If you are one of the many owners of a beautiful vacation rental on Hawaii’s Big Island, you might be wondering how to make your property stand out amidst the backdrop of this tropical paradise. As you know, the short-term rental market is quite competitive, so simply having your property in such an ideal locale won’t be enough. You have to help your property stand out for all the right reasons, catching the traveler’s eye and surpassing their expectations.

Implementing the right strategies will help you stand out and increase bookings beyond your competition. Your vacation rental should reflect the unique landscape and experience of the Big Island, and appeal to a variety of visitor needs and comforts. At iTravel Vacation Homes, we want to help your property shine!

In this guide, we’ll explore five powerful ways to make your Big Island property stand out, including how partnering with an experienced property management company like iTravel Vacation Homes can help elevate your rental appeal, standing out from the rest, and giving you an increase in bookings. Let’s get started!

You’ll Need to Create a Distinctive Island Experience

Visitors to the Big Island have come to this island paradise to relax, explore, and see the sights. When seeking a vacation rental, they want more than just a place to sleep. Naturally, they’re craving an unforgettable Hawaiian experience. Give them a dose of culture and adventure by organizing and designing your Big Island property in a way that’s appealing. How can this be achieved?

Start off by giving your home a creative name. Doing so can draw guests in and help them remember where they stayed and the experiences they had here. Consider giving your property a name that reflects its location or vibe—something memorable like Hale Mahina Sunrise or Pele’s Palm Oasis. Help your property stand out with a unique name that represents the property. Your rental will feel more like home and less like a place to stay. Give your guests the gift of Hawaiian culture and beauty when they stay at your Big Island property.

Another way is to lean into local design. Think outside the box and avoid generic décor. Go for something more authentic, decorating your home with island-inspired touches that highlight Hawaiian culture. You can have a more modern aesthetic, avoiding all-wicker furniture and floral prints and instead thinking of koa wood accents, tropical artwork, natural textures, and pops of color. These small design touches can make a world of a difference in helping your potential guests feel excited to stay in your rental, and at ease the moment they arrive.

Next, you’ll want to offer local experiences. Give your guests insights into the best spots to visit, places to eat, and attractions that shouldn’t be missed. Include creative guidebooks, maps, and suggestions in the home, showcasing local hikes, beaches, and restaurants. Help guests out by including any beach gear they could use like snorkels, boogie boards, chairs or umbrellas. This lessens the stress of guests trying to figure out where to rent equipment or being forced to buy beach gear that they will then need to carry back home. Providing these little touches will make their stay so much easier, leading to happy experiences and repeat bookings.

Utilize Professional Photography and Listing Optimization

As with most experiences in life, first impressions are important. This applies even online. Your Big Island property should put its best foot forward, through the use of stunning imagery and listing optimization. A beautifully photographed listing can make all the difference between getting a click to book or simply being scrolled past.

Start by hiring a professional photographer to take snapshots of your home. Help the photographer by making sure your home is perfectly staged and photographed in optimal lighting. Capture wide angles, beautiful designed interiors, any views from your lanais or decks, plus any unique and extraordinary features – like an outdoor shower, kitchen or pool.

Next you’ll want to write an engaging description. Words have power, and choosing the right words to describe your Big Island real estate can help the reader imagine themselves in your story. It’s gotta be more than a list of amenities. Use descriptive language to paint a picture, with sentences like: greet each morning with the view of palm trees swaying in the warm, balmy breeze, the ocean waves, and a hot cup of coffee made just the way you like it. These descriptions can help potential guests imagine the little moments that can be had at your Big Island property.

The right headlines are also important. You’ll want to describe the property accurately, no clickbait! Highlight the best parts of your property in the headlines such as Oceanfront with Sunset Views, Walk to the Beach, or Private Lanai with Infinity Pool. These will help your listing get noticed on vacation rental platforms.

The point is the right visuals and wording will help your Big Island property stand out. Guests want to see themselves relaxing in your home. With quality visuals and compelling descriptions, you can reel them in and generate more views and bookings!

Prioritize Comfort and Functionality

Here’s the honest truth: No matter how beautiful your property is, if guests don’t sleep well at your property or struggle to find kitchen essentials, they won’t leave positive reviews—or worse, want to come back. Instead, make things as easy as possible, keeping comfort and functionality at the top of your list.

Guests remember the feel of a space. Making your property as welcoming, convenient, and livable as possible will boost your reviews and increase repeat bookings. How can this be done? Well, start by investing in high quality items like cookware, appliances, furniture and linens. These might not seem important but will help in the long run.

Stock your kitchen with enough cookware, utensils, spices, and small appliances like blenders, toasters, and even rice cookers. Even though guests will likely purchase their own groceries and things to create homecooked meals, having the right appliances and cookware will inspire them to cook more often. These little additions add to variety in cooking meals and make their time in the kitchen more seamless and efficient.

Next, you’ll want to invest in high-quality beds and linens. This is one of the most important aspects of guest satisfaction. A good night’s sleep is half the battle. Can you imagine the times you have stayed somewhere and the bed was too soft, or too firm, and you couldn’t sleep a wink? Help your potential guests avoid that. Test out mattresses and invest in a good one – along with soft sheets and pillows. If your guests sleep well, they’ll be more relaxed and that’s all you could want for them in your Big Island home!

You’ll also want to include family-friendly and group-friendly amenities. Think games, books, baby gear, and flexible sleeping arrangements like pull-out sofas or bunk beds.

Lastly, climate control is essential. While not all homes need AC thanks to the island’s breezes, make sure guests are comfortable with fans, screened windows, or AC units in warmer areas.

Stay Ahead of Maintenance and Cleanliness

A clean property is a booked property! Cleanliness and upkeep are non-negotiable. A clean, well-maintained home speaks volumes about your professionalism and care and is likely to lead to stellar reviews and repeat bookings.

Start by scheduling consistent deep cleans for your Big Island property. Beyond cleaning after a guest has departed, you’ll need to plan for deep cleaning of things like ceiling fans, baseboards, windows, and outdoor areas.

Next up will be to inspect your property regularly. Look for signs of wear and tear or anything that might impact the guest experience—like a wobbly chair or flickering light. Landscaping is also essential since the outside is what guests will see first. Keep curb appeal at an all-time high with trimmed grass, shrubs, healthy plants, and clean, dusted outdoor furniture.

By having a spotless, well-kept home, you’ll be giving your guests peace of mind. Your Big Island property isn’t just another listing—it’s a place that’s loved and cared for, so let it shine.

Partner with a Local Big Island Property Management Company

Now that you’re fully in the know of the actions you can take to help your Big Island property stand out, you can see that it takes a bit of work and forethought to help your property stand out. Why go through it alone? Partnering with a local property management company like iTravel Vacation Homes can help tremendously.

Managing a vacation rental on the Big Island can feel like a full-time job—especially if you don’t live on the island. Who can you trust to help you manage bookings, improve customer relations, respond to issues and help you stay compliant with local Hawaiian rules and regulations? iTravel Vacation Homes can! Here’s some insight on how the team at iTravel Vacation Homes can help you!

For starters, we’re knowledgeable about the local market. iTravel can fill you in on all you should know about the Big Island market, such as what guests are looking for and the seasonal trends that can affect occupancy and pricing.

We want to help your Big Island property shine, through the right marketing and exposure techniques. We’ll work with you to optimize listings across major platforms, along with helping your property listing to catch the attention of future guests through professional photography, targeted digital marketing and accurate property descriptions. These options can help your Big Island property get seen by the right guests at the right time.

Next comes customized care for your property. When you entrust your Big Island real estate to us, we will treat it like it was our very own. We pay keen attention to improving the guest experience through attention to detail and thorough cleanliness.

When it comes to guest support, our team handles everything like bookings, customer inquiries, 24/7 guest support, and scheduling routine maintenance. Our team is available to assist so that you aren’t up stressing out about customer requests, lockouts or appliance failures.

Having all these factors taken care of by a property manager can give you complete peace of mind. We’ll work with you as you navigate local regulations, permitting, and taxes for your property – giving you confidence that your rental is operating legally and efficiently on the Big Island.

Put your best foot forward on the Big Island vacation rental market. By following these tips and parterning with a professional property manager like iTravel Vacation Homes, your Big Island property will go from nice place to stay to extraordinary experience.

Bonus Tips for Standing Out on the Big Island

While the five strategies above are the most impactful, here are a few bonus touches that can make your Big Island property even more irresistible to potential guests.

Consider offering welcome baskets. Give your guests a taste of the Big Island life with a welcome basket that includes a few local snacks, tropical fruits, or a bottle of POG juice.

Help your guests vacation sustainably. With more emphasis being placed on sustainable travel, consider offering reusable or eco-friendly items in your rental. These can include reusable grocery bags, eco-friendly toiletries, and recycling options for the eco-conscious traveler.

You might also consider enabling self-check-in with keyless entry. Keypads are easy, convenient, and give guests flexibility to come and go as they please safely without the need for assorted keys.

Make Your Property Stand Out with iTravel Vacation Homes

Your Big Island property is now ready to stand out from the rest! Welcome your guests with thoughtful hospitality, design, and reliable service. By investing in quality design, guest comfort, and a professional property management partner, your Big Island property will quickly become someone’s Hawaii home away from home. Give your guests the gift of a one-of-a-kind experience in Hawaii by following these tips.

iTravel Vacation Homes specializes in helping property owners like you create unforgettable guest stays while maximizing your revenue in a low-stress way. With our local knowledge, personalized care, and proven strategies, we’ll help your Big Island property reach its full potential and shine among the competition.

Are you ready to make your Big Island home stand out? Reach out to iTravel Vacation Homes today and let’s get started!