Blackout dates are when vacation rental owners refuse to take any bookings because they wish to utilize the property themselves or invite friends or family to stay for free. Owners may choose blackout days for various reasons, including thorough cleaning, repairs, or remodels.
Blackout dates for hotels and airlines are certain times when discounts and promotions are suspended owing to strong demand for travel. Holidays, special events, and peak travel seasons are examples of this. While the word is most often associated with aircraft, it is equally applicable to the hotel business.
Blackout dates are chosen and repeated every year to prevent losing potential money. While these dates were formerly only popular in gateway cities like New York or London, their appeal is spreading worldwide. Discounted pricing is no longer essential to distinguish from the competition since more people are going these days.
What Are the Most Frequently Occurring Blackout Dates?
Most blackout dates for hospitality firms tend to fall around the winter holiday season. Many visitors hurry to obtain lodging promptly from Thanksgiving through the day after New Year’s Day. Special holidays such as the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Memorial Day are also considered blackout dates throughout the summer.
The following are some examples of common blackout dates for accommodations:
- New Year’s Eve
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Weekend
- Valentine’s Day
- Easter Weekend
- Mother’s Day Weekend
- Memorial Day Weekend
- Father’s Day Weekend
- July 4th
- Labor Day Weekend
- Columbus Day Weekend
- Thanksgiving Weekend
What do business blackout dates imply? Because demand is stronger during certain times, hotels may charge higher rates and refuse to accept promotions, enabling them to earn more money.
On the other hand, most homeowners feel that the optimum time to schedule personal activities is during the shoulder season. Early spring and late autumn bring in fewer visitors than summer and winter, making these months perfect for blocking off periods on your reservation calendar.
Should My Vacation Rental Have Blackout Dates?
Blacking out days might negatively impact your search score, depending on the platform you use to market your vacation rental house. Whether or not you black out your dates is mostly determined by your schedule’s flexibility.
If you intend to host Thanksgiving dinner at your vacation rental and your family is counting on you for a place to stay over the holidays, blacking out those dates would be the most sensible choice. If you need to undertake house maintenance, such as repainting the kitchen, you may schedule it during the slow season and mid-week and be relatively certain that no one will book that day.
Blackout dates are important for making sure your plans don’t conflict with possible visitors. They provide you with an entire control over when you’re a host and when you’d prefer to take off your hat and spend time with your family on a holiday weekend.
