What’s Your Signature Guest Experience That Keeps Them Coming Back

[Shafer0]

I’m curious what’s your secret sauce when it comes to creating unforgettable guest experiences?

For me, I go beyond just a clean space. I partner with local food trucks and offer catering experiences, including hibachi-style dinners on the patio! I also give guests the option to have their fridge pre-stocked by placing pickup orders from Walmart+ or H-E-B before their arrival.

And that’s not all—my cleaning team offers babysitting, and I help guests book boat and jet ski rentals or even wine tours with local companies.

These extras have made a huge difference in guest satisfaction and my review scores, and I love finding new ways to elevate the stay.

So I’d love to hear from you:

What do YOU offer that goes above and beyond?

What little (or big) things make your guests say “wow”?

Let’s share ideas and level up together!

[Marina1909]

I'm always accessible and offer recommendations to the best restaurants , entertainment and beaches nearby.

[Muralidharan0]

Muralidharan

Mayoorvihar home stay.wayand, Kerala India

Our warm hospitality ,the home which is surrounded by beautiful garden ,indoor and outdoor game.and the daleatious Veg and non veg food we serve..

[Melissa-and-Michael0]

We do a few extras that guests seem to enjoy, keep in mind our units are in Downtown Nashville so some may not apply to everyone.

- We provide a detailed welcome guide that includes our buildings amenities & how to get to them, walking distances to local attractions, walking distance restaurant recommendations and how to use all of the amenities we provide in the unit.

- We have a stage in our units with a sparkle backdrop & neon sign that provides great photo op opportunities for guests. We also have props & a selfie stick/ring light to encourage & enhance photo ops.

- We have a smart projector with 100 inch pull down screen which provides a movie theatre-like experience, rather than a TV. It also frees up a wall for design when the screen goes up, its basically unnoticeable. We also provide microwave popcorn to encourage its use.

- We provide a "get-ready station" that has mirrors, lights, console table & stools so ladies can do their hair & make up in front of them freely. Has 4 seats too so they can chat and do things together.

These things I feel really help the guests experience which drives bookings up

Hope this helps 🙂

[Paula2944]

I've had a few solo travelers who've booked their trips last minute, on a whim, and I think being available to have a chat and spend some quality time with your guests, even going for a coffee or drink with them, can add that personal touch to keep them coming back. 

[Panmaa-Vacation-Rental-Manager0]

I’m readily available, provide detailed and transparent information, and check in with guests to ensure they feel comfortable and supported throughout their stay.

[Mfonabasi0]

I focus on being accessible and responsive, offering personalized local recommendations, and providing small thoughtful touches like a welcome note or extra toiletries. Making guests feel truly welcomed and supported is what creates a memorable experience.

[Nora1535]

I make them feel genuinely welcomed, like they're staying at new "home".

Before their arrival, I take time to offer personalized recommendations, whether it's a hidden hiking trail, a quiet beach only locals know, or the best spot for sunset cocktails.

Little touches make all the difference. Starting with honest and responsive approach.

Guests often say they come back not just for the place and location, but for how they felt - welcomed

[Mod-Pods0]

I like my guests to feel seen, valued and appreciated, which starts with how I present the property in my listing, the way I communicate with them, and then when they arrive and see all of the thoughtful extras that they rarely get if ever at other Airbnb's, they are thrilled with their experience.

My design aesthetic is magazine worthy (Architectural digest, not HGTV), so I hear a lot of oohs and ahhhs when they first walk in.  That is after they have arrived to a property with gorgeous grounds that they walk past to get to the front door.

Inside, they have goodies, and a guest gift that includes signature room mist, which is also by every bedside.  We provide ear plugs, noise machines, plenty of local organic coffee, tea, creamer and sugar for their whole stay.  Enough cooking oils and full array of spices, paper goods, everything in the kitchen they need to cook and bake, etc etc.  The finishes are quality and luxury.

I touch every sense, sight, smell, taste.  The backyard is an oasis with nature and tons of amenities.  

It's an experience not just lodging.  There is no doubt that any hotel could ever compete with what my home offers.

[Alex]

Hello @Shafer0!

Wow @Shafer0! This is such a great question to ask the Community! I'm really intrigued to see the answers. Your "secret sauce" is amazing! 🤩 I'm sure no guest wants to leave after such a wonderful experience. How long have you been hosting, and how long did it take you to implement all of these things? 🏡

[Mark5779]

We are still new to this. And it's been very slow lately.  But we try to be responsive and communicate. I carry two phones with me when we have guests so I never miss anything.   We also care about our guests.  For instance, if we know it's for a birthday, anniversary, or something special, we buy a small plant for them and I laser cut a little wooden sign for it that says Happy (what ever) or (So Sorry for..).  We think that people really like to know that they are appreciated.  We have had some AWEFUL guests, but the Great ones have made up for it.  Another thing we do is pay attention to detail. We think about what we want our cabin to say every time we have guests.  We make sure that the accents express that.  We make sure that our Cabin Book has every possible instruction on how to use something, and we make sure that our guests can ask us anything.  I guess it's all about "do unto others as they would like to be done unto."  It's all about THEIR stay, not ours.  

[Marie10777]

I am accessible and want my guest to feel like they are transported to the vibrant and nostalgic era of the casitas built in the 1960's.  My casita is nestled in an old established neighborhood that combines vintage charm with modern conveniences, ensuring an enjoyable and comfortable stay.  Complete with retro furnishings, warm lighting, and personal touches that evoke a sense of stepping back in time.  Our guest, have found delightful surprises; a selection of Mexican cookies, refreshing Jarritos or Topo Chico, bottled water, and a half dozen eggs in the refrigerator.  In the Freezer Mexican Chorizo.  They have mentioned they like the self check-in.

[Mary1523]

Honestly, all great ideas below!

But for me, when you have a large 6 bed rural property with outdoor entertaining areas to clean and setup, sometimes it's a win to have it clean and presentable. Because you can get penalised for a spiderweb (welcome to australia), or a smell cause a mouse died in a hidden place (welcome to rural properties), leaves in the pool (its not a resort). Or a few forks out of the 24  have food on them because previous guests didn't wash them properly - who checks every piece of cutlery, plates, bowls when you have 24 of each? Cleaning already takes 5+ hours.

It doesn't matter what I have in the localised gourmet food hamper they get, or the toyroom prepped and set, or the outdoor woodlands play area for the kids with wood to play with, or everything just about provided including local guide recommendations etc, if there is something on the 'cleanliness' scale above that guests don't like, it comes at me with a lower rating.

When you have much smaller properties, much easier to do the WOW stuff and less room for error on the cleaning side. I always thought that my next airbnb will be much smaller, so MUCH EASIER! 

Regs MK