Friday, December 11, 2015

By Barbara Pronin It’s the holiday season, and if you are one of the many families who will be hosting friends and family for a few days, your aim should be making them feel welcome and comfortable and cut down on stressful situations.

Take a few simple tips from hotel managers to help you achieve the goal:

• Give them a key and a cheat sheet – Giving guests a key enables them to come and go without disturbing you – and leave a little cheat sheet on the night table containing such things as alarm codes, emergency contact numbers, your Wi-Fi password, instructions or information about your pets.
• Think like a hotel housekeeper – leave an extra pillow or two and an extra blanket in the guestroom – and be sure a supply of towels is within easy reach.
• Add fresh flowers and other thoughtful touches – A small bunch of flowers in a vase on the night table goes a long way to make guests feel welcome. Add a magazine or two and a carafe of water and a couple of glasses.
• Prepare a basket of toiletries – Outfit the bathroom with travel-size tubes of hand cream and toothpaste, body lotion and shampoo – perhaps even an extra toothbrush or comb. Guests may not need them, but your caring effort will be noticed.
• Think about a luggage rack – They are available online for as little as $15, and having one in the guest room will help your guests stay neat and organized.
• Ask ahead about allergies or diet restrictions – An email or phone call a few days before the visit will prepare you to meet guests’ food preferences, diet restrictions or other needs.
• Keep a basket of snacks in the kitchen – Guests may feel awkward snooping about your kitchen for a snack. Keep a basket of power bars, fresh fruit, small packets of nuts, dried fruit or cookies on the kitchen counter.
• Include guests in meal prep or household chores – Most guests will ask how they can help – and they mean it. Enlisting them to chop veggies, set the table, or help clear it will make them feel more at home.
• Work out a bathroom routine – If bathroom space is limited, working out a morning or evening routine will make everyone feel more comfortable.

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