More and more travelers are looking for local experiences when they visit an area. They want to immerse themselves in their surroundings. They don’t want to just be tourists but desire to explore the area as a local would. So, how can you capitalize on this? You can help create this experience for them.
Make your home feel more local with a little know-how. In our latest blog, we’ll provide several tips for how you can do just that. Some are quick and easy, while others may require more thought and time.
Decorate your space.
The first step to bringing the locale inside is to give your vacation home a little remodel. When you decorate, lean into what your surroundings are. If your home is at the beach, create a beach house atmosphere. Use light colors like white, khaki, or beige. Or go for a coastal/beach theme with pops of color and ocean decor. On the other hand, if your home is in a city area, choose more urban or contemporary decor to give it that city vibe. And, if your home is in the mountains, you may want to go with a rustic look like distressed wood, add some warm lighting and stick to neutral colors. You can also add local artwork to the walls or hang up framed photos you took of the area.
If you want to take it up a notch, consider an Instagram Wall. These are great for helping your home get seen by more people. It’s basically free advertising. But give your Instagram Wall a local vibe. Make its theme consistent with your area, like a cityscape for an urban area or a beach vibe if you’re by the ocean. You may also want to choose to have a mural painted of a local landmark on your wall for guests to take their pictures in front of.
Supply your guests with goodies.
Welcome your guests with a gift basket of goodies. Fill it with local treats like honey, jams, pastries, cheese, fruit, and souvenirs. You could even add coupons or gift cards to local places. Talk with small businesses in the area to see if anyone wants to help contribute to this gift basket. You may find some of these businesses look at it as an opportunity to make more sales by bringing in new customers, reducing your overall cost to create these gift baskets. In addition, you can supply your guests with a few local-favorite snacks or beverages by stocking the fridge or placing some on the counter.
Offer local tours.
To help your guests get immersed in their environment, offer local tours and activities. Many tourists will love being guided by a local to some of the hot spots, landmarks, or off-the-beaten paths. You could create different tours such as a winery tour, a landmarks tour, etc. Maybe talk with local businesses about this one as well. You may be able to create a deal that works for the business and yourself.
Create a comprehensive local guide.
In your comprehensive guide, don’t just include the standards like grocery stores and pharmacies. Go further. Include local-favorite restaurants, cafes, specialty shops, parks, museums, landmarks, etc. Also, consider listing fun classes they can participate in. And make a list of local tours they can take, especially if this isn’t something you’ll personally be offering.
Provide extras to help them enjoy the environment around them.
Depending on where your vacation home is located, you may find that certain accessories will help your guests enjoy their stay even more. For example, if you’re located by a beach, providing boogie boards, sand toys, and kayaks may be appreciated. And in most environments, people will love access to bikes they can ride around town or on trails. Firewood may also be appreciated, depending on where your property is located.
These are just a few ways you can help guests feel more like locals during their stay while enjoying the comforts of being a tourist. Many guests are looking for this type of experience when traveling, so make it clear in your listing that you’re offering this. Let them know if there is the option to sign up for local tours, take high-quality pictures of every room to show your beautiful decor, let them know they’ll be welcomed with a gift basket full of local goodies, etc. These little touches will help them feel more enticed to book with you over your competitors.
Need help with this? At PMI, we take hospitality to a new level. We’ll do everything to help your guests have a great experience. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.propertymanagementinc.com/
