This really probably depends. I’ll share my experience, since it was a good one! I had a cleaner who did this with my permission, and I personally loved it. She left a gift bag for the guests with s’mores supplies (at her cost), and included a hand-written note and an empty envelope for optional tips. I believe she was getting tips, which was nice b/c it was obvious that she was spending more time on the property to wow the guests. There were even a few occasions where the guests wanted to tip her, but didn’t have cash and reached out to to me to get her venmo so they could tip directly. This was all optional, but the fact that it included the gift (s’mores) and hand-written note seemed to go a long way. None of my guests minded, and I loved that she could get some tips from it! Win-win-win. 

There are definitely branding ‘concerns’ that come up if you have a strong brand and their gift doesn’t align with that… but if that’s not something that you care about, might be worth a shot!

Thank you, Emily — it’s great to hear about your experience.

I’ve been thinking through the potential upsides and downsides:

Pros

• Adds a personal, human touch that could help boost reviews

• Makes guests feel genuinely welcomed — beyond a standard, corporate-style stay

• Encourages recognition and appreciation for the cleaning team’s hard work

Potential Concerns

• Could confuse some guests (“Is this a promo? Do I owe something?”)

• Might not align with our overall branding or tone

• Consistency — what happens if one guest gets a gift and the next doesn’t?

Still weighing it all — but I really appreciate your perspective. It helps!

My cleaner asked if they could leave a nice little card with a small charm in line with the branding, and I loved it!  As they are experienced with STR’s, they’ve contributed some other good ideas which I embraced. I treat my cleaners as an important part of the team and always seriously consider any feedback or ideas they bring me. I love that they take the initiative to make guests’ stays memorable and more pleasant. Happy guests = returning guests = more money for the cleaners (and me!)

Thanks so much for sharing that  Steve— I really appreciate it.

I’m open to the idea of a small token that adds a personal touch and feels aligned with the property’s vibe. What kind of charm did your cleaner included in the note, that stayed in line with your branding?  I’d love to find something thoughtful that still feels on-brand and intentional.

Appreciate the insight!

We are on the Eastern shore of Virginia and have aquatics and wildlife themed rooms featuring fish, turtles, pelicans, etc. Here is a picture of what they leave: