Top Upselling Examples for Vacation Rentals in Mexico

In the vibrant and rapidly growing vacation rental market of Mexico, upselling has become a key strategy for maximizing revenue and enhancing the guest experience. From the Ruins of Tulum to the cenotes of Yucatán, Mexican property managers have endless opportunities to provide memorable experiences.

Mexico’s Thriving Vacation Market

Mexico’s Vacation Rentals market is rapidly expanding, driven by its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and affordable options. By 2028, 64% of the revenue will come from online bookings, highlighting the importance for property managers to optimize their digital presence. This growth presents an excellent opportunity for property managers to attract more guests and increase their bookings. To stay competitive, they should focus on enhancing their online listings, providing an exceptional guest experience, and leveraging technology to streamline operations.

What are Short-Term Rental Upsells?

A short-term rental upsell is a powerful tool which refers to the practice of offering guests additional products, services, or upgrades to enhance their stay, while increasing the revenue. This strategy is commonly used in the short-term rental industry and can be either operational, or involve tours, activities, and experiences.  The key to successful upselling is understanding the guests’ needs and preferences and offering relevant and valuable additions that enhance their experience. Effective guest communication plays a crucial role in identifying these needs and suggesting suitable upsells. This approach not only boosts revenue but can also lead to higher guest satisfaction and loyalty.

The key to successful upselling lies in understanding the guests’ needs and preferences. Effective guest communication is crucial for identifying these needs and offering relevant and valuable additions. Engaging with guests through pre-arrival surveys, personalized welcome messages, or during their stay can provide insights into their interests and expectations. For example, if a guest expresses an interest in outdoor activities, offering options like guided hikes or bike rentals would be a tailored upsell that aligns with their interests.

Moreover, effective upselling strategies are rooted in timely and well-targeted offers. By leveraging data and insights from booking systems, property managers can identify the right moments to present upsell opportunities, such as during the booking process, pre-check-in, or even mid-stay. This approach ensures that upsell offers are relevant and align with the guest’s current needs and preferences.

Implementing a thoughtful upselling strategy not only boosts revenue but also fosters higher guest satisfaction and loyalty. When guests feel that their preferences are understood and catered to, they are more likely to have a positive experience, leave glowing reviews, and return for future stays. By creating a personalized and attentive experience, property managers can build stronger relationships with their guests, encouraging repeat bookings and word-of-mouth referrals.

Upsells in Hotels VS Vacation Rentals: What’s the Difference

Upsells in hotels typically involve concierge services and traditional amenities, whereas in the short-term rental properties industry, this process is digitized to streamline operations. In contrast, vacation rental upsells are more personalized, catering to individual guest needs like grocery delivery, private chefs, and local tours. Vacation rentals offer operators flexibility to innovate, tailoring unique experiences to their property and target market. This personalized approach is integral to the business model of vacation rentals, allowing them to provide an exceptional guest experience. With the growing popularity of short-term rentals, more travelers are choosing them for accommodation. These guests now expect hotel-like services during their stays. Therefore, offering add-on amenities and other enhancements is crucial for hospitality professionals managing vacation rentals.

Why offer upsells in vacation rentals?

Offering upsells in vacation rentals brings multiple advantages. By enhancing the guest experience through added convenience and luxury, you can significantly increase guest satisfaction and tailor to your target audience’s specific needs. This not only boosts your revenue but also helps in building a strong and recognizable brand. Upselling also encourages repeat business, as guests are more likely to return to a place where they felt valued and pampered. Moreover, satisfied guests are more inclined to leave positive reviews, further enhancing your property’s reputation and attracting new visitors.

Understanding market trends and employing effective revenue management strategies are essential for maximizing these benefits, ensuring that upselling occurs at the best time to meet guest demand. Ultimately, vacation rentals play a similar role to hotels in the hospitality industry, adapting to modern expectations and providing exceptional, personalized experiences.

How much revenue per listing can I add with upsells in Mexico?

A well-executed upselling strategy, tailored to your guests needs and the capacity of your business, can substantially boost revenue. So how can you get the potential revenue increase from upsells in your vacation rental business in Mexico?

Factors like your property type, capacity, average stay length, and booking channels can impact your potential revenue uplift. We can make a quick estimate, with a basic formula:

Take the value of an experience or service upsell and calculate your cut. Different affiliate programs offer different rev share to partners.

Affiliate Program is Bundled in our Boarding Pass

What is Enso Experiences?

We connect your guests to thousands of curated local tours, activities, and experiences directly through your guest portal. From guide tours and wellness packages to live music and outdoor adventures, your property becomes the gateway to long-lasting memories. NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO YOU.

How Does It Work?

Instant Setup, Zero Hassle: Enable Enso Experiences with one click and watch the revenue flow in – no management required!

Tailored Recommendations: Local tours and activities are automatically displayed in your guests’ Boarding Pass after property-specific upsells. These recommendations are specific to your property location, tour ratings and popularity.

Revenue Generation: Earn a 2-6% commission every time a guest books an experience.

Consider Offering Operational Upsells

An operational upsell in the hospitality industry refers to offering guests additional services related to the operation and convenience of their stay. These services enhance the guest experience by providing added comfort, flexibility, and convenience, for an additional fee. Below are some examples:

Early Check-in

An early check-in offers guests the possibility to access the accommodation before the standard check-in time. This would normally be between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The service is valuable for guests arriving early in the day who want to rest, unload the bags, relax or start exploring the destination. Our data (of over 7 million guest checkins) indicates that even offering a ONE HOUR earlier checkin for an additional $20 or so is worth it for many people.

Late Check-out

By providing guests with late check-out, you let them stay in the property after a standard checkout time. This is usually between 10am and 12PM. When people have late departures, the possibility to enjoy the property for a little longer can add-up to the vacation experience. Many guests are ready to pay a premium for convenience. A willingness to offer your guests the flexibility of a later stay can go a long way.

Stay Extension or Gap Nights

This type of an upsell offering can be a golden opportunity for a rental operator to increase occupancy rate. Fill short gaps between reservations by offering departing and arriving guests to extend their stays and fill gap nights. By automating this process, you can make sure to capture these rental income opportunities with a great value proposition.

Mid-stay Clean

A short-term rental housekeeping doesn’t include daily cleaning. However, travellers staying for longer periods of time, would appreciate mid-stay housekeeping service and would pay extra to pay for the cleaning team effort.

Pool/Hot tub Maintenance

Offering this upsell requires knowing your audience and the market you are in very well. If it is something that makes sense, upselling pool or hot tub maintenance can boost profits while enhancing the guest experience.

Consider Offering Service Upsells

Service upsells focus on offering additional guest services that enhance their stay by providing extra convenience, luxury, or comfort. These can range from personalized concierge services to in-room amenities and private transportation. Examples include:

1. Transportation Services: Offering airport pickup and drop-off services, car rentals, or shuttle services to nearby attractions.

2. Food and Beverage Delivery: Offer grocery delivery services where guests can pre-order groceries and have them delivered to their rental before or during their stay. You can also provide an option for guests to order ready-to-eat meals and beverages from nearby restaurants.

3. Equipment Rentals: Provide rental services for equipment that guests might need during their stay. Examples include bicycles, baby equipment (cribs, high chairs), or beach accessories (chairs, snorkeling gear).

Conclusion 

Upselling in Mexico’s tourist accommodation market is more than just a revenue-boosting tactic—it’s a vital approach for distinguishing oneself in a vibrant and competitive environment. By providing guests with unique and culturally rich experiences, such as exploring the ancient ruins of Tulum, diving in the crystalline cenotes of the Yucatán, or embarking on a culinary journey through the streets of Mexico City, property managers can greatly elevate guest satisfaction. These tailored upsells cater to the varied interests of travelers and transform a routine stay into an unforgettable adventure. In Mexico’s growing short-term rental sector, leveraging local attractions and innovative upselling strategies is crucial for hosts to excel. By offering value that extends beyond mere accommodation, they ensure that every guest’s stay is an enriching and memorable experience.