In this week’s blog, I wanted to take a slightly different turn. I usually cover topics on monetization, duty-of-care and how to streamline your business systems. But I have wanted to write about something a little more personal. During 2020, we have all reevaluated what is important. Our global view has shrunk to much closer to our homes and local communities. We are considering our neighbours and the local impact we can have with the small businesses in our neighbourhoods.
Sometimes it is the smallest businesses that have the greatest impact in their local communities. Sure big corporates have deeper pockets and bigger dollar amounts in their donations, but the impact that I see with small businesses is more heartfelt and personal.
My Personal Efforts
In my own hosting business Tokyo Family Stays, we closed down a number of our listings as they were not going to survive the borders closing. So we donated a ton of furniture to charity and non-profit groups who set up homes for folks in need.
The other thing we did was to send out emails to our mailing list promoting local small businesses and NPO’s who offered Japan focused goods, virtual services or tours. We did this for three reasons:
Firstly, we wanted to give our email subscribers some ways in which they could get their Japan fix eventhough travel was not possible. Secondly, we wanted to shine a light onto small businesses and NPO’s who were also struggling due to the pandemic. And thirdly, as we wanted to keep our business in the minds of our customers for when they could travel to Japan again.
I wanted to hear other stories
It got me thinking about the ways in which other STR hosts have local impact. So I put out the word in various hosting groups and asked hosts to share their stories for this post.
I wanted to give a shout out to some wonderful people who are quietly and consistently impacting the people around them. I have collated some real stories and examples below of how some STR hosts are giving back to their communities. STR businesses can bring lots of incredible profits. Creating wealth (especially generational wealth) for yourself and your family is amazing. There are so many hosts out there who show their appreciation and gratitude in some unique ways.
Real life examples of local impact
- Donate old towels to local animal shelters
- this is a popular one and a great way to recycle linens
- Contribute an annual bonus to the local church or festivals
- Buying meal or drink coupons from local restaurants to give out to guests as a treat
- Donation of furniture to goodwill
- to keep your listing fresh, update furniture regularly
- Discounts for travelling medical staff
- Free accommodation for natural disaster relief efforts
- Free temporary shelters for DV survivors on the underground network
- #VacationRentalFamilyChallenge Check this out – a challenge by a host (Tyann Marcink Hammond) to donate $1/night to CASA – an NPO that works with local foster children in Franklin County Missouri.
- A host in India (G-HOUSE) who loves to sing offers an additional experience of taking guests to sing at a local old peoples home https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/397957
- Opening listings to friends and families during the off-season for free. All they have to pay is the cleaning fee. This allows the cleaning staff to earn some money during a slow time.
Share your stories too
I’d love to hear more stories too. Write a comment below about ways in which you are giving back to your local community.
Also talking about local impact & giving back- check out my free tools for STR Hosts here.
We live in rural North Dakota and both my husband and I are farm kids.
There is a group called Farm Rescue that helps plant or harvest crops for farm families who have been impacted by a severe illness, injury, or natural disaster. Whenever they are in our area, we give them free rooms if we are not previously booked.
3 years ago we had a nice surprise. They keep track not of what we would charge, but what the local hotel would cost. When someone or a business donates over $2500 they put your name or logo on one of their vehicles for a year. It was pretty cool seeing the logo of our little 3 bedroom inn alongside the big banks, radio stations, and farm equipment and car dealerships!
Hi Kara,
I love this. Wonderful that they also recognized your contributions as real value donations. Reciprocity at its finest.