Guest cancellations are an inconvenience that vacation rental hosts have to deal with when renting their Orlando vacation homes. But in some cases, you might be the one having to cancel a booking, which can give guests a negative experience that impacts your standing as a host.
Knowing how to cancel a reservation for your vacation rental can protect you and your home without hurting your reputation among your guests.
Be Clear About Your Cancellation Policy
Cancellation policies give you and your guests a clear understanding of the consequences of canceling a reservation.
If you have to cancel a guest’s reservation, your policy can include a discount or other offers to make up for the inconvenience. Offering a 20 percent discount on their next visit can help you avoid negative feedback while keeping you from losing out on repeat visitors.
Be Transparent When Canceling a Booking
Vacation rental homeowners often have to cancel for personal reasons. The best approach is to be fully transparent and honest about why you have to cancel.
Being honest with guests can help them relate to your circumstances and be more understanding. If your guests get a sense that you’re not being fully transparent with them, they may be more likely to feel upset by your cancellation.
Let Your Guests Know You’re Sorry
A simple “I’m sorry” can go a long way in making the cancellation process smoother for short-term rental guests. Apologize and let them know that you’re aware of the inconvenience your cancellation might be causing.
Let guests express their dissatisfaction without getting defensive. Take whatever steps you can to help them find other accommodations. The more they see that you want to make things right, the more appreciative and forgiving they’ll be.
Taking Care of Your Vacation Rental Guests
Put the needs, comfort, and convenience of your guests first. If you have to cancel a reservation, do it as early as you can so they have time to make other arrangements. Canceling a reservation can potentially ruin someone’s plans. They may have been looking forward to their vacation, and your home is a big part of their experience.
You can avoid the negative repercussions of a cancellation by having a policy in place that protects you and your guests, being honest about your circumstances, and letting them know that you understand the impact it has on them.
Why You Should Avoid Cancelling a Reservation
If you list your short-term rental on a platform like AirBNB or HomeAway, cancelling a reservation can cause your listing to drop significantly in the search engines of these pages. That means it will be harder for guests to see your property on the platform.
In addition, these online travel sites may even charge you a fee for cancelling. And if you repeatedly cancel reservations, you may get dropped from the site.
Team Donovan helps today’s vacation rental home investors buy and sell Orlando vacation homes. We can help you make the most out of your investment so that you can provide the experience and service your guests need. If you want to learn more, contact us at (407) 705-2616 and schedule your free consultation today.
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