Lead time is how many days before the stay a booking is made. A short lead time means people book last minute and forces playing price almost in real time. Knowing how it is distributed helps decide when to open deals and when to hold price.
Example If the average lead time is five days, there is no point dumping inventory with two months to go.
Lead time is the number of days between when a booking is made and the guest's arrival date. For instance, a reservation made 30 days before check-in has a lead time of 30 days.
How is lead time calculated?
It is calculated by subtracting the booking date from the check-in date. If a guest books on October 1st to arrive on October 15th, the lead time is 14 days.
Why does lead time matter and how is it different from booking window?
Lead time matters because it helps set pricing and promotions based on how far in advance guests book. It differs from booking window, which is the entire period when reservations are accepted for a specific date, whereas lead time measures the time gap of each individual booking.
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