A vacation rental review reminder is a communication, typically sent by the vacation rental owner, manager, or the platform through which the rental was booked, to encourage guests to leave a review after their stay.
Why Review Reminders Are Important
Builds credibility and visibility — reviews are crucial in the vacation rental industry as they boost the visibility and credibility of the property. Positive reviews can significantly enhance a rental's reputation and attract more bookings.
Helps you learn — reviews provide valuable feedback for owners or managers, allowing them to improve the guest experience based on the suggestions and comments received.
Encourages future bookings — prospective guests often rely heavily on reviews when making booking decisions. A property with a higher number of reviews, especially positive ones, is more likely to be chosen.
Key Aspects of an Effective Vacation Rental Review Reminder
Timing
It's usually sent a few days after the guest’s departure, giving them enough time to settle back into their routine but while their stay is still fresh in their mind.
Personalization
Personalized messages that reference specific aspects of the guest's stay can be more effective than generic reminders.
Simplicity and Convenience
Making the review process as easy as possible, such as providing a direct link to the review page, increases the likelihood of guests completing the review.
Politeness and Appreciation
Expressing gratitude for their stay and politely asking for feedback shows respect and consideration for the guest’s opinion.
Reminders for Different Platforms
If your rental is listed on multiple platforms (like Airbnb, VRBO, etc.), you may need to send platform-specific reminders.
Follow-up Reminder
If there’s no response to the first reminder, a gentle follow-up can be effective. However, it’s important to avoid being too persistent, which can be off-putting.
Compliance with Platform Rules
Ensure that the reminders adhere to any rules or guidelines set by the booking platform, especially regarding communication with guests.
In summary, a vacation rental review reminder is a strategic tool for gathering guest feedback and enhancing the rental's reputation in the market. It should be crafted thoughtfully to encourage guests to share their experiences while respecting their time and privacy.
Best Practices & Tips
Keep reminders short, genuine, and helpful.
Include what you value — maybe suggest what kind of feedback helps most (e.g. cleanliness, amenities, communication).
Respect the guest’s time and privacy. Don’t send too many messages.
Double-check platform rules: some platforms (like Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) have policies about timing and content of review reminders.