Managing short-term rentals can feel overwhelming. Many operators rely a lot on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. They’re good for getting bookings, but this dependence might limit your business in a very competitive market. To truly stand out, you need a plan that goes beyond these common channels.

This isn’t just about getting more bookings. It’s about building a stronger and more diversified business that doesn’t rely on just one or two platforms. It’s also about gaining more control over your money and your brand.

The Power of More Options: Why Look Beyond the Usual

Over-reliance on a short list of channels means putting all of your eggs in just a few baskets. It’s risky, and it limits your options as well as your market.

• Less Reliance, More Control: If most of your bookings come from one or two platforms, you’re at their mercy. Changes in their rules or fees can hurt your bottom line. By reaching out to more places, you depend less on them and get more say in your business future.
• Find New Guests: Different platforms bring in a wider range of travelers. There are special OTAs that cater to specific interests or travel styles. Using these can show your properties not only to new guests, but new kinds of guests.
• Build a Stronger Brand: When guests book through other sites, they often think more about the platform than your brand. But direct bookings let you build real connections with guests. This helps make your brand stronger and encourages people to book with you again.

Beyond the Big Two: Other Great OTAs to Explore

Smart operators are spreading out where they list their properties. Here are a few key platforms and what makes them special:

• Booking.com: This is one of the oldest and largest OTAs. It connects travelers worldwide with places to stay. It’s known for its wide reach and strong marketing. It can help you get seen by many people. And as of 2024, Track has an official integration with it.
• Expedia Group (including Hotels.com): This large US-based company owns over 200 travel booking sites. Listing on Expedia means your property gets seen on many platforms. It helps you reach many different kinds of travelers.
• Hopper: This app started for flight bookings. Now, it also lists vacation rentals called Hopper Homes. What’s special about Hopper is its smart tool that guesses future prices. Their platform attracts younger, budget-focused people who often book last-minute on their phones. Hopper makes booking easy and lets you talk directly with guests.
• TripAdvisor: Known globally for reviews, TripAdvisor also lets people book places to stay, including vacation rentals. Its strong reputation for reviews helps build trust with potential guests.

The Best Goal: More Direct Bookings

Getting more direct bookings is a top aim for many operators because it means:

• More Profit: You won’t pay big fees to other websites. More money stays with you.
• Direct Guest Ties: You own guest information. This lets you send personalized messages and do special marketing. It helps you build lasting relationships. This is where you can truly show great hospitality.
• Better Brand Experience: You control the whole guest journey. This ensures your brand feels the same and strong from the start to the end.

But how do you get more direct bookings when the big OTAs seem to show up everywhere?

Your Secret Weapon: Technology That Works for You

Your tech tools are your greatest strength. Done right, automation gives you a real edge. It frees your team from everyday tasks so they can focus on important work like building relationships and delivering amazing experiences to guests.

Track understands these challenges. Our integrated software solutions help vacation rental operators handle the competitive market.

Here’s how Track can help you reach more people and get more direct bookings:

• Powerful TrackDistribution: Our channel manager helps you manage your listings easily across all major channels, like Airbnb, Vrbo, and many others. You can handle all your listings and reviews from one screen. Its powerful batch editing features save time on manual updates.
• Digital Marketing for Hospitality (TrackDMS): To get direct bookings, you need a strong online presence. Our TrackDMS experts create special ads that send people straight to your website. This makes sure your brand feels consistent, from the first click to a confirmed booking.
• Advanced Booking & Reservation System: Track’s easy-to-use booking system offers smart pricing plans and direct booking options. This helps you fill more rooms and earn more revenue. You can react to market changes and set the best prices for any season.
• Owner & Guest Portals: Track has great messaging systems for automatic updates and personal replies. For guests, this means automated reminders, info before they arrive, check-ins during their stay, and follow-ups after they leave. These encourage reviews and repeat visits. For owners, our new Owner Portal and automated reports let them easily see income summaries, maintenance issues, and market info. This builds trust through timely and correct messages.
• AI-Powered Help: AI can make automation more flexible and responsive. Track is bringing in AI features. These include suggestions for review responses that fit your tone and tools that create property descriptions or messages. AI doesn’t replace good operations. Instead, it boosts your plan by taking away busywork. This lets your team focus on important choices.

Automate the Simple for Great Results

Automation’s goal isn’t to replace human interaction. It’s to make it better. By handling routine tasks, automation creates time for valuable human touches. Guests remember these, and owners appreciate them. Think about welcoming a new owner personally. Or following up on a special guest request. Or making a stay special for someone who books often. These moments build loyalty.

Not everything in hospitality should be automated, and not everything can. But the everyday tasks no one notices when they work perfectly are exactly what you can and should take off your team’s plate.

Track gives you the tools to do this for your whole rental business, from booking to reviews and owner reports to back-office operations. Good automation becomes a strong, hidden advantage. It leads to fewer mistakes, quicker workflows, and better business results.

In a market where everyone tries to spend more or grow bigger than others, a little unseen efficiency can be your best difference. Let your team do what only people can do, and let Track handle the rest.

Ready to lead in the hospitality race? Find the power of a truly integrated solution built for your success. Contact us today to learn more about Track’s automation features. Start serving guests better than the competition.