The most popular way for travelers to book vacation rentals is far and above through online booking systems. As a property manager, your best bet when it comes to securing reservations is to take your business online and utilize the many booking software options out there to promote and rent out your accommodations. 

Wondering how to go about it? Read on for all you need to know about short-term rental reservation software.

What is a booking system?

A booking system is a platform through which consumers can reserve products or experiences, be they flights, tours, hotel rooms, short-term rental accommodations or the like. Consumers can browse an online platform for the product or experience that most meets their specific needs and then use a booking system to reserve it for the dates of their choice. Generally, they will be required to make a full or partial payment when booking.

How do I get clients to book online?

There are many ways to encourage your guests to book your properties online, including social media marketing, email campaigns and attractive promotions, but one of the most surefire means of earning online bookings is crafting top-notch listings on the most popular booking software platforms. 

The most successful listings:

• Have eye-catching photos
• Feature complete and inviting descriptions and unique, intriguing titles
• Are optimized to reach the top of the platform’s search results
• Offer confidence to travelers with plenty of 5-star reviews from previous guests

What is the best booking software?

When it comes to vacation rental booking software, the best platforms are the ones that attract the most travelers. That being the case, here’s a list of some of the best booking software on which should be listing your short-term vacation rentals:

• Airbnb
• Booking.com
• HomeAway
• VRBO
• Agoda
• TripAdvisor Rentals

Of course, there are more niche travel platforms that can earn you a great deal of guests in a specific community. For instance, Misterb&b is tailored to the gay traveling community and features vacation homes that are located in gay-friendly areas. While you should definitely be taking advantage of sites like Airbnb, which has matched over 260 million guests with vacation accommodations, you’d be remiss if you did not spread your reach to the more tailored platforms where the competition is less overwhelming.