How to create an Airbnb welcome book for guests
How to delight your guests with a beautiful welcome book
Creating an Airbnb welcome book doesn’t have to be difficult. In this guide, learn what you need to create the perfect Airbnb welcome book to delight your guests.
What goes into an Airbnb host welcome book
Think about your welcome book as a guide to take your guests through their stay. You want to welcome them into your home. You want to then explain to them any important rules and make sure they understand how to use things. You then want to end their stay with any parting information. We’ll guide you through the different parts of the welcome book.
Welcome your guests
The first section of your welcome book focuses on providing a warm welcome for your guests. Include a welcome message and introduction to the host. Share your story, hobbies, and why you got into Airbnb so that guests can relate to you. Building a better connection with guests can influence how they rate your Airbnb.
In the welcome section you also want to include information about the property. Let them know what makes the property special. Is there something unique about the surrounding neighborhood or landscape? Is there some historical significance to the property? Does the property include a story about the generations of families that have lived there? Don’t forget to include any architectural features that guests will want to know about. These are the first few pages of your welcome book, so you want to get them excited about their stay.
Provide guests with helpful info for their stay
Your welcome book is equivalent to the instruction manual for your property. You want to give guests all of the helpful information that will make their stay stress free. Start by providing guests with important information about the check-in and check-out process. It’s important that they know what is expected of them during the process. Don’t forget to list out guidelines or house rules. This is especially important if your rental is located in a city with strict guidelines around things like noise and parking. You want to make the wifi information easily accessible since connecting to the internet is often something guests do as soon as they arrive. Let them know what they should do if they have any issues connecting or if the wifi goes down.
You also want to list out all of the amenities that are available to guests. They may not be aware of all of them and certain amenities may provide them with a better overall stay. It can be hard for guests to figure out how to use the thermostat, oven, TV, and more. Leaving guests guessing can lead to frustration and bad reviews. Provide how-to information so they have all of the necessary instructions for using your property. While guests can find most transportation information online, even the most basic tips for getting around can improve their stay. Simple tips around parking information, traffic, and more can go a long way.
Tell them where to go
It’s likely that your guests are from out of town and don’t know your city well. Share all your favorite local hot spots so they know the best places to eat, places to drink, or places to see. Having a great experience in your city carries over to their overall experience at your property.
Share parting details
The last thing you’ll want to do is to make sure your guests have a stress free departure. Provide them with a check-out list if there are specific things they need to know or do before leaving. Finally, say thank you to your guests and remind them to leave a review.
How to design your Airbnb welcome book
Now that you know what information you need to include in your Airbnb welcome book, you’ll need to know how to go about actually designing one. While you can use tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Google slides, these aren’t always the best design tools. You want your welcome book to look like a beautiful guide and not a business document. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign can be great tools to do design and layout. If you’re not a designer, these tools can come with a steep learning curve.
Creating an Airbnb welcome book in Canva
If you’re not a designer and looking for an easy to use tool to create an Airbnb welcome book, we recommend Canva. Canva is easy to use and it’s free. There are a lot of great starter templates in Canva that you can use to build out your design.
If you’re looking for an easier path to designing your Airbnb welcome book, we offer pre-made Canva welcome book templates like the one seen on this page. All you have to do is add your own text and images. Just visit our Etsy shop if you want to learn more.