Offering a #WelcomeStay #RoomStay
Anyone with a spare bedroom in their home can make some money or just do it to meet new people – it’s up to you.
Offering #RoomStay in your home.
There are many benefits to offering #RoomStay to guests.
The first obvious benefit is that it could generate some extra income. Many homes have a spare room that is only used a few times in a year when friends and family visit. #RoomStay is an opportunity to turn an otherwise unused room into an asset. It isn’t a get rich quick scheme but it can certainly help pay the bills.
The second benefit is that #RoomStay can be fun meeting new people.
There are so many different types of #RoomStay possibilities from luxurious study bed rooms for business men and women, to a sofa to crash on after a student night out. This is how #RoomStay differs from a bed and breakfast. It is your home and you are simply making a guest welcome in any way you like for however much or little you choose to charge.
So, where do I start?
Firstly, just like any business, you have to consider your market.
You can either refurbish your room in order to attract a particular type of person. Or you can honestly provide information about the room as it is and it will attract whoever is happy to stay there.
It is true that everybody has standards they expect when they visit a hotel or bed and breakfast.
But not everybody has the same standards and expectations. And because the idea of Welcomestay is that it covers every possible aspect of temporary accommodation, everybody should be able to find something that suits their needs.
There will be people who want to stay in your home whatever it is like. But you have to be aware of the kind of people you are attracting and how much they are likely to want to pay.
It is no joke that welcomestay actually wants to encourage people in slum or shanty towns to advertise here because it both generates much needed income to the people and can be a source of profound enlightenment to tourists and backpackers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a businessman needing a place to stay may expect an ensuite room, a desk and wifi internet connection.
The important thing is that what ever you have available is described honestly. You may post a description here #Welcomestay blog or on your own blog. We recommend that you even create another twitter profile for your home and post photos of the room.
There are also many services to advertise your room stay online which you may use. Some charge. This idea is free.
Do I need to invest in making my spare room perfect?
The answer to this is that it is up to you. So long as you have been honest in your description then your visitor should have no complaints. But you still have to remember that you are selling something and may be competing with other people in your area.
You are able to upload photographs onto your profile. When faced with a choice some people will go for the nicest looking room. Others will simply choose the location.
Do not be tempted to spend a fortune on making your room look palacial. Most people just want to stay in a comfortable, clean place.
So the important thing is that the guest is made to feel welcome.
Choosing your selling point.
When people search #Welcomestay they might be looking for a specific place to stay or have a reason for being there. For example a well known tourist attraction or an event at a conference centre.
They might just want a city centre location or a quiet retreat in the country. It is important to state clearly in the description if you’re near anything of interest like a cathedral or famous temple. If you live near something like an airport, hospital, or railway station make sure you name it.
Your selling point might be your amazing home cooking or that you are a traditional family offering an authentic cultural experience. Some #Welcomestay hosts may offer tours of their area or to take their visitor to see the local attractions!
Additional Services.
If you do offer additional services, like driving someone from and to an airport (make sure that a price is agreed before your guest books with you). There are lots of opportunities using #WelcomeStay.
Do I need to offer breakfast?
No…
#RoomStay is effectively all about offerning a bed for one or more nights. But you can offer as much or as little as you like. #WelcomeStay will help you to describe what you are offering when you enter the profile of your room on the database.
How much should I charge?
This is up to you and depends on a number of factors such as location, demand and what you are offering.
A good start is to check the local competition. Find out what the Bed and Breakfast costs in your area and charge a little more or a little less depending on how you compare your home. You can judge and adjust your prices over time or negotiate each time. It’s all up to you.
Using this blog site.
You may use this site if you like. It is moderated and inappropriate content will not be published. Irrelevant information won’t be published either. You must register to gain author privileges. Spam will not be tolerated, otherwise you may use it in anyway you want but keep the posts within limits! Posts may take a short while to moderate. Please be patient. Although Welcomestay.com offers this service we still recommend that you create a twitter profile as mentioned.
Keep an eye out
There are plenty of applications to keep an eye on hashtags. Hootsuite is one. Make sure you create a twitter stream that follows the hashtag #WelcomeStay(yourlocation)
When you connect Follow or Chat- the rest is up to you!