How to Welcome Your Guests with These 5 Spring AirBnb Gifts
The logic of reciprocity shapes behavior — is a notion of exchange that is common across various business disciplines, and in the vacation rental industry, Welcome Gifts can inspire guests to leave 5-star reviews. This increases profits and brand awareness! It may seem costly or trivial but presenting gifts gives your business credibility, especially when you’re first starting out. It’s generosity in tangible forms, a practice that allows you to show appreciation to your guests for their business.
The art of hospitality can improve your business model, so use it to your advantage. Guests love friendly and inviting welcomes, it makes them feel valued. They will be happy that they chose you, and will mention your Airbnb to their friends and family with high regard.
Spring represents renewal and rebirth. If you haven’t already implemented this important business practice, take some time to put together gifts for your upcoming guests.
5 Simple Gifts for AirBNB Guests
Toy Bear
Nothing beats a cute snuggly toy bear. It’s an easy gift that works well for any season. And when it comes to Spring, add warm yellow, sage green or light brown bears to your welcome packages. You can easily buy them in bulk from online retailers at affordable prices. These cuddly friends are comforting and great for family-friendly rentals. (Even traveling professionals with children who might appreciate a souvenir to take back home.
2. Hand Sanitizer
Spring equals outdoor time and grimy hands. Include Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hand Sanitizer! It comes in two aromas - peppermint and lavender. This sanitizer is light and airy, and kills germs with a clean formula. Guests can even utilize it as an air freshener or deodorant - it’s a small multi-purpose luxury that smells great.
3. Phone Charger
Just like teddy bears, phone chargers aren’t a Spring-only item, it’s a year-round necessity. Gifting chargers is the cherry on top as people often forget to pack this essential item. Guests will appreciate that you went above and beyond to make their accommodations stress-free and comfortable.
“Include iPhone and Android charging cords.”
4. Wine
As the great anonymous quote says, “Home is where the wine is.” Vino is one of the best ways you can invite guests into your rental. After a long day of traveling, people want to unwind and relax. And during the Spring, light wines like Rosé and Chardonnay are great options. Add a little flair to the bottle by dressing it up with a ribbon or bow around the neck and don’t forget to include a corkscrew if it isn't a twist off.
“Trader Joe’s has a vast selection of wines at affordable prices!”
5. Cozy Socks
Another gift that provides comfort after a long day of traveling is cozy socks. This is also a great alternative to guests who forget their slippers or house shoes. Purchase themes and colors that correlate to Spring! And try to purchase socks with grippers if your rental has hardwood floors.
Cost
Welcome gifts can be costly, it’s suggested to spend 3% of the total booking value and not to exceed $50 per stay. And as we always suggest, consider purchasing items in bulk.
Visibility
Many hosts offer a digital welcome package, but sometimes these are disregarded and unread. Having tangible items is a pleasant surprise, especially when guests aren’t expecting anything during check-in. In order to ensure that guests don’t miss the welcome package, set it in a visible area with a photo frame next to it, stating ‘Welcome To …’ (insert the name of your rental).
Along with gifts, include an event calendar with transportation tips to your package as well. Guests will love the suggestions, especially if something peaks their interest or if they didn’t have time to create an itinerary beforehand. It would also be helpful to include a small note asking guests to be mindful of keeping the lights on, etc. as utility costs can be very costly for Airbnb hosts, simply because guests don’t think about their energy use when on vacation.
Choosing The Right Gifts
There are important factors to consider when crafting welcome packages, that’s why pre-arrival questionnaires are so helpful. Along with considering the season, you should also take the guest’s reason for traveling, their age bracket and interests into thought. All of these elements should craft the overall mood of the package.
