How Hosts Can Use Airbnb Special Offers to Get More Bookings

How Hosts Can Use Airbnb Special Offers to Get More Bookings
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How Hosts Can Use Airbnb Special Offers to Get More Bookings
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Want to fill your calendar faster, attract better guests, and stand out from other listings? Special offers like an Airbnb coupon code might be the simplest tool in your hosting toolkit. These offers aren’t just about discounts; they’re about flexibility, trust, and occupancy during slow periods.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how Airbnb Special Offers work, the types you can create, and how to use them to grow your hosting business. We’ll also explain how guests look at these deals, what makes them work best, and why using them wisely can mean the difference between an empty calendar and a fully booked season.

What Are Airbnb Special Offers?

They're customized pricing adjustments that hosts can send to a potential guest through the platform. They allow you to tweak the price, add a personal touch, and make your listing more appealing when responding to inquiries.

A special offer can be anything from a long-stay discount to a custom price for specific dates. Instead of rigid pricing, this tool gives you the flexibility to respond to a request with a deal that makes sense for both sides. When a guest accepts, the reservation is confirmed and payment proceeds just like any standard booking.

Think of them as your insider advantage, or the chance to verify a booking by meeting the guest halfway while still protecting your earnings.

Why Special Offers Matter for Hosts

Special Offers are more than just another feature on Airbnb. They help you:

  1. Fill gaps in your calendar. A timely discount on unsold nights can rescue your occupancy rate.
  2. Encourage longer stays. Long-stay discounts (15–30%) reduce turnover costs and raise average booking value.
  3. Stand out in search results. Many guests filter for promotions, so your listing may show higher.
  4. Build guest trust. A tailored deal feels more human than a static rate.
  5. Manage perception. Even small coupons or percentage cuts can make guests feel they’re getting a unique deal.

In short: Special Offers benefit your bottom line, not just your guests’ wallets.

Types of Special Offers

Airbnb gives hosts multiple ways to adapt their pricing strategy. Some of the most common include:

Long-Stay Discounts

Reward guests who stay a week or more with lower nightly rates. This reduces your cleaning costs and keeps your calendar steady.

Last-Minute Deals

Offer a discount when dates are just a few days away. Instead of leaving nights empty, you can secure income.

Early Bird Discounts

Encourage travelers to book well in advance, which gives you predictable revenue months ahead.

Seasonal & Flash Sales

Balance your occupancy by offering special offers during quieter times or running short bursts of urgency-driven promotions.

New Listing Promotions

If you’re new to Airbnb, dropping your initial price helps you earn your first review and build credibility faster.

How to Create a Special Offer

Airbnb has made it simple. As a host, you can:

  • Respond to an inquiry with a custom price tailored to the guest’s request.
  • Apply long-stay or seasonal discounts directly through your calendar.
  • Withdraw an offer at any time before it’s accepted.

When sending an offer, Airbnb requires you to log into your host account, check that verification is complete, and ensure your connection to the platform is stable. You’ll also see the ray ID or internal confirmation code at the bottom of your dashboard once a request is processed — a sign that the system has recorded your action correctly.

Best Practices for Creating Offers

  1. Bundle all fees. Your custom price should include everything except Airbnb’s service fees. Taxes and cleaning charges should be clearly spelled out so that when the guest pays, there are no surprises.
  2. Communicate clearly. Always send a message explaining the details of the deal. Guests appreciate honesty, and it reduces disputes later.
  3. Be flexible. Adjust your pricing depending on seasonality, local events, and demand.
  4. Verify and finalize. Before proceeding with a special offer, double-check that your settings are accurate and that the guest has completed ID verification.

Security Considerations

Whenever you use Special Offers, keep security in mind. Make sure your connection is secure when sending an offer, and never proceed with a request that feels suspicious. Always check that Airbnb has marked the guest’s verification as successful waiting status before you confirm.

If you’re worried about damages, you need a security deposit. Airbnb lets you add this safeguard, which protects you if the stay doesn’t go as planned.

How Guests See Your Offers

There's a lot you can do as an Airbnb host. From a guest’s perspective, getting a special offer like an Airbnb promo code on their next trip feels like an invitation. When you invite them to book, they receive a notification with the new price. If they accept, the booking becomes a confirmed reservation. If they ignore it or let it go expired, you still have the option to adjust or resend.

This process feels more human than just listing a nightly rate — it shows flexibility, transparency, and a willingness to work with them.

How to Get a 20% Discount on Airbnb

Guests often wonder how they can unlock bigger deals, and as a host, you can design strategies around this. A 20% discount usually comes from:

  • Offering a long-stay discount at or above that level.
  • Running a seasonal promotion during slow periods.
  • Sending a custom price adjustment when responding to a specific request.

By advertising that you provide up to 20% off for certain stays, you’ll attract budget-savvy travelers and increase your booking chances.

How to Get Big Discounts on Airbnb

Beyond 20%, big discounts happen when you combine multiple strategies:

  • Coupons and promo codes. While Airbnb doesn’t allow stacking, applying a single valid code during checkout gives an instant cut.
  • Off-peak booking. Lower your price mid-week or outside of major holidays.
  • Last-minute reservations. Travelers booking just before check-in expect sharp drops, and providing them can fill your gaps.

For hosts, the key is to explain the value clearly in your message: guests need to see not just the savings but why the deal is fair.

Pro Tips to Maximize Your Results

  • Target off-peak dates. Lower your price mid-week to capture otherwise lost demand.
  • Leverage last-minute gaps. A quick cut on short notice prevents nights from going unsold.
  • Encourage loyalty. Offer returning guests a personalized special offer as a thank-you for past stays.
  • Track results. After completing each promotion, monitor conversions in your host dashboard. If your numbers don’t improve, adjust your approach.

Managing Expired or Withdrawn Offers

If your offer has expired because a guest didn’t accept, you can always send a new one with revised details. You also have the option to finalize a withdrawal before the booking is confirmed, ensuring you stay in control.

Remember: once an offer is accepted, it’s binding. The guest is charged, and the reservation is official. Always verify your pricing before proceeding to avoid mistakes.

Wrapping Up

Special offers and discounts give you the power to stay competitive, increase occupancy, and create a better guest experience while still keeping control of your pricing. By offering flexible discounts, communicating transparently, and maintaining security, you’ll not only fill more nights but also strengthen your reputation as a trustworthy host.

Use Special Offers wisely, and you’ll build stronger connections, attract better reviews, and create the kind of hosting business that thrives no matter the season.

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