If you’re a short-term rental (STR) owner, Airbnb host, or vacation rental manager, you know the key to building a sustainable and profitable vacation rental business is turning one-time guests into loyal repeat visitors—preferably booking directly with you.
STR tech has long focused on dynamic pricing, professional photos, or in-stay messaging. But a massive opportunity lay untapped: re-engaging past guests to drive repeat bookings without relying on OTAs.
Enter Yada’s new SMS marketing feature—designed specifically for STR owners to increase occupancy, reduce OTA dependence, and boost profits.
The Problem: Guest Retention Gets Overlooked
Alex McKenzie, co-founder of Yada and owner of TopShelf Vacation Rentals, recognized the gap:
“We invested in pricing tools like Wheelhouse and PriceLabs, upgraded furniture, and captured stunning photos. But the most fundamental strategy—customer retention—was being ignored.”
Guest acquisition is costly. Between OTA fees, advertising, and maintenance, every booking comes at a price. Without tools to re-engage past guests, many hosts miss out on easy, high-ROI bookings.
The Solution: Personalized SMS Campaigns Powered by Your Guest Data
Yada turns your guest history into your most powerful marketing tool by syncing with your PMS and enabling direct, personal outreach.
How It Works:
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Powerful Guest Profiles via the Contacts Module (view Yada's PMS integrations here)
Access rich profiles with:
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Smart Audience Selection with Lists & Segments
Easily filter guests by:
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5-star reviews
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Total spend tier
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Property stay
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Season or stay dates
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Send Friendly, Effective SMS Offers
Messages come via OpenPhone, appearing as your own number. Add offers, seasonal promotions, or a direct booking link.
View Yada's Marketing tools here
Case Study: A $12,000 Repeat Booking from One Campaign
Alex’s first SMS campaign delivered striking results:
“Within hours of sending out 49 texts, a past guest reached out. Thanks to Yada, I saw when they’d stayed, how much they’d spent, and their review—leading to a $12,000 booking for next year’s busy week.”
Campaign Results:
Watch the campaign in action:
Why SMS Outperforms Email for STR Marketing
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Massively higher open rates – Texts get seen, often within minutes.
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Feels personal – Guests receive messages that look like they’re from you, because they are from you.
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Fast outcomes – Campaigns often lead to bookings the same day.
This means more repeat bookings, fewer OTA fees, more stable occupancy, and stronger guest relationships.
Are SMS Campaigns Compliant with Airbnb’s Terms of Service?
Many hosts worry about policy violations—especially around off-platform bookings. While Airbnb doesn’t clearly prohibit SMS outreach post-stay, their messaging policies caution against soliciting guests to rebook outside the platform.
What Hosts Need to Know:
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Airbnb discourages—especially during stays—sharing off-platform contact info or encouraging direct rebookings.
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Promotional messages are safest when sent after the stay, and with guest consent.
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Explicitly inviting guests to opt in, rather than auto-enrolling them, helps you stay safe.
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Opt-out options (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”) increase transparency and compliance.
Safe SMS Example:
“Hi [Name]! Thanks again for staying with us last month. We’d love to offer you an exclusive returning guest discount—just reply ‘YES’ if you’d like more info. Reply STOP to opt out.”
This approach respects Airbnb’s policies while supporting direct bookings.
Quick Comparison: Good vs. Risky SMS Practices
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Compliant Practices
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Risky Practices
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Contacting past guests after checkout
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Messaging during or before check-in
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Asking guest if they’d like offers (“Reply ‘YES’ to opt in”)
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Auto-enrolling guests into ongoing marketing
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Teaching guests how to opt out (“Reply STOP”)
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Omitting opt-out with repeated texts
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Using respectful tone focused on gratitude and value
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Pushy language or direct “book off Airbnb”
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FAQs for Hosts About Yada’s SMS Tool
How does Yada access guest contact info?
Yada links with your PMS to import phone numbers, booking spend, and reviews automatically.
Can I filter specific guest segments?
Yes—you can target by property, review rating, spend, date, and more.
Is it legal to text past guests?
Yes, if you have their contact from a completed booking. Still, best practice is to request opt-in and provide an opt-out.
Can I include a direct booking link?
Absolutely—but steer clear of phrasing that pushes for off-platform bookings.
How quickly will SMS campaigns work?
Many hosts—like Alex—see responses within hours and bookings the same day, but SMS campaigns should be approached as relationship building activities more than direct response marketing. They will yield the best results over time.
The Bottom Line: Build Repeat Bookings—Safely and Smartly
For STR owners looking to boost repeat bookings, cut OTA commissions, and deepen guest loyalty, Yada’s SMS marketing tool is a powerful ally when used respectfully.
With Yada, you can:
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Turn your guest data into high-ROI marketing
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Build campaigns that respect both guests and Airbnb’s policies
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Drive bookings while safeguarding your hosting account
Ready to elevate your strategy? Get a demo to discover how Yada can fit into your workflow and turn past guests into your next big bookings.