Special occasion: anniversary.
Guest mentions an anniversary in booking notes; acknowledge with a small gesture.
Last verified
Example input
Guest noted '15-year anniversary trip' in booking
Example output
Hi {{guestFirstName}} — saw the anniversary note in your booking. Fifteen years is a big one — congratulations to you both. I left a small bottle of {{anniversaryWelcome}} and two glasses on the counter for you. The {{viewSpot}} is the best spot on the property for a quiet evening if the weather cooperates. Whatever you decide to do with the trip, I hope it's a great one.
Mustache placeholders ({{guestFirstName}}, {{propertyName}}) mark the values you'll swap in for the actual stay.
How to handle an anniversary stay
Anniversary stays are the highest-leverage relationship-building bookings you’ll get. The guest has self-disclosed that the stay is meaningful, which means a small gesture lands disproportionately — far more than the same gesture on a routine business trip would.
The template above keeps the gesture deliberately small:
- A single bottle and two glasses. Not a fruit basket, not a hamper, not a full charcuterie board. Restraint reads as taste; excess reads as performative.
- A specific recommendation. “The sunset deck” or “the back hammock at golden hour” is more memorable than “feel free to use the property.” Specific recommendations show you’ve thought about the property.
- No follow-up ask. The message doesn’t request a review, doesn’t pitch returning, doesn’t soft-funnel anything. It’s a clean, generous gesture with no return-on-investment string attached.
What “small gesture” actually costs
| Gesture | Cost | Effort | Review impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle of wine + 2 glasses | $15 | 5 min | High |
| Hand-written note | $0 | 5 min | Surprisingly high |
| Local-bakery cookies (left on counter) | $8 | 0 min if pre-arranged | High |
| Chocolate-strawberry “spa basket” | $40 | 30 min | Medium (reads commercial) |
| Champagne + flowers + balloons | $80 | 1 hour | Mixed (reads forced) |
The cheapest options are the highest-leverage ones because they read as genuine. The expensive options read as compliance with a “luxury” expectation.
When to skip the gesture
If the guest mentioned the anniversary in passing and didn’t book a high-tier property — skip it. Forced surprise on a budget stay reads as condescension (“they thought it was meaningful enough to celebrate but not enough to spring for the nicer property”). Better to send a warm message acknowledging the occasion without the physical gesture.
Anniversary cancellations
Anniversary trips have a higher cancellation rate than routine bookings — relationships, illness, scheduling conflicts. If a guest cancels an anniversary booking, send a single message acknowledging the disappointment (“Sorry to hear it didn’t work out — when the timing’s right, we’re here”) and don’t pursue the rebook. They’ll come back when they’re ready.