Adjust Your Prices to Attract More Bookings and Optimize Profitability
Strategically setting up discounts and surcharges helps you stand out, attract more bookings, and adjust profitability without losing competitiveness. This article explains what they are, how to use them, and how to apply them step by step in Avantio VRMS.
Set Up Discounts and Surcharges in Your Rates
Prices speak for you, as they are the introduction to your accommodations.
Strategically setting up discounts and surcharges not only attracts more bookings, but also gives you room to adjust profitability without losing competitiveness.
What Are Discounts and Surcharges?
In Avantio VRMS, you can apply discounts or surcharges on the base rate of your accommodations:
Discounts: reduce the final price; ideal for special promotions or to highlight an accommodation on specific dates.
Surcharges: increase the base price under certain conditions, such as adding an extra cost for an additional person or encouraging long stays by setting minimum night rules. These rules can be applied by season and adapted to different accommodations.
Benefits of Using Them
Greater Competitiveness: by adjusting prices, you can stand out from the competition.
Flexibility: set different prices according to the season or days of the week.
Optimized Profitability: use surcharges to avoid losing income on short stays or high-demand weekends.
Simple Promotion: discounts facilitate campaigns and boost bookings at key moments.
Quick Access to the Module
Go to the "Revenue" tab.
Select "Discounts and Surcharges."
You will access the list of accommodations and their associated rules. Initially, all will be under the default rule. You can then assign individual or group rules. From here you can:
View accommodations and rule details.
Use the link icon to assign rules to one or more accommodations.
Step by Step: Create and Apply Rules
Create a Rule:
In the same "Discounts and Surcharges" interface, click the "New Rule" button.
The "Discount/Surcharge Rule Groups" interface will open.
In the "Name" field, enter a clear designation indicating whether it will be a discount or a surcharge.In the "Select Properties" dropdown, choose those to which the configuration will apply.
Enter Discount or Surcharge Seasons:
Go to the "Enter Discount/Surcharge Rules" section and enter as many seasons as you need to cover the entire year. To do this:
Click "Add Season."
The "Enter Discount/Surcharge Rules" block will open.
In that section, enter the start date.
Then, define the end date in the "Last Night" field.
In the dropdown section "Select the type of discount/surcharge," choose the appropriate option.
Types of discounts: simple, long-term, last-minute, and early booking.
Types of surcharges: simple and short-term rentals.
Finally, indicate the corresponding percentage for the discount or surcharge.
You can add one or more seasons within the rule.
Optional: You can apply discounts or surcharges only on certain days of the week
Activate the checkbox "I want to apply this rate on certain days of the week."
This is useful, for example, to add surcharges only on weekends.
Best Practices
Centralize the Rules: avoid duplicates; create a single rule and manage seasons from there.
Clear Name: use names that describe the goal (e.g., "Summer Weekend Surcharge," "Early Booking Discount").
Check Compatibility: some portals connected via channel manager have limitations; check before launching the strategy.
Take Advantage of Surcharges for Additional Persons: available in the general rate configuration (not activated by default).
Setting up discounts and surcharges allows you to precisely adjust your pricing strategy: attract more guests, optimize profitability, and maintain flexibility in each season.
Next Step: review your current rates and create a pilot rule by applying a discount or surcharge to a specific accommodation to quickly check the impact on your bookings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I assign the same rule to multiple accommodations?
Can I assign the same rule to multiple accommodations?
Yes, it is possible to do so in groups if the conditions are the same.
Can I apply a discount only on weekends?
Can I apply a discount only on weekends?
Yes, by selecting specific days within the season with the corresponding option.
What happens if an accommodation has no rule assigned?
What happens if an accommodation has no rule assigned?
No valid rates will be displayed for that accommodation, preventing correct bookings.
Where do I set the surcharge for an additional person?
Where do I set the surcharge for an additional person?
In the general rates section. It's optional and not enabled by default.