[FESTIVAL] Enhancing guest experiences through local engagement

[Daniel1651]

When we consider how to mitigate loneliness, we can do so from a social perspective and  involve our community.

Guests may be traveling with older people, family members who need care, or children. In these cases and many more, it’s not only important to open up our home. We can take it to the next level with the help of our neighbors, local businesses, or cultural activities that immerse guests in our environment. This not only benefits our guests, but also our neighbors.

At my house in Tacoronte, Spain, my neighbor, Lola, enjoys chatting with our guests. They often come to her home to see the wonderful plants she takes care of every day. Lola is an older person who seeks to chat with travelers even if she doesn’t know exactly how to communicate in their language. Our guests seem to appreciate this too: They frequently tell us how Lola came to greet them and gave them avocados from her tree.

At the nearby corner café, Rosi not only serves local visitors with love, but also offers a sincere smile to our guests.

For Lola, Rosi, and many of our local traders, these interactions with people from around the world are a source of pride and joy. 

The same goes for the cultural activities that take place in our village, located in the Canary Islands. Guests tell us they love to come and see the local traditions and festivals.

In 2014, guests Anna and Marnix, from Germany and the Netherlands respectively, decided to spend a few months on the island. While Anna was writing her final thesis, Marnix was working remotely. He shared that it was difficult for him to reconcile this time of life— spending many hours in front of the computer. Although I could chat with him during the week and schedule activities over the weekend, I thought Marnix would benefit from connecting more with the surroundings. I recommended he try a co-working space where he could meet other people and learn more about life in the Canary Islands. He did so, and to this day, he still has friendships from that time.

Local guides and recommendations help guests take part in the community. Consider sharing recommendations for:

• Assistance for older adults or children
• Upcoming cultural activities, like youth festivals or meetups for older adults
• Local businesses where guests can really feel like they belong

And now, tell me about you, how do you incorporate guests in your community?

Here are some local celebrations where I invited my guests to enjoy and feel part of the community. My dog, Malba, also enjoys going.

My husband and I sharing a coffee with Michael and Luisa in the square and talking about activities around the island.

Claudia,  Delphine, Tatiya, and I are sharing our experiences with addressing loneliness through hosting and look forward to reading about your experiences. Read what Claudia, Delphine and Tatiya have to share about their experiences below: 

• How professional Hosts can bridge hospitality and social sustainability in the Airbnb community by @Claudia331 
• My journey of connection and warmth in the French countryside by @Delphine348 
• A decade of Airbnb hosting focused on building lifelong connections by @Tatiya0 

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

@Daniel1651 awesome to know that stays at your home are experiences in all aspects. I am a strong believer of the fact that airbnb stays are so unique that every stay can be taken as an experience (even though I cant currently open up "airbnb experiences" 😜. Each host creates a special space and its a great gesture to open ones house to strangers - who many a times bring in potential long term connections.  It is so heartwarming to have your neighbours greet and collaborate with you. Supporting local business is definitely a win for the airbnb ecosystem. I dream of the day when my neighbours strip their shade of envy over my financial benefits as an Airbnb host and adorn vibrant shades of love and companionship to bring in guests across the globe.

I love what I am doing and hope to translate it to all my guests and make memorable experience's.

[Elisa]

Hi 😊 @Dr-Jayanthi1 

That's such a thoughtful perspective! It sounds like you've put a lot of heart into creating a welcoming space for your guests. I'm curious, have you ever formed a particularly strong connection with a guest? 

[Daniel1651]

Hello from Tenerife, dear @Dr-Jayanthi1 !

First of all, apologies for my delay to answer you. I was traveling at the same time the post was alive and I just find real and good time to read it.

Your words are amazing and definitely, what you are doing (according the reviews as I can see in your listings) is creating a real experience which touch the lives of every guests. And this is really important. It makes the difference in a world where we use to watch negative news every day.

So, a big hug from here and my best wishes for you! ❤️

[Dr-Jayanthi1]

Thank you @Daniel1651 . I am so elated to know that you took the time to go through my guest reviews. I adore everyone of them. They are the only marketing means for my listings. I am truly grateful to each an every one of them, they are the means to uphold my hosting journey. 

[Laurelle3]

@Daniel1651  Thank you for sharing your thoughtful article of addressing loneliness by involving and engaging in your community.  It is what I would call Sharing is Caring.

Your story about Lola and the local cafe shows the power with small gestures can help build relationships. It’s inspiring to see how, being a Host and your home is a place where both guests and neighbors feel connected.

Laurelle from Downunder.

[Elisa]

Hi @Laurelle3 😊

I agree with you, details can make a big difference for our guests! 😍

Do you do anything in particular as a special gesture for them?

Warm regards🌻,

[Daniel1651]

"Sharing is caring". Love it, @Laurelle3 ❤️

Definitely, we have the power to change - at least - our more immediate environment and this power is awesome.

How about you? How do you connect the guests' experience with the local area?

Hugs from Tenerife,

Daniel.-