How Partnering With Local Businesses Can Set Your Listing Apart
When my family was small (me, my husband, and our 1-year old daughter who is now seven), we drove down California Highway 1 for a little trip. We stayed in Davenport, a teeny town and a great jumping off point to explore the central coast. We stayed in a magical wood cabin tucked in the redwoods behind our host family’s historic farmhouse. The host provided us with a few provisions - local goat cheese, fresh bread from the bakery, pancake mix and maple syrup. She also left us a little menu with prices in case we wanted to buy any extra of those same items. It was a little warm touch that I still remember in detail.
here’s my daughter checking out the peaceful deck at our Airbnb in the redwoods
What sets us apart from other Airbnb homes?
One reason that guests choose Airbnb homes instead of staying in a hotel is because they want to experience a local place. They want a taste of the local culture and a sense of what it’s like to live there. A huge way that hosts can help guests tap into that local connection is to provide products and services from local businesses. From surfing lessons to locally roasted coffee, there are many opportunities to reach out to local businesses or just provide local products.
Local flowers grown by @borrowedgarden for our guests celebrating a special occasion.
What do we do in our hosting?
Perhaps we go a little overboard with providing local goodies, but it’s one reason guests love our space. We provide locally roasted coffee, locally brewed beer (2 cans chilling in the fridge), a small bar of local chocolate and, when guests stay more than 4-5 nights I often splurge on a small bouquet of flowers from a farm nearby.
But I also know hosts who go even further - linking up their guests with local bike rentals or an in-home massage. So, if you’d like to take your listing to the next level, here are a few ways to partner with local businesses:
1. Reach out to businesses and explain that you host and would love to provide their products for your guests. Ask how you can purchase in bulk, if a discount is possible or if they would like to provide a small card or info about their product that you can put into your welcome binder.
2. Think of businesses that offer products: local wine, beer, coffee, juice, baked goods, soaps. I know hosts who provide muffins in Maui from the nearby bakery. If you’re not an on-site host, then providing shelf-stable products like coffee, wine or beer is more practical.
3. Consider businesses that offer services or local experiences: floral delivery, catering, massage, yoga, food tours. Ask if you can include their info in your welcome binder or provide a discount code or card for your guests. We work with a local flower farmer who delivers florals directly into our casita before a guest arrives (she has our keypad code and then I send her a Venmo). One Tahoe host I know offers a menu of in-home spa services for guests. You can also consider asking the business for a “referral fee,” for instance if you recommend a home chef or caterer and your guest books with them, you make 5% or just a flat fee.
4. Don’t miss the opportunity to support each other on social media. When you create a partnership with a local business (or even if you just buy a local coffee shop’s beans and put them into your space), then take photos of the products and tag them on social media. When they share it onto their page - you’ll be reaching a wider audience. Give them love regularly on Instagram or Facebook (like, comment on their posts or stories) so that you can continue the relationship.
5. Continue the conversation with businesses: What’s working? What else would be fun to provide for guests? Could you do an event together to show off your space and their product or services?
6. Lastly - consider any legal risks, especially with photography and with cooking. Creating a legal agreement isn’t something you need to do when you’re buying a bag of local coffee for your guests. But, if your guest is having a family photoshoot at your home, or has hired their own brand photographer, or you’re collaborating on a photoshoot for a local product: be clear about who will own the photos, who is allowed to post them and with what credit, and create a legal agreement that you both sign. If a chef is catering a guests’ family dinner in your Airbnb space, consider creating an agreement to clarify what happens if there are damages or injuries during the event (if you’re the one coordinating the hiring of the caterer). Google the type of legal agreement you need to create and you’ll find many examples online that you can borrow language from. It’s important to protect yourself, your home, your guests, and your local business owners by being clear about working agreements and what happens if things don’t go as planned.
Supporting local businesses is one small way that Airbnb hosts can support their communities and local economies. I don’t need to go on about it - buying from small businesses is just a good thing - it's as American as apple pie.
Tell me below - what local businesses have you partnered with or stocked in your space? If you want more tips like this, make sure to sign up for my email list here.
Last thing: I’m doing an IG Live on Sept 1 at 2:30pt with Annie from @thehostcompany. Her team is launching a platform where guests can even more easily partner with local businesses and provide hosts with in-listing stores - so your guests can purchase sunscreen or snacks from hosts. Save the date and hope you can join us!