The art of communication is one of the most important elements of running any type of business. The short-term rental industry is no exception. Often, the very first point of contact between a host and a guest is the Airbnb pre-booking message. There’s an art to this, and it’s well-worth exploring. This blog post explores what the Airbnb pre-booking message is and how you, as a host, can utilize it to your advantage.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!

What is the Airbnb pre-booking message?

The Airbnb pre-booking message is the message a guest receives as soon as they send a booking request through Instant Book. It’s the first true interaction between a host and a new guest.  

What does the message say?

This first message is the perfect opportunity to set the tone of the guest’s future stay. Your message should include a few key items:

• Introduce yourself: Say hi! No need to jump right into business. Thank the guest for booking and share a little something about yourself or the area.
• Ask questions: Be sure to ask if the guest is celebrating any important occasions, If so, this is the perfect opportunity to go above and beyond with a little welcome basket. If relevant, ask about check-in times and any specific requests they might have for their stay.
• Share important details: Include any “must-know” information, such as your standard check-in/out times, important house rules, etc.
• Say thanks: Wrap up your message and thank them again for booking. Remind them that they’re welcome to message you any time with questions before or during their stay.

It may seem like a small detail, but these types of interactions get guests even more excited for their stay. Plus, it personalizes the experiences and helps them feel welcome.

How to send a pre-booking message

To send an Airbnb pre-booking message directly through the Airbnb platform, follow these steps:

• Log in to your Airbnb account and choose the listing you want to create the message for.
• Enter the Booking settings
• Make sure Instant Book is turned on
• Under the Instant Book settings, toggle the “Pre-booking message” switch on.
• Write your message.

Alternatively, automate your messages with Host Tools so that every single booking across every platform receives a consistent, automated message.

As you can see from above, having an Airbnb pre-booking message can be a big win for your business. Starting out a guest’s interaction with you strongly is key to securing those 5-star reviews. Remember, Host Tools can streamline this task across platforms besides Airbnb. Additionally, be sure to also check out Host Tools’ incredible AI auto-reply feature.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!