Hi all,
I know this may sound like a rather egocentric post, I mean who am I to have all the answers? Also, I don't have the exeprience of being a host, however, I do have lots of experience as a guest and I'm a professional consulant in Customer Service for businesses all around Europe. I also study the psychology of customer care and I do hope my advice is taken in the spirit in which it's offered. Oh and these comments are general and do not implicate any hosts past or otherwise.
There are one or two things that seem like 'nice to have' but become essential for a business travellers so if you want to attract the Professional crowd here are the tips:
Get your sink plug checked, it'll save you a LOT of water and if you're on a meter system, a lot of money. Why? Well, when us men have a shave in the morning before the big meeting or a conference we need very hot water. I can't speak on behalf of ladies in their water temperature requirements but men need their pores open and the razor hot. So, if your sink doesn't fill up when the water reaches it's hottest - we'll just let it keep running and flush your hard earned heating and water bills literally down the drain. Of course I'm a nice boy and go grab a bowl from the kitchen and fill that up because of the moral implications of wasting water, but not all guests will do that. Having a mirror at the skink is also essential for a shave.
We'll need to iron a shirt so you'll need an iron AND an ironing board. The board part is essential or else you'll have guests using your furniture to get their white shirt ready for the big meeting in the morning. I guess that irons are a pain for hosts and I completely understand that because guests are (i'm sure sometimes) less than careful with them, but they really are needed and they really do need to be in a presentable state. How horrible is it to take a nice clean white shirt and cover it the gunk from the last guest? Having your iron presented dirty or sticky is worse than not having one at all but do let us know so that we can bring our own travel iron.
A "power bit". That's what I call it anyway, it's basically just a place I choose when I first arrive that will become the area where I charge all my equipment. You can plan for this in advance by making a really obvious place for this to happen, right next to a bank of power outlets or a strip plug. Remember that some guests (like me) will bring a three way power plug, so make sure there's plenty of space to plug bigger things in.
This one isn't unique to business travellers but I hope it's useful, nevertheless.
Please leave space on the shelf in the bathroom for your guests to put a washbag and some toiletries. Offering a wide range of soaps and splendid things for your guest to use is lovely, of course and thank you but we'll often have our own things and won't hve anywhere to put them.
It's not much but I do hope this helps.
Oh and a bonus tip. If someone from Scotland, England, Ireland or Wales is coming to stay at hour home, have a couple of 'black tea' bags, a kettle and a pint of milk there when they arrive and they're grandkids will be singing songs about you. We LOVE tea! 😄
