Listing your property online for the first time can be daunting. Whether you are concerned about who your guests will be or how you will manage the day-to-day upkeep, there are many things you can do to be as prepared as possible and maximise your short term rental’s opportunity.
An online listing on a site like Booking.com can be a great source of additional income, and the key to success usually lies with impressing your guest. For those looking to make their way in the industry, the teams at the Short Stay Show and Booking.com have compiled their top tips on getting set up below.
Get your listing and its price on point
Doing your research is key. What price should you list your property at? Booking.com advises to also consider the unique facilities and amenities your property offers when deciding on the price.
To help new properties, which may not have traveller reviews, improve their visibility Booking.com recently introduced an industry first, objective quality rating system, that assigns ‘star-like’ ratings to your property based on the location, facilities & amenities you provide in order to help travellers find your property.
It’s the little things that make a difference for guests
Quality toiletries, welcoming candles and personalised greeting notes are just some of the ways to make your guests feel at home, and the more they feel at home, the more likely they are to stay at your property again.
If you don’t want to worry about managing the little things, suppliers can do it for you, the industry is full of companies dedicated to kitting out properties with the right tone and vibe for the property or location.
Connect guests with their surroundings
Travellers are always on the lookout for immersive experiences – experiences that put them in contact with local people. Providing your guests with a map of the area, including recommendations on restaurants to try or shops to stop by, is a good place to start. When you’re more established you might be in a position to even offer exclusive discounts to stand out from competing properties, such as discounts for your guests at those local restaurants.
Encourage feedback and learn from it
Delivering memorable experiences for guests will leave lasting impressions and encourage them to provide reviews. Reviews are great not only for other travellers to see what other travellers loved about your property, but also give you important insights on where to improve or what travellers are looking for.
“At Booking.com, we’re extremely proud to offer a review system that helps travellers from all over the world to find their perfect stay each and every day,” says Eric Bergaglia, the global head of Booking.com’s homes and apartments business. “Reviews provide travellers with the most relevant, up-to-date information and help our partners maintain relevancy as they attract customers.”
Merilee Karr, the chair of the Short-Term Accommodation Association, added, “It’s about providing guests with an exceptional service throughout the entire accommodation experience from making the reservation, to their arrival, through to their departure.”
Invest in technology
Key management between guests and staff can be a hassle, whether it’s arranging a meet time or finding a reliable hiding spot. Invest in a key tracking system, entry technology that requires pin code access or the latest locks which can be opened by a smartphone. Property and guest security are paramount when operating a short stay business so don’t cut corners or leave your guests waiting outside.
Find more information on the short-term rental industry, The Short Stay Show takes place on March 12 2020 at the London ExCeL.
For more information on attending the show please visit: https://shortstay.show/
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About the Short Stay Show
Established in 2019, the Short Stay Show is the leading event for the short stay hospitality and the accommodation industry in the UK. It is the only event in the UK dedicated to highlighting the opportunities that are arising from the high-growth short stay industry and its disruption to the wider travel market.
The show welcomes entrepreneurs, technologists, national and local government representatives, property specialists, innovations, radical companies as well as owners, managers and investors of short stay accommodation who are looking to stay ahead of the ever evolving short-stay accommodation trend.
The Short Stay Show is delivered in partnership with Quality in Tourism, The STAA – Short Term Accommodation Association and the European Holiday Home Association – who are committed to bringing the industry together to overcome industry challenges and seize growth opportunities.
The Short Stay Show is owned, managed and operated by Quartz Smart Events; specialists in high-growth hospitality, travel and tourism events, both in the UK and internationally.
In October 2019, the event achieved award-winning status after it claimed ‘Best Trade Launch Event 2019’ at the Independent Event Organisers Awards.
About the 2020 Short Stay Show
The 2020 Short Stay Show will take place on 12 March and is exclusively presented with Booking.com as well as being supported by industry leaders Expedia and HomeAway, Cottage.com, Sykes Cottage, Guesty and Rentals United.
The show is set to welcome over 2,000 visitors, 100+ exhibitors and 100+ speakers to the London ExCeL.
For information on how to get involved with the show, please visit: https://shortstay.show/partner/
