рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдореЗрд╣рдорд╛рдиреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рдЧрдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рдХреЛрдИ рдХрд╕рд░ рди рдЫреЛрдбрд╝рдирд╛
рдЦрд╛рд╕ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдг
A small token of appreciation goes a long way toward making guests feel special
Try leaving a handwritten note for a personal touch
You can do even more by leaving flowers, beverages, snacks, and other treats
Local products can support your communityтАФand help guests feel like they belong
Nothing makes guests feel more welcome than a handwritten note or a bouquet of fresh flowers. And when guests have a memorable stay, theyтАЩre more likely to leave glowing reviews, tell their friends and family about your space, and even come back for another visit.
Delighting your guests with a warm greeting can make them feel appreciated, but you donтАЩt have to spend a lot of money. From thoughtful notes to freshly baked treats, hereтАЩs how some hosts around the world have gone above and beyond in welcoming their guests:
1. Write a friendly welcome note
When guests are traveling, a personalized welcome can be the difference between feeling homesick and feeling at home. тАЬI have a little chalkboard in each room that welcomes the guests, and I include their names each time,тАЭ says host Huma of London. тАЬIt's such a small touch, but they really love this.тАЭ
You can leave the same sentiment in a handwritten note. тАЬI recently decided to start to leave a welcome treat with a card,тАЭ says host Trude of Edsberg, Sweden. In your note, you might include your favorite place to get a coffee or a fun fact about your area.
2. Give your guests a taste of your town
One of the best ways to help your guests get settled is to introduce them to the top spots in your neighborhood. тАЬWe have a local bakery that makes a cinnamon cream cake that I happen to love, and I brought one to the first guest,тАЭ says host David of San Antonio, Texas, who now treats all of his guests to his favorite cake.
3. Put your own baking skills to work
If youтАЩre a great baker, consider highlighting your hospitality skills by making your specialty for your guests. тАЬI started leaving a few homemade cookies,тАЭ says host Beth of Roraima, Brazil. тАЬI get a lot of return business, and the cookies have been commented on multiple times.тАЭ
4. Get your guests involved
In addition to offering a sweet treat, host David of San Antonio, Texas, leaves wine for his guests. тАЬThereтАЩs a hashtag: #takeabottleleaveabottle,тАЭ says David, who encourages guests to replace the bottle they enjoyed with a new one. Over the years, the collection has grown: тАЬWe have a wall with five different types of wine,тАЭ he says. The one-in, one-out idea makes this an affordable option. You could also try this with books!
5. Create a snack basket
тАЬWe realize that people come to have a good time,тАЭ says host Jerry of Atlanta. тАЬA lot of times they come back home, and they have the munchies.тАЭ So he now stocks his kitchen with a basket of snacks like microwave popcorn, cookies, potato chips, and pretzels.
6. Customize your treat
Get to know your guests, and be aware of their needs. тАЬWe leave a treat at check-in,тАЭ says host Laura of Frederick, Maryland. тАЬSometimes itтАЩs local cheese, chocolate, or baked goods. Sometimes itтАЩs local beer or a bottle of wine.тАЭ She messages her guests about any dietary restrictions first: тАЬNot everyone drinks or can eat cheese, so I ask.тАЬ
If your guests have kids, a packet of stickers or a few juice boxes can be a thoughtful surprise. тАЬIf there are children, I leave a lollipop or small bag of candy and a small box of crayons [with a] coloring book,тАЭ says host Ann of New York City. And if your guests are traveling with pets, consider having dog treats on hand to share with their furry friends.
7. Show off your local culture
If thereтАЩs something inexpensive that your region is known forтАФsuch as leis in HawaiiтАФconsider leaving something small to delight your guests at check-in. тАЬOne of the biggest things that we provide here is Mardi Gras beads,тАЭ says host Jordan of New Orleans. Guests appreciate these souvenirs, which can help them remember their stay long after checkout.
8. Get a little help from nature
From fresh flowers to homegrown vegetables, guests love the great outdoors. тАЬI pick a sweet little bouquet for the guest room from my garden,тАЭ says host Sarah of Sayulita, Mexico. Fresh fruit or vegetables from a garden can also work well. DonтАЩt have a garden? Inexpensive flowers from the grocery store or local market can be a colorful way to welcome your guests.
9. Save money by buying in bulk
Stocking up on supplies can save you time and money, but you can still add your special touch. Host Karen of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, buys her cookies wholesale, тАЬwhich provides us with a super low-cost biscuit,тАЭ she says. She also found a quick way to personalize the treats: тАЬWe bought a sealer, and we package and seal the biscuits with our own label.тАЭ
10. Celebrate special occasions
Whether guests are visiting during a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, you can help make their stay even more memorable. тАЬWe had one couple staying for New Year's, so we got them a bottle of champagne,тАЭ says host Damon of Atlanta. Host Jennifer of Ontario, Canada, also keeps the occasion in mind. тАЬIf a guest is here for a specific celebrationтАФbirthday, honeymoonтАФI leave a little something appropriate to mark their celebration,тАЭ she says.
Going above and beyond to welcome your guests is always appreciated but remember: Hospitality doesnтАЩt have to cost anything. A handwritten note can still show your guests youтАЩre thinking of them, which can make all the difference when theyтАЩre far from home.
рдЦрд╛рд╕ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдг
A small token of appreciation goes a long way toward making guests feel special
Try leaving a handwritten note for a personal touch
You can do even more by leaving flowers, beverages, snacks, and other treats
Local products can support your communityтАФand help guests feel like they belong