info@cultbooking.com 
0049 30 726225 0 
MinLOS on Arrival vs. Stay-through MinLOS: Understanding Hotel Booking Restrictions
Managing availability and restrictions is a critical part of hotel revenue management. Among the most important settings is the Minimum Length of Stay (MinLOS), a rule that defines how many nights a guest must book to confirm a reservation.
However, not all MinLOS strategies are created equal. The concepts of MinLOS on Arrival and Stay-through MinLOS may sound similar, but they behave very differently. The rules can also be complex and sometimes confusing, which is why it’s important to understand their differences clearly.
In this guide, we’ll explain:
- What MinLOS means in hotels.
- The difference between MinLOS on Arrival and Stay-through MinLOS.
- Real-life examples of how each rule works.
- Why CultBooking supports MinLOS on Arrival as the best option for most hotels.
What is Minimum Length of Stay (MinLOS) in Hotels?
Minimum Length of Stay (MinLOS) is a hotel booking restriction that sets the shortest number of nights required for a reservation.
For example:
- If MinLOS = 2, guests must stay at least 2 nights.
- If MinLOS = 4, guests cannot book just 1, 2, or 3 nights.
Hotels use MinLOS to:
- Avoid single-night bookings during high-demand periods.
- Protect revenue by encouraging longer stays.
- Shape guest booking behavior around weekends, holidays, and events.
- Improve occupancy during peak travel seasons.
While the concept is simple, the method of applying MinLOS makes all the difference. Let’s look at the two approaches:
What is MinLOS on Arrival?
MinLOS on Arrival is the most common and practical way hotels use minimum stay restrictions.
How it works:
- The restriction is applied only to the guest’s check-in date.
- If the length of stay meets or exceeds the requirement for that arrival day, the booking is valid.
- Later dates in the stay do not affect the booking.
Example of MinLOS on Arrival:
- June 10 = MinLOS 3
- Guest books June 10–12 (2 nights). ❌ Booking rejected.
- Guest books June 10–13 (3 nights). ✅ Booking accepted.
- Guest books June 10–14 (4 nights). ✅ Booking accepted.
This method is simple, transparent, and guest-friendly. Even if later dates have different restrictions, only the arrival day’s MinLOS is considered.
CultBooking Extranet applies MinLOS on Arrival as its default setting because it ensures flexibility while still protecting hotel revenue.
What is Stay-through MinLOS?
Stay-through MinLOS is a stricter and less commonly used restriction.
How it works:
- The rule applies to every night of the stay, not just the arrival.
- The booking must satisfy the MinLOS requirement for each date included in the stay.
Example of Stay-through MinLOS:
- Stay-through MinLOS = 3
- Guest books June 10–12 (2 nights). ❌ Not valid.
- Guest books June 10–13 (3 nights). ❌ Not valid.
- Guest books June 10–14 (4 nights). ❌ Still not valid.
Why? Because on the last night, the system still requires at least 3 additional nights ahead, which do not exist.
This makes Stay-through extremely restrictive. For instance, if a hotel sets Stay-through MinLOS = 7 for an entire year, it becomes impossible to book exactly 7 nights. The rule unintentionally blocks all reservations, unless the stay is much longer.
When to Use Stay-through MinLOS in Hotels
Despite its limitations, Stay-through MinLOS can make sense in very specific cases, such as:
- High-demand events, such as New Year’s Eve, Oktoberfest, or music festivals.
- Trade fairs or conferences where hotels want to prioritize long-stay guests.
- Special revenue strategies where shorter bookings could break profitable patterns.
This rule should be applied only by experienced revenue managers, as it can easily result in overblocking and lost revenue opportunities.
Pros and Cons of Each MinLOS Strategy
Instead of a table, let’s review the advantages and drawbacks in practical terms:
- MinLOS on Arrival is flexible, easy to manage, and guest-friendly. It allows hoteliers to control restrictions without accidentally blocking valuable bookings. This method is most effective for everyday hotel operations and is the standard across most booking engines.
- Stay-through MinLOS, on the other hand, is complex, restrictive, and risky. While it can protect longer stays during very specific events, it often confuses guests and prevents reservations that would otherwise be profitable.
Why CultBooking Uses MinLOS on Arrival
At CultBooking, we understand how important booking restrictions are for revenue management. That’s why the CultBooking Extranet uses MinLOS on Arrival as the default approach.
With CultBooking, you can:
- Set different MinLOS values for different days.
- Adjust rules during peak seasons or special events.
- Avoid accidental overblocking caused by Stay-through restrictions.
- Maintain a smooth and guest-friendly booking experience.
This ensures your hotel has the flexibility to maximize revenue without losing reservations.
Final Thoughts
For most hotels, the difference between MinLOS on Arrival and Stay-through MinLOS is more than just technical. It can directly affect revenue, occupancy, and guest satisfaction.
- MinLOS on Arrival is the smarter, safer, and more flexible option for everyday hotel operations.
- Stay-through MinLOS should only be applied in rare, event-driven cases by advanced revenue managers.
With CultBooking’s Extranet, you can easily manage MinLOS settings and implement the right booking restrictions for your property. Stay in control, avoid blocked bookings, and maximize your revenue with a smarter approach to hotel restrictions.