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Category: Listing Optimization
By: James Wu
Reply by Tyler Jackson:
Minimum stay is one of the most impactful settings you can optimize. Here's the data-driven approach: **My dynamic minimum stay strategy:** - **Weekdays (Mon-Thu):** 2-night minimum - **Weekends (Fri-Sat):** 2-night minimum - **Peak season:** 3-night minimum - **Holidays:** 4-5 night minimum - **Off-season:** 1-night minimum (take what you can get) **Why dynamic > static:** A flat 3-night minimum leaves money on the table during slow periods when you'd gladly take a 1-night booking. Dynamic minimums maximize occupancy during slow periods and revenue during high-demand periods. PriceLabs (https://pricelabs.co) has a "minimum stay recommendation" feature that automatically adjusts your minimum based on demand, day of week, and season. This alone is worth the subscription. **The math on 1-night stays:** - Nightly rate: $150 - Cleaning fee: $100 - Revenue per turnover: $250 - Your cost per turnover: $100 (cleaner) + $20 (consumables) + hours of coordination - Net per turnover: ~$130 For a 2-night stay at $150/night: - Revenue: $400 ($300 + $100 cleaning) - Cost: same $120 - Net: ~$280 **2x the profit for the same operational work.** This is why many hosts set a 2-night minimum as the floor.
Reply by David Okafor:
I went from 1-night to 3-night minimum and my occupancy dropped from 78% to 72%, but my revenue INCREASED by 12% and my profit increased by 25% because of fewer turnovers. Less occupancy doesn't always mean less money. Fewer turnovers = lower cleaning costs, less wear and tear, fewer guest interactions, and more personal time. The goal isn't 100% occupancy — it's maximum profit per unit of effort.