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Approximately one in eight people in the U.S. have used a vacation rental. By 2025, this will increase to one in five people. There’s no doubt that the vacation rental market is a quickly growing segment of the traveler accommodation industry.
As a vacation rental property owner, this is awesome news. But just because the number of vacation rental guests is on the rise doesn’t necessarily mean your property bookings will increase. If you aren’t offering a great guest experience, forget about getting repeat bookings, and your property’s online reviews won’t be encouraging.
So, what can you do to offer your vacation rental guests the best experience?
Read on to find out!
1. Identify Your Target Audience
If you’re a first-time vacation rental host, it’s understandable that you might be targeting just about anyone who wants to stay in a rental instead of a hotel or resort. After all, if you cast a wider net, the more guests you’re likely to receive.
However, this will come at the expense of a superior guest experience. You see, the key to great experiences is curating your service to suit a specific group of guests. For instance, what families with kids want in a vacation rental is far different from what solo Gen Z travelers would want.
As such, it’s important to identify your target guest and customize your rental to cater to their preferences. Some of the key factors to consider when choosing your target market are the size of your vacation rental, location, and amenities.
If the property is in a popular vacation spot for millennials and remote workers, for example, it’s a no-brainer that those should be your target guests. In this case, ensure your rental offers high-tech things like high-speed internet and automation, in addition to basic amenities and essential furniture.
Don’t expect to get it right with your target audience from day one. It will take some time to understand your target guests’ preferences for a short-term stay. Gather as much feedback as you can from your guests and use the information to refine the experience for future guests.
2. Tasteful Styling
A big part of a vacation rental’s overall vibe and ambiance is the styling.
Once you’ve settled on a theme, execute it with precision. If you want a rental with a rustic vibe, for example, the décor should match it. Everything from the walling to the flooring and furniture should scream rustic.
If décor isn’t one of your strong suits, don’t shy away from hiring a professional to do the job. The last thing you want is to market your rental as a rustic haven only for your guests to find that the place is mildly rustic.
Keep in mind that the overall theme of the vacation rental will have a big influence on your target market. Ideally, you want to settle on a theme after you’ve established that it’s what your target guests want.
3. A Smooth Booking and Check-In Experience
A vacation rental experience doesn’t start when the guest arrives at the property. It starts when they’re looking to make a booking.
The booking experience will largely depend on where you have listed your rental. For instance, if you’ve listed it on third-party vacation rental sites like Airbnb and Booking.com, you don’t have much control over the booking experience. If the site suffers an outage or is slow, for instance, there isn’t anything you can do from your end.
Still, do your best to make your listing as informative and friendly as possible. Provide clear photos and videos, contact information, and directions to the property. You want a potential guest to have a complete picture of what your rental is like.
If you have your own booking systems, such as a website or mobile app, for your rental property, you have complete control over the booking experience. Don’t ruin it. The platform should be quick and secure with multiple payment options.
Guests like to be informed about the status of their booking immediately after they’ve made a reservation. Ensure you’re able to provide this information in a timely manner; otherwise, the guest could start thinking they’ve been scammed.
4. A Seamless Check-In Experience
Regardless of the booking method, hosts are in charge of the check-in experience.
On check-in days, you should be available by phone, email, and other platforms to respond to any inquiries your guests might have. If a guest is lost and needs directions to the rental, they should be able to reach you quickly. If you have an automated check-in, ensure the systems are always online and functioning.
Offering a welcome guide will help your guests learn more about the property’s amenities and gain access to useful information, such as emergency contacts.
Physical brochures will work just fine, but digital guides will do better, especially if you’re targeting younger guests. Check out GoGuidebook vacation rental digital guides to learn more.
5. Resolve Issues Quickly
When running a vacation rental, issues will always arise. Sinks will clog, electrical faults will happen, some partying guests will be too loud for comfort … you catch the drift.
Quick resolutions to various issues will go a long way to enhancing your guests’ vacation experience. Have plumbers, electricians, and other emergency professionals on speed dial. And, remember to follow up with your guests to ensure issues have been fixed.
A 5-Star Guest Experience Awaits
With the COVID-19 pandemic now in the rearview mirror, the wheels of the vacation rental industry are turning again. There couldn’t be a better time to become a host.
However, with the competition for guests getting stronger, offering an exceptional guest experience will set your rental apart. Use the tips above to transform your guests’ experience.
All the best and read our blog for more real estate tips and insights.
