Good upsells do two jobs: they make the guest’s stay smoother and they add a little margin without creating headaches for you or your cleaner. In Cairns, these are the ones that reliably convert.
High-converting add-ons (Cairns edition)
- Airport transfers — Fixed-price partner rides. Add the link in your first message and listing guide; no markup needed if you’d rather just help the guest.
- Early luggage drop — Offer bag drop from 12–2pm while the clean finishes. It removes stress and almost never breaks anything.
- Late checkout — Weekdays outside peak: paid 12pm/1pm options. Tie to your cleaner schedule so it’s automatic or hidden when you can’t offer it.
- Reef day-trip referrals — Curate 2–3 reputable operators and link them. You don’t need to ticket; guests value a vetted list.
- Celebration pack — Flowers/chocolates/sparkling on arrival for anniversaries. Price to cover time + delivery.
What to skip (low uptake or high hassle)
- On-demand gear hires that require pick-up/return coordination.
- Complex food packs that need strict timing and refrigeration.
- Anything that forces your cleaner to detour across town.
Simple pricing that feels fair
- Bag drop: free or small fee ($10–$20) — goodwill > margin.
- Late checkout: $15–$25 per extra hour (weekday), higher on Sunday/event weeks.
- Celebration pack: item cost + flat $20 service/delivery.
How to present upsells so guests actually see them
- Put one line under your arrival info: “Want a late checkout or bag drop? Just ask.”
- Add a short “Add-ons” section to your listing and your digital guide/Welcome PDF.
- Use quick-reply templates so guests get a fast yes/no with the price.
Automation ideas (so it doesn’t become admin)
- Only offer late checkout if the next booking is 24+ hours away.
- Auto-hide the option on peak turnaround days.
- Keep a template for each add-on with price, cut-off times and how to pay.
Owner sanity checks
- Turnover cost vs add-on value: If a late checkout risks a rushed clean, skip it. Reviews > $20.
- No cash handling: Use platform/Stripe links or send partner booking links directly.
Copy/paste: quick-reply templates
- Late checkout: “We can do a 12pm checkout for $25 (subject to schedule). Want me to add that now?”
- Luggage drop: “No problem — you can drop bags from 12–2pm while cleaning’s underway.”
- Reef recommendations: “Guest favourites: Reef Operator A, Operator B, Operator C. I’ll send links.”
Related reads
Want us to wire these into your guest messages and cleaner app? Book a free consult, or run your numbers in our earnings & turnover calculator.