Hello, fellow travelers! I’m Kate Barnett, Head of Sales at LiveRez and a hospitality enthusiast here to share some industry insights.
Recently, I traveled to St. Louis for a family wedding and stayed in a Marriott International-branded hotel for the first time in a while. Typically, I favor vacation rentals because of my of my career, and because the short-term rental (STR) community is my family. However, I fully recognize that the hotel industry is part of our broader hospitality family, and there are many strategies we can learn from each other. Here are four valuable lessons that vacation rentals can take from hotels:
Welcome Signs
Many hotel brands welcome guests with their names displayed on the TV. This simple gesture is virtually free but can do so much to establish a warm and welcoming check-in experience. I still vividly remember a vacation rental my husband and I stayed in years ago in Townsend, TN, which wrote “Welcome Kirschner Family” on a whiteboard. Why is that still so memorable after staying in dozens of accommodations since then? Because it’s a simple, effective, and rarely leveraged hospitality strategy.
Lamps and Nightstands on Both Sides of the Bed
You’re trying to encourage positive family memories here. Do you really want to force Mr. and Mrs. Jones to compromise on who gets to comfortably charge their phone at night within an accessible distance? Providing lamps and nightstands on both sides of the bed ensures convenience and comfort for all guests.
Two Key Cards with the Option to Request More at No Cost
Hotels often provide two key cards with the option to request more at no cost. Why not just get an electric keypad already? There are so many great options out there now that support keyless entry and much more, such as PointCentral and Dormakaba, to name a few.
White Sheets
There’s a reason Westin hotels famously popularized white sheets in the 90s, and nearly every mainstream hotel brand has followed suit. White sheets help assure guests that the home is clean and help establish an impression of luxury. The added bonus is they’re easier to clean and bleach too!
By adopting these simple yet effective strategies, vacation rentals can enhance their guest experience and create lasting positive memories. Embracing the best practices from hotels can help bridge the gap within our broader hospitality family, ensuring everyone benefits from shared wisdom and improved guest satisfaction.
