Creating a welcome pack for your holiday rental

April 2024

To ensure the profitability and sustainability of a holiday rental business, it’s necessary to continually elevate standards regarding the experience provided to guests. This involves creating an environment where visitors feel at home. Hosts who go the extra mile will attract both new and returning guests, and also gain numerous favourable reviews. This approach not only ensures guest satisfaction but also reinforces your commitment when advertising your holiday home.

Keep in mind that guests’ expectations may be high. Even with having a property with all the amenities, perfect for a dream stay and in an unmatched location, you should still strive to go the extra mile by adding a distinctive touch that will set you apart from many other accommodation options and help you rent out your holiday home.

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Preparing a welcome pack to boost your bookings

Firstly, send guests an email in advance; just a few days before their scheduled stay. In it, you can express your eagerness to welcome them and take the opportunity to ask if they have any questions or requests. This will help resolve any concerns guests may have beforehand. Making guests feel comfortable is key to helping them have a relaxing holiday.

When putting together a suitable welcome package, the key lies in the balanced combination of practical and emotional elements, regardless of the time and budget you’re willing to invest. The recipe for a perfect welcome gift, whether modest or luxurious, involves integrating elements that suit your guests’ characteristics and that only you can identify.

Presenting a carefully curated welcome basket will not only leave a lasting impression on your visitors but also exert an added appeal to potential visitors considering staying in your holiday rental home. Given the importance of online reviews in guests’ decision-making process, investing time in including complementary items in the welcome pack can influence a substantial increase in your property’s ratings. We cannot overlook the weight of social media and your positioning within the holiday rental portal.

Basic ideas before putting together the welcome pack

When tackling the task of creating an effective welcome pack for guests of a holiday rental, it’s essential to find the right balance between detail and pragmatism.

Consider tailoring your holiday apartment welcome pack based on guest suggestions. Guest feedback can provide valuable insights into what works well and what could be improved.

When selecting items for the welcome basket, prioritise environmentally friendly and locally sourced options. This choice not only sends a message about your environmental consciousness but also shows guests that you value sustainability.

Include your contact details visibly in the kit. On one hand, it’s a useful and courteous gesture towards guests in case of need. On the other hand, it will convey a strong commitment to their well-being, contributing to guests feeling cared for and valued.

What should not be missing from the welcome pack?

You should be very clear from the outset about everything tenants may need in their daily lives, as making their lives easier should be one of your main goals as a host. In the welcome pack, it would be advisable to include:

• Personal hygiene items: you can include toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand lotion, mouthwash, tissues, wet wipes, shaving cream, sanitary pads, etc.
• Essentials: bedding, toilet paper, towels, shower gel, soap, paper towels, garbage bags, dish and laundry soap, shampoo, and conditioner.
• First aid kit and basic medications: over-the-counter medications for colds, headaches, and stomach aches, plasters, disinfectant products, etc.
• Snacks: to make guests’ stay more enjoyable, non-perishable individually packaged products can be included in the welcome pack. Among the options, you can combine traditional local products with other more practical and generic ones such as biscuits, sweets, nuts, or cereal bars.
• Local maps and guides: local maps and tourist guides and recommendations for restaurants, shops, and various activities to do in the area.

Details that make a difference

Once the most basic needs are covered with the welcome pack, you can think about leaving an indelible mark on your tenants by adding elements they don’t expect, using originality and being driven by the desire to surprise. Here are some ideas and welcome details for the holiday apartment:

• Personalised message: greet your tenants with a warm personalised message written in your own handwriting. It’s vital to pay attention to even the smallest detail.
• Personalised experience: find out the reason for the trip to adapt some elements of the welcome basket to those circumstances, whether it’s a honeymoon, a family birthday, or a trip with children. For children, you can include some children’s books or a notebook and coloured pencils for drawing. If it’s a romantic trip, adding a bottle of local wine will score you some points.
• Themed gifts: modify the contents of the gifts according to the time of year. Offer hot chocolate or chestnuts in winter or a basket of seasonal fruits in spring. This could be the first step in setting up a themed holiday apartment that you can advertise as such on the best holiday rental website.
• Gastronomic discounts: you can arrange agreements with some restaurants in the area to offer exclusive discounts to your tenants.
• Digital gestures: you can surprise and stand out with a personalised welcome video and prepare exclusive music playlists for your visitors.

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