Guestbooks - The Glamping Operator's Hidden Gem

Glamping guestbooks are like gym memberships. 

Weird analogy, I know. Stick with me.

Loads of people have gym memberships. 64 million Americans, in fact. Most of those memberships go unused, gathering dust like a Peloton after the first week of January. 

Of those that do use their gym membership, few will go every week. Even fewer will push themselves to the max in every session.

“What the hell has this got to do with glamping?” I hear you ask.

Here’s my theory. A similarly small number of glamping operators use guestbooks to their full potential. Some won’t bother trying. Others will buy something meant for a hotel, leave it in their check-in building, and never read a single entry. 

This is the wrong way to do it.

The best operators know that guestbooks, done right, are powerful additions to the guest experience. They know how to capture the warm and fuzzy memories of past guests, and bring them to life for new ones. 

There’s an art to a good guestbook. Sadly, the ones in the field are too busy bringing in those 5-star reviews to share their secrets.

Luckily for you, as The Glamping Insider, I’m your guy behind enemy lines. It’s my job to pull back the curtain and reveal how the top operators work. Today, I’ll explain why they love guestbooks, and how to do them right. 

And just so you know, using guestbooks properly will give you even more of a rush than your guests. 

Glamping Insider, reporting for duty.

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Why Use Guestbooks?

Here’s the dirty truth about guestbooks - they can be an entirely selfish endeavor. Of the four reasons to use them, only one of them is guest-related. 

That being said, let’s start with the guest.

They Make Guests Feel More Connected to Your Property

Guestbooks offer current guests a window into the lives of past guests. They show a glimpse of a happy couple on their honeymoon, or a mother and daughter on their first trip together.

People love stories, and a guestbook is a treasure trove of mini-stories for your guests to enjoy. Your glamping site is weaved into every adventure, tethering all these experiences to one special place. 

When guests get to add their own chapter to this neverending story, they become part of something larger. A shared community, with your property at the heart of it.

They’re Insightful

Guestbooks aren’t usually a source of tough love. They’re pretty happy places on the whole.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t provide useful insights. After enough entries, you’ll see the same highlights show up time and time again. People might consistently rave about the outdoor shower, or the heavenly bed sheets.

Noticing what guests love about your property provides an opportunity to double down on it. And if certain aspects of the experience are never mentioned, it’s probably a sign to change things up.

They’re Marketing Gold

Guestbook entries are wonderfully personal, and personal stories make for the best testimonials. Add the fact that they’re hand-written, and you have the perfect Instagram material.

Sanctuary Treehouse Resort has a highlight reel of guestbook entries on their Instagram page. Take a look through and tell me you’re not a little bit charmed by the entries from the younger guests.

They Make YOU Feel Great

We’re selfish creatures. It’s fine to admit it. Where’s the fun in making the guest happy if you don’t get a dopamine boost of your own?

I asked some of my glamping friends about their favorite guestbook entries, and I could feel them light up as they answered. Here’s why they love them.

“One of our favorite parts of our rooms are the guestbooks. They provide amazing feedback and gratitude for the experiences our guests have, which serves as fuel for our team and inspires everyone in our day to day roles. A must have for any property.” - Blake Smith, Walden Retreats

“Ooooo-you know we LOVE our treehouse books! ♥️ Wayyyy better than online reviews and we share them every week on our socials! We especially love when the kids write in there and guests leave all sorts of sweet words and drawings. Such a treasure!” - Amanda Jensen, Sanctuary Treehouse Resort

“One of my favorite notes in our glamping signature book, ‘My wife fell in love with me again.’ ❤️ - Chris Jeub, Monument Glamping

If that hasn’t sold you on the power of guestbooks, nothing will.

Now it’s time to learn how to use them like the best.

How to Use Guestbooks

There’s no point in using guestbooks if you’re not using them properly.

Here are some ideas to get it right.

Make an effort  - A little extra effort goes a long way. Something as small as a handwritten note to your guests on the first page can make all the difference. Seriously, don’t be lazy.

Make it pretty - Either get a custom design, or buy something of real quality. Nobody’s going to write in a boring, crusty book straight from the 90s. Give guests something they’ll want to write in.

Make it easy - A blank page with no context leads to boring entries. Coax the guest into writing something interesting. You can do this subtly, by showing them how it’s done on the first page. Or be more direct and leave cues throughout.

Make it complete - Pairing a beautiful guestbook with a terrible pen is like serving a gourmet meal with a gas station cutlery. Nice pens cost nothing in the grand scheme of things. Don’t be cheap.

Make it original - Guestbooks don’t have to be physical books. My friend Jacob Halverson told me something cool about the Society Hotel in Portland. They have a ‘guestboard’ in the lobby, where messages are left for future guests. I love innovations like that.

That should be enough to get you going. I’m off to the use that gym membership.

💡Idea of the Week

Guestbooks!

Only kidding.

This week’s idea comes from several recent podcast guests saying the same thing: your personal story is a powerful marketing tool.

Derry from The Secret Garden, Tori from Bolt Farm, Ben from Onera and Isaac (formerly) of Live Oak Lake are all front and center of their hospitality brands. Some do selfie-style Instagram videos, while others go on podcasts to talk about their journey. 

It doesn’t matter how you do it. Just try to put a bit of yourself into your brand. If you can’t bear the idea of the spotlight, pick someone else to be the face of the business. Give your guests someone to connect with.

📰 The Posh Report

Exciting times at Posh Outdoors. Our first 5 Looking Glass units are making real progress, and we’ve started planning the big launch for Location #1. Watch this space.

P.S. Early investors get a piece of every location we go on to build. We expect there to be dozens. To learn more, reply to this email or schedule a call.

🎧️ On the Pod

This one’s a doozy. We were joined by the brilliant Tori Bolt from Bolt Farm Treehouse. They have a 94% occupancy rate year round, charge $800+ per night and attract a whole host of celebrities.

Tori shared a ton of gold in the 1hr 20 mins we had with her. We covered everything from PR strategies, to founder-led marketing, to building code. It’s one of the best episodes we’ve ever done.

Check it out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube.  

That’s it from me. Enjoy your weekend.