[Celebration] My World of Welcome

[Laurelle3]

Welcome to my corner of the world Down Under, in Huskisson, where we share our beach cottage, Hidden Gem. We believe every guest who knocks on our door deserves to be greeted with warmth, respect, and genuine hospitality. Our goal is to ensure they feel welcome, valued, and leave as friends.

Making our guests feel welcome begins from the moment a booking is confirmed. We send a thank-you note along with details about the check-in process, local community highlights, and an invitation to let us know if they need anything special, such as a porta cot, highchair, or nappy bin.

On arrival we personally greet our guests, show them through the accommodation, and provide thoughtful touches like a welcome note and a breakfast hamper stocked for both continental and cooked breakfasts. For families, we include small gifts for the children, along with games and books to enjoy.

We also share up-to-date information about Huskisson, including recommendations for tourist attractions, activities, dining, and shopping. Guests will find the cottage well-stocked with quality linens, bedding, and kitchen equipment to ensure their stay is comfortable. If a guest mentions that they are celebrating a special occasion, we leave a card and a small gift. During festive seasons we add seasonal touches. For example, Easter eggs in the morning and a small Christmas present to bring a little cheer.

Before our guests leave, we always take a moment to thank them for staying and send a message wishing them safe travels.

At Hidden Gem, our personal touch turns a simple stay into an experience for them to reflect our spirit of a World of Welcome.

Our Airbnb 1st page photo Beach Cottage “Hidden Gem” on Duncan St Huskisson

A Teddy gift I make for our "Little Ones" who come to stay               

                                        Our Easter basket for this year 2024 made from honeysuckle growing in the garden

Our backyard friends -Kookaburras who come to visit                           

                        Our Love we share with our Guests                                                      

[Daniel1651]

Hey @Laurelle3 !

It’s truly wonderful to find host as caring as you, who knows how to turn a simple stay into a meaningful experience.

I believe guests deeply value personal attention and thoughtful details and when they arrive as strangers and leave as friends, it speaks volumes about the true essence of hospitality ❤️

Sending you warm greetings from Tenerife 🌴🌴

Happy holidays and all the best for 2025!

Daniel.-

[Laurelle3]

@Daniel1651, thank you for your thoughtful words from Tennerife.

My motto is Sharing is Caring, which I have taken through life with many years of nursing, scouting, and volunteering. Now, with Hosting and my new role as an Airbnb Community Leader for our region.

I enjoy making and giving a  Hands - On touch with our Guests. They are important to me, as I am sharing my Hidden Gem Cottage with them, and in the end it my reputation.

On the other hand, I do what I do because it gives me satisfaction that I have made someone happy today.

Danie! Il am returning the  New Year's wishes.

2025 I  think is going to be challenging for some Airbnb Hosts, with changing weather conditions, local council, state, or their countries rules for STRA.may  change.

I will be putting my shoulders back, head high and taking small one step at a time.

Laurelle from Downunder.

[Daniel1651]

As Will Guidara says in his book on "Unreasonable Hospitality", it is true that caring for others and creating experiences that are wonderful for them is a true act of pleasure for us!

Many of us enjoy seeing the happy faces of our guests and that makes us happier, right?

Much love, @Laurelle3 !

[Elisa]

Hi @Laurelle3 😊

You truly capture the essence of making guests feel at home! 😍

I love how you also adapt to special occasions and seasonal events to make stays even more meaningful.

What strategies do you use to ensure the personal touches remain consistent and thoughtful, even during peak booking times?

Happy holidays! 🌟

Warm regards 🌻,

[Laurelle3]

Eliza, my approach with personal touch is a little easy for me as I live on site. In my spare time I make the bears, colouring books are corrulated and I just print their name on them.

I have a template saved for my cards and use Mr Google or now Gpt-chat sometimes to change my saved words to fit the occasion.

For the peak season, I have a day between Guests but as the cleaner sometimes time is short if you are trying to fit in your own social scene.

To all the Hosts on this Community Forum page Merry Christmas and may your New Year bring you Joy and Peace in your small space.

Laurelle from Downunder.

[Karen4131]

Hi @Laurelle3 ,

Your Hidden Gem sounds like a place where memories are made. Thoughtful details like the Easter basket and gifts for little ones truly create something special. I might just borrow a little inspiration for my own hosting!

Wishing you and your kookaburra friends a wonderful 2025. 🐦🌿

Warm regards from Sweden,
Karen