The Playbook: How to Turn a 3-Month Peak Airbnb into an 8-Month Money Machine

How to Get Year-Round Bookings for Your Airbnb

Seasonality is one of the first things you should check when you're evaluating an Airbnb market to invest in.

A one-peak destination can look like a done deal—either you ride the wave, or you don't play.

But maybe it doesn't have to be that way.

Especially if you study what Adriel Butler did with Borealis Basecamp.

Fairbanks, Alaska, has a few strong months—March for skiers and aurora chasers, then July and August for summer adventurers. In between? The kind of calendar gaps that keep most Airbnb hosts up at night.

Adriel had a different problem. He built his entire concept around the northern lights—a phenomenon that peaks in fall, winter, and early spring. He had built a world-class experience with a serious wow factor, but if guests only came for one reason, he'd be right back in that seasonal trap.

So instead of accepting it, he decided to turn his 3-month Airbnb retreat into a true Alaskan resort.

Here's how he turned a seasonal market into an 8-month destination machine—and what you can steal from his playbook.

From Aurora Camp to Top Alaskan Resort

If you haven't seen Borealis Basecamp, here's the quick version: it's a retreat outside Fairbanks featuring fiberglass igloo-style stays and glass-walled cubes, all designed around one thing—experiencing the aurora borealis.

Adriel set out to build the ultimate northern lights experience. And he did.

But once the domes were up and the guests started coming, he realized something: if he wanted to build a real brand and maximize income, he needed more than a few strong months.

So he did four things that changed everything.

1. He Made the Core Stay Undeniable (and All-Season Proof)

The domes weren't just cool—they were comfortable. Heated floors, curved ceiling windows, and serious insulation borrowed from Arctic research stations. He created something that would be comfortable and cozy in any season, even Alaska's harshest winter.

If you're going to ask people to travel to Alaska in the winter, you can't just drop them in the cold and hope for the best. Plus, investing in different types of cabins also helps to cater to different seasons.

2.He Added Experiences That Win Guests on Their Own

He had the comfort. Now he needed to give people something they'd travel just to experience, no matter the season.

So he went all in on add-on packages and activities:

• Dog sledding
• Snowmobile tours
• Aurora photography packages
• UTV excursions
• Helicopter flightseeing
• Reindeer meet-and-greets

This added a ton of revenue. But the best part:  This move turned Borealis Basecamp into much more than a place to view the lights. It became a true resort.

Each activity gave a different type of traveler a reason to book. The aurora chaser comes in winter. The adventure seeker comes in summer for the UTV tours.

A genius move that solidified his brand.

3. He Built a Restaurant That Drives Revenue—With or Without Bookings

Actually, he built three.

• Latitude 65 for fine dining
• The Pub for unwinding
• Basecamp Cafe for quick bites

In a remote location, dining options are limited. By creating a culinary destination, he solved the "where do we eat?" problem for guests and gave locals and day-trippers a reason to visit the property year-round.

The restaurant drives demand on its own and for the rental. It gives people a reason to stay, even in seasons when it's harder to move around. Guests can pair an activity with a restaurant visit.

That’s revenue that doesn’t depend on your Airbnb calendar at all.

A powerful land hack.  

The Results: Turning 90 Peak Nights into a Multi-Million-Dollar Asset

Borealis now operates 8 months a year with roughly 90 peak nights. And those peak nights are making a fortune!

• Occupancy: ~65% average (lows around 50%, high season peaks up to 80%)
• Average Daily Rate: $1,000–$1,600 per unit (peak nights as high as $2,500)
• Estimated Annual Rental Income: $7.3M – $18.6M
• Additional Upsell Revenue: $50–$300 per night, per unit
• Estimated NOI: $4.9M – $9.9M

Less than 10 years in, Borealis Basecamp could reasonably be valued between $60M on the conservative end and $100M+ with sustained 80% occupancy.

How to Get More Bookings in the Slow Season

You probably don't have 100 acres in Alaska. But you can steal the same principles Adriel used to smooth out his calendar.

Here are six ways to start softening your own property's seasonality today.

1. Find your off-season demand drivers.

Look at your slow months and ask: what's actually happening locally? A food festival you've been ignoring? A fall harvest that draws crowds? A winter sports competition? Build an email campaign around that angle. Mention it in your title and listing copy. Sometimes the demand is already there—you just haven't connected the dots.

2. Build experiences worth the off-season trip.

What does your Airbnb have that people would travel to experience? You don't need a restaurant. Adding fun amenities like pickleball courts, a game room, a karaoke setup, or resort-level outdoor areas can give guests a reason to book in months when the main attraction isn't at its peak.

3. Refresh your visuals and copy by season.

Your listing shouldn't look the same in February as it does in July. Swap out your primary photo to reflect the current season. Update your description to highlight seasonal advantages: "Cozy up by the fire after a day on the slopes" versus "Cool off in the shade after a summer hike." It's a small shift that signals you're open for business year-round. The right photo for the right season can push guests to hit reserve faster. And the right copy will help the algorithm show your stay to the right guests. Especially since Airbnb search is moving from filters to guest descriptions.

4. Use dynamic pricing and smart promotions.

Don't let your calendar sit empty. Use dynamic pricing tools like AirDNA to get the right rate based on demand (get 10% off AirDNA with our coupon link).

Offer shoulder season specials or mid-week getaway packages. Consider a "stay 3 nights, get 4th free" offer during your slowest month. A little flexibility can turn a vacant night into a booked one. Just don't slash prices and lose your profits.

5. Leverage your email list for off-season marketing.

Your past guests already love your property. When you're entering a slow season, send them a simple note: "Hey, we have a few openings in the month, and we'd love to have you back. Here's why it's a magical time to visit..." Warm audiences convert better than cold ones every time. Sweeten the deal with an offer.

6. Benchmark against local competitors.

Pull up AirDNA or similar tools and see how comparable listings in your area perform during your slow season. Are they getting bookings when you aren't? What do they offer that you're missing? What amenities, pricing strategies, or positioning are they using?

The solution might be hiding in your comp set.

The Takeaway

Adriel didn’t accept that he had to shut his business down for six months a year.

He built new reasons for people to come.

New experiences to book.

New revenue streams that stood on their own.

You can do the same.

👉 Check out our original deep dive here, including financial estimates and the complete playbook for Borealis Basecamp.

👉 Or check out the Borealis Basecamp website here.

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