How to Increase Vacation Rental Bookings

This guide covers how to increase vacation rental bookings with the most popular amenities. Statistics reveal that the vacation rental market industry, which used to be worth $100 billion last year, is now projected to increase for up to $167.9 billion by the end of 2024. With an average revenue per user, amounting to $438.49, it’s no wonder the vacation rental industry keeps growing.  If you’ve just ventured into this kind of business, you should know that the competition is real.

How to Boost Vacation Rental Bookings with the Most Popular Amenities

In the bustling world of vacation rentals, the key to turning lookers into bookers lies in the small details. The right amenities can transform your property from a simple stopover into a must-stay destination. John Strange, a senior mortgage loan originator at Gustan Cho Associates says the following about how to increase your vacation rental bookings:

This guide breaks down the standout amenities guests crave in 2025 and how to weave them into your vacation rental for a noticeable booking jump.

Whether it’s blazing-fast Wi-Fi or a hassle-free pet policy, we’ll deliver hands-on tips to make your space shine on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and across social media.

Why Amenities Matter for Vacation Rental Success

Today’s travelers want more than four walls and a roof. A 2024 report from Airbnb found that 73% of guests zero in on rentals that have the exact perks they can’t live without—things like reliable high-speed internet, a sparkling kitchen, or a dip-in-hot-tub-on-the-balcony vibe. Great amenities don’t just make guests happy; they also sweet-talk the algorithms. When you stack your listing with popular perks, you climb higher on platform search results and get more love on social feeds. More clicks turn into more confirmed stays, which boosts your property’s needs.

Top Amenities to Attract More Vacation Rental Bookings

Here’s a snapshot of the biggest amenities travelers want in 2025, based on what guests are booking, plus smart ways to implement these features.

High-Speed Wi-Fi

• Why It’s In Demand: Thanks to remote Work and digital nomads, 92% of guests say fast, reliable Wi-Fi is on their must-have list, according to the 2024 Vrbo survey.
• They need it for video calls, streaming shows, and staying in touch.

How to Set It Up Right:  

• Get a high-speed plan that offers at least 100 Mbps.
• Check the speed in every room and outdoor space.
• Include “high-speed Wi-Fi” in the listing title and description, like “Charming Cabin by the Sea with High-Speed Wi-Fi.”
• Share on social media: “Work from paradise with our fast Wi-Fi!

Fully Equipped Kitchen

• Why It’s In Demand: A 2024 Booking.com survey shows 68% of travelers want a full kitchen to save money and enjoy the comfort of home-cooked meals.

How to Set It Up Right

• Equip the kitchen with a full set: stove, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, and all the cookware.
• Add a coffee maker, blender, and basic spices to go the extra mile.
• Highlight the kitchen in your listing with phrases like “chef’s kitchen” or “fully stocked kitchen” to catch the eye of foodie travelers.
• Include Instagram-ready photos or Reels of guests cooking a signature meal to drive social media buzz.

How to Increase Vacation Rental Bookings: Hot Tub or Pool

• Why It’s Popular: Luxury travelers want a hot tub or pool the most; 54% of guests look for it, according to Airbnb’s 2024 trends report.
• These perks promise relaxation and a little exclusivity.
• How to Optimize: Add a hot tub, keep your pool sparkling, and post clear safety signs.
• Use gorgeous, high-quality shots of the hot tub or pool in your listing and on social media.
• Sprinkle in phrases like “private hot tub” or “sparkling pool” for better search rankings.
• Share a TikTok of the hot tub lit by stars and tag it #LuxuryRental #HotTubVibes.

Pet-Friendly Policies

• Why It’s Popular: Almost half of U.S. households own a pet, per ASPCA’s 2024 report, so families and long-stay travelers want rentals that welcome fur babies.
• How to Optimize: Spell your pet policy—e.g., “Pets allowed, no breed restrictions”—and set a fair pet fee.
• Add pet-friendly perks—bowls, comfy beds, and a secured yard—so travelers with furry pals love your place.
• Write “pet-friendly vacation rental” in your title, listing, and meta tags.
• Post adorable pet pics on social, like a pup lounging in the yard, and tag it “Your furry friend will love it here! 🐕 #PetFriendlyRental.”

Outdoor Spaces (Patios, Fire Pits, Grills)

• Why It’s Popular: Guests crave outdoor hangout spots.
• The 2024 Expedia report shows 61% want places with patios or fire pits.
• How to Optimize: Set up cozy seating, a fire pit, and a grill.
• In your listing, say, “Enjoy cozy fire pit evenings” or “Patio ready for BBQs.”
• Share snaps of guests around the fire or dining outside, and tag them with #OutdoorLiving and #VacationVibes.

Smart Home Features

• Why It’s Popular: According to the 2024 HomeAway survey, 47% of guests are attracted to Smart TVs, key-free doors, and energy-saving thermostats.
• How to Optimize: Add a smart TV with popular streaming apps—leave guest accounts or a, QR cod readye.
• Set up keyless entry for safe, smooth check-ins.

Smart Home Extras

• Why It’s Popular: Travelers enjoy the ease of modern tech while on the go.
• Searches for “smart home” rose 40% this year alone. Forgetting a light on or the TV remote feels like a thing of the past.
• How to Optimize:  List features like “Smart TV with Netflix included” or “smart thermostat for perfect climate control” in your description.
• Tag your spot on Twitter with a clip showing a guest unlocking the door with a phone, captioned: “Check-in is this easy! 🔑 #SmartRental”

Family-Friendly Amenities

• Why It’s Popular: Families now make up 42% of vacation rental guests (2024 Airbnb data) and want to skip the extra shopping trips.
• Trust us, a crib saved in luggage feels like a vacation win.
• How to Optimize:  Stock a crib, high chair, and a box of board games or toys for the little ones.
• If space allows, add safety gates and outlet covers.
• Highlight “family-friendly” and “kid-friendly” in the title and space descriptions.
• Share a Facebook post of a family gathered around a board game, captioned “Fun for all ages! 🎲 #FamilyVacation.”

Unique or Local Touches

• Why It’s Popular: Travelers crave the flavor of the place.
• A 2024 Trip Advisor survey said 66% of folks prefer rentals with local charm, whether a heck-uva view or a funky artisan lamp.
• How to Optimize:  Sprinkle local artwork, leave a guidebook of your best-hidden spots, or greet guests with a basket of hometown snacks and wine.
• In your listing, brag a little: “Complimentary local wine and handcrafted décor.”
• Go for Instagram Stories showing the basket or a favorite spot on the street, hash-tagging #LocalVibes and #UniqueStay.

SEO and Social Media Strategies to Promote Your Amenities

Your vacation rental must be easy to find online and fun to follow on social media to attract more bookings. Here’s a simple plan for both.

SEO Optimization for Your Listing

• Keyword Research: Start with free tools like Google Keyword Planner to find popular search terms.
• Look for phrases like “vacation rental with hot tub [your area]” or “dog-friendly cabin near [big attraction].”
• Add these phrases to your listing’s title, detailed description, and section headings.

Rich Descriptions

Write full, keyword-loaded descriptions for every amenity. Instead of saying “Wi-Fi is available,” say “Enjoy fast Wi-Fi for working remotely and binge-watching your favorite shows.”

High-Quality Photos

Hire a pro or use good lighting to take clear, inviting photos of your amenities. Be sure to name the photos and use alt text with keywords, like “Cozy cabin hot tub with mountain views.”

Guest Reviews

Ask guests to mention amenities in their reviews. Platforms like Airbnb often rank listings higher if guests use the same keywords you do, especially in glowing feedback.

Social Media Optimization

• Platform-Specific Content: Adjust your posts for each social media site.
• Share quick, eye-catching videos of your amenities on Instagram and TikTok—like a peaceful hot tub sunset time lapse.
• Facebook is better for a full guest story, local tips, or a detailed amenity highlight.

Hashtags

Use popular and relevant hashtags like #VacationRental, #AirbnbFinds, #TravelGoals, plus local tags like #SmokyMountainCabins or #SanDiegoCompat.

Combine them for the best reach.

Engagement

Reply fast to comments or messages. The quicker you respond, the more trust you build and the more your posts get seen by others. Your rentals will stay on travelers’ minds long after they scroll by.

User-Generated Content

Ask guests to snap photos during their stay and tag your property. When they do, share their pics on your page. This adds real-life proof that your place is awesome and shows other travelers what they can expect.

Measuring Success and Staying Competitive

Make sure your amenities pull in bookings.

• Track Performance: Check Airbnb or VRBO analytics to see which amenities guests mention in their questions or reviews.
• Stay Updated: Monitor rival listings and travel trends.
• For example, in 2024, 38% of travelers wanted EV charging stations, so consider adding one.
• Survey Guests: After check-out, send a quick survey to find out which amenities they loved and what they wish they’d had.
• Providing in-demand perks like fast Wi-Fi, fully stocked kitchens, hot tubs, and pet-friendly rules can set your rental apart.

Mix these with SEO-friendly listings and lively social media posts to increase views and bookings. Keep listening to guest feedback and watch industry shifts to ensure your property stays ahead and keeps guests returning. Are you set to skyrocket your vacation rental bookings? Kick things off by reviewing your amenities and fine-tuning your listing right now. Highlight your standout features on social media, and you’ll see your property shine! Reserve your perfect getaway at Vacation Rental today and soak in our luxury salt water hot tub/pool! Head to www.gcaforums.com or follow us for sneak-peek deals on Gustan Cho Associates #VacationRental #TravelInStyle

If you want yours to be among the most successful, make sure your place has all the most popular amenities needed for increased rental bookings such as the following:

How to Increase Vacation Rental Bookings: Pool

A swimming pool is one of the amenities that matter most among U.S. consumers when choosing a vacation rental property. A pool should be among the amenities to be highlighted in your vacation rental management software so that potential guests who are trying to book won’t miss it. Make sure to include a crisp image of the swimming pool in your vacation rental software so that travelers will know that your property has the amenities that they need. The pool has to be something that promises relaxing and invigorating experience each time your guests take that plunge.

Internet/Wifi

You may think that the demand for free internet or Wi-Fi connection is not that significant considering the availability of public Wi-Fi as well as broader coverage of data plans. However, the fact still remains that the majority of leisure travelers consider free internet as one of the most important deciding factors when choosing a place to rent for vacation. But, you also need to know what constitutes a reliable internet connection. Think about having a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps and upload speed of at least 1 Mbps. Its average stability rating should not be less than 3 out of 5. Plus, its latency should not go beyond 500 ms. If your internet connection doesn’t meet these minimum requirements, you run the risk of receiving more complaints than 5-star ratings.

Cable Or Satellite TV

This is one of the most important amenities, especially for guests who spend their vacation days with their children. Cable television will not only serve as a digital babysitter, but it will also greatly prevent the kids from feeling bored. Dale Elenteny, a senior mortgage loan originator at Gustan Cho associates says the following about how to increase vacation rental bookings:

At the end of the day, right after visiting some tourist spots, the next thing that kids would love to do is to relax in front of the tv.

Remember that just because you’re on vacation it does not mean that every waking hour will be spent on outdoor activities. You also need to take a break and unwind. However, make sure your guests have access to a plethora of channels to make them feel they’re getting the best bang for their buck.

How to Increase Vacation Rental Bookings: Premium Bedding

A holiday can’t be a good one if sleep has to be elusive. After all the sightseeing, swimming, shopping and restaurant hopping, going back to one’s rented a place with a comfortable bed that guarantees sweet slumber is nothing short of perfect complement for travelers. To increase vacation rental bookings, your place has to highlight those carefully chosen mattresses, pillows, and sheets. The excitement of going on an escapade must also be coupled with the bliss of getting a good shuteye, every night.

How to Increase Vacation Rental Bookings: Smart Security Devices

A vacation rental property equipped with a smart security system is another crucial amenity that many travelers consider. The enjoyment of going on a holiday would never be fulfilled if one has to be anxious about his own safety and security. Dale Elenteny, a senior mortgage loan originator at Gustan Cho Associates says the following about how to increase vacation rental bookings:

Give your guests the peace of mind by assuring them that your place has the smartest security system where they can just sleep soundly at night.

Your guests will be attracted to rent your place once you earn their trust that they can leave their belongings in there as they go out for a tour believing that everything is going to be safe and secure.

Intelligent Climate Control

A place that’s equipped with intelligent climate control can do wonders in giving your guests one hundred percent guarantee that they’re going to be comfortable in your vacation rental space no matter what the weather is. Property owners must invest in a smart device that allows guests to better regulate the air-conditioning and the heating temperature inside whenever they want to. Thus, you are less likely to receive bad reviews from guests who had a terrible time sleeping because their space was just too hot or too cold for them.

As the property owner, opt for a smart climate control device that also allows you to save on energy costs per year. Putting up your own vacation rental space is no small feat.

But, if you carefully consider what amenities to include you will have more chances of gaining more bookings. Do not forget to update your place, as well as the software you use to manage bookings. This way, your likelihood of getting that high ROI wouldn’t be just a dream to be achieved, but a reality for you to live and enjoy.