Comments on: The Incredible Shrinking Booking Window

By: Sarah Bradford

Sarah Bradford — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:58:45 +0000

We saw this to be very true especially for March stays this season. Normally we are booked full for March by the end of January. This year, we saw renters booking an entire week’s vacation for March in mid to late February. And, of course they were expecting to get a deal. We still filled up, but it was much later than last year.

By: best

best — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:22:24 +0000

I’ve felt this to be true — it is very cool seeing some hard data proving my feelings to be correct. And I totally agree that it is the economy, and the personal uncertainty people are feeling, to the booking window being shorter these days.

By: Michael Landau

Michael Landau — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:13:46 +0000

This is the reality. Travelers are waiting because of great uncertainty about their jobs being there in the near term as well. We should be proactive and engage with the traveler with the pricing and value adds that they are requested. If in the end you are going to be willing to give 30% discount, why not start with that to entice earlier bookings. Let us all be part of the solution, make bookings easier, less restrictions and much fewer penalties. The conference industry should do away with attrition , require a small deposit to be applied to total bill. Better to have 100 room nights then zero. 2 page contracts, simple.

By: mobil

mobil — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:34:29 +0000

I think thats very true. I am one of those people that wait untill the last minute.