Defining Your Ideal Guest Profile

Many Airbnb vacation rental hosts try to attract as many guests as possible without considering the different types of travelers. But most properties aren’t suitable for every traveler segment. And when the wrong type of guest stays, it often leads to complaints and lower ratings. 

Defining who your ideal guest is and tailoring your listing to attract them can make all the difference in boosting satisfaction, generating positive reviews and securing consistent bookings.

In this article we’ll explore what an ideal guest profile is, how to define the ideal guest for your property and strategies to attract them.

What Is an Ideal Guest Profile and Why It Matters

An ideal guest profile is a detailed description of the type of guest who is most likely to enjoy your property and leave positive reviews. 

It takes into account factors such as age, travel style (e.g. business, romance or adventure-seeking), group size and the reasons they are booking your property such as for a unique experience, location or amenities.

Understanding your ideal guest is important because it helps you tailor your listing to attract people who will love staying at your property — and leave glowing reviews.

Knowing your ideal guest profile can help you:

Improve guest satisfaction

When guests’ expectations align with what your property offers, they are more likely to have a positive experience.

Reduce negative reviews

Guests who aren’t the right fit for your property are more likely to leave poor reviews. For example, luxury travelers may be dissatisfied with a rustic, eco-friendly cabin that lacks high-end amenities, but adventure-seekers would love it.

Increase bookings

Tailoring your listing to attract your ideal guest creates a positive feedback loop. Satisfied guests leave great reviews, which in turn attract more guests who fit your ideal profile.

How to Define Your Ideal Guest

Defining your ideal guest is key to long-term success, as it ensures that the people booking your vacation rental property are the ones who will appreciate it the most. So how do you figure out who your ideal guest is?

“Look at the guests who left you five-star reviews: How old were they? How many were there? Why did they book your property — was it for a unique experience or because it was the only property available in the area at that time? Also, look at those who have left you lower-star reviews and see if you can draw any conclusions from that,” advises Hostaway CEO Marcus Rader.

Analyzing your guest data and matching them against reviews can provide valuable insights that lead to the creation of your ideal guest profile. 

Were they couples, families or solo travelers? Did they book for a specific feature, such as a stunning view or access to nearby attractions? But if you are a relatively new listing or don’t have enough information to find a pattern, just try asking your guests directly.

As Marcus says, “If you’re still unsure of your ideal guest profile, ask your guests for feedback. Asking questions like ‘What attracted you to this listing?’ or ‘What did you enjoy most about your stay?’ can give you insights into why guests chose your property and what made their stay enjoyable.”

This can seem intimidating, but as Marcus says, “It’s crucial for your business’ success to identify who it is that enjoys your property and who doesn’t.”

How to Attract Your Ideal Guest

Once you have a clear idea of who your ideal guest is, you can start tailoring your listing to attract them.

1. Use filters to attract the right guests

On platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, you can use filters to attract the right type of guests. Adjust your settings and descriptions to reflect your ideal guest profile.

For example:

• If your property is located in an urban area and better suited for corporate travelers, highlight this in your listing description. Mention features like a dedicated workspace or proximity to business hubs, and even use the title to target business travelers.

• If your property offers a romantic getaway, include photos of couples enjoying the amenities, such as a hot tub or cozy fireplace. Showcasing these features will attract guests looking for a romantic retreat.

2. Set clear expectations

Your listing is often the guest’s first interaction with your vacation rental and managing expectations here is crucial. 

Be transparent about your property’s features and limitations. If your property doesn’t provide a common amenity like Wi-Fi or air conditioning, make sure that’s clearly stated upfront.

A common mistake hosts make is allowing more guests than the property can comfortably accommodate. 

Let’s say your listing is a 1-bedroom, off-the-grid tiny home that can best accommodate two people. Marketing it to groups of three or more people could lead to guest dissatisfaction as they find the place cramped rather than cozy.

“Guests may not realize just how small the space is from the pictures alone. If you come here with a group of friends, you are going to find out the space is actually much smaller than you thought,” explains Hostaway CEO Marcus Rader.

But when the host limits it to just two guests, they improve the guest experience for couples who appreciate the intimacy and comfort of the small space and avoid complaints from larger groups who might have felt cramped. “They have identified their ideal guest profile, which is a couple,” says Marcus.

By setting realistic limits, hosts can align guest expectations to what their short-term rental property is best equipped to host and consistently earn five-star reviews.

3. Use targeted promotions

When appropriate, offer targeted promotions to get your ideal guests to book your Airbnb.

For example, if your listing is new and lacks reviews, it can be hard to gain traction let alone attract your ideal guest. 

Airbnb recommends using its New Listing Promotion which allows new hosts to easily add a 20% discount for the first three reservations to drive demand. According to Airbnb, hosts using the feature get their new listing booked in 20% less time.

This helps you set your potential guests expectations that your listing is new but incentivizes them to book due to the discount, bringing in bookings and reviews faster and setting you up for more.

How to Avoid Low Reviews from Mismatched Guests

Guests who aren’t a good fit for your property often leave lower reviews.

For instance, a guest expecting fun family-type activities at a trailer home is likely to be disappointed. 

However, by clearly defining your property’s unique features and targeting the right guest demographic, you can avoid mismatches.

Says Marcus, “Once you are able to narrow down the type of guests who are happy with your place versus the ones who are unhappy, you can use the settings to filter out the others.”

Review feedback from guests who left lower ratings. Were their complaints due to mismatched expectations? This analysis can help you avoid attracting guests who aren’t a good fit.

The Path to Success With Your Ideal Guest

Defining and attracting your ideal Airbnb guest is essential to the long-term success of your vacation rental. By setting clear expectations, leveraging targeted promotions and tailoring your listing to the right audience, you can drastically increase guest satisfaction.

Higher guest satisfaction leads to better reviews, and reviews are crucial to your vacation rental’s success. According to TripAdvisor, 80% of travelers read at least 6-12 reviews before making their decision on accommodation. 

And a Cornell study found that even a 1-point increase in ratings allows hotels to raise rates by up to 11.2% without a drop in occupancy.

Attracting the right guests leads to happier stays, better reviews, more bookings and higher rates, so market your short-term rental property to guests who will love it, you can create a thriving vacation rental business.