Operations
Minimum Stay
A restriction that imposes a minimum number of bookable nights for a given period.
What is Minimum Stay?
Minimum Stay (MinStay) is a rule that prevents guests from booking for a period shorter than established. It is a powerful lever for optimizing operational costs.
Usage Examples
- Summer/High Season: MinStay of 7 nights (often Saturday-to-Saturday) to guarantee full occupancy without gaps.
- Weekend: MinStay of 2 or 3 nights to prevent someone from booking only Saturday night, "burning" the possibility of selling the entire weekend to someone else.
- Large Events: MinStay of 3-4 nights during trade fairs or New Year's Eve.
Pros and Cons
- Advantages: Reduces turnover costs (cleaning, check-in, laundry) and filters out "hit-and-run" guests who often create more issues (e.g., parties).
- Disadvantages: If too rigid, it reduces visibility. Many travelers search for only 1 or 2 nights.
Dynamic Strategy
The ideal approach is to reduce the Minimum Stay as the date approaches ("Gap filling"). If you have a 2-day gap between two long bookings, it makes sense to remove the limit to fill it, even if it involves more work.