Why Vacation Rentals Need a Guest Experience App
More than ever, guests have high expectations about their stay in a short-term vacation rental. For an Airbnb host, there are several options for handling these expectations, always remembering that consumer behavior is rapidly changing. A great way to improve guest satisfaction is to exceed their expectations, and a guest experience app can be a big part of that. So, are you ready to jump into the future of travel? Let’s learn why your vacation rental needs a guest app.
What is a guest experience app?
A guest experience app is a mobile app listed in app stores, such as Google Play and the Apple App Store, that your guests can download to manage their stay and general experience. If you want to improve your overall guest satisfaction, guest experience apps are a perfect solution to meet their needs.
Have you already decided to invest in an app? Be aware that many software vendors claim to offer guest apps. In reality, many actually offer guest web apps – not mobile apps. Read more about what a guest experience app is in our previous blog.
The differences between a mobile app and a web app
Mobile apps and web apps differ in various aspects, offering distinct advantages and functionalities to users:
Accessibility: Mobile apps are specifically designed to be downloaded and installed on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In contrast, web apps can be accessed directly through web browsers on any device with an internet connection.
Performance and Speed: Mobile apps are built to run natively on a device, leveraging its hardware capabilities for optimal performance and speed. Web apps, on the other hand, rely on internet connectivity and may have slightly slower load times due to data retrieval.
User Experience: Mobile apps offer a tailored user experience with intuitive interfaces, leveraging device-specific features like gestures, push notifications, and access to device hardware (camera, GPS, etc.). Web apps, while still providing a user-friendly interface, may have limitations in utilizing certain device functionalities.
Development and Maintenance: Building a mobile app typically requires platform-specific development, with separate versions for different operating systems (iOS, Android). Web apps, on the other hand, are developed once and can be accessed across multiple platforms. This makes web apps more cost-effective and easier to maintain in the long run.
App Store Distribution: Mobile apps are distributed through app stores, such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, providing a centralized platform for discovery and installation. Web apps, being accessible via web browsers, do not require distribution through app stores.
What results can you expect from using a guest experience app?
Enhanced Guest Satisfaction: A guest experience app allows you to provide personalized services and tailor the experience to individual preferences. This customization can lead to increased guest satisfaction, as their specific needs and desires are met more effectively.
Improved Guest Engagement: The interactive features of a guest experience app, such as real-time messaging, push notifications, and activity recommendations, encourage guests to actively engage with your offerings. This higher level of engagement can result in a more memorable and enjoyable experience for guests.
Increased Guest Loyalty: By exceeding guest expectations through the app, you can foster a sense of loyalty and encourage repeat bookings. Satisfied guests are more likely to become brand advocates, referring friends and family to your establishment and increasing your customer base.
Valuable Guest Insights: A guest experience app provides a wealth of data on guest behavior, preferences, and feedback. Analyzing this data can offer valuable insights into customer trends, enabling you to make informed business decisions and further enhance the guest experience.
Efficient Communication: The app serves as a direct communication channel between you and your guests. You can share important updates, special offers, and personalized recommendations in a timely manner, ensuring effective communication throughout the guest's journey.
Streamlined Operations: Some guest experience apps offer features like mobile check-in/check-out, room service requests, and amenity bookings. By automating these processes, you can streamline operations, reduce wait times, and improve overall efficiency.
This is why a guest app is essential for you and your guests
The next generation of travelers is different from older generations. They prefer to communicate through mobile. In fact, they like to arrange almost everything via their phones! That is why a guest app suits the new type of traveler and their desired experience.
With a guest app, you pave the way for a seamless guest experience. Your guests have one place where they can go for answers to their questions and information about their experiences during their stay. There’s no need to use separate apps or any other devices, and no paperwork to fill out.
This also has benefits for you. For example, guests can have a lot of questions about the home they rent. With a guest app, you can digitize the house manual so it can be accessed at any time. In this way, you reduce the number of questions you get and thus save time. Similarly, guests rely on their Airbnb hosts, seeing them as local guides. But being a local guide can cost a lot of time. The guest app becomes the guide, so there does not need to be any host involvement.
You can even pre-organize and send proactive recommendations during specific stages of the guest journey. By doing so, you can increase the average guest spend. With your app, the guests can manage their stay themselves. If they want to book extra services – such as early check-in, a full fridge, or other add-ons – they can browse and book with ease. Your tips can guide them toward the add-ons they want.
Improve the guest experience with a mobile guest app
Do you want to improve the experience for your guests, offer them a frictionless stay and exceed their expectations, and be ready for the future of travel? A mobile guest experience app is an elegant, all-in-one solution.
A mobile guest experience app:
suits modern travelers who want to arrange everything on their phones.
helps you to organize your business more efficiently.
Saves time for you and your guests.
Results in happier guests and likely increased revenues for you as a short-term vacation rental host.
Are you ready to make guest technology part of your guest experience? Read more about the features, or start your free trial here.
