A very simple way to increase your ROI inside your STR

[Garrett Brown]

As everyone is getting for the holidays to ramp up and the new year to turn, I want to give some insight into a simple thing that me and my team have been doing to increase our ROI by about 10-15% each month. Some people already do this, but I chatted yesterday with someone who had not thought of this, so I wanted to give out one of my best ways to maximize your revenue and resources.

We upsell 3-to 4 simple packages that guests love; I have trained my cleaners to handle them (they make extra money), my VAs help schedule it with cleaners, and we still make a 50% profit margin on everything.

An example of one package we have is a Romantic Package - $199. 
12 Balloons (buy the helium tanks and keep balloons on site for your team or use a local shop)
Rose Petal Entry Way (bought off Amazon)
2 Dozen Roses (local grocery store for $10-15 each dozen)

Led Candle Display (bought off amazon and reusable)
I Heart U Signs (amazon and reusable)
Champagne (or wine if they want)

This equals around $60-70 each time and we pay our cleaner $40 to set up. Guests love this upsell for the experience provided, they are more likely to share on social media, you can use the decorations as marketing, build relationships with local vendors, and provide extra income for your team. 

We even (I still can't believe it) had a person stay in one of our units that is about $350 a night, who bought EVERY SINGLE PACKAGE (Romantic, Birthday, Breakfast, and Pizza/Smores Kit) and spent $1000 in packages alone. I definitely thought it was a scam but it was legit and easily one of my most profitable 1 night stays away from a pure revenue stand point. We sell about 5-6 of these a month per unit. Happy hosting and holidays my fellow STR friends!

[Trent Reeve]

i think its very property and location specific. I have two 3 bedroom places, mostly families coming in so those romantic packages wouldnt be that popular. Great ideas, but the property has to match the package.

[Garrett Brown]

@Trent Reeve completely agree, but I'm hoping this helps some operators start thinking about what they could offer additionally to keep boosting their revenue. If it's a family cabin, we still sell our Breakfast Package (all things not cooked) and Birthday Package quite a lot. Nothing in the STR space is one size fits all, but the ideas can help others see the potential in their property.

[James R.]

Garrett, these packages sound like they are a hit for your properties.  I'm always impressed with people's creative ideas!!!  

[Garrett Brown]

Thank you @James R. ! I have become almost obsessed with figuring out how to maximize the properties I do have currently before I keep adding even more. I'm really hoping to up my local partnerships with companies in 2025 to bring even more value. I just put Goat Yoga options as a new one at my bigger house properties with some land to try out with a local company lol. 

[Andrew Steffens]

Great idea(s) depending on your market.  I take a slightly different approach and try to partner with local vendors and get commission/kick backs.  In my area (near the beach) its mostly families and they want cabanas, baby items, chairs, coolers etc that we do not provide but I have a local vendor that delivers and picks up these items and charges a few dollars per day for each item, and give me a 20% referral.  I am also looking at a new company called Noshable that does grocery delivery precheck in and gives kickbacks as well.

[Garrett Brown]

Those are great ideas @Andrew Steffens. Your operations are always spot on. I haven't heard of Noshable but seems like a massive win-win all around. 

[Shannon Strickland]

Thank you for the valuable post, @Garrett Brown! I'm inspired. Do you suggest adding a package to my digital guidebook or offering it differently? I only operate 1 house I bought this year, but I'm eager to stand out in the competition. Thanks again!

[Garrett Brown]

Great question @Shannon Strickland! Do you have a direct booking website? If so, you can add package upsells automatically through your property management software (e.g. Hospitable). For something like Airbnb only, I would just simply message the guest when they book that you are excited to have them and that you offer xyz packages if they are interested. I also sent another message 7 days before, just reminding them that we offer different packages if they haven't already gotten one. You can have the package list as a note on your phone or PMS and send it to them easily if they ask what is included. Nothing wrong with it in your guidebook as well though for a small page or section! 

[Michael Baum]

We don't do anything like this very often. We have a big place so it is families and groups.

I do ask guests before booking if they are celebrating any special occasions and I will add some extra things to the welcome box that fits if I can.

[Max Smetiouk]

I absolutely love this idea! It's abiut touch and convenience = instant gratification and satisfaction.

[Max Smetiouk]

I absolutely love this idea! It's abiut touch and convenience = instant gratification and satisfaction.

[Karina Busch]

Quote from @Garrett Brown:

As everyone is getting for the holidays to ramp up and the new year to turn, I want to give some insight into a simple thing that me and my team have been doing to increase our ROI by about 10-15% each month. Some people already do this, but I chatted yesterday with someone who had not thought of this, so I wanted to give out one of my best ways to maximize your revenue and resources.

We upsell 3-to 4 simple packages that guests love; I have trained my cleaners to handle them (they make extra money), my VAs help schedule it with cleaners, and we still make a 50% profit margin on everything.

An example of one package we have is a Romantic Package - $199. 
12 Balloons (buy the helium tanks and keep balloons on site for your team or use a local shop)
Rose Petal Entry Way (bought off Amazon)
2 Dozen Roses (local grocery store for $10-15 each dozen)

Led Candle Display (bought off amazon and reusable)
I Heart U Signs (amazon and reusable)
Champagne (or wine if they want)

This equals around $60-70 each time and we pay our cleaner $40 to set up. Guests love this upsell for the experience provided, they are more likely to share on social media, you can use the decorations as marketing, build relationships with local vendors, and provide extra income for your team. 

We even (I still can't believe it) had a person stay in one of our units that is about $350 a night, who bought EVERY SINGLE PACKAGE (Romantic, Birthday, Breakfast, and Pizza/Smores Kit) and spent $1000 in packages alone. I definitely thought it was a scam but it was legit and easily one of my most profitable 1 night stays away from a pure revenue stand point. We sell about 5-6 of these a month per unit. Happy hosting and holidays my fellow STR friends!

 Awesome ideas, thank you! 

[Danae Pitcher]

Great ideas @Garrett Brown!  I bet you were floored when the person ordered every package you had to offer!! Lol.  I would imagine things that are skewed towards whatever holiday is coming up would be big sellers too.  For instance - Easter baskets, Halloween candy, fun craft beers for St Patty’s Day, tons of options for Valentine’s Day, small tree and decor set up for Christmas, etc.  Endless options for sure.  

[Zachary Cain Humphrey]

This an awesome idea. I have heard of cabin / mountain market STR operators doing some kind of hiking package, or way to connect a guest to a private tour guide for an "upcharge" which gives the hike tour guide an income and the STR operator a nice upcharge too.

[Garrett Brown]

Quote from @Zachary Cain Humphrey:

This an awesome idea. I have heard of cabin / mountain market STR operators doing some kind of hiking package, or way to connect a guest to a private tour guide for an "upcharge" which gives the hike tour guide an income and the STR operator a nice upcharge too.

 Exactly! Anything to up your guest experience. Airbnb themselves are going all in on this and there is a reason for it. We connected with a jet ski and boat rental company near our lake for a discount and commission per booking at one property. 

[Garrett Brown]

Quote from @Danae Pitcher:

Great ideas @Garrett Brown!  I bet you were floored when the person ordered every package you had to offer!! Lol.  I would imagine things that are skewed towards whatever holiday is coming up would be big sellers too.  For instance - Easter baskets, Halloween candy, fun craft beers for St Patty’s Day, tons of options for Valentine’s Day, small tree and decor set up for Christmas, etc.  Endless options for sure.  

I didn't even think about the Easter/Halloween-specific ones! What a great idea. The options are truly endless. I tested out a lot before I landed on my favorite 4 for profitability and ease of putting together. I tried things like charcuterie boards from a local company, but there were too many variables. 

[Garrett Brown]

Quote from @Max Smetiouk:

I absolutely love this idea! It's abiut touch and convenience = instant gratification and satisfaction.

It's worked fantastically for the guest experience and the whole team.

[Bryan Stengel]

Quote from @Garrett Brown:

Great question @Shannon Strickland! Do you have a direct booking website? If so, you can add package upsells automatically through your property management software (e.g. Hospitable). For something like Airbnb only, I would just simply message the guest when they book that you are excited to have them and that you offer xyz packages if they are interested. I also sent another message 7 days before, just reminding them that we offer different packages if they haven't already gotten one. You can have the package list as a note on your phone or PMS and send it to them easily if they ask what is included. Nothing wrong with it in your guidebook as well though for a small page or section! 

 Thank you!  You answered my question.  This seems like a great idea.  I just wasn't sure how you'd exactly bypass Airbnb or VRBO platforms.  It seems like offering this as a separate package once you secured the booking is a good idea. 

[Bryan Stengel]

Hi @Garrett Brown, I really love this idea.  Talk about taking hospitality to another level.  How does this work with alcohol though?  Are we technically serving alcohol?  If you are providing champagne or wine, would we need a license for that to do so?  This may seem like a dumb question.  I have just always wondered that when we go to a hotel and they give us bottle to celebrate an event.  I'd be curious to get your opinion or anybody else on the post. 

[Jeremy H.]

Super cool idea I think - win-win for everyone, you make extra $, cleaner makes extra $, guest gets what they want and can have a unique memorable experience.

Opens the door for lots of different "package" types 

What's the downside? A bit more time and management?