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Welcome to the Community Center! I'm @Bhu...
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Welcome to the Community Center! I'm @Bhumika , one of the Community Managers for our English Community Ce...
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This post is co-authored by Host Advisory Board members @Claudia331 from Italy, @Felicity11 from Australia, and @Deirdre122 from South Africa. Learn more about the Host Advisory Board.
Claudia: The Festival of Hospitality can have many meanings, including fostering connections with guests, and showcasing warmth and inclusivity toward our guests. In 2022, we wrote and got to read some incredible stories. As part of this yearโs festival, we want to unpack the question: How do hosting and travelling help tackle loneliness? How can we, as Hosts, help guests feel welcome and connected?
We wanted to write about this topic as we noticed an increased focus on the issue of loneliness worldwide. Research shows social isolation and loneliness can have a significant impact on mental and physical health, especially among older people, according to the World Health Organization.
For me, family and friend gatherings have played an important role in helping guests feel welcome, connected and less lonely. I host two listings and am added as a co-host to two others in Lecco, Italy. I recently welcomed people from Great Britain, Canada, and Italy who were all visiting family or friends. They sent me photos and shared some beautiful moments from their visit. I love it when my guests do this because I feel like a part of their life.
My husband and two children have lived in the remote countryside of Valle di Noto in Sicily for 10 years. It has certainly been wonderful but lacks connections for us.This year, we decided to spend a few weeks in Cinque Terre and booked a place to stay on Airbnb. Itโs close to our great-aunts, cousins, and friends.
Following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Iโve been receiving more and more bookings for family or group gatherings. I can directly perceive, both through personal experience and my guests, the need for people to connect with each other, to enjoy each otherโs company, and to spend relaxing moments together. The most beautiful aspect of hosting is that our homes can serve as places where people form affectionate connections. People can live in a homey atmosphere where families and friends feel at ease, and where loneliness and distances are diminished, partially due to our efforts and the trust we establish.
Deirdre: We frequently host groups of friends who come to enjoy our horse-riding Experience in South Africa. Sometimes, we welcome people from different countries who met during an internship in South Africa. Other times, itโs a group of longtime friends celebrating a birthday or embarking on a weekend adventure, or families traveling together. These rides are usually filled with lively chatter and lots of photo sessions. What better way to connect as a group than out in nature, surrounded by breathtaking views and wildlife.
Iโve also made friends through hosting my Experience. Once, I had guests join an Experience who ended up returning to help me exercise the horses after some time. Some of them have now become Co-Hosts for my Experience. Iโve also made a good friend in Germany who was initially a guest on my Experience. She started coming back weekly to ride with me before she returned home. She recently informed me she will be returning for three months in December and plans to join me once again for our weekly horse rides.
Felicity: When I first started hosting, I thought this would be a small business that could work for me and fit in around raising my boys. However, what I hadnโt taken into consideration was the impact I could have on the lives of my guests and the immense sense of satisfaction I would feel as a result. We set up our cottage to be a home away from home and a place my family would want to stay if we were traveling. We have books, toys, soft cushions, cozy blankets, cheerful pictures, and lots of flowers and plants around to help create an inviting atmosphere.
Over the years, we have welcomed many families to our area as they relocate to Sydney for work. One of the most challenging aspects for newcomers is establishing local connections and building a community. We have shared many cups of tea and homemade biscuits with these new families as we provide details about local mothersโ groups, activities, playgrounds, and preschools. Iโve seen new moms in the area go on to form strong friendships and gradually feel more at home and connected to our community. Itโs delightful to run into them at the shops or the beach and hear stories about how they are settling in, finding their way, forming friendships, and how my suggestions contributed to their positive experiences.
We also host many grandparents who visit our area to catch up with their grandchildren. Sometimes, relationships are not always easy, and you can sense a bit of apprehension. When you havenโt seen your grandchildren for a while, itโs not always easy to pick up where you left off or know where to start. In our cottage, we provide a range of childrenโs toys and books. Iโve noticed many grandparents using these resources and developing lovely relationships with their grandchildren. Many of them comment that their grandchildren love visiting โGranny and Grandadโs cottageโ and they truly feel like itโs their home away from home. Theyโve created wonderful and precious memories during their stay with us.
We have no idea what headspace our guests are in when they come to stay with us. I had a relatively quiet guest stay with us, and I had a few brief chats with them. One night, while my son and I were stargazing in the driveway, he arrived home. We invited him to join us, and we ended up having a great conversation about stars and galaxies. When he departed, he left us a beautiful card where he explained that when he first arrived, he had โa broken spirit and was not in a good place.โ However, upon leaving, he felt โexcited, focused, and back to full force.โ One of the highlights of his stay was stargazing with us. I donโt believe we did anything extraordinary for this guest, but I believe our welcoming demeanor and comfortable home away from home made a difference.
When I used to travel for work, I often chose traditional bed and breakfast accommodations over local hotels due to the hosts. I would look forward to certain trips more than others simply because I knew I would receive a warm welcome from the hosts and have engaging conversations at the end of the day. Today, I have guests who return to stay with me because they know they will be welcomed, and they look forward to catching up with me and my family.
Many guests appreciate the knowledge that when they book a stay with us, there will be an on-site host who will make them feel at home. It can be reassuring to arrive in a new city or town and know thereโs that element of personal contact, if needed. When guests compliment our inviting hospitality, it gives me the sense weโre making a positive impact on someoneโs life. It also leads to the realization that creating a personal connection with a guest doesnโt always require a lot of effort. Sometimes itโs a personal note upon their arrival, other times itโs a chat, or it might be a quick message to ensure the guests have found everything they need. These are small gestures, but they provide a human touch and make you feel less lonely.
There is more to hosting than simply providing a bed and a roof to sleep under. A genuine human connection often leads to wonderful friendships and experiences forming as a result. I know many Hosts who find hosting an incredibly rewarding experience and get so much out of it. I think many guests choose to stay with us because they know thereโs an element of human touch and thatโs what theyโre looking for. Sometimes, what really makes your stay just a little bit better are those personal real-life connections. Only hosts can do this.
Claudia: With this post, we would like to gather your stories and raise awareness of what we are already doing to tackle loneliness as Hosts and travelers.
Have you hosted groups of friends or people interested in spending time together? Welcomed people for family gatherings or meetings? Did you organize events, appetizers, or lunches for your guests? Have you built relationships or encouraged friendship?
In the coming months, weโll share additional ideas, aiming to inspire each other on how we can enhance our closeness and explore new hospitality opportunities.
We would also like to raise awareness about the topic of loneliness in the coming months, as we understand that addressing it can lead to not only a more positive way of traveling but also to new opportunities for hosts and travelers.
You can also view these articles that are related to our topic here :
