Our Top Tips for Attracting Repeat Guests to Your Vacation Rentals

Want to know the secret to turning short-term vacation rental visitors into loyal repeat guests? Create a stay they can’t wait to experience again! We’ve found the best ways to do that are by adding personal touches during their stay, staying connected after checkout, and offering thoughtful incentives to encourage repeat visits. The more time invested in making them feel seen, valued, and understood, the stronger their loyalty. 

Here’s how to make it happen!

Why Repeat Guests Matter for Your Vacation Rentals

Returning guests lower acquisition costs, boost occupancy, and generate word-of-mouth referrals.

Guest retention beats acquisition every time. It’s much more profitable to attract returning guests than to continually market to new ones. When you consider the OTA fees and special promotions or ads you might be running, not to mention the time spent answering pre-booking questions, costs start adding up. But if they’ve stayed with you before, they know you, they trust you, and are more likely to book directly. This means fewer fees and more opportunities to build personal connections and, with each stay, they arrive with realistic expectations and genuine excitement to return to a place that feels familiar! 

Create Stellar Guest Experiences

We’ve learned over the years that the best guest experiences begin with genuine care, small details, and consistency at every touchpoint. Here are a few ways to approach it:

Pre-Stay Ideas

Build excitement for their stay with friendly, personalized communications that set clear expectations, and make check-ins convenient with simple instructions.

Mid-Stay Suggestions: 

Set the tone with soft lighting, fresh scents, and cozy temps, and leave snacks or coffee from a local vendor. 

Post-stay: 

Follow up with an appreciation email, request feedback to show you value their input, and offer incentives for booking directly next time.

When every stage of the journey is effortless and personal, guests remember how it felt to stay with you, and will want that feeling again!

Personalize Stays with Thoughtful Touches

Local recommendations and insider tips turn a standard experience into an exceptional one, and exceptional experiences lead to glowing five-star reviews.

Offering just house rules and appliance instructions is important, but if that’s all you’re leaving, in essence, what you’re saying to a guest is, “Here’s your rental.” Whereas, leaving a small welcome gift, a handwritten note, or a local beverage conveys, “We’re so glad you’re here!” 

Isn’t that how you’d like to feel when vacationing?

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Create digital guidebooks filled with local favorites, insider dining tips, and recommendations tailored for guests. You may not have much information about them on their first visit, but you’ll probably know a few things. Maybe they’re traveling with kids or pets or celebrating a special occasion. These are great opportunities for personalization! 

Suggest restaurants for large groups, pet-friendly parks, or kid-friendly adventures nearby. Consider offering an attraction discount or a complimentary appetizer at a local restaurant. Make them feel they’re part of something special! Then, utilize your CRM tools to track their preferences and travel patterns so you can surprise and delight them with personalized touches and complimentary perks on their next stay!

Nurture Guest Relationships

We get lots of questions about how to keep the relationship going after guests depart, and the answer is consistent, thoughtful communication. Sending timely emails with local activities, upcoming events, and seasonal promotions is a great way to maintain connections. You may have some new amenities that would interest them on their next visit, or a new property on your program. Share this information and you’ll see how it strengthens their trust in you and keeps your properties part of their travel conversations long after they’ve left!

Offer Exclusive Perks and Loyalty Programs

Do you have guests who leave glowing reviews, refer friends, or book multiple times? Reward their loyalty with perks! Offer early access to bookings, discounts on future bookings, a complimentary breakfast, or an invitation to a rewards program that includes bonus points. All are great ways to ensure they think of you first for their future travel plans!

Gather and Use Guest Feedback

Reviews, surveys, and direct comments reveal what guests love about your properties. They may also uncover areas for improvement that you didn’t consider. Track regularly so you can make updates and refine processes. Remember, too, you can also repurpose positive feedback in your social posts, email campaigns, and website content to showcase real guest experiences and establish credibility with future travelers.

Leverage Technology for Easier Rebooking

Automated mail campaigns and reminders take the work off your plate while keeping your guests engaged, and you’ll find plenty of tools available to help you stay connected. Use them to schedule follow-up emails highlighting upcoming availability and seasonal promotions. Then provide mobile-friendly booking links in your messaging so guests can reserve their next stay in just a few clicks. The easier you make it, the more likely you are to see repeat guests!

B2 Collaborative: Your Comprehensive Marketing Partner 

Let B2 Collaborative turn your most satisfied guests into devoted fans of your brand! We’ll craft tailored communications, set up automated reminders, utilize guest feedback in imaginative ways, and leverage technology to build relationships and attract repeat guests to your vacation rental business. Contact us today to find out more!!