Vacation Rental Information Folder: Why You Need To Go Digital
Every little issue can have a cascading effect: If a group booking misses their morning check-out time, the cleaning staff can’t enter their room on time to prepare them for the next arrival.
Couple this chaos with long lines at the front desk with guests asking questions like:
- What’s your check-out policy?
- What’s the best place in town for a vegetarian brunch?
- How do I operate the air conditioning in my room?
- Can I get extra hangers for my closet?
- How do I connect to the WiFi?
Vacation Rental information folders can preempt guest queries like these to avoid overwhelm at your front desk. It’s easy to create your own digital information folder, which will give your guests the autonomy and access to information. Let’s look at how you can make your own and what to include.
Main features of a Vacation Rental information folder
A guest information folder is the perfect place to answer common questions about your room and their amenities. Include information that will help guests make the most of their, stay such as:
- How to connect to the WiFi
- How to use the coffee machine
- How to navigate any smart TV streaming services
- Where to find extra pillows and blankets
- Any other information they should know about room accessories
Use a vacation rental information folder to preempt common guest questions, giving them all the information they need before they even enter their room
The folder should also include house rules, as these are essential for the safety and comfort of everyone at your rental. Be sure these are written out—and ideally translated into various languages—in an obvious place. You can include:
- The check-out time and procedure
- Policies against smoking, drugs, and aggression
- Noise restrictions (for example, no excessive noise in the hallways after 8 pm)
Provide guests with a digital guest directory to give them a quick, easy way to learn about your property
Also, delight guests with information about local dining and attractions. With a digital folder, guests can access relevant information on their mobile device while they’re out exploring.
Partner with restaurants and local tour operators for added revenue and use the digital folder to link to their websites. Include things like:
- Restaurant recommendations
- Information about local attractions and events, including walking tours, unique sightseeing opportunities, festivals (date-specific), and suggestions for day trips
- Information about the various transportation options in the area
Plus, think of any other information that can be useful for guests, for example:
- The nearest medical services—pharmacy, doctor’s office, dentist, vet, and hospital
- Other emergency services, like police and fire departments
- The nearest post office and shipping facilities
Finally, there are three key guidelines to follow for all the content you include in your guest information folder:
- All information should be clearly presented and easy to find
- All information should be relevant to the time of year
- All information should be kept up to date
Include information about in-room essentials to reduce your workload
Guests are happy when they can use amenities without too much of a hassle, but providing information like appliance how-to’s and the WiFi password within your information folder can also streamline the front desk workflow.
Monetize your guest and maximize revenue per room
Setting up partnerships with local businesses is a fantastic way for your vacation rental to contribute to the local economy while being able to offer discounts to guests.
Using a digital vacation rental welcome book, you can create compelling content pages that link directly to partner sites via smart buttons. For example, you could partner with a number of local tour providers to give your guests a variety of discount options (and perhaps you get a commission).
Share early and get guests excited about their stay
When guests can access your digital information folder on their smartphone, they get to know your rental before they even arrive, finding answers to questions they may have about where to park or what to do if they arrive late.
Exceed modern guests’ expectations with your information folder
Most guests will have used an app to make their booking, and many have experience with contactless check-in and check-out. So they’ll be familiar with the digital format of your guest information folder.
Vacation rental information folders can help you exceed guest expectations by giving them independence and control over their stay. There are numerous reasons to opt for a bespoke digital solution:
- Preempt questions and give guests a modern experience in line with their expectations
- Easily schedule the information you want to share depending on the season
- Keep content up to date
Building a beautiful information folder for guests
Creating your guest information folder can be simple. From the welcome page to the local insights, let’s have a look at how to organize your content by category.
In-room how-to’s
Show guests how to use everything in their room. Keep instructions short and simple. You can easily add photos and even embed videos for added clarity.
The clearer the instructions, the more guest questions you preempt to avoid front desk congestion.
Show-off what’s special about your vacation rental
What is your vacation rental’s USP? Your exceptional hospitality and attention to detail can set you apart from other rentals
Do you offer a luxury experience? Highlight your exclusive guest houses and penthouse suits for upsell opportunities.
With Operto guest, program buttons in your digital guides to direct your guests restaurant menus, booking pages, and more
Let you Vacation Rental information folder do the heavy lifting
Use your digital guest information folder to:
- Answer guests’ questions before they have to ask them
- Take pressure off your front desk staff
- Show guests how to use amenities in their room
- Introduce your vacation rental and brand to the guest before they arrive
- Provide information about the vacation rental and its facilities
- Share information and insights into the local area
- Use smart buttons to link guests to your services and local partners
With a vacation rental information folder, you give guests an unforgettable stay, which can translate into referrals and repeat bookings. Plus, your guest information folder will reduce the burden on your team, making your operations more streamlined and scalable.
Ready to see Operto in action?
See why thousands of short term rental owners trust our solutions to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
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