How to Create and Customize Your Direct Booking Website

Your direct booking website is a powerful tool to attract direct bookings while maintaining complete control over how your property is presented to guests. By personalizing your site with images, descriptions, and information about yourself as a host, you can create a welcoming and professional experience that encourages guests to book directly with you.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Booking Website

1. Log in to your Holidu Host account, select "direct bookings" on the left-hand menu, and then select "My website and widget".
2. Review and accept the terms and conditions.
   
   
3. Select the languages for your site to make your booking website accessible to guests in multiple languages.
   
   
4. Choose a website name and address for your unique direct booking URL.
   
   

Your direct booking website is now live! You can now share your unique URL with guests to promote direct bookings.

Customizable Features

Once your booking website is live, you can easily personalize it to match your style and brand. Here are the key customizable features available:

• Homepage Customization: Add images, logos, and welcome text to make your direct booking website inviting and unique to your brand.
• Host Introduction: Share information about yourself under the "Your Host" section to build trust and connection with potential guests.
• Design and Layout: Choose from different themes and layouts, and enable features like a filter bar for guests to easily search for available dates.
• Social Media Integration: Connect your booking website to your social media accounts by adding links to platforms like Instagram or Facebook.

Step-by-Step to Customize

Step 1: Access Your Website Customization Panel

Once your booking website is live, you will see the customization panel when you access it from the Holidu Host page or select "Finish" after setting it up. From here, you can customize your direct booking website at any time. You can add an image, title, welcome text, and header image to personalize your page. At the bottom of this page, you will also have the option to enable social media links.

Step 2: Review Your Property Listings

Your properties will have default images and text that you can customize yourself. The description of your property is taken from your existing Holidu property description. Guests can select "Details" to book directly with you.

Step 3: Customize Your Homepage

Click on "Homepage" to customize the look and feel of your booking website. Here you can:

• Update the logo: This will be reflected across your entire direct booking website.
• Add a title: This will display over your header image.
• Write welcome text: This will appear beneath the main header image.
• Upload a header image: This will be shown as the main image on your direct booking website. Please ensure the header image is no larger than 8 MB.

Important: Make sure to use only your own images for your direct booking website. Do not use images from Google or other image platforms, as you could be at risk of copyright infringement.

Step 4: Add Host Information

To add information about yourself as a host, select "Your host" in the content area of the side panel. Follow these steps:

1. Enable the "Your host" toggle to make this section visible to guests.
2. Write information about yourself as a host in the text box provided.
3. Upload a professional image of yourself or a photo that represents you as a host.
4. Select "Save" when you are finished.

This "Host" information will be displayed on your direct booking website to help guests get to know you better:

Step 5: Customize the Design and Layout

To customize the layout and theme of your direct booking website, click on "Design" and choose the layout you prefer. You can:

• Enable the filter bar: Toggle on the filter bar at the top of the page so guests can easily search for available dates.
• Choose header image display: Decide how you would like the header image of your website to be displayed.
• Select a color theme: Choose the color theme that best matches your brand identity.

Step 6: Save Your Changes

Click "Save" and your booking website customization is complete. You can return at any time to make additional changes and updates to your direct booking website.

Share Your Direct Booking Website

Your direct booking website is now ready to be shared with your guests! Simply share the link or website URL of your direct booking website with your repeat boosters and new guests. This direct booking option helps you maintain relationships with guests while reducing commission fees associated with third-party booking platforms.