TRENDING DESIGN THAT TRANSFORMS YOUR GUESTS AND GUEST REVIEWS
Have You Wondered
“What inspires a GLOWING 5-star review?”
Because it’s a part of our daily lexicon now, the word “experience” has become somewhat like white noise.
Today, I’m offering a few words that may expand your definition of experience.
Maybe you’ve heard me talk about the “evolving” traveler. This is today’s traveler, and they can identify the acute, nuanced difference between a 5-star designer space and a 5-star getaway designed for transformation.
We are now living in what’s been coined the “Transformation Economy.”
Travelers are looking for getaways that guide them through a process of becoming, and becoming more of who they want to be. Become more rested, more connected, more curious, more...themselves.
Going away and coming home different is the mark of a transformative experience.
So, what kind of transformative experience gets remembered (and reviewed?)
Let’s dive into the psychology behind “surprise and delight,” the power of shared experiences and how these details inspire glowing 5-star reviews that drive repeat bookings and new bookings.
Want 5-star reviews that count?
Start here.
“The interior design was even better than expected, with small details luring you in and making you feel cozy and welcome.”
“Dogs are so welcome and there’s even a doggie guest book, and it just made us feel so welcome to be there with them.”
1) TRAVELERS ARE SEARCHING FOR SELF-DISCOVERY IN THE DETAILS
First, let’s translate those guest reviews…
COZY + WELCOME = “I BELONG HERE”
To LURE someone into an experience is to powerfully attract or charm.
What makes a getaway space so alluring? Small details that surprise and delight.
Surprise & delight lead to self-discovery, and Here’s how…
Small details spark curiosity. Curiosity opens the mind to anticipate moments of surprise and delight. I call that anticipation confirmation bias. Travelers (or any human for that matter) have the tendency to search for details in a way that confirm prior beliefs about your space—and they want those details to confirm that your STR experience aligns with their values.
So you can imagine, your guests are looking to discover what a single detail in your home truly means to them.
For The Shack’s reviewing guests above, that discovery was belonging—being right where they need to be.
Those guest reviews come from an Olive Jar client property came along after we updated an already beautiful space with more inviting details that spoke straight to the heart of The Shack’s now-identified target traveler (i.e. guest avatar).
Yes, gorgeous design can stop the scroll on the listing page, but then what? It’s your job as a host to maintain an alluring experience guests can grab onto at every turn.
When your viewers see megaphone reviews like this, calling out the details, shouting “cozy” or “welcome” (i.e. belonging), that’s aaaall the social proof they need to BOOK. THEIR. STAY.
“We decided to go on a trip to fill their visual memory, but what we soon realized is that the memories of adventure that we shared together and people we met were so much more meaningful than just that catalogue of images. ”
2) TRAVELERS GO THE DISTANCE FOR RECONNECTION IN RELATIONSHIP
Last weekend I was tearing up at every other scene of BLINK, the true story of one happy, adventurous family of six, who decide to go on a world tour after learning three of their four children will soon lose their vision to retinitis pigmentosa, a rare, incurable disorder that leads to permanent blindness.
Btw, if I’m referencing movies, might as well remind you that Inside Out taught us plenty about core memories and their power to change a person forever.
All my STR designer friends might not like me saying this, but I must:
5-star transformative experiences aren’t bottled up in turn-key designs.
Remember that you are marketing to an evolving traveler. Your design & amenities budget must include room for original, interactive touch points with dimension.
You’ve probably witnessed an entire hotel team work in synchronicity to masterfully guide guests through an intimate stay in a public setting. But in a private property with no onsite human assist, your invisible hospitality has to masterfully guide your guests toward significant moments that foster a deeper reconnection with each other.
The most transformative experiences have layers of dimension.
Steal my ideas below. It’s the difference between…
> OPTION A: fun cookbook VS…
OPTION B: a vintage fondue cookbook paired with your tempting fondue set (a rare-to-find STR kitchen amenity)
> OPTION A: Providing a telescope VS...
OPTION B: telescope + collection of binoculars & magnifying glasses—weaving a subtle double-meaning theme like, “play with perspective.”
> Option A: guide book of 50 local attractions VS…
OPTION B: a seasonal guide framed by your “Top 10 Bucket List of Moments” tied to local partners aligned with your brand.
All three of the Option B examples are way beyond a checked box—they’re gentle PROMPTS that engage your guests into shared experiences that hold depth.
Are you picking up on the nuanced ways you can guide guests toward reconnection in relationship?
Which touch points sound most memorable to you? Which options do you think yield detailed 5-star reviews?
Finally, let’s double tap on my first point and marry it with my second…
3) TRAVELERS ARE ASKING YOU TO TELL A BIGGER STORY
When you weave curiosity and connection into your space with nuanced touch points that speak to the things that make their heart sing, you’re not just offering a stylish stay—you’re offering a story that lingers.
invest in the small details that spark curiosity AND spark intimate connection between your guests. YOU’LL DISCOVER THE outcome is a 5-star transformative experience that IS actually bottled up in your STR design.
But you may still be asking, “What’s the bottom line ROI?” Our data shows:
> Increased bookings
> Ability to raise your ADR
> Higher annual revenue
> Brand loyalty (the ROI no one really talks about, but actually makes all of the above possible)
Photo credits: Anchor Pictures
If you’re a SUPERhost, you know 5-star reviews are everything. BUT IS EVERY ONE OF YOUR REVIEWS GLOWING WITH PERSONAL STORIES AS YOU’D HOPED?
If you want to learn how you can make your mark in today’s Transformation Economy, try starting with a status report. Take our hosting quiz to find out what’s driving your bookings.