Are you green yet? To be more specific, is your holiday rental green? Does it have green credentials that would attract eco-friendly and supportive holiday makers? If not, you could be missing out on the potential for many more bookings – and it could be easier to go green than you might think.
What is the potential for you when you go green?
First and foremost it gives you a unique selling point. Few properties currently fit into this category but people like the idea of staying in an eco-friendly home. If your holiday let is eco-friendly you would have a powerful USP that would make it easier to market your property to a wider audience.
You’ll also get a better rating when it comes to the Energy Performance Certificate that is issued on every building. The more eco-friendly it is the smaller your footprint will be and the more money you’ll save on your holiday let over time.
Make your property cosy
It might be easy to get bookings during the summer months but colder weather makes holidays less appealing. Unless, that is, you make your holiday rental cosier. This can be done by installing insulation and eliminating all potential draughts. It means there is less need for heat, and even if your holiday let is in the middle of the Scottish Highlands it will still be superbly cosy no matter what the weather is doing. Solar panels might also work if your roof points southwards.
Get an A+
No we’re not talking about exam results – we’re talking about appliances. All appliances are energy rated so you can choose those that are most energy efficient. An A rated appliance is infinitely better than an E rated appliance for example.
Recycle and recharge
How can you expect your guests to try and be green, if you don’t make it easy for them? By simply providing bins or cartons for their everyday waste as well as for recycling including glass, tin, paper, cardboard etc your holiday makers will happily do their bit too. In addition, when providing batteries for emergencies, make sure you get rechargeable ones and provide a charger as well for your guests to use.
Go local
Many holiday let owners provide a welcome pack that contains supplies to get the holiday started. Make sure everything in yours is locally sourced and provide a list of local traders your holiday makers can take advantage of too. Supporting local businesses is a good way to be eco-friendly and your guests will appreciate the work you have put in.
Write an eco-friendly welcome pack
It’s good to promote the fact you’re being eco-friendly when you create your welcome pack for people to read. Alongside all the usual information you would include in there, you should also ask for their support in maintaining your eco-friendly holiday rental property, such as turning off the lights when leaving a room, switching the TV and radio off when not in use, recycling information, etc. You can’t persuade them to do everything necessary to make this happen. But the chances are if they have booked your property according to your USP to begin with, they’ll be only too happy to support you in your quest. Why not try it now?
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