8 Essentials for Consciously Curated Short Term Rental Spaces
Written by: Sam Deng
If you've ever thought about turning your space into a vacation rental, you know it's more than just offering a place to sleep—it's about creating a welcoming, homey environment that guests will remember. This article delves into the nuances of what we call conscious hosting, exploring how personal touches, technology, and thoughtful amenities converge to move ordinary spaces into memorable experiences. Whether you're a seasoned host or just starting out, join us as we offer our perspectives on the strategies that make our properties not just a place to stay, but spaces where stories get made and connections deepen.
1. Personality that Welcomes
We encourage hosts to infuse their spaces with their own personality and style, creating an environment that stands apart from the impersonal atmosphere of typical hotel rooms - generic decoration and paint colours. Our most successful spaces showcase a blend of personal history and interests through carefully chosen decor such as beloved books, local art or murals. These personal touches not only enhance the warmth and uniqueness of the space but also foster genuine connections and conversations with guests who value such authenticity.
Avoiding Over-Personalization
While it's important to express personality in your space, maintaining a balance that doesn't overwhelm or feel too personal to guests is crucial. To achieve this:
Selective Personalization: Choose decor that reflects your personality but is broadly appealing. For example, instead of too many overly kitschy items that might only resonate with a few, opt for pieces that tell a story or evoke a feeling of warmth and welcome.
Neutral Grounds: Keep the foundational elements of your space—like walls and large furniture pieces—in warm or neutral tones. This approach provides a blank canvas that highlights your personal decorations and any bold colours without making the space feel cluttered or too tailored to a specific taste.
Functional and Stylistic Decor: Incorporate items that are both aesthetic and functional. A colourful throw on a couch or artistic, yet practical kitchenware can add personality while serving a purpose. This way, the space feels lived-in and inviting but not overwhelming. While we’re mentioning it, throw pillows and blankets are a must, and a great place to experiment with bold colours.
Interactive Elements: Create areas in the home that invite guests to leave their own mark or swap stories, like a guestbook or a wall where travellers can pin a photo or a note from their home country.
Purposeful Color - Accent Walls to Define the Space: Accent walls are more than just decorative; they are strategic design elements that can alter the feel of a room. In spaces designed for activity and liveliness, such as common areas or entertainment rooms, we might choose bright, bold colours that stimulate energy and creativity. For bedrooms or reading nooks, softer shades like avocado or light blue promote relaxation and tranquility.
Local and Artistic Expression: Murals in our properties often feature works by local artists, allowing guests to connect with the cultural and artistic landscape of the area. These large-scale artworks not only beautify the space but also serve as conversation starters, offering insights into the local community and its artistic expressions.
By showcasing hobbies or passions, hosts can attract guests who share similar interests, fostering a deeper connection.
2. Smart Locks & Integration
Smart hosting tools significantly cut down the time hosts spend on manual tasks, like key exchanges, and improve security measures. By using smart locks, hosts eliminate the risk associated with physical keys, such as duplication or loss. This not only simplifies the check-in process but also secures the property by allowing hosts to control access remotely and receive alerts whenever someone enters or leaves the property.
Smart locks are particularly beneficial for hosts who manage properties remotely. The ability to unlock doors from afar removes the need for physical presence at check-in and avoids the pitfalls of traditional key exchanges. Additionally, the flexibility of smart locks offers the significant benefit of 24-hour check-in convenience. Guests can arrive according to their own schedules, without the constraints of traditional check-in times. This feature is particularly appreciated by travellers dealing with delays or those who prefer to travel at off-peak hours.
A standout feature of our hosting approach is the provision of personalized access codes for guests. Each guest receives a unique code that is valid for the duration of their stay, which not only enhances security but also adds an element of personalized service. This system is facilitated by our partnership with platforms like Hospitable, which integrates seamlessly with our smart locks. These temporary codes ensure that guests can enter and exit the property securely without the risks associated with traditional keys. Once their stay is over, the code expires, preventing any unauthorized access afterward. This method provides a secure, efficient, and personalized check-in and check-out process, reflecting our commitment to both convenience and security. Enhanced monitoring capabilities are another advantage of smart hosting. Real-time alerts inform hosts of guest arrivals and departures, enabling them to monitor their property's security status continuously.
Smart integrations like this free up hosts to spend their time focusing on what is most important, both in life and hosting.
3. The Wow factor of Live Plants
Greenery breathes life into any space. We understand that incorporating live plants (inside and out) into our short term rental spaces does more than just enhance the aesthetic appeal—it brings life and vitality into the. environment. Plans are chosen not only for its beauty, but also for its air-purifying qualities and low maintenance needs, making every space feel like a breath of fresh air.
Plants like the snake plant, ZZ plant, spider plant, pothos, monstera, philodendron, and swiss cheese monstera, are species we choose that are both drought-tolerant and resilient to varying care levels. This selection ensures that even when watered irregularly—whether due to a forgetful moment or a busy travel schedule—these plants continue to thrive, maintaining their lush appearance and air-purifying benefits.
Many guests have shared how the presence of live plants makes the accommodations feel more homely and inviting. Plants are not just decorative elements; they are living organisms that interact with the environment to enhance the well-being of those staying in the space. They improve air quality, increase humidity, and bring a calming, restorative presence that enriches the guest experience. It also underscores our commitment to creating an ecologically minded space.
4. Cleanliness as a Commitment
The cleanliness of our Airbnb spaces plays a critical role in guest satisfaction, impacting everything from their first impressions to their overall health and safety. We've chosen to do this through low waste natural products (if you're curious to know more about that read our blog on zero waste hosting).
Comprehensive Checklists: To ensure that no detail is overlooked, our cleaning team members follow detailed checklists that cover every aspect of the space. These checklists are designed to ensure that each nook and cranny is cleaned and inspected before the arrival of a new guest. The first impression of cleanliness is paramount in setting the tone for a guest's stay. We strive to ensure that each guest is greeted by a space that is not only clean but also orderly and inviting.
Scheduled Deep Cleans: Beyond regular cleaning, we schedule deep cleaning sessions that involve more intensive cleaning (eg. behind the stove, steam cleaning carpets and upholstery, etc.).
Addressing Oversights and Implementing Backup Plans: Despite our best efforts, there are times when things may be overlooked, and unexpected issues arise. Recognizing this, we have established backup plans to quickly address any gaps in cleaning. This includes back up cleaning services that can be ready at a moment's notice, and communication practices to support the guest in navigating this with minimal disruption.
This proactive approach not only helps in maintaining high standards but also reassures guests that their comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities. By having these measures in place, we can ensure that every guest's experience is as pleasant and comfortable as possible, even when unexpected challenges arise.
In the vacation rental industry, the expectation for cleanliness mirrors that of high-end hotels. Guests choosing Airbnb over traditional hotel stays still expect a level of cleanliness that is professional and meticulous. As hosts, we must continually remind ourselves that what may be acceptable in our homes can fall short of what is required when we're hosting. When we're hosting in our shared space we keep the space clean and tidy paying special attention to maintaining the shared washroom and kitchen spaces.
5. Functional Comfort
Our guests' reviews rave about the comfy couches and beds. Why? Because when you're traveling, a restful sleep or a cozy nook to unwind is everything.
Prioritizing Rest and Relaxation
We recognize that one of the most critical aspects of a memorable stay is comfort. Our guests often highlight the exceptional quality of our comfy couches and beds in their reviews, underscoring the importance of restful sleep and a cozy nook to unwind in creating a rejuvenating stay.
Investing in High-Quality Mattresses
Understanding the impact of a good night’s sleep on the overall travel experience, we ensure that our accommodations are equipped with top-quality mattresses. Poor-quality mattresses can be the bane of a traveler's existence. On the other hand, a well-chosen mattress not only enhances sleep quality but ensures guests wake up refreshed. Given the varying preferences of guests, we opt for medium-firm mattresses—a balanced choice that caters to both those who prefer firmness and those who find comfort in a softer sleeping surface. In our experience with guest feedback leaning on the firmer side when unsure is usually safer.
We definitely recommend Haven Sleep Co. when it come to mattresses. They are a company that shares our commitment to the well-being of both the planet and guests. Haven Sleep Co.'s mattresses are crafted from the safe, durable, and quality materials. These mattresses are designed to offer optimal support, comfort, and longevity, ensuring that every night spent in our properties is restorative.
The Importance of Bedding
Echoing the standards of high-end hotels, our properties feature crisp, clean white bedding that is regularly laundered and meticulously maintained. This choice not only meets the aesthetic expectations of savvy travelers but also contributes to the overall perception of cleanliness and comfort. We also recommend using high-quality mattress covers. These covers serve multiple purposes: they protect the mattress from spills and stains and extend its lifespan.
Guests appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into ensuring they have a comfortable place to rest after a day of adventures. This attention to detail not only enhances guest satisfaction but also contributes to repeat bookings and higher reviews.
6. Community Connection
We provide a guide to our most loved local restaurants, cafes and shops because we're ambassadors to our community. Our curated guides go beyond the usual tourist hotspots. Instead, we introduce our guests to the soul of the communities through a collection of personal recommendations.
Staying Local: Our commitment extends to the local economy—specifically, the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. By directing our guests to these businesses we offer a more enriched visiting experience, and also support the community economically.
Personalized and Trustworthy Recommendations: We understand that recommendations from a local host are often seen as more reliable and intriguing than those from commercial review platforms like Yelp. Our guides are crafted with a personal touch, highlighting places we love and frequent, which adds a layer of trust and authenticity that generic reviews cannot match.
Enhancing Guest Engagement with Local Culture: Choosing to stay in a short term rental offers more than just a place to sleep; it presents an opportunity to immerse oneself in local culture and connect with the community. Whether guests opt for a private room in a shared residence or an entire home, they gain invaluable insights into the local land. For those staying in shared spaces, the benefit is even more pronounced, as they get the opportunity to live alongside locals, often leading to enriching conversations and personal connection to the place.
7. Thoughtful Amenities
Guests might not remember the brand of your hand soap, but they'll remember that you had it there along with fluffy towels, a French press for morning brews, and an iron for last-minute touch-ups. It's the little things. Small details often make the biggest impact on a guest's experience. Our properties are equipped with a range of carefully chosen amenities that ensure comfort and convenience, creating memorable stays.
Comprehensive Hospitality Touches
Stocked Kitchen: Recognizing the value of a home-cooked meal, especially while traveling, our kitchens are fully equipped with everything guests might need, from quality cookware to various spices and oils. This allows guests to easily prepare their meals, making them feel right at home.
Coffee & Tea Station: We offer a dedicated coffee station equipped with one or more of: a French press, pour over, aeropress or coffee machines for convenience. Alongside regular coffee, we provide a variety of teas (herbal and caffeinated), ensuring that all guests can enjoy their preferred morning brew in a welcoming and inviting space.
Functional Work and Leisure Spaces: Understanding the needs of both business and leisure travellers, our properties include designated work areas with ample lighting and comfortable seating. For relaxation, we provide games and spaces that encourage interaction and fun.
Complete Cleaning and Clothing Care Supplies: We equip each property with essential cleaning supplies, an iron, and a mini ironing board to cater to guests who need to perform quick cleanups or prepare their attire with last-minute touch-ups.
Enhancing Aesthetic Appeal and Functionality
Splash of Color: To create a vibrant and engaging environment, we consider integrating unique and bright colors through wall paints or decor. This not only enhances the visual appeal of our spaces but also makes them stand out.
Full-Length Stand-Up Mirror: A full-length mirror is provided in each unit, serving multiple functions from outfit checks to makeup application, adding both functionality and a touch of style to the accommodations.
Yoga Mat for Wellness: After receiving positive feedback in our reviews for offering yoga mats, we've made them an amenity our properties. This addition supports guests who wish to maintain their wellness routines, providing a personal touch that many appreciate. Not every guest will turn on the TV, but many will appreciate the yoga mat for a morning stretch.
8. A Sense of Belonging
From our open invitation to inclusivity to the eco-tourism we're developing in Cape Breton, we're crafting spaces that do more than just host travellers; they cultivate a sense of belonging to a larger story.
Cultivating Inclusivity and Connection
Hospitality extends beyond accommodations; it's about creating a sense of belonging. We strive to create spaces that are welcoming to everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability, or any other characteristic. Our commitment to inclusivity means actively creating and adapting an environment where all guests feel safe, respected, and valued.
We make it a point to state in our listings and communications that our spaces are LGBTQ+ friendly. This explicit welcome helps alleviate any uncertainty guests might have about their acceptance and safety.
Belonging in our spaces should feel like entering a home with an immediate sense of ease and comfort, allowing you to unwind and truly be yourself. It’s about feeling connected, not just to a place but to its people, history, and culture.
Conclusion
Conscious hosting is at the core of everything we do. It guides our efforts to create enriching, memorable experiences for all who stay. Our commitment extends beyond aesthetics, to incorporate smart technology that enhances guest convenience and improves the overall stay.
As we continue to evolve and refine our offerings, our focus on conscious hosting remains consistent, driving us to deliver value and create lasting impressions that encourage our guests to return time and again.
