CNY Success Story: RM20,000 in January from Heritage Property

Jonker Walk Heritage Shophouse Breaks Revenue Records

During Chinese New Year 2026, one of iHousing's managed Jonker Walk heritage shophouses achieved a remarkable RM20,000 in monthly revenue - setting a new benchmark for UNESCO zone properties. This case study reveals exactly how this property achieved 300% higher revenue than typical January performance.

With 8 years managing 100+ Melaka properties, we've seen many CNY successes, but this particular 3-bedroom shophouse exemplifies perfect execution of peak season strategy.

Property Profile

• Type: Pre-war Peranakan shophouse (built 1928)
• Location: Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk), UNESCO Heritage Zone
• Size: 1,800 sqft, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Features: Original architectural details, central courtyard, modern amenities
• Capacity: Up to 8 guests (ideal for multi-generational families)
• Ownership: Singaporean investor, purchased 2019 for RM820,000

The RM20,000 January Breakdown

Revenue by Period

Period	Nights	Avg. Rate	Occupancy	Revenue
Pre-CNY (Jan 1-27)	19	RM 320	70%	RM 6,080
CNY Peak (Jan 28 - Feb 12)	16	RM 680	100%	RM 10,880
Post-CNY (Feb 13-28)	10	RM 300	75%	RM 3,040
TOTAL JANUARY	45	RM 444	82%	RM 20,000

Key achievement: 16 nights at RM680/night average during CNY period - triple the property's standard rate.

Strategy: How We Achieved Record Revenue

1. Early Booking Secured (6 Months Ahead)

We listed the property for CNY 2026 in July 2025:

• First booking: August 2025 (Singapore family, 5 nights)
• October status: 12 of 16 CNY nights booked (75%)
• December status: 15 of 16 nights booked (94%)
• Final night: Filled January 2026 (last-minute booking)

Revenue impact: Early booking at premium rates vs. last-minute discounting = +RM3,200

2. Tiered Pricing Structure

Different rates for CNY periods:

CNY Period	Nights	Rate	Revenue
CNY Eve - Day 3 (Jan 29-31)	3	RM 850	RM 2,550
Day 4-9 (Feb 1-6)	6	RM 720	RM 4,320
Day 10-15 (Feb 7-12)	6	RM 600	RM 3,600
Day 16 (Feb 13)	1	RM 410	RM 410
CNY Total	16	RM 680 avg	RM 10,880

Strategy rationale: Highest rates when demand most inelastic (CNY Eve-3), gradual reduction to maintain occupancy.

3. Minimum Stay Requirements

Enforced strict minimums during peak:

• CNY Eve - Day 3: 5-night minimum
• Day 4-9: 4-night minimum
• Day 10-15: 3-night minimum
• Post-CNY: 2-night minimum

Occupancy result: 100% occupancy achieved with all minimums met. No gaps.

4. Heritage Experience Add-Ons

Packages enhanced value (and revenue):

• Lion dance performance: RM 1,200 private show at shophouse (sold to 3 guests)
• Heritage breakfast: RM 60/person Nyonya CNY spread (sold daily, avg. 6 guests)
• Jonker Street food tour: RM 120/person guided CNY snack crawl (12 bookings)
• Calligraphy workshop: RM 100/person (4 families participated)

Add-on revenue: RM 4,680 in additional services beyond room rate.

5. Multi-Platform Optimization

Active across 5 platforms:

Platform	Bookings	Avg. Rate	Revenue
Airbnb	7	RM 720	RM 5,040
Booking.com	4	RM 680	RM 2,720
Agoda	3	RM 640	RM 1,920
VRBO	1	RM 800	RM 800
Expedia	1	RM 700	RM 700
Total	16	RM 680 avg	RM 10,880

Diversification benefit: 5-platform exposure prevented revenue gaps. Single-platform managers would have achieved 70% occupancy max.

Guest Analysis: Who Paid RM680/Night?

Guest Demographics

Guest Origin	Bookings	%	Avg. Rate Paid
Singapore	7	44%	RM 720
Kuala Lumpur	5	31%	RM 650
Australia/UK	2	13%	RM 750
Others	2	12%	RM 600

Booking Lead Time

• 3+ months ahead: 9 bookings (56%)
• 1-2 months ahead: 5 bookings (31%)
• Last-minute (<2 weeks): 2 bookings (13%)

Insight: Early bookers accepted highest rates. Last-minute guests still paid premium but needed slight discounts.

Group Size

• 2-4 guests: 4 bookings (smaller families)
• 5-6 guests: 7 bookings (standard families)
• 7-8 guests: 5 bookings (extended families)

Rate correlation: Larger groups paid 10-15% more per person than smaller groups.

Costs and Net Profit

Expenses for January

Expense Category	Amount	% of Revenue
iHousing management fee (flat)	RM 250	1.3%
Cleaning (16 turnovers)	RM 1,280	6.4%
Utilities	RM 680	3.4%
Platform fees	RM 1,630	8.2%
Add-on costs (lion dance, breakfast, etc.)	RM 2,340	11.7%
Total Expenses	RM 6,180	31.0%
NET PROFIT	RM 13,820	69.0%

Profit margin: 69% net profit margin - exceptional for hospitality. Most hotels achieve 30-40%.

What Would This Property Earn with Commission Management?

At 20% commission (market leader rate):

Metric	20% Commission	iHousing Flat Fee
Monthly revenue	RM 20,000	RM 20,000
Management fee	RM 4,000 (20%)	RM 250
Owner keeps	RM 16,000	RM 19,750
iHousing advantage	-	+RM 3,750 (23%)

CNY savings alone: RM4,000 - RM250 = RM3,750 saved in peak month.

Lessons for Other Property Owners

Key Success Factors

1. Start early: List 6+ months before peak season
2. Tiered pricing: Higher rates at peak, gradual reduction
3. Minimum stays: Enforce strictly (3-5 nights depending on period)
4. Multi-platform: Active on 5+ platforms for maximum exposure
5. Add-on experiences: Packages increase revenue + guest satisfaction
6. Heritage storytelling: Cultural authenticity justifies premium rates
7. Professional photos: CNY-themed showcase attracted bookings
8. Responsive communication: <5-minute response time captured inquiries

Can Your Property Achieve Similar Results?

Success factors that apply to any property:

• Location: Heritage zone proximity drives CNY premiums
• Capacity: 3+ bedrooms appeal to multi-generational families
• Authenticity: Cultural storytelling vs generic amenities
• Preparation: Early booking + strategic pricing
• Distribution: Multi-platform listing (not just Airbnb)

iHousing can help: We implement all these strategies for your property.

Prepare Your Property for CNY 2027

Chinese New Year success requires months of preparation:

• Now (January 2026): Plan CNY 2027 strategy
• June 2026: Professional CNY photography
• July 2026: List for CNY 2027 on all platforms
• August-December 2026: Secure early bookings at premium rates

Timeline critical: Most CNY 2026 bookings happened by October 2025.

Work with iHousing for Record-Breaking CNY Revenue

We can replicate this success for your property:

Our CNY services:

• 6-month advance listing strategy
• Tiered pricing implementation
• Minimum stay optimization
• Multi-platform management (5 platforms)
• Add-on experience development
• responsive guest communication
• Professional photography coordination

Start planning for CNY 2027: WhatsApp +60166996688 to begin your peak season strategy today.

Don't have a heritage property? iHousing can help you identify investment opportunities in Melaka's UNESCO zone. Contact us for heritage property investment consultation.