The Airbnb welcome message is the most-read piece of writing you'll ever send: guests open it on the way to your door, at night, with a dying phone. Most hosts use it to say hello and then answer the same five questions in the chat for three days. This template fixes that - every answer in one message, plus a photo route for the arrival, so 'where are you?' becomes a question nobody needs to ask.
A welcome message is not a greeting card. It's the answer sheet for the five questions every guest asks: how do I get there, how do I get in, what's the wifi, where do I park, and who do I call if something breaks. Write those answers once, in order, and the message becomes the last piece of guest communication you'll ever write by hand.
Welcome to [property]! Here's everything for a smooth arrival. 1) Getting here: follow this photo route from [landmark] to the door - it works even if you have no signal: [route link]. 2) Getting in: the door code is [code], lockbox [location]. 3) Wifi: [name], password [password]. 4) Parking: [instructions]. 5) House rules: [quiet hours, smoking, pets - three lines max]. 6) If anything breaks or you need help: [number], we're 10 minutes away. That's it - six numbered lines. Guests can skim it in the elevator.
Text directions fail at the exact moment guests need them: at night, in an unfamiliar street, with no landmarks they recognise. 'Turn left after the blue gate' means nothing when every gate looks the same in the dark. Put a photo route in the message instead - a picture of each turn, corner and door from the nearest landmark. Photos work at 2 a.m., offline, with zero cell signal. Walk the route once, photograph each decision point, and the link goes into your template forever. <a href="/">Create your photo route with imhere</a> - one walk, one link, no more 'we're lost' calls.
Send the full welcome message right after booking confirmation, a short version 24 hours before arrival ('Reminder: your check-in guide is here - [link]'), and a one-line version on arrival day ('Door code [code]. Wifi [name]. Enjoy!'). Three touches sounds like more work, but every one is automated - and each one prevents a midnight message.
Some guests won't read anything, ever. That's fine - put a QR code on the inside of the door and on the check-in card. Scanning opens the same guide: photo route, wifi, rules. Guests who can't be bothered to read a message will scan a QR code at the door because it's right there. One route, printed once, reused for every booking.