How to Add Unique Amenities That Boost Bookings
Three Customer Avatars to Guide Your Amenities.
Your customer avatar is your ideal guest, the person you're designing your stay for.
Knowing who they are helps you pick amenities that hit home.
Here are three common avatars for vacation rentals, each with a distinct theme to shape your property’s vibe.
Nature Lovers: These adventure seekers crave outdoor experiences and a connection to the environment. They’re drawn to properties like lakeside cabins or forest retreats, seeking a rugged yet comfortable escape. Theme: Wilderness Adventure.
Families with Kids: Parents with young children want safe, fun activities to keep kids entertained while they relax. They book family-friendly homes like suburban cottages or beach houses. Theme: Family Fun Retreat.
Couples Seeking a Romantic Getaway: These guests want intimacy and luxury, booking secluded cabins or coastal bungalows for a special escape. Theme: Romantic Retreat.
The Big Mistake: Theme Washing
Here's where hosts mess up.
They pile on amenities that don't fit their property's story, creating a jumbled mess.
I call it theme washing, when you try to please everyone and end up with a stay that feels generic.
Picture this: a lakeside cabin promising a peaceful wilderness adventure.
The host adds fishing rods (perfect!), but then throws in a neon-lit arcade machine and a VR headset.
Suddenly, the nature vibe is drowned out by tech overload. Guests booked for calm are confused, and the cabin's charm is lost.
The fix: Stick to your theme. If your property doesn't have one, create it based on your location or style, like "wilderness adventure" or "romantic retreat."
Then, pick amenities that amplify that story.
Unique Amenities for Each Avatar
Let's explore unique amenities tailored to our three avatars, each tied to a specific theme to keep your rental cohesive and unforgettable.
Wilderness Adventure for Nature Lovers
Perfect for: Adventure seekers at lakeside cabins, forest lodges, or riverside retreats.
Avatar Insight: These guests crave hands-on nature experiences and gear to dive into the outdoors.
Equip your rental with beginner-friendly fishing rods and a tackle box. Add a printed guide to local fishing spots and rules. For extra flair, include a Nature Explorer Kit with a trail map, binoculars, and a journal for sketching local wildlife.Family Fun Haven for Families with Kids
Perfect for: Families at suburban homes, beach cottages, or rural retreats.
Avatar Insight: Parents want safe, engaging activities to keep kids happy while they relax.
Stock a kid-friendly play kit with toys, coloring books, or blocks. For a beach cottage, include a sandcastle kit. Offer a scavenger hunt with a checklist of local plants or shells. Add safety touches like outlet covers or a pack-and-play.Romantic Retreat for Couples Seeking a Getaway
Perfect for: Couples at secluded cabins, coastal bungalows, or mountain hideaways.
Avatar Insight: These guests seek intimate, luxurious touches for a memorable escape.
Set up a private outdoor nook with a hammock for two and a lantern-lit picnic kit with a blanket and reusable wine glasses. Include a stargazing guide with a constellation map. For indoor romance, offer a curated date-night box with electronic candles and a playlist QR code.
Understanding your customer avatar and getting tailored amenities to your theme is a great start.
The next step is staging them, creating photos that draw your specific avatar in and make your property irresistible.
How many times have you seen a host list an amenity but never display it in a photo?
I see it all the time, and it’s a major missed opportunity in my opinion.
If you are unsure how to stage it, get inspiration on Pinterest or from other hosts.
That's all for today!
Till next week.
