Relying only on Airbnb or VRBO can be risky if a listing is paused or removed. Direct booking capability keeps your home visible and rentable no matter what happens on other platforms, protecting your income and stability.
How Open Air Homes Is Growing Direct Bookings for Vacation Rentals
A Smarter Way to Manage Vacation Rentals
When choosing a property manager, make sure they can take direct bookings. Relying only on Airbnb or VRBO limits visibility, adds unnecessary fees, and reduces control over your business.
At Open Air Homes, as of October 2025, half of our reservations now come directly from guests who return year after year. We’ve doubled down on this strategy to ensure higher occupancy, better guest retention, and long-term independence from major travel agencies.
By The Numbers: 2025 In Review
How We Stack Up Against the Market
Our Los Angeles portfolio booked 70.1% of available nights in 2025, compared to 44% among similar listings within Airbnb. In the most competitive short-term rental market in California, this performance reflects disciplined pricing, review velocity, and consistent operational execution.
Dynamic pricing, pet-friendly positioning, and a focus on longer stays help us extract more value from each calendar while protecting peak-season rates and guest quality.
Our Greater Palm Springs portfolio booked 44.2% of available nights in 2025, compared to 40% across the broader market and significantly above similar listings within Airbnb. In an oversupplied desert market, this performance reflects disciplined pricing, seasonal strategy, and careful calendar control.
Dynamic pricing, pet-friendly positioning, and a focus on longer stays help us extract more value from each calendar while protecting peak-season rates and guest quality.
Our listings averaged 120% more page views than comparable homes during Jan ’25 → Jan ’26, according to data collected through Airbnb.
High-impact photography, A/B-tested headlines, and dynamic pricing tools keep us locked above the fold, reaching travelers before they even start filtering.
Our listings appeared on page one 56.5% of the time in 2025, compared to 26% for similar listings on Airbnb.
This consistent placement reflects pricing discipline, photography quality, and review velocity across our portfolio.
Our listings converted at 0.30% in 2025, compared to 0.16% for similar listings on Airbnb. That gap represents an 88% conversion advantage, up from 60% in 2024.
Higher conversion means more bookings from the same traffic, translating directly into higher occupancy and net revenue.
Our guests stayed an average of 10.9 days in 2025, compared to 5.5 days for similar listings on Airbnb.
This nearly 2x advantage reflects intentional design, pricing strategy, and a belief that longer stays are the future of short-term rentals.
Why Direct Bookings Matter
Better Returns and Stronger Guest Relationships
Direct bookings mean no OTA commissions, lower guest fees, and more money back to homeowners. Our returning guests often rebook by text message, skipping third-party platforms entirely.
This personal connection helps build trust, loyalty, and repeat visits. The result is consistent occupancy and a reliable income stream for every home we manage.
Preparing for the Future of Search
AI, SEO, and the Evolution of Discovery
We’re preparing for a future where AI will transform how guests find homes. Soon, travelers will describe their perfect stay—like “a three-bedroom home in Venice Beach with a cold plunge and RH furniture”—and instantly see the best options.
Through advanced SEO and AI optimization, Open Air Homes properties are already appearing higher in Google and ChatGPT search results. As the industry evolves, we’re ensuring our listings stay visible to the guests most likely to book.
Powered by Hostaway and Safely Insurance
Technology and Protection You Can Rely On
We use Hostaway, an industry-leading platform that connects our direct booking system with major travel sites including Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and Google Travel. This gives us full visibility and flexibility across every channel while maintaining complete control of our guest data.
For protection, we partner with Safely Insurance, which provides better guest screening and faster payouts than standard OTA coverage. Every stay is protected by identity verification and damage coverage—giving homeowners complete peace of mind.
Request-to-Book for Quality Control
Balancing Personalization and Security
We rely on a request-to-book model for all direct reservations. Guests see their full price, enter their dates, and submit for approval. This process ensures every guest is properly vetted and every stay aligns with our standards.
Unlike instant booking platforms, our approach keeps the experience personal while protecting the integrity of each property.
Meta AI Ads That Drive Visibility
Expanding Reach for Homeowners
We run Meta AI ad campaigns to promote select homes directly to target audiences. Using short videos or carousels of up to 10 images, these ads attract high-quality guests ready to book.
Homeowners can start with as little as $30 per month ($1 per day, $2 per day, etc), with options to scale campaigns for broader reach. In a market where supply often exceeds demand, this strategy helps maximize visibility and occupancy.
A Diversified Future for Homeowners
Building Stability and Independence
Depending solely on Airbnb or VRBO can leave any homeowner vulnerable to sudden account restrictions or policy changes. By growing our direct booking channel, Open Air Homes ensures stability and independence for your property’s success.
Our focus is on building a smarter, safer, and more sustainable path forward—one that keeps you connected to guests while maintaining control of your business.
The Open Air Homes Difference
A Boutique Hospitality Approach
We ensure higher rankings, 5-star guest experiences, and stress-free management for consistent rental income.
💬 Direct Bookings For Vacation Rentals FAQ
1. What are direct bookings, and why do they matter?
Direct bookings are reservations made directly through our website rather than through third-party platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. They allow homeowners to earn more by avoiding OTA commissions and help build long-term relationships with guests who return year after year.
2. How does Open Air Homes grow direct bookings?
We combine advanced SEO, AI optimization, and targeted Meta AI ads to reach guests beyond the major booking sites. Nearly half of our reservations now come directly from repeat guests who skip platform fees and book with us again.
3. Are direct bookings protected like Airbnb or VRBO stays?
Yes. Every direct booking is covered by Safely Insurance, which offers stronger guest screening, identity verification, and faster damage claim payouts than standard OTA coverage.
4. Why is having direct booking capability important for homeowners?
5. Do guests save money by booking direct?
Yes. Guests save on platform fees when booking directly with us, which encourages repeat business. This also increases your occupancy and helps your property stay competitive.
6. How does the request-to-book process work?
Guests enter their desired dates, see the total price, and send a booking request. Our team reviews and approves each request to ensure the right guest-home match, maintaining both security and hospitality.
7. Can homeowners promote their own listings through Open Air Homes?
Absolutely. We run Meta AI ad campaigns for homeowners using videos or carousel images. These ads can start at $30 per day and help attract high-quality guests while boosting direct bookings.
8. What technology does Open Air Homes use to manage direct bookings?
We use Hostaway to connect all major booking platforms—Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and Google Travel—while keeping full control of our own reservation system. This ensures seamless calendar syncing, accurate pricing, and efficient guest communication.