Updated : Feb 28, 2025
📅 Easter 2025 falls on April 20 – later than usual and nearly a month later than last year.
This shift makes this Easter different from previous years, affecting booking patterns, demand pacing, and revenue expectations. If you’re comparing to March 2024 Easter data, your numbers might look off – but it’s not a slowdown, it’s just the calendar playing tricks on you.
What Makes Easter 2025 Different?
✔️ Last year, Easter was in March (Q1). This year, it’s in late April (Q2). If you only compare year-over-year quarterly revenue, you may falsely think bookings are down.
✔️ Later Easter means warmer weather in many markets, which can shift demand patterns. Expect higher occupancy in coastal and resort destinations and potential pacing differences in city hotels.
✔️ Spring break travel overlaps with Easter this year in some regions, extending demand beyond just the holiday weekend.
With a few weeks to go, now is the time to fine-tune your strategy and ensure you maximize revenue without manual work.
1️⃣ Price Optimization: Let the Algorithm Work, but Stay Aware
📆 Peak Demand Will Look Different This Year
- April 18-20 (Easter Weekend) will still sell first, but bookings may happen later than in previous years due to the later holiday date.
- Travelers who booked Easter stays in March last year may now be booking for April instead, making direct year-over-year comparisons misleading.
💡 Action Step: If bookings seem slow compared to last Easter, which was in March, check the Hotel Data tab to compare competitor pricing for April stays before making adjustments. For occupancy pacing, use Portfolio Analytics in PriceLabs to track how your bookings compare to past Easter periods and whether demand is shifting later.
⏳ Last-Minute Pricing Should Be Handled Carefully
- Hold firm on rates until early April—PriceLabs will dynamically adjust based on market demand.
- Instead of lowering prices, consider offering free breakfast, flexible check-in, or a holiday package to attract guests without reducing ADR.
💡 Action Step: Use Pacing Reports to compare booking trends against other late-April holiday periods, not just last year’s March Easter, to better anticipate demand shifts.
2️⃣ Min-Stay Profiles: Adjust Stay Requirements for Maximum Revenue
🐣 Before Easter → Require 2-4 Night Stays
- With families booking longer vacations, ensure your most valuable rooms aren’t taken by one-night stays.
- Adjust Min-Stay Profiles so April 18-19 requires at least a 2-4 night minimum stay.
🎉 After Easter → Open for Shorter Stays
- Drop to 1-night minimums to capture midweek business travelers and couples looking for a quick getaway.
- Offer perks like free parking or late check-out instead of cutting prices.
💡 Action Step: As your PMS is connected to PriceLabs and syncs with OTAs (probably with your direct booking site), stay rules should update automatically. However, it never hurts to double-check your listings to ensure everything is correctly applied and avoid unexpected gaps.
3️⃣ Track Local Demand & Competing Events
Because Easter is later this year, it may overlap with major spring festivals, marathons, or other travel events in your city.
✅ Spring school holidays overlap → Travelers may book later, extending beyond Easter weekend.
✅ Religious tourism shifts → Certain cities may see higher demand than usual due to extended holiday periods.
✅ Sporting events & concerts → Many take place in April, potentially competing with or boosting Easter demand.
💡 Action Step: Use the Hotel Data tab to track competitor pricing, not just short-term rentals, and leverage PriceLabs’ events calendar, which factors in local events, to optimize your pricing strategy.
4️⃣ Direct vs. OTA Strategy: Get the Most Out of Each
🏨 Push Direct Bookings First
- Offer value-added perks (not discounts) to encourage guests to book direct.
- Retarget past Easter guests with VIP early-booking offers.
📊 Use OTAs as a Backfill Strategy
- Set an OTA markup in your PMS to ensure OTA rates are slightly higher than direct bookings, making your website the more attractive option.
- Apply minimum stay restrictions for peak nights to secure longer bookings.
- Offer weekday-only OTA discounts after Easter to fill any remaining availability.
💡 Action Step: Check your PMS reports to analyze which OTAs performed best last Easter, review markups and rate adjustments, and optimize inventory distribution accordingly.
5️⃣ Upsell & Market for Extra Revenue
📢 Market Easter Getaways Now
- Promote add-ons like breakfast-inclusive rates, spa access, or family-friendly perks.
- If you cater to families, highlight kid-friendly activities like egg hunts or complimentary meals.
💰 Maximize Spend Per Guest
- Upsell room upgrades at check-in for additional revenue.
- Offer late check-out & extended stays on Easter Monday to encourage longer stays.
💡 Action Step: Use Goal Tracking in Report Builder to measure occupancy, ADR, and upsell performance leading up to Easter.
🚀 Final Takeaway: Act Now to Capture Late Easter Demand
✔ Easter falls later this year – use Portfolio Analytics to compare booking data to past late-April holidays, not just last year’s March trends.
✔ Min-Stay Profiles will help secure longer bookings before Easter and open up short stays after to fill midweek gaps.
✔ The Hotel Data tab will keep you aligned with competitor hotel pricing, while Pacing Reports will help track demand trends in real-time.
✔ Push direct bookings first – use PMS markups to keep OTA rates slightly higher and attract more direct traffic.
✔ Market early-bird promotions now to capture demand, then upsell extras like late check-out and room upgrades closer to Easter weekend.
🔑 With a few weeks to go, fine-tune your strategy now – so PriceLabs can handle the rest automatically!
