Rupert Springfield and Franck van der Hooft are the proud house owners of Le Mas & Le Mazet, two very profitable gîtes within the gorgeous countryside of the Dordogne, however even they admit that in the case of gîtes, there’s loads to get proper. With regards to the all vital query of methods to get extra bookings to your vacation residence or gite in France – there are a number of ‘musts’ says Rupert.
“We thought we got here into this with our eyes open. Earlier than launching our gîtes in 2016 we did intensive analysis and designed each element meticulously to supply an distinctive product and repair, however in actuality, we nonetheless had loads to be taught and had been fairly naive.”
Components to contemplate for gîte success
Rupert explains {that a} profitable gîte requires a powerful basis and equal consideration given to the constructing blocks. The three elements to the inspiration are already decided while you buy your gîte property: your personal involvement, the property itself and the place it’s situated.
“First, is your gîte a second residence away from the place you reside or is the property going to be your main residence?” says Rupert. “Residing away from the property would require you to arrange a crew to handle and clear the property, welcome visitors and take care of issues that crop up. Residing on website is totally completely different, you’ll handle all that yourselves and have extra contact with the visitors, constructing a relationship with them.
“Then, after all, you might have the distinctive character of your buildings and its land. Sure, you may add a pool, renovate bogs, panorama the backyard. However some issues are already set in stone. For example, is there are view, is the structure characterful and charming, is there sufficient house to create the variety of bedrooms you should generate your required income? Determine on these standards when property searching – and keep on with your weapons.
“The third a part of the inspiration is usually underestimated – your gîte’s location. Does it present your visitors with what they’re searching for? Vacationer points of interest, native markets, eating places and journey hubs that make it straightforward for them to entry your gîte. In case your département doesn’t entice many guests, how are you going to? These three elements of the inspiration are all pre-determined by your property, however there are constructing blocks that you may form and type your self.”
Seek the advice of your personal gîte guru
If anybody is aware of methods to make successful of a French gîte enterprise, it’s Rupert and Franck. They qualify their success by their annual income and the way a lot of it’s generated by returning visitors (61% in 2025), the size of their season (29 weeks in 2025), and the publicity they generate (9 articles in The Sunday Occasions and counting, reviewed by The Telegraph and given 9/10, and featured in quite a few magazines). In 2020 they obtained a request to assist some fellow house owners, so that they arrange Gîte Guru to supply skilled recommendation to those that are simply beginning out, or who’re searching for methods to enhance their lodging enterprise.
“This isn’t a contest to see who’s greatest. It’s about displaying aspiring gîte house owners the potential in working a gîte and being a part of a neighborhood serving to one another. The work we do with purchasers falls into 4 constructing blocks,” explains Rupert, “and these are inside design (getting probably the most out of the format and look), enterprise issues (guidelines, rules, phrases and circumstances), communication (telling the story of your gîte) and advertising and marketing (making it seen to your goal teams). We’ve helped many fellow house owners through the years, listed here are some case research that may assist different readers.”
Gîte Case research 1: Communication
Helena and Mutlu run a four-bedroom gîte primarily based in a standard farmhouse within the Dordogne, they usually knew that they wanted skilled insights from the beginning.
“One among our very first conversations with Rupert and Franck was about naming our gîte. Collectively, we brainstormed a variety of concepts earlier than we settled on La Mouy, a beautiful nod to our hamlet, La Mouyssarie. They gave nice recommendation for our web site: the data that’s most vital for visitors, content material construction, and software program to make the reserving course of seamless. The tip result’s a web site and a communication plan that I’m genuinely pleased with.
“Additionally they launched us to a improbable native photographer, who even gave us a reduction for being Gîte Guru purchasers! We’re very grateful for all of the data they shared about guidelines and rules, and the updates we obtain about any modifications. Rupert and Franck are consultants in simplifying complexity and constructing confidence, and you are feeling that you’ve got somebody supporting you each step of the way in which.”
Gîte Case research 2: Advertising and marketing
Neil and David moved to the Dordogne in 2017, the place they arrange Domaine de la Banne. That they had already been working their gîte for a 12 months after they first referred to as on Rupert and Franck, in search of recommendation on how greatest to spice up their enterprise and methods to go about making a profitable advertising and marketing technique.
“As soon as we began working with Gîte Guru, that’s when every little thing actually started to click on. As we got down to refine our advertising and marketing plan, they zeroed in to assist us outline our best visitor profile and the way we may make Domaine de la Banne really seen to our goal market.
“They constructed a transparent technique that mixed the strengths of on-line journey brokers —platforms that take bookings on our behalf — with sensible techniques for producing direct bookings. Over time they’ve additionally suggested us on new advertising and marketing alternatives and challenges, to make sure we get as many risk-free bookings as doable.”
Case research 3: Enterprise issues
Becky and Gareth personal the 18th-century Château du Rayet in southwest France, which they hadn’t initially thought of letting it as vacation lodging.
“After we first purchased Rayet and started renovating it, we didn’t actually consider renting it out once we weren’t utilizing it. As soon as we determined to discover the enterprise facet of that choice, Rupert and Franck stepped in and made the entire course of really feel easy.
“They mapped out the fiscal panorama for us. They guided us by way of the registration course of and created a rental settlement tailor-made to our personal phrases and circumstances.
“The icing on the cake was that they discovered a number of intelligent methods to chop our working prices, together with one which now saves us hundreds of euros annually.”
Case research 4: Inside design
In 2020, New-Zealander Catherine, and Neil from Devon within the UK, moved to Dienné close to Poitiers, the place they now run La Guillonnière.
“Initially, we’d deliberate to transform a protracted constructing on our property into three one-bedroom gîtes all sharing a pool and out of doors house,” explains Catherine, “however when Rupert and Franck got here to see it, every little thing modified. They studied the location and did some analysis, then informed us {that a} single, bigger household gîte would really work higher in our location.
“They proposed a totally new temporary — a four-bedroom format with the best movement, options, and amenities to actually profit from the house, inside and outside. We took their standards and turned it right into a design that we completely love. Neil is now within the thick of bringing it to life, and we are able to’t wait to welcome our first visitors.”
Rupert recognises how sophisticated the principles and rules for fellow gîte house owners are, and the way staying updated with the continuous modifications is troublesome. He posts commonly on Instagram @gite.guru with updates and vital information that will help you, and in The Gîte Podcast (on YouTube youtube.com/@TheGitePodcast and all good podcast platforms) he discusses the ups and downs of working gîtes with different house owners. All this info and inspiration is free!
Nevertheless, for recommendation tailored to your gîte and plans, you will discover out extra or ebook a session with him at giteguru.com
