Direct Bookings - Collecting Emails

Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
3yFollow

Direct Bookings - Collecting Emails

Matt Owens
Investor · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2023 · 20 posts · 15 votes

For those of you doing direct bookings as part of your booking channel strategy, how are you collecting emails? I've heard of a service where a guest would have to enter an email address to activate the Wifi but I'm not sure about that route. Thoughts? TIA.

0Reply
41 views

Most Popular Reply

Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Matt Owens:

Collect it at the time of booking. The easiest method would be to tell them you require an email to send them a receipt, reservation confirmation, house rules, etc.


The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
WebsiteView Page
3Reply
See this reply in the discussion

11 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Ken Boone
    Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    I use hostfully's guidebooks at my STRs. Anyone at my STR, husband, wife, brother, sister, mom, dad want to see the digital guidebook, they have to enter their email and concur. I get them all with a concurrence and slap them into my mailchimp audience.

    2Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    3y

    I don't collect emails. I don't market to previous guests. I stay pretty full by providing a great place that people want to come back to.

    1Reply
  • Matt Owens
    OP
    Investor · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2023 · 20 posts · 15 votes
    3y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    I don't collect emails. I don't market to previous guests. I stay pretty full by providing a great place that people want to come back to.

    Agreed but always a good idea to engage with happy customers and get referrals. What’s the downside?  
    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Matt Owens:

    Collect it at the time of booking. The easiest method would be to tell them you require an email to send them a receipt, reservation confirmation, house rules, etc.


    The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    3Reply
  • Ken Boone
    Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Nathan Gesner:
    Quote from @Matt Owens:

    Collect it at the time of booking. The easiest method would be to tell them you require an email to send them a receipt, reservation confirmation, house rules, etc.



     That is a way to collect but that is not acceptable to use in a mailing list unless you also have their consent for it to be used on your mailing list.   At least that is my understanding.  

    0Reply
  • Sarah KensingerPro Member
    Real Estate Consultant · OH · Member since 2023 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    I know a lot of companies use Stayfi and like the handiness they provide at collecting emails. It's not something I've done, but I've heard a lot of good things about the service. 

    [email protected]330-557-3021
    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Ken Boone:

    Yes, you should always ask for permission. In your booking process, you should have a statement that they consent to contact by phone, email, or text. It's best if they check a box or type in their initials, if that's an option. If your platform doesn't do this automatically, then I suggest you add it in your marketing description, booking instructions, or some other location where the guest sees it.
    The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Sean WilliamsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Louisville, KY · Member since 2014 · 124 posts · 56 votes
    3y

    Our guests complete a "check-in form" prior to us sending the check-in instructions, which asks them to confirm their email. They also provide when they log into our wifi. They don't mind at all.

    1Reply
  • Leslie Anne Morris
    Real Estate Agent · Smoky Mountains, TN · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 984 votes
    3y

    We do this via an integration with Ownerrez, it's a lower priced PMS solution.

    0Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y

    We have had good success with StayFi - it masks your WiFi to a splash page so to access you need to enter an email.  Good to collect multiple emails off one one reservation

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Brooklyn McCarty
    Investor · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 754 votes
    3y

    Stayfi is what you want 

    1Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free