All products, services, or links mentioned on my website are for products and services that I have personally used and/or recommend. Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Filling vacation rental calendars during 2020 has been a challenge for several owners. Granted, there wasn’t much that could be done during March through May when most of the U.S. was shut down.
Good news – there is hope for finding guests to book remaining Fall dates on your calendar.
People are needing an escape. Although they may not be willing to fly to a destination, many are choosing to drive a few hours from home to get a change in scenery.
Furthermore, many guests are looking for vacation rentals that will allow them to easily social distance and work remotely. Guests are looking for COVID-friendly amenities.
What used to be your best selling point, may now be your worst.
How does your destination and vacation rental meet these new COVID-friendly requirements?
The following tips will help you sort that out.
Things have changed. Quickly. “The new normal” is here. It is time to adapt and restructure the marketing strategy that is not currently working.
COVID-Friendly Amenities are a huge selling point right now.
Take some time to study your rental and think about every aspect of the guest experience.
Clearly, most owners have focused on cleanliness and disinfecting during the pandemic. That’s great. But at this stage in the pandemic, most everyone is taking extra cleaning precautions and this won’t be a big selling point.
COVID cleaning precautions are now a requirement, not a unique selling point.
On-site cooking capability is a HUGE selling point. Fully-stocked kitchens, private outdoor dining space, and outdoor grills are a premium feature right now.
Although the restaurants and bars that are within walking distance used to be superstar amenities, those are now less attractive.
For unforeseen future, guests will be cooking more meals themselves. Expect that appliances will get more wear and tear.
In addition, guests’ expectations for fully-stocked kitchens will be high.
Replace any damaged or worn kitchen items. Pots, pans, dishes, utensils, and grill tools should all be in good shape.
Kitchen items will be used more now than ever before. Check items regularly and prepare to replace them more often.
Outdoor spaces were becoming very popular even before the COVID pandemic. Now, they are premium amenity that guests are looking for at a vacation rental.
Firepits are highly rated, as are on-deck firepit tables. They also serve as a heat source that can make your outdoor space more appealing later in the fall and winter months.
Be sure your listing includes photos of all outdoor living and dining spaces.
Seating should be comfortable with enough seats for at least the maximum number of guests your property accommodates.
Porch swings, rocking chairs, and hammocks are all guest favorites for a relaxing vacation atmosphere.
In your listing, mention the types and numbers of seating available.
The crowded HOA community pool and hot tub are not that appealing these days. Social distancing at a shared or public pool or hot tub is difficult.
Unless the shared/public pool or hot tub area has some very strict COVID guidelines, it might be best to avoid marketing those amenities until the pandemic is more under control.
On the other hand, private pools and hot tubs are certainly big selling points lately. Families can feel much safer knowing they are not sharing these amenities with neighbors or the community.
Whether the water feature is indoors or outdoors, be sure to mention the routine cleaning and maintenance schedule. Highlight that the amenity is private to the guests only.
As guests look for ways to vacation more safely, on-site activities are appealing.
The more things there are to do without leaving your property, the more appealing it will be to potential guests.
Consider enhancing the available TV channels or installing Smart TVs. Add a game system or a pool table, if space allows.
Some ideas for on-site activities include:
Delivery services are in high demand. Guests will be interested to know if your rental has grocery and/or restaurant delivery services available.
Grocery delivery is a new thriving business in many small towns. Check around. If this business is not yet available in your area, check with some local teens to see if they would be interested in taking on this task for your guests.
The local grocery delivery service in the Smoky Mountains will shop from the guest’s grocery list, deliver the items, and put the items in the refrigerator before the guests arrive. It’s a wonderful service that is really catching on in the Smokies.
One of the most important updates you can do to your vacation rental for the near and distant future is to create a “Workcation-Friendly” space.
More than ever, people across the globe are working from home.
Vacation rentals serve as the perfect opportunity for guests to workcation. High-speed internet access and usable work space are attractive features when choosing vacation accommodations.
Get ahead of the competition by heavily promoting your vacation rental’s workcation-friendly amenities.
Read How to Make Your Vacation Rental Workcation Friendly for more ideas.
After completing an analysis of your property’s COVID-friendly amenities, review your listing description.
Make updates that highlight the most unique and impressive features.
Guests are notorious for not reading through entire listing details. Make the listing easier to read by using bullet points and lists.
Is your vacation rental ready for fall bookings? Use this checklist to prepare your property for the fall/winter season.
You’ll learn unique marketing strategies for social media that will generate more revenue for your business.
Social Media Marketing Bootcamp is a self-paced, 5-Part course designed exclusively for vacation rental owners. The content will be specific to the vacation rental industry, and you’ll have access to exclusive content, worksheets, and questions/answers as you move through the course.
Learn more about how to effectively market your vacation rental on social media, in my Facebook & Instagram Course Exclusively for Vacation Rental Hosts.
Here are some of the topics included in the Social Media Marketing Bootcamp Course:
Take the quiz to find out how the Social Media Marketing Bootcamp course will help your vacation rental business.
After taking the quiz, you’ll see a personalized report explaining whether you’re a good candidate for the course.
You don’t want to miss any of my weekly vacation rental management and marketing tips! You’ll also get my FREE Download – 9 Steps to Preparing Your Vacation Rental Business to #BookDirect!
Would you like to take Direct Bookings for your vacation rental, but you don’t know where to start? Evaluate where you are and what steps you need to take to gain back control of your vacation rental business. It’s not as hard as you might think.
Learn what Trendy Hospitality is all about. And learn more about me and why I have such a passion for vacation rental management and marketing.
I would jump for joy if you’d share my blog posts on your favorite social media platforms, including Facebook groups ! ↓
All products, services or links mentioned on my website are for products and services that I have personally used. Some of the links are affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
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