How to earn extra profit from short-term rental

If you have an apartment or rooms for rent, you don't have to earn money solely from the overnight stays themselves. You can add a few extra services to the standard offer and earn additional profit from them. All you need to do is analyze your location, think about what needs your guests might have, and partner with local businesses. Thanks to the extra services, guests will be satisfied and feel specially treated. Many people prefer to pay someone to arrange certain things rather than do it themselves. So the owner of an apartment or guesthouse can charge fees for additional services, earn commissions or referral fees from partner businesses and, of course, get referrals from Guests who were happy with the service. It's no secret that customer satisfaction leads to higher profits.

Partnering with businesses near your apartment or guesthouse

When we live in a town and run a business there, we know not only the local market but also have all kinds of contacts that can be used for mutual benefit. How can you make use of partnerships with neighboring businesses? The owner of an apartment or guesthouse can recommend the services of partner businesses in exchange for a referral commission (based on the number of referrals or the value of purchases) – in that case, the apartment's Guests should receive an individual code or flyer to show at the business. How do you encourage Guests to use the services of businesses you partner with?

• Bakery – for your guests' arrival, buy a piece of delicious cake, some sweet rolls, or cookies. Next to the plate, leave the bakery's business card with an individual code agreed with the bakery. If they enjoy the treats, your Guests will surely use the bakery's services more than once during their stay.
• Restaurant – point your guests to the 3 best restaurants in town and leave business cards with codes or flyers so Guests can easily find them. Many people on vacation don't know where best to go for a meal, so recommendations are very welcome.
• Bowling alley – is there a bowling alley nearby? It's always a great idea for a fun evening. Leave a flyer from a partner bowling alley with a code – maybe your guests will feel like playing and enjoying a bit of friendly competition.
• Trampoline park – if your Guests are coming with children, this will be a great attraction. Leave the contact details of the nearest trampoline park along with a flyer with an individual, pre-agreed code. Describe the extra attractions on site (bouncy castles, arcade machines).
• Bookstore – bad weather on vacation or a whole day of sunbathing can encourage a visit to a bookstore and the purchase of a new release. Leave your guests the bookstore's business card with a code. You can also leave a new bestseller in the apartment or room as an incentive.

Offering additional services to your apartment's Guests

When we go on vacation, or even just a weekend away, we want to spend the time in a special way, but we don't always know how to organize it. So the owner of an apartment or guesthouse has plenty of room to shine. By offering additional services, they not only please customers but also earn money as an intermediary. There are many ideas for such services – you just need to choose the ones you are able to organize. When booking, the customer should be able to see a list of additional services – they should also be on your website or Facebook page so that Guests can check them out at any time and have the chance to order them. Here are a few ideas for paid add-on services:

• Arranging a birthday cake or a larger package of cakes, sweet rolls, and bread for a specific time – this service works best if the bakery offers delivery. It would be lovely on vacation to have fresh bread and sweet rolls delivered to the apartment at 9 a.m. for a mid-morning snack. If one of the Guests has a birthday during their stay, a cake as a gift from their loved ones will surely surprise them.
• Arranging a romantic dinner in the room, e.g. rose petals on the bed, candles, an elegantly set dinner table, and a tasty meal, wine or champagne, and strawberries. Couples and married couples often go away for the weekend to celebrate an anniversary, and many men propose to their partners while traveling. A romantic room setup like this would delight any couple.
• Stocking the fridge for a few days – when offering a room in a guesthouse or an apartment, we can't always offer full board. Guests usually eat out, but it's nice to have breakfast with coffee or tea in the room. Before arrival, the Guest would provide a shopping list (bread, cheese, ham, butter, 10 eggs, milk, breakfast cereal, water, juice), and the owner would stock the fridge for an additional fee.
• Access to Netflix or HBO GO – not everyone on vacation or a short break spends the whole day sightseeing or lying on the beach. For many people, relaxing means a lazy evening in front of the TV. Bad weather can also force this kind of downtime. Access to a streaming platform can make the stay more enjoyable.
• Stocking the apartment or room with board games or card games, a few toys, a sketchbook, and crayons – many people traveling with children bring an extra bag just for these things. It's often a hassle. You can avoid bringing things from home if, for a small additional fee, the rented accommodation provides ways to keep children entertained.
• Selling other products – do you or someone in your family or circle make homemade wine, home preserves, handmade greeting cards, or macramé decorations? Give your Guests the opportunity to order them.

Offering additional PREMIUM services to your apartment's Guests

Every group of travelers and Guests has different needs. They often vary depending on where they stay during a short or long vacation. It's worth analyzing the local situation of your apartment or guesthouse and thinking about what needs your guests may have.

• Do you rent out apartments or rooms by the sea? In locations like these, organizing an ATV ride on the beach, a horseback ride on the beach, or a motorboat or sailboat cruise works well.
• Do you offer short-term rentals by a lake? Guests would appreciate the extra option of renting a boat, kayaks or pedal boats. You can also offer grocery delivery.
• Do you rent out rooms or apartments in the mountains? Consider renting bikes to your guests. You can also organize bonfires in summer and sleigh rides in winter. For those who love sightseeing and discovering more than just the well-known spots, you can offer a guide.
• Do you offer accommodation in big cities? Many people travel by train or plane – it is worth considering picking guests up from the station or airport and driving them to the apartment or guesthouse. You can also rent out your own car by the day or help arrange a car rental.