Messaging Platforms.

Utilize free communication platforms to maximize touch with your team. You can even create group chats with your team for daily catch-ups instantaneously.

1. Google Hangouts - View
2. Slack - View
3. WhatsApp - View
4. Facebook Messenger - View
5. Microsoft Teams - View

Video Conferencing.

Consider video conferencing to meet with your reservationists, accounting department and even your owners. Video conferencing allows you to get in front of people, adding a personal layer.

If you have never used video conferencing here are a few good tips from Productivity501.com - View

Here are some popular platforms for you to consider:

1. Blue Jeans - View
2. Zoom - View
3. GoToMeeting - View

Email Etiquette.

Emails are the core to your business. In this article by Forbes magazine they walk through some of the essentials on how to set yourself up for success when working with your emails - View

Your Guests - This is a perfect time to stay engaged with your guests. Touch base with your past guests and send them personal notes to check in on them. Re-engaging with past guests reminds them of the good times and it might trigger them to start thinking about rebooking with you for a future date. Even if it wasn’t in their plans, it’s ok.

Your Homeowners - They are your core client and whom you should be communicating with the most. In the current environment your homeowners are the most vulnerable and in need of the most communication. A few things you should consider

• Be direct with your homeowners; no fluff. Your homeowners need to know they can trust you, and keeping them aware of changes or updates that are happening related to their home is key, this can include:
  
  
  • Industry updates: This includes updates from platforms like Airbnb, HomeAway, Vrbo, and more.
  • Reservation updates: Keep your owners informed on reservations, what efforts are you making to try and generate revenue, what updates can you give them regarding their current status of reservations, Good or Bad (we encourage you to stay positive as long as it tells the true story).
  • Keep them engaged about what is happening with their home. Let them know when you visit it and that it is in good shape.
  • Lastly, this is a business relationship, but it can also be personal. Many of you have built personal relationships with your homeowners and just checking in on your homeowners is ok.

Other Things To Consider

1. 1. Maintain your calendar: Cancel reservations from your system as and when the cancellations occur, to remove as much margin for error as possible when it comes to processing refunds, and paying for transactional services (OTAs, channel manager, etc).
   2. Managing your staff: Check in with your staff daily. Find a balance that works for you and your team, each company works differently. It is ok to have too much communication you can always scale back. 
   3. Take the time to prepare: If you have a clear plan of attack and you can verbalize this to your customers, you are setting yourself up for success.
   4. Communications Plan: You have a lot of moving people you need to stay in touch with. Similar to having a plan on how to run your business, make sure you have a clear idea on how to manage your emails, and the people you need to communicate with on a daily basis.
      • Now is the time to clean your inbox and make sure to answer any emails that haven't been responded to
      • Set up your system to continually communicate with your owners
      • Connect with your past guests (it’s a good time to connect with people on a personal level)
   5. People are booking for later in the year. Think of how you have been running your business, what have you or haven’t you been doing and realistically what can you implement in the next 2-4 weeks whether it be a system, new technology or even new programs.