How Austin Rental Boats turned their off-season into a holiday experience

“We offer a variety of experiences, different boat capacities, seasonal pricing schedules, private bookings, individual tickets, and dynamic pricing. FareHarbor allows us to build everything out exactly the way we want instead of forcing our business into a one-size-fits-all setup.”

 Shawn Smith, Owner

Making the most of Lake Austin year-round

For Austin Rental Boats, boating is traditionally a seasonal business. When colder months arrive, demand for typical lake experiences can slow. But owner Shawn Smith saw an opportunity to give customers a different reason to get out on the water.

The result was Lake Austin Lights, a winter holiday experience featuring illuminated boats, floating light displays, tunnels of lights, holiday music, hot cocoa, and other seasonal elements.

To bring this experience to life, Austin Rental Boats needed more than a way to accept bookings. It needed a booking system flexible enough to handle a different type of operation, with its own schedules, pricing, ticket options, and guest communications.

Building a new holiday tradition on Lake Austin

Lake Austin Lights gives captains opportunities to keep working when traditional boating demand slows.

“One thing that makes us unique is that we’re able to employ many of our captains almost year-round,” Smith says. “We even bring in captains from other local boating companies to help drive during the light show, which allows more captains to keep working during what is normally the off-season.”

The team hopes the event will become a lasting part of the local holiday calendar. As Smith puts it, “we want Lake Austin Lights to become part of people’s holiday traditions.”

Managing complex bookings with flexible tools

Lake Austin Lights isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. Different boat capacities, departure times, individual tickets, private bookings, and seasonal pricing all need to work together.

FareHarbor gives Austin Rental Boats the flexibility to configure those details around the experience rather than adapting the event to fit a rigid booking process.

“Capacity and availability management are especially important for us,” Smith says. “We can manage individual tickets, private boats, different boat capacities, departure times, guest information, payments, and booking details all from one Dashboard.”

The team can also use seasonal and dynamic pricing to support its pricing strategy throughout the event.

Giving guests the information they need

Austin Rental Boats uses FareHarbor’s customizable confirmation emails to tailor communications to each experience. 

“We love how customizable the guest experience is,” Smith says. “We can modify each confirmation email with exactly the information guests need, add photos, and tailor communication to the specific experience they booked.”

The team also needs to locate reservations quickly when guests arrive. During busy check-in periods, searching with only one piece of information can slow things down.

With FareHarbor, staff can find reservations using several details, including a guest’s name, phone number, email address, booking time, or promo code. That flexibility makes it easier to locate a booking and help guests prepare for their experience.

Supporting two businesses with a dedicated Dashboard

As Lake Austin Lights developed, Austin Rental Boats needed a way to manage the event’s distinct operational needs while continuing to run its existing business.

FareHarbor helped the team separate Austin Rental Boats and Lake Austin Lights into dedicated dashboards. This setup gives the event its own space to manage bookings and operations while letting the team run both businesses effectively.

Smith credits the FareHarbor team with helping make that transition possible.

“They assisted us in separating Austin Rental Boats and Lake Austin Lights so each could have their own dedicated Dashboard, while still giving us the flexibility to manage both businesses effectively,” he says. “Our account manager and AI chatbot specialist have both been a great help as we continue expanding the event.”

For operators adding a new experience, location, or business line, adapting your booking setup can make a meaningful difference. 

Building for continued growth

Lake Austin Lights lets Austin Rental Boats offer something different during the winter months. FareHarbor supports that effort with flexible booking options, customizable guest communications, easier reservation searches, and a dedicated event Dashboard.

While the experience has its own operational demands, the team can manage the details in a booking system that adapts to its needs.

“FareHarbor has helped us build the infrastructure needed to keep growing Lake Austin Lights,” Smith says.

For tour and activity operators, the takeaway is simple: growth doesn’t always mean doing more of what you already offer. Sometimes, it means finding a new way to serve customers — and making sure your booking tools can support the idea.

Ready to build your next experience? FareHarbor gives tour and activity operators flexible tools to manage bookings, streamline operations, and grow their business. If interested in seeing how FareHarbor can support your business, request a demo today.