Operators often get caught up in "incremental revenue"—the idea that every early check-in or late checkout should be a $20 or $50 upsell. While this looks good on a weekly P&L, it’s a disaster for STR Lifetime Value (LTV).
Think about the psychology of the "Spirit Airlines" model. It’s profitable, but it’s loathed. In hospitality, luxury is defined by the absence of friction. When a guest asks to arrive two hours early and you say, "It’s ready for you, enjoy!," you’ve just bought more goodwill than a $1,000 ad campaign could ever generate.
That "free" hour costs you nothing if the house is already clean, but it could earn you a direct re-booking. A guest who feels "taken care of" stops looking at Airbnb and starts looking at you. If you trade that loyalty for $50 today, you are losing the $5,000 they would have spent over the next three years.
Topics: question=Why does nickel-and-diming guests hurt my short-term rental business? • intent=pricing strategy
