Some advice for attracting and getting good feedback from business travellers

[Mark1340]

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!   😄

[Ann72]

Thank you, @Mark1340, gotcha covered.  🙂

I think of all the things that drive me crazy when I travel.  I want lamps next to the bed, plenty of places to plug in my devices, too many pillows and towels, washcloths (because while not everyone is a washcloth person, the ones who are really need one), empty drawers, good wooden hangers, and order, order, order.  When you're in a new place you can't spend half the day trying to find things.  All the coffee and tea things in one place.  All the cutlery neat in the drawer.  Plenty of drinking glasses - wine, water, juice.  Clear surfaces in the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and entry area.  The list goes on.  Guests need to be able to walk in and get acclimated as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your perspective!

[Rubén16]

Hi @Ann72   That is a great list of items!! , I wrote them all down, you should do a post with all of the items you mentioned along with others you might have, I am sure many guests and hosts would benefit from the post.

[Ann72]

Aw, thanks, @Rubén16!  I'll definitely work on it!  The list is rather long because I'm princess-and-the-pea picky lol, but it might be fun to get it all down in one place.  🙂

[Rubén16]

@Ann72  I thought it might be a long list:)  however, very beneficial to all.

[Rubén16]

@Mark1340  Thanks for all of your suggestions they are beneficial and practical, we as hosts enjoy when guests join the community forum with comments, suggestions and feedback again thanks for your post,

and we look forward to your next one.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Mark1340 

I always enjoy seeing posts from guest-users. Thanks for your suggestions and comments. A lot of what you mentioned are things Henry regularly complains about when we travel....especially the "power bit" part 🙂

Your comment about the sink made me remember when Henry and I were getting our guest room ready. Henry insisted that we place a small basin in the guest bathroom...... of course, our sink plugs work fine too.

[Sarah977]

@Mark1340  Nice, very informative post. I'm not in the work collection (in spite of Airbnb sending me messages telling me "You're almost there" even though I never applied to be in it) and never will be, as my internet is cell-based and metered, not unlimited, also self-check in would never work at my place, but I do have all else you mentioned. Clear surfaces, no clutter, proper sink plugs, bedside reading lamp, plenty of plugs. While I don't get business travelers per se, they come here on vacation, I have had a couple of guest who had to work online for a few hours a day while they were here, which my internet works fine for, as long as they don't have to stream anything or upload large files.

I imagine a full-length mirror would also be appreciated, to make sure one looks presentable for meetings and such and to check that there's no toilet paper stuck to your shoe.

[Mark1340]

Ah yes of course, a full length mirror.  I forgot about that.  Yes.

[Susie111]

@Mark1340 

Thanks!

Great post, please feel free to share more information how to make

it better for guests 😉

[Huma0]

I don't target business travellers, nor am I in the business collection (self check in is a no-no for me), but I still get plenty of them.

I also travel for work a lot myself, although I always stay in hotels (I am not the one booking the accommodation). There are a few things I've noticed are important. I need to look presentable, so plenty of hangers for clothes are important, but often there are really too few. I also don't have time to faff around with the weak and feeble hairdryers that some hotels supply. So, I make sure that guests have plenty of hangers and a PROPER hairdryer. Hooks in bathrooms are important too. That way you can steam your clothes while showering if there's no iron. I do have a decent iron and ironing board i the kitchen for guests to use, but I can understand why hotels/hosts don't necessarily want to supply these in bedrooms.

Each of my guest rooms has a desk and chair so people can work comfortaby from home if needed, although of course lots of people just do it sat on the bed. The MOST important thing by far is good WiFi.

Havig a printer has been more useful for tourists than business travellers though. Guests only use it to print out concert tickets etc.

[Mark1340]

Yea, the hanger thing is a good one for me because I tend to pack a lot.  I did think about including it on the list but thought it may appear a little too demanding.  I really do like a lot of hangers all of the same type too.  That’s a nice to have for me and always makes me smile.

[Sarah977]

@Mark1340  So how many hangars, more or less, is "a lot" to you?

[Ann72]

@Sarah977 - at least a dozen!  First thing I do when I check into a hotel room?  Call downstairs for extra hangers!

[Sarah977]

@Ann72  Thanks. I do have a dozen and can provide more if needed. I don't get business travelers, though, and since I'm in a beach destination, guests don't seem to have much that needs to be hung, attire is mostly shorts, tee-shirts, casual stuff that doesn't wrinkle. But of course I've never entered the guest room to see how many hangars they're actually making use of.