Airbnb Welcome Message Templates: 6 Scripts Guests Actually Like
Ask ten hosts what a "welcome message" is and you'll get two different answers: some mean the note you send the moment a guest books, others mean the one you send once they've actually arrived. Both exist, both matter, and mixing them up is why so many welcome messages either feel cold or overwhelming.
This page covers both, with templates for each — plus six variations for common guest types, because a solo business traveler and a family of five don't want the same message.
The two "welcome messages" — and when to send each
- Booking-confirmation welcome — sent within an hour of the guest booking. Its job is reassurance: confirm the dates, set expectations for what's coming next, and open the door for questions. No door codes, no wifi password — those come later.
- Arrival-day welcome — sent once the guest has checked in (a few hours after, or the next morning). Its job is warmth, not information: "you're in, hope the place looks good, I'm here if you need anything." Ideal length is short — 30 to 80 words.
If you only send one, send the booking-confirmation version — it has the bigger effect on how a guest feels about the whole stay. The full check-in instructions live in a separate message; see our check-in message template for that one.
Template 1 — Standard booking-confirmation welcome
When to send: within an hour of booking, automated if possible.
Hi {guest_first_name}, thanks so much for booking {property_name} — we're excited to host you from {check_in_date} to {check_out_date}!
Here's what happens next: a few days before arrival I'll send directions, parking, and everything you need for check-in. Check-in is anytime after {check_in_time}, checkout is by {check_out_time}.
If anything comes up before then, just message me here — I'm quick to reply. Is there anything about your trip I should know (arrival time, special occasion, extra guests)?
{host_name}
Template 2 — Arrival-day welcome (short version)
When to send: once the guest has checked in — an hour or two after, or first thing the next morning if they arrive late at night.
Welcome, {guest_first_name}! Hope check-in went smoothly and the place looks like the photos. I'm around all week if anything comes up — otherwise, enjoy your stay in {city}!
Customization tip: Resist the urge to repeat check-in instructions here. This message has exactly one job — confirm you're a real, responsive person — and it does that job worse the longer it gets.
Template 3 — Business traveler
When to send: booking-confirmation stage, when the booking pattern signals a work trip (weekday check-in, 1–3 nights, solo guest).
Hi {guest_first_name}, thanks for booking {property_name} for your trip to {city}. A couple of things that tend to matter most for work trips: wifi is fast and reliable ({speed}), there's a proper desk in {room}, and check-in is fully self-serve so there's no need to coordinate a meeting time.
Let me know if you need anything printed, an early check-in for a morning meeting, or a recommendation for coffee near {location}.
{host_name}
Template 4 — Family with kids
Hi {guest_first_name}, looking forward to hosting your family at {property_name}! A few things that might help with the kids: {pack-n-play available on request / fenced yard / high chair in the kitchen}. Let me know ages and I can point you to the best nearby spots for {playground_or_activity}.
Full check-in details come a few days before arrival — see you soon!
{host_name}
Template 5 — Returning guest
Welcome back, {guest_first_name}! Great to have you at {property_name} again. Everything's set up the same way as last time — same door code process, and I've {restocked / kept} the {detail_they_liked} you mentioned before. Shout if anything's changed since your last stay.
{host_name}
Customization tip: Referencing one specific detail from a guest's last stay is the highest-leverage line in this whole template — it's the difference between "welcome back" as a formality and evidence you actually remember them.
Template 6 — Group booking (with house rules built in)
Hi {guest_first_name}, thanks for booking {property_name} for your group! Quick house-rules reminder since it's {occupancy} guests: max occupancy is {max}, quiet hours are {quiet_hours}, and {parties_or_visitors_policy}. Beyond that, make yourselves at home — I want this to be a great trip for everyone.
{host_name}
Customization tip: Stating the rules warmly at booking (not as a scolding message later) prevents most group-booking problems before they start.
What makes a welcome message actually land
- Personalize the first line, every time. Name, dates, something about their trip.
- Keep logistics out of it. Door codes, wifi, and parking belong in a separate check-in message.
- End with an open question, not a closed one. "Anything I should know?" surfaces early check-in requests while you can still plan for them.
- Don't over-send. One booking-confirmation message and, optionally, one short arrival-day note is enough.
Can you automate the welcome message?
The booking-confirmation version is the easiest message in your entire library to automate, because its trigger — a new booking — never changes. Airbnb's own scheduled quick replies support a "booking confirmed" trigger with a time offset and shortcodes for the guest's name and dates, so this template can go out with zero manual work. See our full guide to automating Airbnb guest messages for the setup walkthrough.
The catch: a scheduled message is the same for every guest, so it can't reference "your trip to {city}" or flag a returning guest the way Templates 3–5 above do — that needs either manual editing per guest or a messaging tool that reads the actual reservation. HostReply does that automatically — it pulls the guest's name, dates, and stay history from your connected PMS (Hospitable and OwnerRez are both fully live integrations today) and sends a personalized welcome without you touching a saved reply, while still routing anything money- or safety-related to you by SMS. It runs $19/property/month with a 14-day free trial.
FAQ
What should I say in an Airbnb welcome message?
Confirm the booking warmly, restate the dates and check-in/checkout times, tell the guest when they'll get full check-in details, and ask one open question about their trip. Keep it under 150 words for the booking-confirmation version, and under 80 words if you're also sending a separate arrival-day greeting.
Is a welcome message the same as check-in instructions?
No, and treating them as the same message is the most common mistake hosts make. The welcome message sets a warm tone at booking or on arrival; check-in instructions (door codes, parking, wifi) are practical information sent separately, closer to arrival day. See our check-in message template for that one.
When should I send the welcome message?
Send the booking-confirmation welcome within an hour of the guest booking — that's when it does the most good, setting expectations early. If you also send an arrival-day welcome, send it a couple of hours after check-in or the following morning, once the guest has actually settled in.
Can I use the same welcome message for every guest?
Yes — that's the point of a template — but always personalize the first line with the guest's name and something real about their trip. The remaining 90% of the message can be identical across every guest without anyone noticing.
Should I mention house rules in the welcome message?
For solo travelers and couples, usually not — it can feel like an accusation before anything's happened. For group and multi-guest bookings, a brief, friendly rules reminder at booking (Template 6 above) heads off far more problems than the same rules delivered after a violation.
Can I automate the welcome message on Airbnb?
Yes, for the booking-confirmation version — Airbnb's scheduled quick replies support a "booking confirmed" trigger. It sends the identical message to every guest, though, so personalized touches like referencing a returning guest's last stay need either manual edits or an AI messaging tool that reads the reservation directly.