Do you offer Gift Certificates?

As you know, gift certificates have been popular for many years.  But do you offer a gift certificate option for your vacation rental?

It’s not complicated and it is a great way to get repeat guests who will help fill your calendar for next year.

In this article, I’m sharing the process for how I advertise and handle the gift certificate purchase and acceptance.  

I have also included a gift certificate template for vacation rentals that you can use in your marketing.  The .jpg template has a space for you to add your logo.

Advertising a Gift Certificate

Social media and an email list are the best ways to advertise your gift certificate.

Create social media posts for your favorite social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

• Use the gift certificate sample pic below or create your own.
• Add your logo using PicCollage, PicMonkey, Canva or other app.   (See Smartphone App for Vacation Rental Marketing)
• Be sure to mention how they can get more information (private message, email, phone, etc.)
• You may want to include an expiration date.

Share the post to any relevant Facebook groups.  Tag any friends, family, or guests who might be interested in purchasing.

An example of our Asbury Cottage gift certificate post:

Use your email list manager (such as Mailchimp) to craft an email to your previous vacation rental inquiries and guests. 

• Mention that you’re offering a gift certificate option for your rental. 
• Suggest that they pass the hint along to family members who might be looking for the perfect gift to purchase.
• Make the post as non-salesy as possible by addressing the usefulness and ease of purchasing the gift certificate.
• Include your forms of payment (credit card, PayPal, check, etc.)

Process for Accepting a Gift Certificate

The process is simple and it’s really not much different than taking a regular booking.  The only difference is that someone else is paying.  You can continue with your own booking process once the guest contacts you to book their dates.  At that point, the guest will be the one signing the rental agreement and providing any ID and other documentation.  

As an added precaution, you can choose to only offer gift certificates for repeat guests.  It’s entirely up to you how you handle the transaction details.

I allow the purchaser of the gift certificate to pay for a specific dollar amount or they can choose to pay for a specific number of nights.  The recipient (guest) then contacts me to book and they select the dates and pay any difference in the cost.  I apply the gift certificate amount to their reservation.

Here’s an example of how it works:

Papa Smurf contacts me to purchase a gift certificate for Smurfette and her family.  Papa pays $300 for the gift certificate and pays me via credit card.  I snail mail an original gift certificate (printed on paper), a business card and a thank you card to Papa.  

Two weeks after Christmas, Smurfette calls me to book my rental, using the gift certificate.  Smurfette selects her dates and the total comes to $550.  I enter her reservation and mark the $300 as paid in the software.  The remaining $250 is due, as normal, within 3 weeks of her arrival date.

Smurfette signs the rental agreement and I have her credit card on file for the balance due.

Gift Certificate Templates

Use the gift certificate template for vacation rentals below or create your own.  Use an app, such as PicCollage, PicMonkey, or Canva to add your logo.  

Sample to use on Social Media and Email marketing

Original Gift Certificate Template

Print on paper or card stock.  Be sure to include a business card, rack card, and a thank you card.  You can also write up a letter with instructions on how to redeem the gift certificate.

Additional Gift Certificate Marketing Tips

Don’t forget about Black Friday and Cyber Monday!  These days are perfect for advertising your gift certificate along with any specials you might be running at the time.  Start advertising early.  Shoppers start planning their purchases well in advance of Thanksgiving, so make sure you’re front and center ahead of the sale date.