Hi there everyone!
Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts with the rest of the Airbnb community!
I hope you’re all hanging on tight there and keep walking; these have been a couple of challenging and unexpected last years, but only to teach us lessons and remind us that we have to be alert and ready for adaptations at all times!
I started my hosting journey in the middle of the summer season of 2019; that’s when the renovation of my property finished. Given the fact that I never worked through a whole summer season since the pandemic started, I must say I’ve had three first surreal but wonderful, at the same time, years on Airbnb family!
Despite the blocking of tourism by all these regulations, the uncertainty and the fact that my listing was not popular with guests before all this madness started, I managed to earn a good place in this BnB field, slowly and steadily…. But I don’t believe this had ever had to do just with the property quality, amenities, facilities, or pricing….these things are easily presented in a simple description on the Airbnb platform.
Having studied Tourism business management some 30 years ago, and being born on the island of ‘Xenios Zeus’, the god of hospitality, I was raised with the tradition, and the environment nurtured the inner natural feeling that, to make your guests feel welcome, you need to make them feel respected, make them think they’re at the centre of pampering, and create this warm feeling that they’re at their home - away from home.
And guess what: they’ve been here for the sea and sun, for exploring the island, or for business, there was nothing better for them than the feeling of being looked after, and that everything about the place they chose to stay was focused on them!
Simple things you can surprise them with. Assist them with. Offer them guidance, interest, quick response, and things never mentioned or shown on the platform. This little extra mile is what will differentiate you as a host and make your property stand out and be memorable among this growing volume of BnB listings and their hosts, owners or managing companies.
Having to adapt my pricing, not only because of the situations the last 2 years, but also to learn how things work, I have to say that profits from my listing were not the highest - or the only reward. The most significant reward were my guests’ thankful messages, long texts or notes of appreciation that I found at the property after their departure, all expressing gratitude for what they came across or experienced while staying there - the warmth and fulfilment. The feeling of being at the centre of attention, never being left unsure, always having the sense of security!
In one of my very first bookings (I was such an amateur back then!), I came to the property to clean it, after the guests had departed…and found money on the kitchen bench with a thankful note about additional products that I had for them to use. Another time they had even bought things they had previously consumed to replenish them! At first, I was offended with that money (impossible I am sometimes), but then I was happy that they acknowledged and appreciated my efforts of making them feel pampered.
Remember, the details make all the difference, which doesn’t apply to materialistic goods. It could just be, reading a guest’s profile and trying to guess what would be interesting for them to find at the apartment while staying there!
Be the best host you can be. Be the best version of yourself when you welcome people who have chosen your place for their stay. Be a heart-centred host!
Everything else, all benefits of your labour, will inevitably get back to you; reward will be the outcome, the consequence, in various forms.
Be special!
Have you all a wonderful Christmas with your beloved ones!
I wish to Airbnb community all the best surprises for the New Year 2022!!!!
Let’s roll it!
Xanthi