 10% increase

  • Lodgify have released a number of product feature updates including a new-and-improved Pages section in their Website Builder, Airbnb review tags and a new option to hide ā€œfromā€ prices for your listings

LISTING PERFORMANCE & GROWTH
Tips and strategies to enhance the visibility and attractiveness of your holiday let.

Travel Trends for 2025

Beyond Pricing have created a blog post with some interesting recommendations based upon data and trends they are seeing through their dynamic pricing software.

Below are some of their recommendations for hosts as you start to consider 2025, along with some takeaways for you to consider.

34% of travellers start their search with Google, while 14% initially turn to vacation rental platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com

Increase your online presence by enhancing your SEO if you have a website and optimising your Google Business profile.

64% of travellers favour hotels for their familiarity, comfort, and perceived value.

Vacation rentals, while popular among 23% of respondents, are seen as best for group stays or unique experiences.

Capitalise on the unique advantages of your short-term rental, such as offering more space, privacy, or home-like amenities that hotels lack. Highlight these features in your listing and Google business profile.

Eco-friendly travel is increasing, appealing to 31% of travellers. With the demand for sustainable and personalised accommodation set to grow.

Implement additional sustainable practices in your holiday let, such as energy-efficient appliances, recycling options, or eco-friendly toiletries. Our interactive inventory list contains many eco-friendly options you can explore.

While 46% of travellers are open to using AI to plan their trips, concerns about trust and spontaneity remain barriers.

Stay tech-savvy and consider integrating AI-powered tools that enhance the guest experience. We have a great article on how to use AI for your holiday let.

80% of travellers are willing to pay more for better amenities or prime locations. Highlighting that travellers value comfort and peace of mind, especially when venturing into unfamiliar locations.

Although cleanliness is a given. Ensure your listing description and photos really help promote your property. Invest in some high quality photos and include additional photos and details about the local area to put guests at ease when choosing your property.

FEATURED RESOURCE - BROUGHT TO YOU BY DIRECT BOOKING SUCCESS
Highlighting useful tools and resources for your holiday let.

The DBSS 2024 kicks off this Tuesday.

This totally free event features 30 amazing speakers who are ready to teach you effective strategies to boost your direct bookings and enjoy your revenue without hefty commissions for OTAs. Each day, youā€™ll walk away with:

  • Proven tactics to skyrocket your direct bookings (and your profits)

  • Insider secrets to building unshakeable guest trust

  • Time-saving hacks to streamline your operations

  • Cutting-edge AI strategies that maintain that crucial personal touch

Each presentation will be available for 24 hours after airing. But hereā€™s the real scoop - you can get lifetime access to all the content (plus amazing bonuses) by grabbing the All-Access Pass. Itā€™s an absolute steal for the value youā€™re getting.

IN THE DIRECTORY
Cleaners and Housekeepers

If youā€™re on the lookout for a new cleaner, our resources directory we have a list of over 90 housekeeper and cleaners who say that they provide services to holiday let clients.

INTERIOR DESIGN
Interior design inspiration and decor tips.

PROPERTIES OF THE NEWSLETTER
We all love looking at and getting inspiration from other properties so hereā€™s our top pick for this edition.

NO FOMO
Missed last weeks newsletter? Hereā€™s one thing you might like.

Whatā€™s the best software tool forā€¦

In last weeks newsletter we highlighted a resource that provides a comprehensive list of software for every aspect of running your holiday let.

SHARE AWAY
Do you find our newsletter useful? Feel free to forward it to your host friends so they can benefit too.

If a friend sent you our newsletter, you are welcome to subscribe to not miss next weeks edition.