At check-in do you meet your guests or not?
Please provide the rationale behind your choice.
Yes, because our clientele expect to meet who runs/owns the place. Not always, but most of the time.
Always!
Do a head count, make sure they have the wifi password, explain the quirky features of the heritage buildings, ensure they have my contact number saved in their phone - lots of direct bookings come from this.
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I do whenever possible for several reasons. Mine is a homeshare and a quick introduction makes people more comfortable running into me in the common areas. If I didnāt I would probably have to triple my number of little signs. Most people do much better having something shown to them versus explained in words. Despite many rewrites guests often donāt read or understand my written directions. I also get to make sure they havenāt parked strangely in ways that inconvenience my long term tenants. Itās much easier to get a gut feel for people in person than through our limited Airbnb interaction.
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When I first opened, I did but I found
a) Guest never arrived when they said they would and that would really annoy me.
b) I sometimes get the feeling guests preferred to just have the space, check in and relax.
So what I do now is that I ask for a 2 hour window for check in and if their plans change to just let me know what time before 11 pm. (Guests are notified before booking of this requirement time - thanks forum member feedback)
a) I have a camera that sends me an alert that they have checked in and then I wait about 15 minute and ask if everything is as expected.
b) At some point during the stay, usually as they check out, I pop my head out and thank. them for staying. Do a little chit chat and that seems to leave a good impression with my guests.
I think the guest like the non-intrusiveness of my STR but like to see a friendly face.
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I have a whole house rental with self check in and check out. I donāt meet and greet in person because I live an hour away and check in is any time after 12 noon.
I do āmeet and greetā over messages on the platform. I also leave on the kitchen island my cellphone number and landline number so thay can contact me if anything is needed.
A few have called just to say hi and that they arrived and checked in but most donāt call unless there is an issue like the fridge not working.
If I was a in house host, then I would meet and greet in person.
We do not. Our guests are longer term (min 6 nights), typically families, and typically coming in after a long flight, customs, and car rental or taxi. I try to imagine myself in their shoes, and what Iād really want is to feel like the journey is over and Iām home.
The suite is separate but attached to our house, so we definitely see each other during the stay, and we hear each othersā living noises. It actually takes a fair bit of effort to give our guests the illusion of privacy.
We try to let the guests take the lead in how much interaction they want. For some, speaking English is a struggle, so they appreciate just pleasantries. Others are quite chatty. Occasionally we get people who just keep their eyes down when we pass in the driveway. Reviews are always good, though.
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Rarely.
I see my guests as I am at the property a lot, I will say hello, welcome!
When I am traveling as a guest I do not want to interact with the host.
RR
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Unless they are arriving at a crazy time, such as 2 am, then i always meet and greet. There are several reasons why I think it is extremely important.
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Consolidating the sale. I gush about how wonderful the apartment is, the area, the views etc. and this reassures the guests that they have chosen a great place and sets the tone for their stay.
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I feel strongly that if guests are greeted they subconsciously see that as staying with a friend, rather than staying in a hotel.
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They are shown around the apartment properly and know where everything is and how everything works. Itās also a further opportunity for me to ensure that all is well.
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During the house tour I can mention things that really matter to me and the neighbourhood such as quiet hours etc.
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Like @Christine_Shirtcliff I direct them to their parking space (there is only one per apartment so it can cause chaos if anyone is in someone elseās place).
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I finish the house tour by pointing out where I live (opposite one rental and next door to the other) and telling them to get in touch if they need anything or if I can help in any way. This gives them the confidence that they are in a good place with a helpful host.
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Homeshare, and am always home when guests arrive. I fact, I pick most up at the bus station a 5 minute drive from my place, as that is how most of my guests arrive and my place is hard to find.
My hand-wrought metal doors would not be possible to put electronic locks on and there are too many things that work differently in my home than guests are used to for them to be able to self-check-in.
Never. We have had self check in since we opened in 2016 even though we live on the property. We do have [disclosed] exterior cameras to make sure there are no extra guests, etc.
As for why, itās what guests want and weāve never had an issue. It allows us to be an Airbnb āselectā listing, FWIW. We are confident that guests can figure out appliances, etc.
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We advertise self-check-in so there is a presumption of privacy, especially at check-in time so itās important to respect it. And itās what I want as a guest.
Traveling is exhausting enough without being forced into a chat at check-in. Itās also a very poor time to absorb information. So if itās important, itās better to write it down anyway.
Itās obviously different when staying with a home host, which I often do, but I really appreciate it when itās kept as brief as possible until Iāve had time to rest and reset (and have a wee 
, lol).
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When I hosted a home share, I often met the guests at check in but I also provided a lock box so guests could come in anytime. For my kind of rental, which is mostly a road trip pit stop, the ability to check after my bedtime was part of what I offered.
However, I also board dogs in my home and having people check in when I wasnāt here could be problematic. After 2.5 years I remodeled to put in a separate entrance and private bathroom. I continued to meet most guests and give them an orientation to the roomā¦all 230 sq ft. Between my schedule, the body language of the guests, posts I saw here, lack of problems when I didnāt meet guests and more, I decided to quit doing the orientation. However, I have cameras and live in the home. So the shenanigans that some hosts are trying to circumvent by meeting guests arenāt an issue here.
As a guest I prefer self check in and not meeting the host most of the time. This is despite the fact that I usually book a home share type place when traveling alone.
After doing it both ways Iām firmly in the camp of no meeting of guests is necessary and itās probably more of a negative than a positive.
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So so I but as a host, I definitely want to meet guests if at all possible. Tricky.
if I see that a guest is crossing their legs or being restless, I point out the bathroom to their huge relief. 
Iāve said many times that ideally, Airbnb could perfectly match hosts and guests. Itās my home and Iām a bit of a control freak but my goal as a host is to meet the guestās needs, not mine.
Just today I was looking for a one night Airbnb and gritting my teeth at the fact that they still donāt have āprivate entranceā on the list of filters. It annoys me no end that I can filter for fireplace or gym and not private entrance.
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Originally we did meet all guests but after getting feedback from friends and colleagues that most preferred to self check in, we changed our approach to meet our customers comfort level. I do send an email prior to guest arrival asking if they would like us to provide a tour to give us an arrival time. Since changing to this approach, we have not had one request for a tour of the vacation rental. We are on site and usually see our guests at some point and either a quick hello and is everything comfortable or if guest is inclined a longer chat while lounging outside. So far only great guests, reviews and experience running a STR.
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At my first Air in AZ which was attached to my house I met all guests. Getting to know people and spending time with some was a joy and was what kept me going.
This one in VA I started in the middle of the pandemic and did an enclosed entry to separate up from down. Last summer I met several guests and I loved it, but since then, maybe a short visit with some from afar in the yard.
I feel like a cleaner and itās very impersonal. Itās not what I would choose.
I meet all the guests, give a tour and point everything out. Many mention our care and great hospitality in their reviews.
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We home-share, so we meet almost every guest to give a tour and point out things they should know.
With ārepeat offenders,ā we are occasionally not home when they arrive. They already know the dance routine. And they know if we wonāt be here.
We had one guest, a nurse, who was here for a whole summer. We actually went out of town for a few days while she was here. She was perfectly happy here alone.
I usually meet the guests but not at check-in. My pre-check-in day message says that shortly after they check-in I will come by to give them an orientation or they can text me if theyād like one earlier or by FaceTime.
Why?
- Because many guests donāt read,
- Itās the easiest and fastest way for guests to learn how to use the appliances and show where things are.
- To remind the guests of our key house rules,
- To make them super comfortable to ask questions or make requests then or later, and not worry about ābotheringā me,
- To create a friendly connection that Iām available 24/7 if they need anything, so they feel the hospitality.
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