What ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ Can Teach Us About 5-Star Vacation Rentals

In today’s vacation rental market, great photos and clean linens are just the baseline. If you want your guests to leave raving, not just satisfied, it’s time to embrace a whole new level of care. Enter Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.

Originally set in the fine-dining world, Guidara’s approach is a masterclass in turning ordinary service into unforgettable experience. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a Michelin star to apply these lessons. You just need heart, creativity, and a willingness to do things most hosts won’t.

Here are five powerful takeaways from the book, along with tips on how to use them to level up your vacation rental game.

1. Make It Personal

 Cookie-cutter stays are out. Personalized experiences are the gold standard. Before your guests even arrive, find out who they are. Is it a family with toddlers? Stock some bedtime books. A couple on their honeymoon? Cue the champagne and rose petals. These thoughtful touches don’t cost much, but they leave an incredible impression.

2. Surprise and Delight

 Guidara’s golden rule: give guests what they didn’t even know they wanted. Think beyond the basics. A s’mores kit by the firepit, a beach day basket, or a handwritten note with your favorite local restaurant tips. It’s about creating “wow” moments that make people smile, snap a photo, and say, “This place gets it.”

3. Create Moments, Not Just Stays

 Your home is more than a place to sleep. It’s a stage for memories. Ask yourself: how can I help my guests create one amazing moment during their stay? Maybe it’s a telescope for stargazing. Maybe it’s a rainy-day game basket. These small touches turn a rental into a story your guests will retell for years.

4. Empower Your Team to Say “Yes”

 Hospitality isn’t a solo act. If you work with a team - cleaners, handymen, or guest support give them the green light to care deeply. Let them solve problems creatively, leave personal notes, or offer early check-ins when possible. When your team feels empowered, they stop checking boxes and start creating joy.

5. Systematize the Magic

 Spontaneity is great, but consistency is even better. Build your special touches into systems: seasonal welcome baskets, guest-type profiles, or rotating “wow” ideas. This ensures every guest gets a dose of delight, no matter who’s staying or who’s working that week. Magic doesn’t have to be random. It can be reliable.

At the heart of Unreasonable Hospitality is one big idea: people don’t just want a place to stay, they want to feel like they matter. And when you deliver that kind of care, you build loyalty, earn glowing reviews, and create something far greater than a rental business.

So go ahead, be unreasonable. Be the host your guests can’t stop talking about. Because when hospitality is done right, it doesn’t just meet expectations, it transforms them.

This article was brought to you by Dave Menapace, a thought leader in short term rentals and President of The 5 Star Co-Host, LLC (www.5strcohost.com) a leading vacation rental management company in New England.

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