There are two new improvements to share under Guest Communications -> Contact the Host. First, in response to your feedback, you now have the ability to specify a contact for each item that a guest can contact the host about. That way, requests can be routed to the right person instead of all going to a single point of contact. Second, you now have the ability to require a guest to provide their callback number. By selecting this option, the communication you receive from VCS alerting you to the request from the guest will include their contact number right in the text or email. No more having to go find the guest's contact information to ring them back. :)

Introducing the industry’s first voice review - the easiest possible way for your guests to leave a glowing 5 star review by simply speaking. Following the voice check-out process, the Virtual Concierge will ask: “Would you be willing to share a quick voice review of your stay with us?”. Upon agreement, VCS will allow them to leave a voice review on the go as they leave the property. You will receive their review via email, including both the actual recording as well as the transcribed text.

Host Highlights is a feature that allows you to bring any topics to your guest's attention - without them specifically having to ask. You can proactively point your guests to important things to know, or your top recommendations for their trip.

With the virtual concierge on Amazon Echo devices, you can now choose from 11 different voice personas in addition to Alexa.

Guests can now ask Alexa questions directly, and she will answer with your custom content. While 'Alexa, use the concierge service' is still available, there is now no need to invoke the skill first with VCS Pro. Just ask 'Alexa, what's the wifi password?' for example, and she will share your custom wifi information.

Your custom content can now be saved as a draft and published whenever you like. Better yet, you can also roll back published changes to any of the five prior versions. This provides an additional layer of backup, augmenting your ability to also export content to a file and import it back as needed.

With check-in notifications, guests can check-in using just their voice, and notification is sent to the designated contact. Spearately, now there is no need to have a smart speaker available to test your custom content. It can all be done in the VCS Portal via a chat session with the Virtual Concierge..

You now have an easy way to provide even greater value for your guests during their stay. The Virtual Concierge will deliver digital coupons for discounts or other special and memorable experiences at local establishments.

We always hope to be at the intersection where every guest question has an answer. But what happens when you haven't yet provided curated content for a question? The Virtual Concierge now has the patent-pending ability to handle those situations for more than 400 On-Property and Off-Property topics. To learn more, click here.

You now have the ability to understand how your guests are using the Virtual Concierge during their stay. Information includes number of conversations and questions asked, the most popular answers provided, and much more.

With our new on-boarding wizard, you can add a new property in a few quick steps. Now it is quicker and easier than ever to get started.

We know that one key to success in the vacation rental business is maintaining a personal connection with guests. One way to do that is to have them hear your own voice as part of their experience in your property. With this feature of the Virtual Concierge, you can record an audio file and attach it to a content item. When guests ask about that item, the VC will say "I'll hand it off to your host for that information", and then your own voice will provide the response to the guest's request.

To access the full Short-Term Rental Ecosystem and Vendor Deep Dive 2019 report, visit https://lnkd.in/ggahV4Q.

Now your guests can get information you consider important, without depending on them to ask for it. When a guest uses the Virtual Concierge for the first time after their arrival, they will hear the custom welcome message that you have defined. This is a one-time only welcome for each group of guests. When they use the VC again, they will get the normal greeting.

When guests tell the Virtual Concierge "We're checking out", you will receive an immediate notification. This can potentially allow you to send in the cleaning crew early. Further, you can also receive immediate feedback about your guest's stay. Guests will be asked if they are willing to provide feedback via 3 quick questions. You can use this information for continuous improvement and growing repeat bookings.

Now on the day of departure, your guests can get proactively reminded about important things to remember as they leave the property. With check-out reminders, the Virtual Concierge will send a notification to your Amazon Echo device(s) at 10am on the morning of the check-out day. When a notification arrives, the device chimes and the light indicator pulses yellow. Guests can then say "Alexa, use the concierge service" to hear your custom departure instructions.

Hosts can now link their reservation calendars. This release also includes the ability for Alexa or Google Assistant to provide custom welcome messages using your guest's name.

The value that voice tech brings vacation rentals is recognized, and growing! Here is Virtual Concierge Service being discussed by Mark Cuban and podcast host Bradley Metrock. It is in the context of the top 3 voice-oriented businesses that Mark would advise a younger self to pursue.