While Their Competition Struggled, Their Revenue Soared by 35%
4.5 million people visit Mount Rushmore every year, so Jeff and Sandi made the smart decision to buy 16 STRs just 15 minutes away from the iconic landmark.
But like many hosts, they quickly realised that Airbnb and VRBO were holding back their dreams of expansion:
“If you don’t own the customer… you’re just subject to whatever change Airbnb or VRBO makes. They’re not really your customers.”
“We weren’t struggling, but we weren’t strong enough to scale.”
Their location meant that they could attract a steady customer base during the summer months. What’s more, they have the land to build more units on…
But the extortionate OTA fees were eating into their profit margins, so expansion wasn’t even an option.
And even if they did have the funds, Jeff and Sandi knew that the best way to scale would be to gain control and ownership of their customers rather than be dependent on the merciless OTA rules.
Unfortunately, they had no way of getting direct bookings – not even a website!
Then one day, they heard about Direct Bookings and Boostly:
Like many smart business owners, Jeff explored his options first.
He contacted vendors such as Price Labs to see what they could offer. But he was sold on Boostly after it became clear we’re true specialists in short-term and vacation rentals.
“You can hire different marketing companies, but if they don’t know the vacation rental business and how it works, you could be spinning your wheels.”
It wasn’t long after until Jeff launched his very own Boostly website:
Within a year, 33% of their bookings came directly from their website. The next year, this was up to 70%, meaning more profits from the fees saved.
But that’s not all.
While the other hosts in their area had seen a dip in bookings, Jeff and Sandi were up 35%…and they’re the most expensive! Plus, half of those guests stay with them at least twice.
What’s Next?
Their business is by no means a finished product.
They have land to expand upon. And they know there’s an opportunity to optimize their website and CRM model — either to keep scaling themselves or be in a position to sell it.
But their story proves that you don’t need to struggle to benefit from a Boostly website.
In fact, if you’re already doing okay…
Having a Boostly website can take your business and revenue to new heights while slashing your reliance on the OTAs.
