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How to Create a Guest Welcome Pack for a European Vacation Rental
One of the best ways to build a positive brand image for your vacation rental business is to pamper your guests. Leaving a guest welcome pack is a simple yet effective way of enhancing the guest experience. A good welcome pack should introduce your vacation rental business while providing each guest with a sampling of the local culture.
How to Create a Guest Welcome Pack
The following tips will help you put together a varied and tantalising welcome pack that gets your guests excited about their stay and encourages them to come back for more:
Provide Essential Information
Start by thinking about your guests’ needs beyond their accommodations.
For a greater sense of security, for instance, they might appreciate information about local fire departments, health clinics, and police precincts. While it’s unlikely that an emergency will arise, it’s a good idea to ensure that they have easy access to helpful resources if something goes awry during their stay.
Once you’ve listed these resources, provide information about fun attractions and events in the area. If your region is popular for its snowy hills, you might include pamphlets for local ski resorts.
You can also look for coupons or arrange discount offers with restaurants and other area businesses. Your guests will appreciate your efforts to help them save money during their stay.
Leave a Personalized Note
Draft a personalised note that welcomes each guest to your rental. Rather than writing out each note individually, compose a short welcome letter that’s generic enough to appeal to most of your visitors. You can easily insert each guest’s name into the note before printing it out.
Mention a few of the complimentary items included in the welcome pack, and thank your guests for staying with you. Consider adding a line that encourages them to leave a review after their stay.
Stock Up on Basic Hygiene Products
Your guests will probably bring their own personal hygiene products with them, but you should supply certain items anyway. Soap, shampoo and conditioner, hand sanitiser, shower caps, shaving cream, and body lotion are all commonly used items that your guests will no doubt enjoy having access to.
There’s no need to fill your welcome pack with all of these hygiene samples — just pick things you think your guests will expect and add one or two extras.
Furnish Complimentary Snacks
Travelling often means delaying the need for rest, nourishment, and hydration. By the time someone arrives at their vacation rental, they’ll likely feel weary, hungry, and thirsty. Aside from a comfortable bed, your guests may look for something to munch on. You can include simple snack foods as part of your guest welcome pack.
Trail mix, popcorn, crackers, pretzels, and individually wrapped chocolates are all great options. Consider leaving some fresh fruit to satisfy those looking for healthier choices. A couple bottles of water can also help your guests rehydrate after a long trip.
Include Seasonal Essentials
In the winter, give your guests information about sledding, ice skating, and other cold-weather activities. Put out packets of hot cocoa mix, matches for the fireplace, or warm slippers. Winter-related injuries are common, so don’t forget a first aid kit and a list of winter safety tips.
For the spring and summer seasons, make your guests aware of music festivals, boat rentals, hiking trails, and other warm-weather activities in the area. Post safety guidelines if there’s a pool or hot tub on your property. Throw in some complimentary flip-flops, beach towels, and sunblock if you want to go the extra mile.
Address Special Needs or Occasions
Paying attention to any hints your renters drop can help you figure out how to create a guest welcome pack that’s sure to impress new visitors.
Take note of birthdays when reviewing guest verification reports. If a guest mentions an anniversary or honeymoon, consider gifting them a bottle of wine, some nice chocolates, and a bouquet to commemorate their special occasion.
Most guests will let you know if they have special needs, such as dietary restrictions. If a guest is lactose-intolerant, for example, you might substitute strawberries or cherries for chocolate.
Similarly, some guests might have mobility issues. Keep a ground-floor room accessible to them, and double-check all safety features in your rental. Let your guests know you’re willing to address any additional needs they have to ensure that their stay is as comfortable as possible.
Promote Local Businesses With Free Samples
You can help your rental business grow and provide a more enjoyable stay by networking with other local businesses.
Many business owners will happily supply free samples of their products to encourage the tourist trade. Add a few free samples to every welcome pack so your guests can discover what makes your community unique.
This is a wonderful opportunity to make each guest welcome pack a customised introduction to your area, so feel free to get creative and mix things up. You can even create themed welcome packs, such as family-friendly packs, romantic getaway packs, or business retreat packs.
Choose an Attractive Delivery Basket or Box
The presentation of your guest welcome packs is just as important as their content.
Choose boxes or bags that compliment your chosen theme or a local industry. For example, if you own vacation rentals in wine country, you might place your welcome pack items in wooden wine crates. Alternatively, you can emphasise sustainability by using recycled tote bags.
Make it a point to use an attractive package that’s large and sturdy enough to comfortably hold all of the items in your guest welcome pack. Doing so will help prevent accidental spills as your guests lift or carry the bundles.
You can also promote your vacation rental business by having your brand logo printed or embedded in the welcome pack containers. This will serve as a reminder of their pleasant stay in your short-term rental property.
Ensure a Safer Stay With Top-Tier Guest Verification
CoverCat provides short-term rental property insurance to help you protect your vacation rentals. You can also take advantage of our industry-leading guest-verification process to maintain a higher standard in the quality of your guests.
Our services serve to enhance safety and keep rental properties looking their best. Contact us today to learn more.