Hospitality

Share your Airbnb story like this

Guests want to know you

Sound Familiar?

Pesky Problem

Your guests know nothing about you.

There are plenty of hosts we’ve stayed with who we’ve never met in person. And that’s totally fine! Between self check in, respecting guest privacy, and standalone properties, there are plenty of Airbnb stays that come and go without an in-person introduction.

But that doesn’t mean your guests don’t want to know your story. Remember, you are the secret sauce that makes Airbnb travel so special, the piece that so often motivates guests to book an Airbnb over a hotel. You’re not another faceless chain in the travel industry. You’re a real person with a unique property, and guests are genuinely curious how you ended up hosting.

Let's Try This

Bite-Size Solution

Create a photo book to share your Airbnb’s origin story.

Here’s a wonderful way to help your guests get to know you. Share your Airbnb’s origin story with a printed photo book. We saw this strategy employed for the first time during one of our most recent Airbnb trips, and we were absolutely delighted by it.

The hosts had transformed an old chicken coop on their farm into a glamorous Airbnb. (Seriously. Chandeliers in a chicken coop never looked so good.) They documented the renovation, from start to finish, in a photo book that they set out next to their house manual. Each page described a different piece of the family’s adventure, from the initial idea to the day their doors opened.

By the end, we were smitten. We loved the space the moment we walked in, but the photo book created a connection with the family behind it. Guests with that kind of personal attachment are more likely to leave a great review, recommend your place to their friends, and book repeat stays. Guests want to get invested in a host’s success story. You just have to share it.

5 Minutes

Here's Your First Step

Sketch out the highlights you’d want to share.

Start by grabbing a piece of paper and jotting down all of the memories you have of creating your Airbnb. What was your original motivation? What are the most memorable pieces of the adventure for you? When you do meet guests in person, what do you share? Tuck these notes aside for when you have a little extra time to create a full photo book. Your guests are going to love it.

INSPIRED BY you

This week’s Big Heart Hosting post was inspired by Jillynn, an Airbnb Superhost in Baxter, Iowa USA. Just click here to explore the full listing.

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bye-bye blindspots

The Ultimate Airbnb Checklist Collection

The number one question we hear from hosts is “What am I forgetting to put in my Airbnb?” This collection is the definitive answer to that question. In our signature product, we go room-by-room, step-by-step until your Airbnb is perfectly appointed and ready to impress. Bye-bye blindspots and hello happy guests!

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Even the best hosts can forget a thing or two

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big heart hosting

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You’re an ambitious Airbnb host with a big heart. But on some days, hosting isn’t exactly what you had imagined. Maybe it’s overwhelming. Or isolating. Or just not making the kind of money you had envisioned. At Big Heart Hosting, we’re on a mission to help hosts like you thrive, not just get by. We create step-by-step resources that bring together the best hosting strategies from around the world. We’ll give you the knowledge and community you need to create the joyful, prosperous Airbnb you deserve.