The Complete Guide to Implementing Upsells in Short-Term Rentals

Upsells have become an essential growth driver for hosts and property managers. When integrated seamlessly into the guest experience, they enhance comfort while significantly increasing profitability.

In this guide, discover why upsells are essential, which services to offer, and how to implement them effectively with the help of digital tools.

What is an upsell in short-term Rentals?

An upsell consists of offering guests an additional service or product to complement their initial stay.
This can range from a late check-out to an airport transfer, an extra cleaning, or even a local activity.

Objective:

• Improve the guest experience by simplifying their stay.
• Generate additional revenue without needing new bookings.

Why upsells are essential in 2025?

The short-term rental market is increasingly competitive. Upsells help properties stand out and maximize the value of each stay:

• Meeting modern expectations: travelers want a seamless, all-inclusive experience.
• Increasing profitability: a single service sold can boost per-stay revenue by 10–30%.
• Standing out from competitors: many hosts still limit their offer to basic accommodation.
• Enhancing satisfaction and reviews: useful services naturally improve ratings on Airbnb, Booking, and Google.

Which upsells work best?

The most effective upsells usually fall into three main categories:

1. Comfort & Convenience

• Early check-in / late check-out
• Baby kit or linen rental
• Mid-stay cleaning

2. Mobility & Transfers

• Airport shuttle or transfer
• Bike, scooter, or e-scooter rentals
• Partnerships with taxi or VTC services

3. Experiences & Extras

• Restaurant or activity bookings
• Breakfast or meal delivery
• Unique experiences (guided tours, tastings, spa sessions, etc.)

How to implement upsells effectively

Managing upsells manually by SMS or phone is time-consuming and unreliable.
Digital solutions now simplify the process.

A guest app allows you to:

• Display all offers in one place.
• Let guests book and pay online.
• Automate management and reduce repetitive requests.

Additional services (late check-out, cleaning, etc.) can appear directly in the digital welcome book and be booked in one click through a secure payment solution such as Stripe, integrated into the platform.

Bundles and packages

As in e-commerce, creating packages helps increase the average spend per stay.

Examples:

• Comfort Pack: late check-out + cleaning + breakfast
• Mobility Pack: airport transfer + bike rental

These combinations simplify choices for guests and boost conversion rates.

Case Study: A property management company in Lyon

A property management company in Lyon managing 25 apartments added an upsell module to its digital welcome book last year.

Results after 6 months:

• +30% revenue per stay (mainly from late check-outs and airport transfers)
• –40% time spent managing requests (thanks to automation)
• Positive reviews highlighting simplicity and fluidity of the guest experience

Best practices for maximizing upsells

• Highlight upsells at the right time (for example, via a pop-up in the guest app).
• Be transparent about pricing and conditions (no hidden fees).
• Adapt offers to the season (bike rentals in summer, hot meals in winter).
• Track performance to refine your offer.
• Partner with local businesses to expand your services without adding operational workload.

Conclusion

Upsells are more than just optional extras, they’re a strategic lever for increasing revenue, improving the guest experience, and building loyalty.
A guest who books an extra spends more, leaves a better review, and is more likely to return.

Discover how Sunver integrates upsells directly into its multilingual digital welcome book to help you increase profitability effortlessly.