Encountered barriers come from:
Vacation homes serve as retreats for both guests and hosts, providing a unique experience for all involved. According to a survey by Holidu, understanding the challenges faced by hosts is crucial in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable stay for everyone.
One of the most prevalent issues reported by hosts is carelessness, with more than half reporting damaged inventory or extensive cleaning work due to guests' negligence. Active vacationers and pet owners, along with families with children, are identified as important target groups, each accounting for 27% and 50% of hosts respectively.
Late arrivals without notification are a problem for 18% of hosts, while communication issues are common, with around a third of hosts complaining about being unreachable during the stay. Individual special requests are generally not burdensome for most hosts, with only 7% finding them troublesome.
Unrealistic expectations can also lead to dissatisfaction among hosts, such as a city visitor complaining about mosquitoes in a rural setting with open windows. On the other hand, some hosts go above and beyond to cater to their guests' needs, with one host even taking a guest to the opera because the visitor didn't want to go alone.
The most important target groups of tourists include socially aware and experience-seeking Baby Boomers, younger couples seeking self-improvement and adventure, classic vacation couples, families, and business travelers. Older travelers and weekend vacationers are also significant groups, making up 33% and 41% of hosts' important target groups respectively.
Digital nomads and workation guests are rarely targeted, with only 12% of hosts counting them among the central target groups. Interestingly, no booking was made in the case of a family suddenly appearing at a vacation home.
While most guests are very satisfied with their stay, with 94% of landlords reporting predominantly positive feedback, there are instances of extreme carelessness. For example, a couple left a vacation home in a state of complete devastation, causing damage estimated at around 25,000 euros.
However, it's worth noting that only 6% of hosts receive balanced feedback, and less than 0.5% report predominantly negative reactions. One extreme case involved a family arriving without a booking but was allowed to stay overnight.
In conclusion, while there are challenges faced by vacation home hosts, the majority of guests are satisfied with their stays. Effective communication, understanding guests' needs, and managing expectations are key to ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved.
