What makes a great Holiday Let Welcome Pack
The ever-popular question of 'What should I leave for my guests in a welcome hamper?' never fails to spark fascinating and varied responses from fellow holiday home owners. I'm convinced that whatever you choose to provide goes a long way in creating a lasting first impression, ultimately contributing to glowing reviews and repeat business. Personally, I know from experience that after a tiring journey, nothing beats the warm welcome of a pint of milk, a few tea bags, and some biscuits to brew a comforting cuppa before embarking on exploring, unpacking, or waiting for those essential supermarket deliveries to arrive.
Some self-catering holiday home owners offer lavish hampers, for example this is the list of what one holiday home owner leaves in their welcome hamper: Bottle of wine, croissants, marmalade, jam, Nutella, Heroes chocolates, sharing crisps & biscuits. They also provide tea, coffee, sugar milk, eggs, ground coffee, toiletries, sleep well packs, vanity packs plus the usual cleaning products. It has to be one of the most lavish packs I’ve come across and is sure to create a fantastic first impression with their guests on arrival!
The one thing we know is that today’s travellers have high expectations and the anticipation and excitement of stepping into their accommodation for the first time make the welcome gesture even more crucial.
My view is that it shouldn’t need to cost the earth, however perhaps the hamper value should reflect the overall cost of the original holiday. We’ve compiled some top tips for your welcome hamper if you’re still unsure what to include for your guests.
Setting the Stage ✨
To exceed your guests' expectations, it's crucial to under promise and over-deliver. Recall the pleasant surprises you've encountered at hotels, such as a glass of sparkling wine upon arrival or a plate of fresh fruit waiting in your room. These unexpected touches leave a lasting positive impression and can be replicated at very reasonable cost to enhance the experience for your guests.
Crafting the Perfect Welcome Hamper 💯
- Consider Dietary Preferences 🍰🍇🥦🥩 You can’t cater to everyone’s allergies, likes and dislikes, so unless you have the capacity to ask beforehand what allergies or dietary requirements your guests may have, keep it simple. A tasty pack of biscuits, a loaf of bread, butter and local jam or a box of chocolates is a good rule of thumb.
- Customer Target Market 👫👪🚶♂️It would also be wise to tailor your pack to your target market and pricing point. A glamping retreat for couples might want to cater differently to a large family holiday home. You may also want to consider length of stay as guests staying 2 nights in winter would not necessarily expect a similar welcome hamper to a 2 week stay in August.
- Don’t forget the dogs :🐕 🐶🐾 Our canine friends who accompany us on our travels won’t necessarily be offended if they aren’t included in the welcome pack on arrival. However, you can guarantee their ‘hoomans’ (owners) will really appreciate the extra touch if their four-legged companion is welcomed with a few treats in a jar.
- Showcase Local Flavours: 🧀 🥐 🍓 Shop local and include regional specialities by including fresh bread, artisanal cheeses, local jams, or a taste of regional delicacies. Supporting local suppliers adds an authentic touch to the welcome hamper while fostering community connections. Collaborate with local businesses to offer discounts or samples, promoting their products while delighting your guests.
- Leave Essential Supplies and Provide Shopping Assistance: 🧺 The clue is in the title - ‘self-catering holiday’ so you would expect to have to provide your own food on a self-holiday, however providing some of the staple essentials that are taken for granted at home such as olive oil, herbs & spices, salt & pepper, plus tea, coffee, milk will ensure your guests can prepare meals without having to buy everything in from scratch and make a cuppa on arrival. Provide information on local supermarkets that offer home deliveries or collaborate with a nearby village shop for pre-arrival guest grocery delivery services.
- Personalised Gifts: 🎁✨ Surprise your guests with non-food items that cater to their preferences. Such as branded keyrings or fridge magnets to take home as a reminder of their stay and of course where to book for next year!
- Entertainment: 🕮 🎲 🏄 Books, board games and beach equipment are always useful and well received.
- Celebrate Special Occasions: 🎈🥂🎂 If your guests are commemorating a special event, such as a birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary, you might like to include a card, balloons, fresh flowers, or a bottle of wine to enhance their stay.
Calculating Costs and Maximizing Returns 🫰
- Pricing Strategy: For high-end rentals with premium rates, include the cost of your welcome pack and gifts in your pricing structure. Emphasize quality rather than quantity to provide a luxurious experience.
- Budgeting Considerations: Determine a budget for the welcome hamper and explore cost-effective options. Consider bulk purchases, local vendors, and available discounts to optimize your expenditure.
- Positive Impacts: Investing in an exceptional welcome hamper can lead to positive guest reviews, repeat bookings, and word-of-mouth recommendations. These returns outweigh the initial costs and contribute to the overall success of your self-catering business.
Go The Extra Mile! 💕
Where possible always go the extra mile. Whether you personalise chopping boards, welcome hampers or keyrings it all adds a little sparkle to your holiday home and sets your business head and shoulders above your competition in the future. You shouldn’t need to spend all your profits on your welcome hamper but consider what you do spend as an investment to encourage great reviews and repeat customers.
At Timbersmiths we can help you personalise your holiday home hamper with our personalised hamper label, custom wooden keyrings, business signage, bespoke shelving and personalised chopping boards. Carve your message in wood with our branded wood ware for holiday homes. For more information view our collection HERE or contact us with your requirements.
