Organising workshops and cooking courses in your holiday rental

January 2024

Offering your guests culinary experiences through cooking classes that immerse them in authentic local cuisine is an unforgettable plan that will add a distinctive touch when advertising your property on Holidu and other holiday rental websites. For travellers, the journey is not just about exploring new places, but also about discovering different culinary flavours and traditions.

Teaching culinary techniques helps build your property’s identity as a unique destination. By providing these activities, you are creating lasting memories for your guests, associating their visit to your property with special gastronomic moments, thus adding value to your holiday rental. Give your guests the opportunity to savour the authenticity of your destination, and you’ll build a memorable experience that keeps them coming back!

Publish your properties on Holidu

Tastings, classes, or cooking workshops in your holiday rental

When promoting your holiday home, showcasing authenticity through culinary experiences can be a key differentiator. Here’s how to ensure a delightful experience for guests of all ages from a gastronomic perspective:

Variety of options:

Diversify the culinary options you offer to your guests. In addition to cooking classes, consider incorporating tastings or basic workshops that cater to different preferences and skill levels. With the following options, you’ll be setting the perfect stage for your guests to enjoy unforgettable moments during their stay:

• Local tastings: Organize tasting events that highlight local flavours and indigenous products. A great idea is to collaborate with local chefs, and if possible, accompany them to purchase the necessary ingredients for each traditional dish.
• Themed cooking workshops: Design workshops centred around specific themes, such as regional cuisine, pastry, Asian cuisine, or even Mexican cuisine. Look for an expert in these masterclasses from the area to share their culinary knowledge.
• Courses for beginners and experts: Offer courses tailored to different skill levels, from beginners to those with cooking experience. It’s ideal to provide flexible options for guests to choose the intensity and duration of their courses.
• Special gastronomic events: If you organize monthly themed events at your vacation home, aim to highlight different aspects of local cuisine. In summer, focus on fresh seafood; during the holiday season, surprise with special dinners featuring delicious stews and meats, and during Easter, delight your visitors with irresistible traditional sweets. Regardless of the season, you can always add special touches to your offering. This diversity ensures that your property caters to changing tastes throughout the year.
• Local market experiences: Plan visits to local markets, followed by cooking sessions with the fresh ingredients acquired during the excursion.
• Wine and cheese tastings: Coordinate wine and cheese tastings to offer guests a complete sensory experience. Also, don’t forget to provide educational information about the tasted products, including their names.

Necessary requirements:

• Infrastructure: Ensure you have a well-equipped kitchen with ample availability of tables and comfortable chairs for participants. Remember that a clean and organized space facilitates group dynamics.
• Equipment: Have a variety of quality kitchen utensils. Similarly, it’s essential to have well-maintained appliances and suitable crockery and glassware for tastings.
• Fresh ingredients: Establish connections with local suppliers to ensure fresh and quality ingredients.
• Specialised personnel: Collaborate with a chef or culinary instructor to lead the activities.

Effective advertising:

Attracting guests through effective advertising is key to success when listing on a holiday rental portal, and highlighting culinary experiences can be a significant differentiator. Here are practical tips to promote your culinary offerings attractively:

• Persuasive listings: Highlight culinary experiences as a primary attraction, using detailed descriptions that pique the interest of potential guests.
• Guest reviews: Incorporate testimonials from previous guests who have participated in your culinary events, sharing their gastronomic experiences in reviews.
• Attractive photography: Include high-quality images of the culinary experiences you offer. Capture moments of interaction and enjoyment during cooking classes or tastings that complement the spaces of your property.
• Special offers: Create special packages that include culinary experiences as part of the stay, with promotions or discounts.
• Social media: Regularly share photos and details of your culinary events on your social media profiles. We suggest interacting with followers by answering questions and generating anticipation for future activities.

Organising exceptional cooking classes:

When deciding to offer cooking classes as part of the experience in your holiday rental, the choice of theme is essential to attract interested guests and create an interactive atmosphere. Follow these tips for organising successful cooking classes:

• Define an engaging theme: Select a specific theme that captures the interest of your target audience, avoiding overly broad classes. Instead of teaching many dishes, focus on a type of cuisine or technique.
• Focus on specialisation: Dare to specialize in specific areas and offer personalized experiences, such as vegetarian cooking, pastry, rice dishes, among others.
• Variety of themes: Throughout the year, consider varying between appealing themes you decide to implement, such as:

1. Baking classes to learn how to make traditional desserts.
2. Cooking with meats in various presentations.
3. Barbecue classes to create grills based on charcoal, smoke, or gas.
4. Vegetable-based cooking for vegans and vegetarians.
5. Cultural cooking with preparations inspired by Mediterranean, Pacific, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Mexican, or Asian gastronomy.

• Consider specific needs: Offer classes tailored to people with specific conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes. Additionally, ensure that these classes or workshops cater to different age groups, such as classes for children or for older individuals.
• Enhance your creativity: Experiment with unique and creative themes that can set you apart from other hosts, and if your property has an outdoor space for workshops or subsequent tastings, even better!

Publish your properties on Holidu