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Ilaria - Community Manager

Question of the Week: Do you give complementary gifts to your guests?

Hi everyone,

Going the extra mile for your guests is certainly something you can all relate to. We know that many of you are really crafty and create beautiful handmade gifts for guests to keep as a memory of their stay.

Do you give your guests complementary gifts at the end or beginning of their stay? Do you place them in their rooms or personally at their arrival or departure? If so, what type of gifts?


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Janice 4 years ago

we do give guests gifts if they have a special occasion like celebrating a birthday, anniversary, weddings etc. We leave this at the villa in the living room. We usually give them something which is associated with the country like an artisan gift.

We also give a gift to all kids staying. A small toy to welcome the little ones at our properties together with their very own toiletries.

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Kravfish 4 years ago

Aloha and Mahalo,

Such a great question!

I learned years ago in one of my careers, that if you can keep people fed all day long they will ultimately be much happier souls.

So I not only provide all the breakfast items that you could possibly desire (to prepare for yourself). Eggs, bacon, fruit, yogurt, cereal, toast etc, w/ coffee, tea, milk, juices and soft drinks/waters.

Then for your grazing pleasure, I provide packages of ramen noodles, soups, assortment of rice, chili, crisps, chips, CLIFF Bars, sweets and other various treats. So my visitors can eat day and night and it costs them nothing to do so. Everything is included in the daily price. Costco helps me achieve this "feed the masses mentality" a lot.

But it is completely worth it. Supplying such food supplies ensures a happier experience for your guests, which only mean better reviews. Thereby better reviews mean higher daily rates you will be able to charge guests in the near future.

Try it for a complete month. Charge a bit more per day on your calendar while you are experimenting with this concept. Add $10 per day and make sure you say "FREE BREAKFAST". You will be able to get it. Then soon your daily rates just go up and up.

Try it for 30-90 day (average time span packs of food items last while distributing to your guests). Let me know what it does to your scores.

Best wishes :)

Mychelle

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Hi! Janice and welcome to the forum.
I like your idea of giving your little guests gifts together with their own toiletries. If possible share a picture with us with your children toiletries.
Wish you a good day.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

This is my complementary small gift to my Scottish lovely couple that stayed with us last weekend.

The almonds inside are from our private garden and are very delicious.

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Ian at Numurka… 4 years ago

a complimentary breakfast basked it what we do. - we run SELF Contained apartments

works well.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Hi! Ian at Numurkah I love complimentary baskets. I love baskets in general...
Happy posting!!!

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Levuemer 4 years ago

Bonjour,

Je fais toujours un cadeau à mes invités, en plus du champagne

en général c'est un dessin de ma fille avec la bienvenue sur Roses et le jardin pour les femmes; des chocolats à pâques, des œufs pour les enfants cachés dans le jardin.

Bonne saison

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Kibokoafrica 4 years ago

Ian am just drooling to that food on the table. sounds to be a very tasty meal. Janice your idea is very great. When a guest requests us to pick them up at the airport. we never forgets to surprise them with a Maasai clothing outfit just for them to feel at home.

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Katerinka12 4 years ago

How about giving a gift as a prize for a well behaved guest, who read the House rules? Look how one creative Airbnb host did it:
https://ibb.co/fHJYZvw

Looks like it is a good idea. What do you think?

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Janice 4 years ago

Hi M Adamopoulou,

Below is what we give to our young guests. The first image is given to children under 4 whilst the rest get the surprise pack. The toileteries are given to all kids.

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Leannemccarty23 4 years ago

On arrival, all our guests get a small bottle of beer or baby bubbles. At Christmas time we left a box of chocolates wrapped up for them to open and over Easter we supplied Easter eggs for them. Our guests love the little extras.
Couple on their honeymoon, we put roses in their room, a full size bottle of bubbles and I cooked them dinner one night as they were here for three nights. They went back to England overwhelmed with our hospitality.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Hi! Janice how thoughtful of you. I am sure children love your little presents.... Why didn’t I thought of that???
Never is too late. I have reservations with kids so I will definitely follow your ideas.
Your toiletries with the little prince is fabulous.
Thanks again for posting.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Katerinka12 how interesting???
Not a bad idea at all.
Thanks for sharing.

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Janice 4 years ago

M Adamopoulou, you're most welcome. I believe that with families if kids are happy parents are happy:)

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Hi -Leannemccarty23 very nice to have you here. I agree guests very much appreciate little extras. Now in my Easter guests I will leave a welcome basket with red eggs and home made Easter cookies called tsourekia. They are traditional brioche. There is no house in Greece without tsourekia in Easter time.
Cheers!!!

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Yes Janice. I know that very well being a grandmother my self. My granddaughter is staying with me most of the times when I have guests and she loves playing with our guests kids. Keeps them busy, and happy guests while parents get relaxed and are very satisfied.
Cheers!!!!

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Strand Homestay 4 years ago

Yes! We offer CEYLON TEA Cans to our guests on departure. Hope they remember us every time they have a cuppa!

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Strand Homestay 4 years ago

For the kiddies we give our Grandson's toys, specially his tricycle and paddle car,which they enjoy riding in our spacious garden.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Wonderful gift. Guests must appreciate it. I love Ceylon Tea and I enjoy drinking it with my friends....
Take care...

k
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Kim Deruddere 4 years ago

We always provide some complimentary chocolates (we live in Belgium!) and fresh eggs from our chooks. A personal welcome notice on the board is appreciated by our guests too.

We offer free tea and coffee (guests have to brew it themselves as we are renting out a holiday home).

We provide the basics for cooking too (olive oil, salt & pepper, vinegar).

Great to get inspired by all of you! Thanks

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Mwsuemcm 4 years ago

I personally cook and serve either a full English breakfast or Continental style breakfast in the morning. I also provide travel sized toiletries in the rooms, shampoo, conditioner, shower wash, cotton wool rounds and ear buds. The latter are popular!

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Graham Fisher 4 years ago

I make my own marmalade (to my own recipe) after clearing a bowl of it on their toast at breakfast many guests comment on it when reviewing us.

If they have shown their appreciation and commented - many ask what brand it is so they can buy it in the shops - then I quite often give then a jar to take away with them... I have some regulars who claim they have to come to get their "fix" of the marmalade LOL.

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Weigelt 4 years ago

Many of our guests bring small presents from their home country. When this happens, we are sure to reciprocate. But in the end, the best gift one can give is kindness and helpfulness.

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Rialina2002 4 years ago

I have a bed and breakfast. The bathroom has all possible toiletries provided. Also plenty of brochures and I am always ready to answer/find out/guide. In the continental breakfast I always try to add an extra, which can be fresh-baked cake or eggs. I try to give the best service possible, but no extra gifts. I charge so little that I would have no money left.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

Hello new partners and welcome to the forum.
I give homemade gifts that are not expensive. Marmalade’s, almonds, olives, herbs from my garden, sealed with a thank you note. Guests appreciate it.

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Mwatson 4 years ago

We leave our guests with a box of homemade fudge made from local dairy. We are adults only so when they go back to the real world and their kids they have something to share with them or give to grandma for looking after them.

We also make a lot of our own condiments and I always jar up some small jars so that when guests comment on the marmalade, local honey or relish on the cheese board we can leave them with a little take home jar.

Our regulars are now inclined to order a bottle or two or a box of fudge when they book now which has become a little source of extra revenue.

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M Adamopoulou 4 years ago

So sweet of you...and very thoughtful. Homemade fudge , marmelade, honey, are my favorites.

Extra money is not a bad idea.

Wish you a great season....