How to Communicate Effectively with International Guests
Most Airbnb hosts would agree that one of the best parts of hosting is connecting with guests from all over the world! In a travel forecast released by the U.S. Travel Association, experts report that international travelers to the U.S. are expected to outpace domestic travel in the next four years. This is true for both leisure and business travel.
As more international guests visit our stunning American cities, it’s important we find ways to make them feel welcomed and valued throughout their stays. Achieving that level of warmth, however, can often be challenging when there are cultural and language barriers at play.
Take a look at some of the suggestions below to learn how you can seamlessly communicate with guests even when you don’t speak their language.
Translate important information into guests’ native languages
Certain hosts, particularly those in big cities such as LA, are more likely to receive international guests. This is also true for hosts active on Vrbo, a vacation rental website that’s become increasingly popular among international travelers.
If you’re noticing a trend in your short-term rental business where a number of guests are arriving from a specific part of the world, it’d be wise to create batch materials in their native language. Hosts like Louise, an Australian host on Airbnb, go the extra mile for their guests by providing translated copies of house rules and neighborhood guides in Chinese.
“I get a lot of guests from China, and they're such wonderful guests that I want to encourage them to book,” says Louise. She mentions that she doesn’t mind paying for translations because she prefers her guests “know exactly what is expected and feel welcome.”
Communicate more with less words
When it comes to communicating with guests whose first language is foreign, less is more. You may be tempted to provide lengthy explanations of how to get around or where to grab dinner, but extensive orientations are likely to confuse guests, not help them.
Once you’ve warmly welcomed your guests, you want to switch over to simple sentences, gestures, and even sketches to orient them throughout their stay. Sara, an Airbnb host in London, once drew pictures for directions and circled stations on a London Underground map to help a Korean guest get around the city.
Michelle hosts an amazing vacation rental in Massachusetts. She suggests hosts “Use very simple language: noun-verb-object. This takes practice, as we all use idioms way more than we think!”
Integrate and optimize technology
The digital age has streamlined communication in ways our grandparents could never have imagined. Various tech tools are at our disposal, enabling us to communicate with individuals all around the world. As an international host, you want to make sure you’re taking advantage of them.
Google Translate is a must-have translation for hosts with international guests. Vrbo vacation rentals get a lot of international visitors, so if you’re a host on the platform this tip is for you!
Google Translate facilitates communication with people all over the world by allowing you to type, draw, and even insert pictures into the app. It also has a spoken feature which enunciates foreign words and phrases correctly, so you don’t have to worry about butchering any pronunciations.
A business Whatsapp account is also an excellent tool for hosts that prefer to communicate with guests off hosting platforms. Whatsapp isn’t prominent in the U.S., but it's the most popular messaging app in countries such as Brazil, Turkey, and Indonesia.
Radiate warmth and kindness via body language
Considering that much of the hospitality world has gone contactless, it can be difficult to imagine body language as a form of communication. However, as restrictions on social distancing have started to ease up, hosts will soon be able to interact with guests in more personable ways.
Even if you’re not able to meet with your guests in person, there are several ways to communicate warmth and kindness. One of those ways is through a warm and inviting profile picture. Your profile picture can say alot about your disposition as a host. It may also be the only form of visual interaction you have with your guests if you happen to be away during their stay.
Keep in mind forms of nonverbal communication when selecting a picture for your host profile such as facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye gaze, and overall appearance. Whether you provide corporate housing or short-term accommodation to holiday travelers, you want to exude friendliness and a pleasant demeanor in your profile picture.
Looking to outsource communication with international guests?
Following the tips mentioned above will help you communicate effectively with your guests, but this can be difficult to do when managing multiple properties at once. At MB Experiences we handle all of your needs as a host, including communication with international guests!
We are dedicated to providing the absolute best experience to your guests and take special considerations with the ones coming from afar. Being able to communicate with international guests in a way that makes them feel welcomed is the key to securing recurring stays and exceptional reviews.
Call or email us today to learn more about our vacation rental management services. We look forward to hearing from you!
