Learn how to market your vacation rentals with local restaurants. Collaborate with restaurant owners, create a local network of partners, and increase bookings.

Short-term rental guests have too many decisions to make when planning their holidays. From the rental property and amenities to the surrounding area and dining options, they have a lot on their plate. With so many possibilities, it's no wonder guests opt for personalized and immersive stays.

Gone are the days when a place to crash for the night was enough. In 2024, travelers choose vacation rentals that allow them to engage with the local culture, make meaningful connections, and discover off-the-beaten-path gems.

By collaborating with local restaurants, hosts can efficiently market their vacation rental properties and unlock various benefits for them and the local economy. In this guide, we'll share the most important perks of restaurant collaborations and the steps to make them possible.

What is Cross-promotion?

Cross-promotion is a marketing strategy where two or more businesses combine strengths to advertise to each other's audiences.

For example, as a property owner, you can collaborate with local restaurants and recommend them to guests upon arrival. At the same time, your restaurant partners can promote your rental property to their customers to entice them to book with you.

This is a win-win situation where both parties benefit from each other. They combine their resources and generate marketing exposure without additional costs.

How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Market Your Vacation Rentals
How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Market Your Vacation Rentals
How to market vacation rental with local restaurants

Why Should You Partner With Local Restaurants for Your Vacation Rental Business?

Here are the most important benefits of partnering with local restaurants:

1. Invest in a Low-risk Strategy

Contrary to paid advertising on Google and social media platforms, cross-promotion through word of mouth doesn't cost a dime and can bring high rewards for both parties.

2. Boost Your Brand's Exposure

Generate free visibility for your vacation rental business and attract guests from the local community. Enhance your reputation and build credibility with visitors.

3. Broaden Your Customer Base

Although hosting guests worldwide is exciting, don't neglect the local community. Staycation is a trend here to stay, and through cross-promotion, you can attract new tenants from your city.

How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Market Your Vacation Rentals
How to market vacation rental with local restaurants

4. Enhance Guests' Experience

Guests are thirsty for authentic experiences and personalized recommendations beyond sightseeing. By partnering with restaurants in your area, you allow them to immerse themselves in local cuisine, ensuring a stress-free and memorable stay.

5. Support the Local Economy

Through the success of your rental property, you can create more opportunities for others. Collaborating with local eateries can encourage tourists to spend money locally, supporting sustainable tourism and forging a sense of community among vendors.

6. Gain a Competitive Advantage

In the competitive vacation rental industry, few property managers offer a 360 experience for guests. As a host, leveraging local dining options as exclusive services for visitors can add that "wow" factor that makes you stand out from other vacation rentals.

7. Get Support From a Network of Local Allies

Running a short-term rental business can get lonely. However, with local restaurants' support, you can build meaningful connections that turn into long-term partnerships. By nurturing these bonds, you'll have a referral network that generates a steady income for your rental listings.

How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Market Your Vacation Rentals
How to market vacation rental with local restaurants

How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Boost Your Rental Listings

1. Create a List of Local Eateries

Embarking on a vacation doesn't mean taking on a research project. Guests already have a lot on their plate during their trip. Looking for nearby restaurants only wastes their precious time and requires too much effort when they should be relaxing.

Having a ready-to-use list of local eateries you vouch for will save them time, and they'll appreciate the input of a local. While establishing a jacuzzi or hot tab might be tricky, a list of five-star restaurants in your neighborhood is an easy-to-offer amenity that'll reflect in guest reviews.

2. Highlight Unique Dining Experiences

If guests wanted a typical dining experience, they'd stay at home. When compiling your restaurant list, highlight international cuisines and exciting culinary adventures. If your rental property addresses specific niches, offer options that'll appeal to those niches.

For instance, if your vacation home is all about sustainable tourism, suggest restaurants that eliminate food waste. On the other hand, if you have a beach house, recommend dining options on the seafront, as guests will spend most of their time there.

How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Market Your Vacation Rentals
How to market vacation rental with restaurants

3. Create Partnerships

The next step is getting in touch with your selected restaurants. Reach out and offer cross-promotional collaborations. Ask if they can offer guests printed menus or special discounts and suggest adding their logo to your direct-booking website.

At the same time, offer your marketing material, such as a QR code, affiliate links to your rental listings, or printed leaflets you can leave in their restaurant. Explain how this will benefit both parties, with prospective renters supporting both businesses.

4. Leverage Social Media and Email Marketing

Social media and email marketing are free tools to promote partnerships with local restaurants and generate exposure. For example, you can leverage your vacation rental's Facebook page to promote special events and dining deals or share photos of your favorite eateries in the area.

On the other hand, restaurants can promote your rental property on their social media to encourage their customers to book with you. Especially if there's a music festival or dining event in the area, visitors will be looking for a place to stay, and local eateries can recommend your place as a trusted host.

How to Leverage Local Restaurants to Market Your Vacation Rentals
How to market vacation rental with local restaurants

Boost Direct Bookings With Restaurant Collaborations

Whether you're a new property owner or a seasoned pro, use the power of cross-promotion with restaurant collaborations. This is a fruitful and affordable way to build trust with staycationers and create a supporting network of local vendors.

Especially if you want to increase traffic to your book-direct website, these partnerships can help you secure more bookings without paying hefty commissions to online travel agencies like Airbnb.

Don't have a website for direct bookings yet? At Houfy, we give you the tools to create yours and take your vacation rental brand into your own hands. Get started today!

Featured vacation rentals

1 of 3
Icon
Icon
Featured
Icon
2BR/2BA Condo with King Bed, A/C and Free Parking

2BR/2BA Condo with King Bed, A/C and Free Parking

2 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
4.25IconIconIconIconIcon
Featured
Icon
Ocean City, MD--3 Bedroom, 3 Bath, Luxury Condo.

Ocean City, MD--3 Bedroom, 3 Bath, Luxury Condo.

3 Bedrooms  3 Bathrooms
5IconIconIconIconIcon98 reviews
Featured
Icon
A Ballarat bliss

A Ballarat bliss

4 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
Featured
Icon
NEW! Modern & Cozy Villa Riverpearl, Private Pool,

NEW! Modern & Cozy Villa Riverpearl, Private Pool,

4 Bedrooms  2.5 Bathrooms
Featured
Icon
Tropical Playground For Adults and Kids!

Tropical Playground For Adults and Kids!

2 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
4.75IconIconIconIconIcon20 reviews
Featured
Icon
Expansive 4-BR Home Near Campus "The Salma Plan"

Expansive 4-BR Home Near Campus "The Salma Plan"

4 Bedrooms  3.5 Bathrooms
5IconIconIconIconIcon4 reviews
Featured
Icon
Hilton Head Hideaway: Coastal Beach Condo

Hilton Head Hideaway: Coastal Beach Condo

2 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
4.89IconIconIconIconIcon90 reviews
Featured
Icon
Oceanview! Walk To Beaches &Hiking, Pool &Gym Club

Oceanview! Walk To Beaches &Hiking, Pool &Gym Club

4 Bedrooms  3.5 Bathrooms
5IconIconIconIconIcon12 reviews
Featured
Icon
Private two bedroom suite in Victorian Ditmas Park

Private two bedroom suite in Victorian Ditmas Park

2 Bedrooms  1 Bathroom
4.89IconIconIconIconIcon111 reviews
Featured
Icon
Easy Breezy OBX

Easy Breezy OBX

4 Bedrooms  3.5 Bathrooms
Featured
Icon
Modern Lux Retreat: 3-2 W/ King

Modern Lux Retreat: 3-2 W/ King

3 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
5IconIconIconIconIcon4 reviews
Featured
Icon
The Tiny Red Barn on The Reservoir-A Private Oasis

The Tiny Red Barn on The Reservoir-A Private Oasis

2 Bedrooms  1 Bathroom
5IconIconIconIconIcon131 reviews

Special offers

1 of 3
Icon
Icon
Special offer
Icon
Blue Lagoon OBX
$3442.03
$4796.39 | 30% OFF
Dates: Jun 9 2024 - Jun 16 2024

Blue Lagoon OBX

4 Bedrooms  3.5 Bathrooms
5IconIconIconIconIcon2 reviews
Special offer
Icon
Lakeside Serenity Retreat, Sleeps 8 - Kayak, Fish, Pool
3% OFF
For any available dates between:
May 30 2024 - Jun 30 2024

Lakeside Serenity Retreat, Sleeps 8 - Kayak, Fish, Pool

3 Bedrooms  3 Bathrooms
4.86IconIconIconIconIcon22 reviews
Special offer
Icon
Island Glow Kailua-Kona downtown/oceanviews/AC
15% OFF
For any available dates between:
May 20 2024 - Jun 24 2024

Island Glow Kailua-Kona downtown/oceanviews/AC

1 Bedroom  1 Bathroom
5IconIconIconIconIcon10 reviews
Special offer
Icon
A Day in Paradise in Palmetto Dunes
15% OFF
For any available dates between:
May 10 2024 - Aug 31 2024

A Day in Paradise in Palmetto Dunes

2 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
4.84IconIconIconIconIcon68 reviews
Special offer
Icon
Seashells by the Sea at Hilton Head Resort
20% OFF
For any available dates between:
May 10 2024 - Jun 30 2024

Seashells by the Sea at Hilton Head Resort

2 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
4.76IconIconIconIconIcon17 reviews
Special offer
Icon
★Outer Banks, NC★ Semi Oceanfront in KDH MP7.5 🐾
15% OFF
For any available dates between:
May 31 2024 - Aug 30 2024

Outer Banks, NC Semi Oceanfront in KDH MP7.5

4 Bedrooms  3 Bathrooms
4.89IconIconIconIconIcon9 reviews
Special offer
Icon
10% Off Deal! 9 Bedroom Home, Heated  Pool/Hot tub
10% OFF
For any available dates between:
May 5 2024 - Dec 31 2024

10% Off Deal! 9 Bedroom Home, Heated Pool/Hot tub

9 Bedrooms  5 Bathrooms
5IconIconIconIconIcon9 reviews
Special offer
Icon
All-New HHI Seascape Villa | Walk to Beach & Pools
15% OFF
For any available dates between:
Mar 22 2024 - Sep 30 2024

All-New HHI Seascape Villa | Walk to Beach & Pools

2 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms
4.81IconIconIconIconIcon37 reviews

Do You Own A Vacation Rental? List with houfy.

Save Money with $0 Fees

What members say about us

Loading Views...