I'm an Airbnb Superhost who's had over 400 guests. Here are 5 things I wish visitors knew before checking in.

05.08.2024 - 20:48 / insider.com

As an obsessive traveler, I've always been fascinated by the world of hospitality.

Throughout my career in public relations, I was fortunate to work for some of the world's best hotel brands, which gave me a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to provide an exceptional guest experience.

Now, I'm an Airbnb Superhost with high standards that I strive to uphold daily at my two rentals in upstate New York: Trout Landing near Lake George and Gallant Fox in Saratoga Springs.

Although not all hosts are like me, here's what I wish people knew before staying at my Airbnbs.

Booking an Airbnb can feel like going on a first date … but with a house. You might wonder, will it look like the photos? Did it overexaggerate its features? Will it satisfy your needs?

As a host, I feel similarly, though my perspective is more of a protective parent: Will you take care of my baby and return her on time?

When you send me a message to introduce yourself and explain why you're visiting, I get a glimpse of your personality and feel more at ease about welcoming you.

Plus, learning more about you, your guests, and the purpose of your trip helps me to provide you with better recommendations. (More on that next.)

I've explored every corner of Bolton Landing (for Trout Landing) and Saratoga Springs (for Gallant Fox), visiting local restaurants, trails, shops, and more.

And as fun as it's been, I did it because I want to give guests my personal recommendations. Anyone can Google, but as a host, I want to suggest places, tips, and tricks that a quick search won't uncover.

When I know who's staying at my Airbnb, I'm better able to curate my recommendations.

To put my Airbnbs to the test, I've hosted family and friends, demanding their most persnickety, perfectionist feedback.

I've also stayed with my husband and our daughter in every season, making real-time improvements to increase functionality or add missing amenities.

Airbnb is a marketplace, so your rental options (and the people who host them) will vary. However, many hosts, like me, are dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for guests.

I used to work for hotel brand Le Méridien, which commissioned some proprietary research about the guest experience.

One finding from it has stuck with me: The first 10 minutes of a guest's arrival set the tone for their entire stay.

For my rentals, that translates to: Did I provide clear enough directions, or did you drive past the house a few times before finding it? If you're arriving at night, did my motion-sensor light illuminate the driveway and stay on long enough for you to unpack your car?

Did the personalized key code work on the first try? Did my home look spotless when you walked in? A smooth and seamless arrival is