As a short-term rental host, you’re in the business of making your guests feel welcome and comfortable. Through thoughtful guest service, you can create a more personalized, positive experience for guests and ensure they have everything needed to enjoy their stay.
This is exactly what host Alyson Gordon has done! She has intuitively put herself into prospective guests' shoes and left no detail unnoticed. Get some advice from Alyson in this host spotlight!
Q: How long have you been a short-term rental host?
A: I became a short-term rental host in August of 2022!
Q: What inspired you to get into STR hosting?
A: We’ve had such great family vacations in amazing homes and I always wanted to have a place that I could enjoy with my family but also share with other families. It can also be challenging to find a large property that isn’t outdated and I knew that I could offer a nice home with the little touches that families need.
Q: How many short term rentals do you operate?
A: I own and operate two STRs on the east coast:
Q: What are your biggest pain points as an STR owner?
A: Timely deliveries! It’s hard to get reliable shipping windows for both of my homes.
Q: How have you tried to differentiate your properties from other STRs - how do you make them stand out?
A: I’ve tried to provide small but important touches that a multi-generational family would want for their stay, using simple but attractive design elements. I also am a big believer in practical little touches that can make a big difference to your stay like extra towels or pillows, a variety of sweeteners for hot beverages and indoor activities for rainy days.
Q: What's your favorite thing about being an STR host?
A: I love being able to anticipate a guest’s needs and the satisfaction that comes from great feedback or a glowing review. Being able to contribute to a happy memory is something that makes me happy too!
Q: What is the #1 most important thing for STR hosts to get right, in your opinion?
A: Design of course! That is what will help guests book your property. I also think it’s really important for hosts to consider how their guests will use the home and what small touches will make the stay more comfortable – that could be ottomans, extra towels, a cord for kits to hook up their video games, or creamer and honey to go with the coffee and tea.
Q: What products do your guests love the most?
A: I have actually gotten a lot of questions and compliments about the Calphalon cookware and many kitchen appliances! I think for large groups having a sufficiently stocked kitchen makes a big difference too. The other items people love are Public Goods body wash and soap.
Q: What are your favorite Minoan brands?
A: I absolutely love Society 6 for art, Article for bedroom furniture and Public Goods for toiletries.
Q: How has Minoan helped you with your short term rentals?
A: Minoan has helped me save a ton of money as I have purchased items for my homes, but more importantly the service from the team is unmatched. I do a lot of my STR work at night and the chat function has been awesome and the quotes come back quickly, usually in a few hours so I can move forward with my orders. With one property launch I ran into major shipping issues and Sage helped me figure out what to cancel and what to order that would actually arrive on time without me having to spend more money to make that happen. Her help prevented me from delaying the launch of my property and avoided a ton of stress.
Q: What's one thing you know now that you wished you knew when you first started setting up your STRs?
A: Leave some time before you launch for the unexpected – it doesn’t matter how much you plan ahead, you will definitely need more time than you thought. Also, every problem is fixable! You won’t be able to plan for every variable so be ok knowing you can solve any problems that pop up.
Q: Any other tips for your fellow hosts?
A: Keep a running list of ideas to elevate your property amenities and design, so that your listing is always attractive to new travelers.
