Why Guest Engagement Is Essential For Vacation Rentals
Are you looking to improve the success of your vacation rental property? While some vacation rentals will have many guest interactions, others might miss out or don’t see the value. In this blog, we will explain why it is essential.
What is guest engagement?
The process of actively engaging with guests before, during, and after their stay. It involves providing excellent customer service, creating enjoyable experiences, and building relationships. It mostly happens during specific moments in the guest journey: the booking, the check-in, and check-out. Outside of these moments, it is good to ask yourself the question: “How often do you proactively engage with your guests?”
Types of guest engagement
There are 2 types of guest engagement: reactive and proactive.
- Reactive engagement happens when property managers respond to guest inquiries.
- Proactive engagement happens when property managers proactively engage with their guests, without an inquiry.
Both types of engagement are important, but the latter is often forgotten. To be more proactive, it is important to understand the type of guests you serve, what questions they ask, and how you can anticipate those questions.
Why is it essential?
1. Improved customer service
Providing excellent customer service is essential for any business, and vacation rentals are no exception. When you engage with guests, you can provide them with personalized attention and answer any questions they may have. This can help to make their stay more enjoyable and will likely result in better reviews and more bookings in the future.
2. Positive experiences
When you engage with guests, it gives you the chance to create positive experiences. You can offer recommendations and tips for local attractions, provide special amenities, and even customize the rental to their needs. These things can make the stay more memorable and enjoyable for the guest.
3. Build relationships
Engaging with guests allows you to build relationships and create a sense of trust. This can lead to repeat customers who will be more likely to recommend your rental to their friends and family.
4. Improve guest experience
Engaging with guests can help create a more welcoming and enjoyable experience for them. When guests feel that their needs are being met and that their host cares about their experience, they are more likely to have a positive impression of the vacation rental and leave positive reviews.
5. Increase guest retention
Engaging with guests can help build a loyal customer base. By creating a memorable experience for guests, they are more likely to return for future vacations and recommend the property to others.
6. Increase revenue:
Engaged guests are more likely to spend money on additional services, such as booking tours, ordering food delivery, or purchasing souvenirs. By engaging with guests and providing personalized recommendations, vacation rental owners can increase their revenue streams.
7. Stand out from competitors:
With so many vacation rental options available, engaging with guests can help a property stand out from the competition. By providing excellent customer service and creating a unique experience, a vacation rental can set itself apart and attract more bookings.
Guest engagement and guest apps
Did you know that guest apps play a pivotal role in improving guest engagement? Using a guest app can tremendously increase the number of engagements you have with your guests during the guest journey. All interactions after the booking will happen through the guest app. As well as being convenient for your guests, an app reduces stress for you as time-consuming processes that previously had to be done manually are automated and digitized. Read more about the benefits of guest apps for vacation rentals here.
Let’s be more proactive!
If you are looking to improve the success of your rental property, then proactive guest engagement should be at the top of your list. Curious how guest experience technology can help you be more proactive, while you save time? Join the waiting list.
