Father Winter might’ve had a tight grip on us this year, but the days are starting to brighten and Mr. Sun is hanging out for a bit longer each day.
That means the people who are looking to book your listing have their summer trip planning fully underway. By taking stock of your listing now, you can get it kicking on all cylinders to connect with the type of summer vacation that people are looking for.
To that end, we wanted to take a beat here to share the top summer travel trends we’re seeing take shape. We’ll also chat ways you can use these trends to help increase your booking flow this year.
Know these top summer travel trends to get more bookings
Businesses of any size need to constantly adapt to stay ahead of the curve. The same is true for you whether you rent out one RV or one hundred. These are the top trends we’re seeing that we think you can use to your listing’s advantage.
1.) Short trips are in vogue
The week-long vacation has fallen out of favor and the four(ish) day micro-cation has taken its place. The reasons for this shift are many, but the bottom line is that this trend allows folks to take more mini-vacations throughout the year — rather than one or two mega vacays.
Listing tip: Many owners set a length of trip discount that provides a deal for bookings of seven nights or more. Change things up by offering a four-day stay discount on your listing to draw in these mini-vacators.
2.) People still crave the outdoors
We all know that wide open spaces and nature were in especially high demand these past few years. And that trend isn’t slowing down.
The outdoor medicine we offer our guests is something that’s vital and beautiful — and it’s something that people are actively seeking.
Listing tip: Take stock of your listing — especially your photos. Do they express the healing power of nature? Are your photos full of action shots in the wild, or are they just shots of your rig in your driveway?
If your listing doesn’t quite capture the beauty of nature, take the time to make it do that. A fun way to knock this out is by taking a family RV trip of your own. Take time to capture photos that show images of how your RV creates connectedness with loved ones and connectedness to nature.
3.) Never underestimate the power of the road trip
A survey of 2,000 Americans found that 73% of them prefer road trips to flying.
Let that sink in for a minute… this means that 73% of the folks looking for travel right now are likely to be seeking the exact type of vacation you offer.
Do you pitch the thrill of a road trip in your listing description?
Does your photo gallery have shots of you and the family peering out your windows over the open road?
Do you share recommendations with your guests about scenic drives in your area?
Listing tip: Check out our road trip guides page to find trips near you to recommend to your renters.
4.) People want to try something new
Another survey of vacationers found that 59% of them have a goal to try something new for vacation this year.
On our end, we’ve seen a steady influx of first-time RVers renting rigs because they want to try out this new form of vacation.
Listing tip: Offer a ‘first-timer’ discount on your rig for renters trying out RVing for the first time. This is also a splendid time to take stock of your key exchange and/or delivery process to make sure that it’s friendly to rookies.
5.) Outdoor time improves mental, physical, and emotional health
Getting outside is known to reduce anxiety, boost mental wellness, sharpen creativity, and improve sleep.
We all know that these are things people deeply need in today’s noisy world. That’s why it’s more important than ever to sell the benefits of the outdoors in your listing.
Listing tip: Offer amenities like an outdoor cookstove, folding fire pit, hangable hammocks, and folding picnic tables so your guests always have the tools they need for outdoor bonding.
Or you could provide something like a telescope for stargazing along with a guide to dark sky areas near you.
Get creative with amenities that’ll wow your guests and give them reasons to seek outdoor healing.
6.) Vacation spend is not slowing down
The U.S. travel foundation predicted an increase in 2023 travel spending compared to 2022. This means that, despite economic uncertainties, people are still planning on and spending on vacations at a high rate.
Because of this, factors you control, such as pricing and marketing, can help you connect with these vacation seekers.
Listing tip: Outdoorsy now offers a way for you to put a QR code sticker or magnet on your rig to get eyeballs to your listing. When folks see your rig on the road, they can snap a shot of the QR code to go right to your booking page.
Now is also a great time to play with pricing and reduce or increase prices for certain months depending on demand. For example, if you know the first part of the summer is a lower travel time for your area, why not offer a lower price at this time to see if it drives an increase in bookings?
7.) People feel more comfortable booking trips further in advance
The uncertainty of the past few years created a trend where folks tended to book more last-minute vacations. Nowadays, it seems that people feel more certain about things because they are booking vacations further out — much like they did in 2019 and before.
Listing tip: Experiment with lower pricing for dates that are further out on your calendar to try to capture some of this early booking traffic.
Travel trends change with the times and what worked yesterday might not work today on your listing. That’s why it’s important to keep tabs on the mood of your potential guests so you can speak to them in the right way. The tips above can help you get your bookings moving in the right direction this season.
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