In the world of short-term rentals, especially on platforms like Airbnb, property owners have a unique opportunity to attract diverse guests. The truth is that the central location of the apartment and the feeling of "at home" are key for most tourists, but they are not the only factors for success in this competitive market. With a little effort and attention to detail, you can turn your property into an ideal destination for business travelers and digital nomads and provide yourself with higher income with lower depreciation. In this article, we will introduce you to some key factors and guidelines for attracting such type of guests.
Digital nomadism and business travel
In recent years, digital nomadism is a fast-growing way of life that enables people in various professional fields to work from anywhere in the world. This ever-increasing work style trend is attracting new and new followers who are looking for the freedom to work and travel at the same time. Both digital nomads and business travelers – for meetings, conferences and business engagements – tend to keep for longer periods, have larger budgets and usually don't damage the property. All this makes them a preferred target group for property owners who rent out their apartments through short-term rental platforms.
How does digital nomadism "work"?
Digital nomads represent a very diverse community of people. These can be young emerging professionals, established specialists in a given field and even families who want to escape the routine of a traditional office and combine their work with traveling and getting to know different countries and cultures. In fact, almost any profession can become a digital nomad if the work is done online, such as:
- IT specialists, programmers and software engineers
- Writers, editors and general content creators for different types of media
- Art people, such as photographers, videographers, artists, designers
- Marketers and social media professionals
They all use the internet and various digital tools to work from anywhere in the world. They can perform their tasks from a hotel room, a cafe, public spaces, from their own or rented apartment. Their only requirement is to have a stable internet connection.
Creating the ideal environment for digital nomads and business travelers
To attract and retain this valuable group, it is important to understand their basic needs and preferences. By matching the furnishings and all the amenities in the property you offer with their demand, you could turn it into a desired and preferred destination for this type of people, which will increase its visibility and, respectively, bookings. Here are some key factors to consider when optimizing your property for digital nomads and business travelers:
- Dedicated workplace
Equip your property with a dedicated work area – a desk or work table with sufficient light flow, ergonomic furniture and/or a comfortable office chair, which will help guests to be productive and feel comfortable while staying in your apartment. - Fast and secure wi-fi connection
Provide the strongest possible mobile coverage and fast internet connection to give your guests the security and peace of mind that they will be able to fulfill their work commitments without a problem. - Additional amenities
Provide as many additional amenities and appliances as possible, such as coffee machine, refrigerator, dishwasher and everything needed to feel "at home" for a longer stay. - Added value
Offer personalized services, such as fast check-in and check-out, concierge services and providing useful and interesting information, both about the city and area in which your property is located, and about suitable locations, such as – co-working spaces, restaurants, gyms and cultural spaces.
Benefits for property owners
Attracting more digital nomads and business travelers can bring significant benefits to you. We describe only some of the key advantages:
- Increase occupancy of your property
The reason is that these types of guests are usually long-term or repeat destinations, which is a prerequisite for increasing the occupancy of your property and reducing its maintenance costs. - Increasing the value of your property
Properties that successfully attract digital nomads and business travelers tend to be rated higher by guests because of their specific needs and demands. This can lead both to greater visibility of the property in the platforms and to an increase in its value (price per stay). - Establishing long-term relationships
By hosting digital nomads and business travelers, property owners have the opportunity to expand their network and establish long-term relationships with professionals from various industries. These connections can lead to new business opportunities, partnerships and collaborations. - Attract more guests
Creating a unique and engaging experience for digital nomads and business travelers can improve your property's reputation and attract even more guests. Positive reviews and recommendations from these guests help increase popularity and booking requests.
The individual approach and specific actions to optimize the apartment so that it meets the expectations and needs of digital nomads and business travelers can be a key step in the strategy for the development and realization of your property in the platforms. And also for achieving significantly higher profitability. See more about the advantages of letting a property with a medium-term lease here.
For individual consultation and advice on attracting this specific audience, the Flat Manager team is at your disposal - contact us and let's reveal the full potential of your property together.
