17 Jun Barcelona tourism rental: how to get good apartment reviews

Because negative comments and reviews can ruin your Barcelona tourism rental business, Lodging Management has developed the perfect formula for avoiding them: a spotless apartment, excellent service and perfect decoration. The favorable ratings you’ll get if you follow our lead generate trust among current and future clients. They also help you rise in the search results on accommodation websites, encourage your guests to repeat their visits, and in turn raise your occupation rates and earnings.

In another post we explained how to get good ratings on booking platforms. Basically, you should put yourself in your guests’ shoes and satisfy all the wishes you have when you’re away from home: a good Internet connection, impeccable cleanliness, especially in the bathroom, nice towels and sheets, hot water, a good mattress and pillows, new electrical appliances, sustainable amenities, good decoration, an agile and easy check-in and maximum flexibility when it comes time to check out.

Today we want to share a few more tips that will help boost your reviews on Barcelona tourism rental portals. While you should certainly offer clean and comfortable accommodation, the management of tourism apartments remains a cyclical and dynamic process composed of multiple phases in which communication is key.

Before anyone books

You need to highlight the particular advantages of your property, including its special features, location, and nearby attractions, and write a compelling advertisement. In addition, it’s essential that you share professional photographs that show your apartment at its best. During this phase, you should also make all the rules clear: what’s included in the price, whether pets are allowed, whether smoking and/or parties are prohibited. This is how you avoid misunderstandings and subsequent bad reviews.

Once a booking is made

Constant and fluid communication is the key to guests’ happiness, as long as you don’t go overboard and become burdensome or annoying. Make sure to confirm the booking by email and use that same message to add relevant information, not included on the platform, that will help your visitors arrive without hassles: how to get there by car or public transportation, places to visit in the city, restaurants or museums that you recommend, etc. Then, two or three days before arrival, send your guests another message about the logistics of key collection or other practical information for check-in.

During guests’ stay

There is a fine line that separates friendliness and over-familiarity. You should smile and be polite, open, and attentive, but don’t overdo it. Your guests want to have a good time and enjoy their privacy too. Just be sure they can contact you if a problem arises, and provide this contact information in several easy-to-find locations.

Amenities or welcome baskets are always a hit, as are maps and recommendations: restaurants in the area, museums, events, and anything else you think they would enjoy. Make sure the check-in process is fast and simple; you might want to consider installing a smart lock that your guests can open with a code on their mobile phone. Anything that facilitates them getting their holiday started as soon as possible is going to be popular, and will reflect well on your business.

After the holidays

Send an email to your guests after they return home. Ask them how their stay went, what they thought of the apartment, and if there was something they wished they’d had while there; it will leave them with a positive impression. You can also subtly ask guests to rate their accommodation at a link you provide to them. Don’t forget to tell them that you also enjoyed hosting them and, if the platform allows, leave them a good rating on the website as well.

As you can see, getting good reviews for your tourism apartment is actually about more than a good location, nice decoration, and modern appliances. It is a complex process that requires effort rather than luck, beginning before you publish your listing and ending when a guest has published her review online. If you don’t have time for everything involved, get in touch with Lodging Management. We are specialists in Barcelona tourism rental and leave nothing to chance.