Creating an Exceptional Guest Experience

Millions of rentals are listed on booking sites, and each day, more are added. The rental market can be extremely competitive, but the one factor that makes properties stand out is an exceptional guest experience.

Your guests are your customers. When they have an incredible experience, they are more likely to write rave reviews, stay again and recommend your property to their friends and network. On the other hand, if they have a miserable experience or even one that doesn’t meet their expectations, they will also tell everyone they know about it, in-person and online.

When over 88% of people value online reviews as much as personal recommendations, you can’t afford not to have great guest experiences. Here are the most important factors for a positive experience.

What are guests looking for?

It is important to know the types of guests you are looking for and also, what your guests want from their stay. Some properties may not be the right fit for some guests. For instance, if a guest is young and looking for a lively party scene, then a private and quiet getaway in the mountains probably isn’t for them.

Make sure your property listings are designed in a way that attracts guests that would be interested in staying. If it’s a party hostel in Europe, then make sure it is described clearly across all your listings. If it is an isolated mountain retreat where guests can get some rest and spend time in nature, make it obvious. Put detailed and accurate descriptions on your rental listings and add photos to give guests ample information.

Focus on convenience.

When you attract the right guests, figuring out how to make their stay incredible becomes a lot easier. Still, there are some qualities that all guests appreciate. Convenience makes a huge difference. Whether your property has free transportation or a shuttle from the airport, room service or a prime location near popular sites and stores, focus on convenience. It will show guests that you’ve put in the effort and truly want their experience to be positive.

Add a personal signature.

One of the most important influences on guest impressions besides the property itself is the host. In a crowded market, personal touches stand out. You may not be able to greet every guest in-person and see that they settle in. However, you can show your hospitality in other ways. You can welcome each guest with a handwritten note and attach all of the important information that they may need for their stay, such as contact numbers, WiFi passwords and other tips.

If you have a small budget, you can add a unique welcome gift. Some hosts will surprise guests with a free bottle of wine, chocolates, baked goods or a basket of local product samples. For little to no cost, you can also offer exclusive guest discounts to activities or tours in the area. Find your own personal signature to welcome guests, and they will remember it.

Keep improving.

You may have found the secret ingredients for a perfect guest experience, but don’t get too comfortable. For hosts and property managers, comfort is the enemy of success. Always look for ways to improve. Ask for guest feedback and monitor reviews. They can provide valuable insights into what works well and what can be improved to make your rental properties even better.

Booking experience matters.

The guest experience doesn’t start with check-in. It starts from booking to check-out, so it is important to ensure that their booking experience is smooth at every step. Confirm their reservation as soon as it is made. Follow it up by sharing important and helpful details like: check-in and check-out times, amenities, directions, transportation options and prices, nearby attractions and stores, and things to do.

If that seems like too many details to manage, we understand. At Booking Team, you can manage all of your rental listings on one easy-to-use collaborative platform. You can make sure that all of the pertinent details are shared with all your listings across multiple sites. We help you automate many of the tedious aspects of managing properties, so that you can focus on key aspects like creating a wonderful guest experience.