A lodging operator's year: what to do, month by month
Lodging demand swings sharply through the year: winter, a quiet spring, a busy summer, an outdoorsy fall, the holidays. This calendar follows the seasons month by month and suggests concrete actions for each, which you can partly hand to Alma, the Orvel assistant, while keeping the decisions.
How to use this calendar
The periods below are general guideposts. Check them against your region and type of property: a campground, a mountain inn and a city hotel do not share the same rhythm. Adapt each period to your own booking data.
Alma prepares and follows up: quick replies, reminders, review requests, past-guest follow-ups. Your team sets the rates, rules and offers, and approves what goes out. This guide is general information, with no promise of results.
January to March: school break and winter season
For properties near ski hills or winter trails, the school holidays and the March break fill up quickly. Check this against your region and type of property.
The recommended action: follow up with past guests and publish availability early. When everything is full, keep a waiting list by dates so you can offer cancellations to the next interested guest.
- Publish your availability before demand arrives.
- Follow up with past guests who have consented.
- Keep a waiting list for full periods.
April and May: the quiet spring period
For many properties, spring is quieter before the summer season opens. It is the time to fill the slow weeks.
The actions: off-season offers, weekend packages, and hosting groups or meetings. Off-season offers go only to guests who have consented to commercial messages, with an unsubscribe link. For groups, Alma collects the number of people, the dates and their flexibility, then hands off to your team.
- Weekend packages for slow weeks.
- Meetings and groups: a file with number of people, unit block, flexible dates and deposit.
- Off-season offers to consenting guests only.
June to August: peak summer season
Vacations, festivals and campgrounds: demand comes from everywhere, often late at night and on weekends. A reply that takes too long sends the guest to an online platform.
The actions: reply fast, push direct booking, ask for the deposit and keep a waiting list for cancellations. Record the source of each booking to tell direct ones from those that cost a commission. At the height of the season, also check that your registration number appears in your listings.
September and October: fall foliage
Fall draws a weekend and outdoor clientele in several regions. Demand is often more spread out than in summer.
The actions: launch fall packages and follow up with last year's guests before the season, recalling what they enjoyed about their stay. Do not forget the neutral review request sent to every guest after their stay: this is a good time to make it systematic, with no benefit promised in return.
- Fall packages announced early.
- Follow-up with last year's guests before the season.
- A neutral review request after every stay.
November and December: the holidays and gift cards
Holiday stays are booked early, and stay gift cards sell before Christmas.
The actions: a holiday booking campaign aimed at consenting past guests, and promotion of gift cards. It is also a good moment to review the year: share of direct bookings, requests left unanswered, and past guests who came back within 60 days of a follow-up.
All year long: the routines that do not change
A few habits apply to every month. Check the expiry date of your registration attestation before it arrives. Update your rates and cancellation terms before each season. Reread your message templates so they stay clear and current.
Also review the week's arrivals and the pending requests. These simple indicators tell you where to focus your effort, and they leave your team time to look after the welcome.
A clear calendar helps you act at the right moment, season after season. The periods are general guideposts to adapt to your property, with no promise of results.
General information, not legal advice. Check with your professional order or the official source.
Questions
When should I start following up with past guests?
Before the target season: winter, fall and the holidays call for writing early. Only guests who have consented to commercial messages receive these follow-ups.
What should I do when everything is full?
Keep a waiting list by dates so you can offer a cancellation to the next interested guest instead of letting the request walk away.
Can Alma adjust my rates by season?
No. Alma uses only the rates and rules you have set. Changes to rates and offers remain your decision.
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