In recent years, homestay has gradually become the preferred method of accommodation for many people when traveling. Not only is the price more flexible but homestay also offers a more immersive experience, providing guests with the opportunity to engage with local culture firsthand. So what is a homestay? Why has it become so hot? And how do you capitalize on this trend if you want to make a mark in the homestay industry? Next, we'll answer each of these questions and share some tips for you.
What is a Homestay?
Homestay meaning is actually a form of " live-in travel ". Guests stay in the homes of local residents and experience a more authentic way of life. The hosts will provide guidance and assistance to visitors during their stay. Often guests can dine, chat, and even participate in some local activities with their hosts.
Unlike staying in a hotel, this type of accommodation gives guests a deeper insight into the culture and daily life of a place.
Why Homestays Become Rise?
Homestay is more than just a place to sleep; it's a unique way to immerse oneself in local life. Staying in a homestay, visitors feel that they are not just an outsider, but briefly a part of the place. They can feel the warmth of their hosts and taste authentic home-cooked food.
They also get to hear little stories that only the locals know. So what are some of the other mind-blowing benefits of a homestay that make it rise? Here are some of the reasons we've summarized:
Exposure to Authentic Cultures
Exposure to the real culture is especially great in a homestay. Guests can learn about local daily eating habits while dining with locals and enjoying home-cooked meals. It may be a delicacy that tourists have never tasted before. During the usual chats, guests will hear a lot of traditions and holiday customs. These are not heard in guided tours.
Some homestay families take their guests to their family activities, such as celebrating holidays. Even teaching visitors a few words of the local language. This immersive experience allows visitors to see the culture itself rather than just visiting popular attractions.
Development Of Interpersonal Relationships
In a homestay, human relationships may develop between the visitor and the landlord or other residents. Hosts usually treat visitors as friends or family. They may share their life stories, cultural backgrounds, and they may even be interested in where their guests are from.
With this interaction, they may become friends and sometimes stay in touch after they leave. Or even come back next time to stay directly in their home.
If other residents are staying at the same time, the guests also have the opportunity to interact with each other, exchanging cultural insights and learning from one another.
Everyone comes from different countries or regions. They can share their travel experience and culture together. Even meet up to explore the neighboring attractions together. This kind of opportunity to make friends is hard for hotels to provide.
Fewer Tourist Traps
Homestay makes it easier for guests to avoid those typical tourist traps. Stay away from places that are overly commercialized and frequented by tourists. It is easier to enjoy a more rewarding travel experience by homestay.
This is because some good landlords usually give tourists some very practical advice. They know which places are really worth visiting and which ones are just gimmicks to attract tourists.
Conscientious landlords will take tourists to niche attractions that are not known to tourists or restaurants that are frequented by locals. These places are usually fairly priced. And unlike those popular spots, they are crowded and the prices are jacked up.
Learning New Skills
If the landlord is an expert in a certain field, like carpentry or gardening. They may offer to share some of their own tips. They even teach guests how to make some crafts or fix things themselves. Some homestays also offer learning opportunities based on local seasonal activities.
For example, learning to make cured bacon during the harvest season. Or learn to knit during the winter months. This hands-on opportunity not only allows guests to learn new skills but also gives them a deeper understanding of the local way of life.
Thus, this form of travel not only gives tourists a warmer, more personalized experience but also provides a profitable opportunity for local residents. By hosting tourists, residents are not only able to share their culture, but they also benefit financially and enhance the vitality of their community. This mutually beneficial model has made homestays an increasingly popular choice in modern tourism.
How to Stand Out in the Homestay Business
With so much competition in the homestay market, how to stand out has become a major concern for many landlords. It’s no longer enough to simply provide accommodation—you need to offer additional experiences to attract more guests. Next, we present some effective ways to help you be more competitive.
Providing Environmentally Friendly Accommodation
Many eco-minded guests are looking for eco-friendly ways to travel. So if your homestay can do some eco-friendly measures, it will definitely attract those eco-conscious guests. For example, you can use energy-saving light bulbs, solar water heaters or provide eco-friendly toiletries in your accommodation.
Also, reduce the use of plastic. You can provide reusable mugs and avoid disposable plastics. You can also set up a waste sorting system in the kitchen.
If you have a garden or yard, plant some organic vegetables or flowers. Guests can even get involved in the planting. This is not only an eco-friendly initiative, but also a unique experience that will bring freshness to your guests.
Providing Diverse Experiences
For those seeking a more luxurious travel experience, upgraded homestays have gradually gained popularity. Nowadays, there is a new trend of homestay suites or homestay lodges offering not only accommodation but also additional features like cafes, restaurants, art exhibition areas, yoga rooms, and more.
However, trying to incorporate all of these features does require a significant investment of money and time, which many homeowners may find stressful. This is where a dome home becomes a great option. Accommodation families can use their own home as an accommodation area and use the dome tent as a function area.
In Shelter Dome, we can design dome homes into different functional areas according to the requirements of our guests. It is widely used and has perfect facilities.
Moreover, building a dome home is more affordable than traditional construction. This is because the triangular plate structure of a dome does not require the use of steel and concrete as in traditional construction. And because the dome house is prefabricated, the assembly process is quicker and easier, so it saves both time and money.
In addition, dome homes are efficient and flexible in their use of space. The design eliminates the need for internal support columns, resulting in a more open and unobstructed interior space. This means you can make the most of the available square footage.
You can use it as a fitness area, office, etc., and it can also be easily converted into a rest area. For example, you can set up basic furniture such as beds and sofas, and you can also easily place some large items. These functional conversions are also not difficult and basically do not require extensive renovations or alterations.
Building An Online Presence
Promoting your business on an online platform can expand your audience and attract more guests. You can take some high-quality pictures to ensure that you show the accommodation as it really is. For example, large bedrooms, cozy living rooms, and characteristic decorations. The photos should be properly lit and angled, and not overly retouched or exaggerated. Most critically, maintain consistency and integrity.
If you advertise certain amenities or services online, such as free Wi-Fi, availability of travel maps, etc. Be sure that these are provided truthfully. Because descriptions that are beyond reality or are overly exaggerated can easily disappoint guests.
You can also post some tidbits about your guests' stay on social media. Or some of your own travel advice, or even your interactions with guests. It creates a sense of authenticity and trust, encouraging more people to choose your home. In addition, it generates word-of-mouth marketing as guests can share their experiences and attract more visitors.
Be sure to encourage them to leave reviews after they leave, especially those guests who have taken a liking to you. Every time you receive a review, whether it's good or bad, respond to it, especially if it's positive feedback that will show potential guests how much you value their opinion.
If it's a negative review, you should also respond honestly and explain what you will do to improve. This will give the impression that you are genuinely trying to improve the quality of your service.
Services For Different Customer Segments
Put yourself in the shoes of different types of guests and consider what they really need. This is crucial because understanding your guests' needs helps create a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, which increases the likelihood of positive reviews and repeat visits. For example, if your guests are coming with children, you can set up child safety chairs, cribs or padded rugs in the room. Prevent the kids from bumping into each other.
You can also put some kid-friendly toys, picture books, and even prepare children's toiletries in the bathroom. If you have a yard, put on a small swing, the kids will be super happy and the parents will think you are meticulous.
The elderly are particularly concerned about the convenience and safety of the accommodation. For example, install non-slip mats and grab bars in the bathroom. Or provide rooms on the first floor to minimize their inconvenience of going up and down the stairs.
Meanwhile, pets have become companions for many travelers, and they need to be cared for and nurtured. You can prepare a pet mat, a small bowl, or even set up a pet corner in your home. This will attract a lot of pet lovers.
Don’t forget to ask your guests about any dietary restrictions in advance and prepare meals that suit their needs, such as for vegetarians or those with allergies. These thoughtful details show that you value their experience.
Extending Reading: Homestay Business Classification
In addition to the meaning of homestay, finding out how homestay is categorized and how it operates can help you position your business more effectively. By identifying the different types of homestays, you can define your niche and target the right clientele so you can better focus your efforts on providing a more tailored experience for your guests.
There are many types of homestays, each with its own characteristics and target customer base. There is also more than one way to apply for and manage a homestay. So you can enhance your overall business strategy by choosing the most appropriate homestay management model for your situation.
Next, we will discuss the different types of homestay and how to apply for it. And how to choose the most suitable business model.
By Type
The type of homestay can be categorized according to the availability of housing:
- Tradition Homestay:
It is where the host and guest live in the same home. As a host, you will provide guests with accommodation and offer them the opportunity to experience local culture and daily life. The room you offer could be an empty room in your own home or one specifically prepared for guests. Guests will share the kitchen, living room, and even some daily activities with you. This type of setup offers a more affordable way to provide lodging.
- Luxury Homestay:
It offers a sophisticated lodging experience. The rooms are uniquely designed and furnished as well as high-end. For example, it may come with a pool and a gym, cafe and other areas. Wi-Fi, television and air conditioning are also available. These types of accommodations pay special attention to personalized service. They can customize tours for tourists and arrange for a private chef to prepare gourmet meals.
- Independent Homestay:
This is where guests are given a completely separate space. It might be a small apartment, some are detached cabins, or maybe even a converted loft, equipped with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and even a small living room.
By Application
Regarding the way to apply for a homestay business, there are usually several ways:
- Registering Through Platforms:
Many online platforms nowadays allow you to register as a homestay host directly on the platform. The platforms will help you manage bookings, payments, customer reviews, and more. All you need to do is upload photos and information about your room, and you will be able to reach a wide range of guests from all over the world. This way is easy and convenient, but the platform will charge some of the processing fees.
- Registering Through a Local Travel Agency:
This is where you give them information about your homestay, like location, facilities, price, etc. They usually post this information on their website, social media for promotion to help you attract more tourists.
Usually, travel agencies also provide some extra services like cleaning, customer support, etc. These agencies know the market well and can help you pinpoint the right guests, such as families, couples, company reunions, and so on.
Of course, there is a fee to pay when you sign up, which could be a registration fee or a commission charged on a per-booking basis. After all, you get access to more guests and also enjoy the management and promotional services they offer.
- Self-marketing:
It's when you take it upon yourself to advertise and promote your homestay. Without relying on external platforms or travel agencies. You can attract guests through social media, your own website or other channels.
For example, you can share photos of the property, accommodation experience, neighboring attractions, etc. on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Use engaging content to grab the attention of potential travelers.
You can also increase visibility through co-promotion. For example, partner with a local restaurant or attraction to promote each other. Although this approach is more work, you can reduce your dependence on third-party platforms, and retain more profit.
Conclusion
What is a homestay? Overall, homestay is so much more than just a place to stay. It is more of a way to gain insight into the culture, make friends and experience life. If you want to make your homestay more appealing, then choose the right type of property, design a special stay, or set up additional services. All are good directions. If you're feeling overwhelmed or don't know where to start, talk to us at Shelter Dome!
We're not only a dome supplier, but also experts in space solutions, such as the dome home we have launched. We can help you with the design, construction, and other support. Get in touch now and we'll help you make your homestay more inviting and memorable for your guests!
