5 mistakes to avoid for a warm welcome and a pleasant stay
Welcoming your guests is a key moment for you! With our tips, there is no way you can get it wrong.
The check-in and the welcome you give your guests is an essential stage of their stay. It is usually the most stressful moment for you, so don't panic: follow our tips and everything will go smoothly. Before long, you won't make these mistakes at all.
Rushing things
Take a breath: your guests have arrived. They have travelled a long way to reach your door and now it's your turn to shine. Give them your warmest smile, ask them whether the journey went well and take the time to answer all their questions.
On top of that, creating your digital welcome book lets you pass on all the useful information quickly and easily. Let them know it exists and guide them through using it.
Holding your guests up
One of the most common mistakes comes down to stress. You talk without stopping. Spare a thought for your guests: they are tired and they want just one thing, to discover your property and rest.
Give them the important information, let them know you are around and available at any time, wish them a pleasant stay and leave them to settle in.
And if you also have a StyQR welcome book, all is well, because every piece of important information is in there!
Being too present
Rule number 1: give them room to breathe and get a feel for their personality.
Make it clear that you are available for any questions and that you will be there if they need you. The rest of the time, however, keep your distance. It is important to give them space so they can enjoy the experience and the holiday they came for.
Try to gauge their personality and adjust how present you are accordingly. If they are very private, try to cross paths with them as little as possible; if, on the other hand, they seem a little lost, make yourself a bit more visible.
Cleanliness that leaves something to be desired
The worst thing that can happen? Walking into a property when you are exhausted and realising it isn't very clean.
Stepping into the shower and finding stray hairs can be downright off-putting. So make it a point of pride to keep the place spotlessly clean: dust, hair, mould and the rest.
Leaving them with a nasty surprise
Make sure that everything mentioned in your listing is genuinely there in your property. If an important appliance doesn't work, or if the bed linen turns out not to be provided after all, disappointment is guaranteed.
And a guest who is disappointed the moment they arrive is a potential bad review! Of all the mistakes, this is perhaps the easiest one to avoid. Walk through your property before your guests arrive. Now you know it all! And if you can't be there to welcome your guests in person, take a look at our new check-in/check-out module.
The five mistakes fit into one table: what each one does to your guests, and the habit that prevents it.
| The mistake | What the guest experiences | The habit that prevents it |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing the welcome | They are hurried through after a long journey | Smile, ask how the trip went, answer every question |
| Holding your guests up | Tired, they sit through a speech instead of settling in | Give the key points, say you stay reachable, then leave them to it |
| Being too present | They don’t get the holiday they came for | Stay in the background and adjust to their personality, private or a bit lost |
| Cleanliness that falls short | They find hair in the shower after arriving exhausted | Check dust, hair and mould before every arrival |
| Leaving a bad surprise | Disappointment on arrival, and a possible bad review | Walk through the property and check that everything advertised is there and works |
Frequently asked questions
How long should you stay with guests when they arrive? Long enough to say hello, ask how the journey went and answer their questions. Then give them the key information, tell them you are reachable at any time and let them settle in. They are tired and want to discover the property, not listen to a speech.
Should I be visible during the stay or stay out of the way? Read their personality when they arrive. Guests who keep to themselves will appreciate crossing paths with you as little as possible, while guests who look a bit lost will appreciate you dropping by. Either way, make clear that you are available if they need anything, then give them the space to enjoy their holiday.
Does a digital welcome book replace welcoming guests in person? No, it lightens it. It gathers the useful information so you do not have to recite everything on the doorstep, when all your guests want is to rest. Just point out that it exists when they arrive and show them how to open it.
What should I check in the property just before an arrival? Cleanliness first: dust, hair in the shower, traces of mould. Then check that everything mentioned in the listing is actually there and working, from the linen to the appliances. A full walk through the property before guests arrive prevents most bad surprises.
What if I cannot be there to welcome guests? A self check-in works as long as the arrival information is clear and easy to reach, which is exactly what the welcome book is for. Our check-in and check-out module takes over arrivals and departures when you cannot be on site. It does not excuse you from walking through the property beforehand.
