What do you say in return? Do they actually leave you such a review?
Yes, the guests who have told me that they plan to leave a great review always have. When they tell me, I say, “Thank you very much. I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay here.”
Yes, as with EllenN, they’ve always left a great review after mentioning they will. I too thank just thank them. Guests rent a private suite in the house, so I don’t have much face-to-face contact and don’t know how they’ve left the nest until I check it later.
I’ve been so lucky because only once did I choose to leave a guest a mediocre review - after hosting more than 300 strangers.
Perhaps they assure you of a great review in hopes of reciprocation in kind, but I doubt that very much. I believe it’s from genuine gratitude.
Why did you ask, Astaire?
I’m guessing because there’s been some recent discussion around the “you just can never tell with guests”. Some are nice, hug you on departure and then leave a crappy review. Others are stand-offish and seem vaguely unhappy and end up leaving a glowing review etc etc etc.
I would say that guests who promise to leave a good review usually do. Or they don’t leave one at all. I can’t recall a guest who said they’d leave a nice review and then didn’t. Having said that, there probably have been guests who think 4* across the board and some helpful constructive criticism counts as a “good review”. You could argue that these are normal people with normal expectations - unlike Airbnb …
I’ll come to it.
I first want to know people’s experience and thoughts without prejudicing them with my observations and conjecture.
I’m curious as to what happened Astaire. Do tell!
I had a guest that did this recently - personal messages singing our praises but she never left a review. I don’t review until last minute no matter who it is and what they said they were going to say (unless they have already reviewed me) but I never heard a peep from her. Maybe because she thought better of it bc she snuck in extra people and left 17 bags of garbage for 4 night stay and thought I’d crack her for it?
And you did, right?
I’m not sure if @Astaire saw this or not.