Guest Archives - Enso Connect Inc.

Are you ready for return to normal?

Sasha Barak — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Over the past 18 months or so, you’ve almost certainly heard the phrase ‘return to normal’ or ‘getting back to normal’. This sentiment is obviously in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how necessary steps have been taken in order to get back to life as we knew it before the pandemic. Now that restrictions are becoming more and more loose around the world, it has become time to think about your vacation rental business and its preparedness for when it’s your turn to get back to normal.

Now is the time to evaluate how your business can adapt and thrive in the evolving landscape. Consider how you can implement new strategies to enhance guest experiences, optimize operations, and stay competitive. Whether it’s adopting advanced technology, improving your property’s appeal, or refining your guest communication processes, preparing for a return to normalcy involves ensuring that your business is well-positioned to meet the renewed demands and expectations of travelers.

Obviously, when we talk about returning to normal, it’s important to acknowledge that some caveats will remain, such as restrictions on large indoor gatherings and continued emphasis on social distancing. Nonetheless, the situation is improving, and travel is poised to pick up. For instance, the United States plans to resume international travel this summer (2021), with European countries also giving the green light for travel. This resurgence in international travel is expected to increase the flow of business and guests to your short-term rentals.

As travel resumes, it presents an opportunity to attract new guests and capitalize on the growing demand. Preparing your vacation rental for this influx involves ensuring your property is in top shape, your booking and communication processes are efficient, and you’re ready to deliver exceptional experiences. By staying ahead of these trends and adapting to the evolving travel landscape, you can position your business to benefit from the anticipated increase in tourism.

Staying safe and returning to normal

However, there are still essential steps to take to successfully attract and accommodate new guests. This summer will continue to have various travel restrictions in place, and people will remain conscious of the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain stringent cleaning measures and retain your cleaning team to ensure guest safety and prevent any potential spread of the virus.

Additionally, as highlighted in previous blogs, incorporating as many contactless fixtures, software solutions, and integrations into your properties as possible is vital. These technologies minimize the need for physical interactions, allowing guests to handle daily tasks without requiring direct contact with staff.

As new information emerges and guidelines evolve, staying well-informed is key. Use your best judgment to assess which protective measures are necessary and how they might impact your business. Adapting to these changes and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and convenience will help you attract and retain guests in this dynamic environment.

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5 Ways to lose a potential guest

Sasha Barak — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:15:00 +0000

When you post your property on a channel manager, you are essentially trying to convince potential guests to stay with you. They have thousands of options in front of you, but they will only choose one. So how can you ensure that your property is almost always the one they pick? Well there is no ‘secret sauce’ method, otherwise everyone would be doing the same thing. There are, however, five things that will deter a potential guest from booking.

Poor listing content

If you’re really trying to sell to these guests, then you have to make sure your listing content is engaging! Why should a guest stay with you? Are there aspects of your property that stand-out compared to others? Write your content as if no one has ever seen your property before — that is, what special things do you have to offer and are you positioned in a prime location.

Poor images

What’s the point of having a great property if the images don’t match. If your pictures are low quality, visibly unattractive or just outdated, you’re probably going to lose a guest. Clean, high quality pictures that show off your property not only illustrate your property in a better light, but also change the way the potential guest thinks about your property. If the image is poor, the guest may think your property is too.

Outrageous pricing

If you list your property with ridiculously high prices comparative to others nearby, guests won’t book with you. Although you may think your property is worth it (and it might be), you may have to reduce the price. We recently wrote about price optimization, and how it can maximize your property’s revenue while also staying competitive.

False advertising

No one likes false advertising. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and just makes you regret whatever you’ve just done. Listing content is the same. If you’re using stock images or images from Google, chances are guests won’t book with you as they may think you’re trying to scam them. Take photos of your property, and only use stock images if it enhances your property (i.e your property is located within walking distance of landmark xyz).

Slow response times

If a potential guest is in quite a hurry to book a room or property, they are going to want fast response times. And chances are if you take too long they won’t hesitate to book with someone else. By improving your response time through software or just staying on top of it better, you are increasing your chances of getting a booking.

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What do guests like about your rental the most?

Sasha Barak — Fri, 21 May 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Knowing your guests

Figuring out what aspects of your rental process guests like the most and which ones they like the least can be very challenging… it can also be very valuable. By knowing your weaknesses and strengths, you are given the opportunity to invest in your strengths while also minimizing your weaknesses. This will not only help with the enjoyment of your property but also ensure that future guests will continue to give you the five star reviews that you deserve.

Figuring out what aspects of your rental guests like the most can be quite tricky, but there are ways around this. For starters, after a guest has completed their stay, you can send them a quick survey where they can answer what they liked/disliked. Since you are writing the questionnaire, try to be as unbiased as possible so that you get the truest answers possible. If you think your guests won’t complete the survey, entice them with a potential discount on their next stay so that not only will they come back, but you will also get good information about where to improve.

Once you figure out what aspects of your rental guests like the most, try and figure out how you can replicate and also make those aspects even better. Do they like the cleanliness? Keep your cleaning team and maybe give them a raise. Are they a fan of the check-in process or do they think it’s too clunky? Maybe invest in smart technology. By knowing what to change or improve, you are given the opportunity to take your property to the next level.

Although everyone’s rental property is different, just like their rental process, there are aspects about each property that make them stand out as a great choice. By embracing the uniqueness of your property and playing on your strengths, your business will not only succeed, but your guests will appreciate it even more.

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