Revenue management experts generally recommend caution when selling rooms more than a year in advance. The goal is to strike a balance between securing bookings early and maximizing revenue over time.
What Are the Risks of Selling Too Far in Advance?
Cancellation risk: guests booking well in advance are more likely to cancel their reservations, posing a potential risk to revenue — especially when flexible cancellation policies are in place.
Rate flexibility: selling too far ahead limits a property's ability to adjust rates as demand and market conditions change — early rates may not reflect the optimal pricing for revenue maximization.
Market dynamics: the hotel industry is dynamic, and long-term forecasts may not accurately predict future demand — pricing and inventory decisions made too early may not align with actual market conditions.
Forecast accuracy: accurate demand forecasts are crucial for revenue management, and forecasting demand more than a year ahead can be challenging and less reliable.
Opportunity costs: devoting a significant portion of inventory to long-term bookings may mean missed short-term opportunities for higher-rated bookings, especially during peak seasons.
Pricepoint recommends that, for individual bookings and properties catering to individual guests, rooms generally be sold no more than 12 months in advance. This keeps rate flexibility intact, allows properties to respond to changing market conditions, and helps optimize revenue — while minimizing the risks associated with long-term bookings.
How Far Ahead Does Pricepoint Update Prices?
Pricepoint keeps your prices updated for the next 12 full calendar months, always up to the last day of the month.
Example:
Today’s date | Pricepoint updates prices through |
14 October 2026 | 31 October 2027 |
1 November 2026 | 30 November 2027 |
This matches our recommended 12-month selling window, so your prices are always ready for the bookings we recommend taking.