It’s more than an old adage. A 2017 study showed that people form judgments on traits like trustworthiness and attractiveness within 33 ms of meeting. Likewise, a guest’s first impression of your vacation rental sets the stage for the duration of their stay (and their eventual review). If it’s bad, it can affect their entire stay.
Every second counts when you only have a few moments to make a positive first impression on your guests. Here are a few ways to use your time wisely:
Anticipate needs
Part of creating a great first impression is making sure your guest’s visit starts on a relaxing note. Remember, they are on vacation and don’t want to work to find relevant information. Your property guidebook should help your guests locate essentials like the wifi information and password, amenity instructions, and how-to videos at check-in. A good guidebook provides the answers to all your guests’ questions before they have to reach out and ask you, saving time and effort for all involved. Going a step above, a digital guidebook allows you to make updates on the fly, keeping your information fresh and up-to-date.
Be an expert curator
Maintain a list of local restaurants and businesses for your guests and add context to recommendations by incorporating personalized comments. Of course, guests can search for other things to do, but they’ll appreciate suggestions from a trusted source. While Yelp lists dozens of restaurants with a 4.5-5-star rating, you can make it easy for your guests to choose from curated recommendations you’ve provided. In addition, sharing recommended activities gives guests a truly local experience. Knowing your guests’ unique reasons for travel allows you to help create a truly memorable vacation.
Know your guest’s journey
Every stay shares at least a few key touchpoints in common – booking a stay, arrival at the property, check-in, and check out. These critical moments present an opportunity for guests to be wowed by your brand. Help guests feel cared for at each stage of their journey, from the look and feel of your website while they search for a place to stay, to an easy-to-follow check-out flow before they head home. Creating seamless experiences throughout the stay ensures that your guests’ vacation never feels like work!
Get off to a good start
GuestView Guide, a wall-mounted digital concierge for vacation rentals, incorporates personalization as part of a seamless and stress-free check-in process. GuestView Guide pulls in names and reservation dates from your PMS for a warm and personalized welcome message as soon as guests walk in the door. With customer expectations on the rise, personalization adds value. Research shows that businesses that are leaders in personalization generate more revenue from those activities—40% more to be exact. These days, consumers don’t just want personalization, they demand it.
When guests aren’t actively using GuestView Guide, they’ll see a rotating digital image gallery that enhances décor.
About GuestView Guide:
GuestView Guide is a wall-mounted digital guidebook and concierge platform built by Sharp NEC Display Solutions, a leader in interactive display technology with over 100 years of innovation and experience. Our award-winning platform places highly personalized property information at your guests’ fingertips, reducing support calls and providing an unparalleled experience. Earn more, reduce operational burden, and delight guests with GuestView Guide. Learn How.
