How To Bring Business Travelers to Your Short-Term Rental in San Diego

If you own a short-term rental in San Diego, a city of fantastic weather, stunning beaches, and top attractions, you have an opportunity to run a very successful and profitable business with high profit margins.

But like any other investment, there are certain inherent risks, such as inconsistent income, tenant issues, high operating costs, and fluctuating market demands. To mitigate these risks, and to ensure financial stability, you should monitor the market, have adequate insurance, draft a good lease contract, and conduct regular maintenance inspections. But most importantly, you should come up with a plan on how to have consistent revenue throughout the year, even in off-season. One fail-safe method to accomplish this is to attract business travelers.

Accommodating guests who are travelling on business can be a wonderful way to secure loyal clientele and fill your calendar during off-season. Plus, they are more likely to pay higher prices for the right business-friendly property that fits their needs.

Who Are Corporate Renters and What Are Their Needs?

Business travelers are individuals who are traveling for work purposes and need a temporary housing solution. They typically want to stay in fully furnished property in a well-located area, with easy access to major amenities, but there are also others who prefer to stay in a more secluded and quiet area where they can work and relax in peace.

Their budget is often higher than that of leisure travelers and they are looking for quality, comfort, and convenience. Because they want to make the most of their time, they prefer properties which will allow them to focus on their work without too much hassle.

Renters who are travelling for work expect the essentials needed to get their work done:

• Fully furnished unit in a safe neighborhood
• Reliable internet connection
• Functional workspace and business-friendly amenities
• Clean and well-maintained home
• Comfortable bed & high-quality bedding
• Keyless entry or smart locks
• Flexible check-in and check-out

This is the minimum they expect to get for the price they are paying, and anything you offer above this will make your unit even more appealing to them.

The Benefits of Hosting Business Travelers – What’s In It For Landlords?

Organizations and companies are more and more opting to place their employees in short-term rentals rather than hotels, mostly for the ‘home-away-from-home’ feel. Bringing these guests to your property offers numerous advantages:

• Higher revenues – Potentially, you can yield more income from business travelers as they are usually prepared to pay higher prices for business-friendly places in great locations.
• Longer stays and minimized vacancies – Compared to leisure travelers, corporate renters tend to stay longer, filling your calendar faster. This also means minimal turnover costs for you.
• Respect and care for your property – These tenants tend to be more considerate about the property and they comply with house rules. There’s very little chance of noise complaint or property damage, as they do care about their image and the image of the company they represent.
• Solid reputation – Having multiple positive reviews from corporate travelers gives you a solid professional reputation. This can be helpful when you are promoting your property or when you are trying to find new clients.
• Potential for additional income – Offering extra services such as airport transfers, laundry service, massage, or a turn-down service are a great opportunity for you to earn extra money and distinguish yourself from the competition.
• Benefits for the local economy – By eating at local restaurants and spending money in local shops, your guests are positively contributing to local economy and the prosperity of local community.

How to Market Your San Diego Short-Term Rental To Business Travelers

As a general rule of thumb, the more audience you reach, the more bookings you will have. This means that your marketing campaign should be powerful and effective enough to increase your visibility to targeted demographics. Here are some methods of properly marketing your short-term rental property to potential corporate clients:

• Place an ad on high-traffic business booking platforms; include professional photos; use keywords like ‘business traveler’, ‘central location’, ‘corporate stay’, and ‘remote work’. 
• Highlight details on location. Include information on proximity to business district, convention centers, city center, corporate headquarters, the airport, public transportation, etc.
• List essential amenities that a corporate guest would need such as ergonomic chair, good work lighting, high-speed internet, sufficient outlets, a printer, flexible check-in and check-out.
• Provide information on local attractions for after-work networking.
• Include 5-star guest reviews.
• Remember to always keep up to date with large, local business events.
• Offering special rates to corporate travelers may also help you get more bookings.

Ways to Attract Business Travelers & Secure Bookings All Year Round

To draw business travelers, you have to understand and anticipate their needs and preferences. By introducing strategies summarized below you will be able not only to appeal to individuals travelling for business, but also create an amazing stay, thus motivating them to book your property again. Loyal customers and repeat bookings are essential for running a successful rental business. Below you can see tried and true strategies on how to accomplish these goals.

Home office for corporate travelers

You can’t have a high paying corporate guest unless you have a designated area for work with high speed internet and other devices which will make their work hassle-free.

• Adequate workspace – Equip a quiet, well-lit area or room with sturdy, large desk and ergonomic chair. Ample office space with a window is a nice perk, so make sure you mention it in your listing, too.
• Reliable high-speed internet – This is an absolute must, as these professionals need fast internet to do their job and to remain connected to colleagues and clients.
• Office equipment and devices – To create an office-away-from-office, incorporate devices which will make the work easier and faster, such as a laptop, a monitor, a printer, a headset, and stationery (notepads, whiteboards, paper, etc.)
• Plenty of power outlets – This is an important detail as multiple devices need to be plugged in (and charged) at the same time.
• Coffee station and mini bar – A nice touch would be to have a coffee machine and a selection of coffee capsules, herbal teas, and a well-stocked mini bar in the home office. Optionally, you can provide hot and cold filtration water dispenser.  

Keyless entry & remote locks

Remote lock is the most popular amenity in short-term rentals, due to added security and convenience it provides. With remote locks, the check in process is faster is simpler, and the guests can lock and unlock the doors via app. Similarly, the landlords use app to monitor people entering and exiting the premises. Moreover, after your guest checks out, you can use the app to change the code, without having to physically go to the location itself.

Smart home devices

Although initial investment can be a bit higher than you might expect, smart home devices do pay off multifold in the long run. You can make your rental more appealing by incorporating devices such as smart TV with streaming apps, smart thermostats, smart lights, smart plugs, smart speakers, voice assistant, smart blinds, and similar latest technology products. By equipping your property with smart technology devices you are making your business guests’ stay easier and more convenient, which is exactly what they are looking for.

Personal concierge service

People who are traveling for work have often stayed in hotels, which means that they are used to impeccable customer services and resourcefulness. What this means for you is that you will have to provide concierge service too if you want them to book your property. Your tasks may include organizing and booking all kinds of activities, transportation, dining, attractions, and services (daily housekeeping, laundry, massage, personal chef). You will also have to provide recommendations on anything they may be interested in. It’s also a good idea to partner with local service providers or shops to offer services such as hair styling or fitness classes. This way you will be able to increase your revenue through commissions and affiliations. Make sure you mention these incentives and value-added services in your listing.

Parking and transportation

Make sure you highlight access to public transport or easy parking in your listing. Corporate guests prefer to stay either close to the meeting venue, or close to transport facilities. This way, they are saving valuable time. For those travelers who chose to come by their (or rental) car, offer free parking as an incentive, or at least offer nearby paid parking solutions.

As an added perk, you may offer airport pick p and drop off service  or even transfers to and from their conventions or conferences.

Business attire

Business outfits vary from business casual to formal business attire, and your guests may fall into any of these categories. Regardless of their style, they will still want to maintain clean and polished look. In order to help them look their best, you may want to include the following amenities:

Relaxation and sleep

Help your guests have a good night sleep and be well rested before their important meetings and conventions by furnishing the bedroom with top quality mattress and comfortable bedding. You can also include black out curtains, white noise machine, ear plugs, and sleeping mask to ensure your guests are sleeping without disruptions. Adequate sleep is crucial for focus, decision making abilities, cognitive function, productiveness, and stress reduction. Lack of sleep can negatively impact performance, memory, and overall health and immune system.

Small luxuries

Apart from the above, you could also add some luxury amenities which will help your guests feel comfortable at your property:

• Welcome basket with breakfast items
• Premium toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion) & personal hygiene essentials (disposable razors and shaving cream)
• Home gym or complimentary access to local gym
• Extra phone chargers, power converters

Flexible check-in and check-out policy

Corporate travelers prefer flexible arrival and departure policy in temporary rentals. This is due to the fact that their plans do change unexpectedly. An airplane could be delayed, or the meeting could be rescheduled, which could impact the whole schedule for the day. Because of this. Flexible check-in allows for better time management and allows them to continue with their day without major disruptions. Ultimately, this contributes to higher guest satisfaction and inclination for them to book with you again.

Offer promotions and added value

People who are travelling on business prefer added value more than discounted rates, so try to offer them more value for good price. For instance, offer 5 nights for a price of four. You will fill the calendar for the workweek, and still have time to turn over the place for your weekend guests.

As far as promotions are concerned, consider establishing a loyalty program for frequent guests such as  ‘VIP Business Club’.

Landlord’s Guide to Major Corporate Events in San Diego

As a city known for its beautiful weather, word-class attractions, and inclusivity, San Diego is a popular hotspot for famous corporate functions, from trade shows and product launches to congresses, seminars, and intimate company milestone celebrations. The city brings together professionals from various industries

San Diego hosts some of the largest national and international business events, including:

1. Small Business Expo (September)
2. Annual San Diego BioPharma Conference (SABPA Annual conference) (October)
3. NAASS (The North American Association of Summer Sessions) annual conference (October)
4. VIB Network Annual Conference (November)
5. Annual Biocom (Life Science) CEO Summit (November)
6. International Conference on Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (November)
7. Annual PepTalk Conference (January)
8. Intersolar North America (February)
9. Annual AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Meeting (March)
10. Drug Discovery Chemistry Conference (April)
11. San Diego Comic-Con International (July)

For more information on important business events, check San Diego Convention Center website or other top corporate event venues such as Balboa Park, Encore Event Center, Venue 808, or USS Midway Museum.

How a Property Management Company Can Help You Find Business Travelers

Bringing a specific type of guest to your short-term rental requires expertise, market knowledge, and exceptional skills. In a highly saturated market such as San Diego, it may be challenging to attract quality guests, and for this reason it is always a good idea to turn to professional property management agency. The agency will market your rental, handle the booking, organize maintenance and cleaning, communicate with the guest and answer all their needs before, during and after their stay.

When you hire professionals you are leveraging expert skills, manpower, and network connections to maximize your monthly income, provide outstanding guest experience, ensure high occupancy, and maintain the property at its best condition.

Final Observations on Short Term Rentals for Business Travel

According to latest trends, more and more travelers are looking to use rentals as places to work too, so updating your short-term rental property to meet the needs of business traveler is a smart idea that can increase your occupancy rates even in low season and bring more income to your table. Use this wonderful opportunity to market your real estate to remote workers, corporate travelers, or corporate groups who are looking to attend conferences, workshops, training programs, appreciation events, or executive retreats in San Diego. For superior quality management, turn to reliable management agency Swell Property on (760) 452-2345. We’re San Diego landlords’ favorite agency with hundreds of satisfied owners in portfolio and we’d like you to join a long list of our valued clients!

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