Understanding Same-day bookings and Lead Time helps you manage availability, pricing, and booking rules more effectively. These two terms describe when a guest makes a booking in relation to their arrival date.
What Is a Same-day Booking?
A Same-day booking is a booking made on the day the guest arrives.
Example:
- Today is 15 January.
- A guest books a room for tonight (15 January).
- ➡ This is a same-day booking.
Why Same-day bookings matter
Same-day bookings are usually last-minute and may require special handling. Many accommodation providers:
- Limit same-day bookings after a certain time.
- Require immediate or full payment.
- Adjust rates to fill empty rooms or protect availability.
Same-day bookings are often popular with travellers who are:
- On the road.
- Experiencing delays or changes to their plans.
- Booking at short notice for work or emergencies.
What Is Lead Time?
Lead Time is the number of days between when a booking is made and the guest’s arrival date.
Why lead time matters
Lead time helps you understand how far in advance guests usually book. This information is often used to:
- Offer early-bird discounts for long lead times.
- Run last-minute specials for short lead times.
- Set booking rules (for example, “Bookings must be made at least 2 days before arrival”).
- Forecast future occupancy and income.
How lead time is calculated
Examples:
- Booked on 1 March, arriving 1 March → 0 days lead time (same-day).
- Booked on 1 March, arriving 8 March → 7 days lead time.
- Booked on 1 March, arriving 1 June → 92 days lead time.
Same-day vs Lead Time: What’s the Difference?
| Term | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Same-day booking | A booking made for arrival today |
| Lead time | How many days in advance a booking is made |
In short:
- Same-day focuses on very late bookings.
- Lead time looks at how early or late bookings are made.
Why These Terms Are Useful
By understanding same-day bookings and lead time, you can:
- Set clearer booking rules.
- Apply smarter pricing strategies.
- Reduce last-minute pressure.