Why direct bookings matter more in Byron
Booking platforms bring guests, but every booking comes with a commission, and the platform owns the relationship with your guest. For many Byron Bay and Northern Rivers accommodation providers, getting more guests to book direct is one of the simplest ways to improve margins.
Local rules have made this even more important. Since September 2024, most non-hosted short-term rentals in Byron Shire have been limited to 60 days a year, with different rules in some precincts of Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. Check the current Byron Shire Council rules for your property. When the number of nights you can book is limited, keeping more of each booking matters.
Start with a website guests trust
Guests often find you on a booking platform first, then search your name on Google to see if you have your own website. If they find a fast, good-looking site with clear information, many will book there instead.
- Large, high-quality photos of the property and the area
- Clear details on rooms, amenities, check-in and policies
- Real reviews from past guests
- Easy-to-find contact details for questions
Make booking simple
The booking journey is where direct bookings are won or lost. Availability should be easy to check, prices clear and the booking process short, especially on mobile, where most travel searches happen.
We built Coast Getaways, a boutique holiday accommodation website, with stay search and booking built in so guests can go from browsing to booking without leaving the site.
Use Google Ads to catch searches for stays
People search for accommodation in Byron Bay all year, and especially before summer, Easter and the festival weekends. Google Ads can put your property in front of them when they search, and send them straight to your own booking page.
- Bid on your own property name, so guests searching for you land on your site, not a platform
- Target searches for the type of stay you offer and the area you're in
- Adjust budgets around the seasons, so you're spending when demand is highest
- Track bookings, not just clicks, so you know what each direct booking costs
Bring guests back
Once a guest books direct, you can stay in touch. Past guests are often your best source of future bookings, and you won't pay a commission to reach them again.
Need help with direct bookings?
We design accommodation websites and run Google Ads for businesses across the Northern Rivers. Read more about how we work with Byron Bay businesses, or send us your website and we'll show you where you're losing direct bookings.
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