Occupancy rate isn't a goal on its own. A property that's full at too low a price can earn less than one that's slightly less booked with a better average rate.
To calculate yours in seconds: the free occupancy rate calculator.
The short answer
Look at occupancy rate, average daily rate, revenue per available night, booking lead time and remaining nights together. If your dates sell very fast, your price may be too low; if they stay empty as the stay approaches, rethink your positioning.
Look at the booking window
A low rate 90 days out doesn't mean the same as a low rate five days out. Always compare with the usual booking pace in your area and for your property over the same period.
Set thresholds
Define a minimum price, a base price and a cap. Then apply adjustments for season, weekends, events, demand and occupancy.
Avoid systematic automatic price cuts
Lowering the price as the date approaches can help, but not if local demand suddenly rises. See Last-minute bookings: lower or raise your price?.
Automate without losing control
Boostinghost's BoostPrice module (optional, €4.99 per property per month according to the price list on October 7, 2026) calculates a nightly price by combining, among other things, the season and school holidays, the day of the week, the lead time before arrival, your real occupancy pace, prices of comparable properties, events and the occupancy of your other nearby properties. The result always stays between your minimum and maximum prices, and each night shows how its price was calculated ("why this price"). A strategy setting lets you favor occupancy, balance or holding your price.
Frequently asked questions
What occupancy rate should you aim for?
There's no universal rate. It depends on the destination, the season, the type of property and your strategy. A very high rate over a long period can signal prices that are too low.
Should you lower your price three days before?
Not systematically. First look at local demand and your usual bookings at that lead time. If the area is filling up, holding your price often earns more.
Which metric should you track alongside occupancy?
The average daily rate and revenue per available night (RevPAR), which combines both. See Which KPIs to track in a PMS.
Key takeaways
Read occupancy together with the average rate and the booking lead time, set limits, and automate with a tool that explains its decisions rather than with blind price cuts.
Sources
- https://www.boostinghost.fr/
- https://www.boostinghost.fr/en/pricing.html
Sources verified on October 7, 2026.
