Guest house | 4 tips to make your World Cup guests even happier

The FIFA World Cup is here! Naturally, every guest house owner wants to put their best foot forward. Here are four tips for creating a great, lasting impression on your soccer guests.

1. Here for the soccer
Remember that overseas tourists have come to South Africa to view the matches – either at stadiums, in fan parks or on TV. For those who have match tickets or who intend to go to fan parks, be sure to arrange transport from your guest house – or, at least, contact shuttle services and taxi companies ahead of time and make a note of their charges and details. For televised matches, consider hiring a big-screen TV, arrange extra seating and provide some complimentary snacks. Your guests will really appreciate it.

2. Showcase South Africa
Don’t forget that visitors are also here to experience our beautiful country. There are many things you could do to showcase your city, province or culture. Have a themed dinner where you serve local fare. Arrange a wine and food tasting event, and talk your guests through the local delicacies on offer. Alternatively, if you have a large sitting room, make some local films available to your visitors. Of course, you can also recommend local shows, concerts and other entertainment.

3. Speak their language
If you’ve received a booking for a group of tourists who speak the same foreign language, see if you can find a tour guide or interpreter to help you make their stay memorable. Guides may also suggest habits or expectations that the guests will have, allowing you to cater to them and pleasantly surprise your guests when they arrive. You can also contact various language institutions in your city to see if they have special programs, services or tours for foreign guests.

4. Remember the locals
Not fully booked? Remember that local South Africans also enjoy going on holiday and would appreciate a break during the hectic World Cup season. Make sure that you make locals happy by offering your usual winter specials or by providing special World Cup discounts to fill empty beds. South African guests will be happy to see that you’re not charging full (or inflated) rates, and you’ll be creating future customers for when the tourists have all gone home. Remember – the World Cup will be around for a month, but your guest house needs to endure for much longer. Treat your local visitors with extra consideration, charge reasonable fees and don’t exploit them – South Africans will appreciate it, and chances are that they’ll be back next year.

Are you going on holiday over World Cup season?