Referral Program: Turn Guests Into Marketers

Tier: 🌱 Growth Plan ($29/mo) and above
Time to read: 6 minutes

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What Is the Referral Program?

The referral program lets your guests share your property with friends and family, earning rewards when their referrals book. It's word-of-mouth marketing on autopilot.

How it works:

1. Happy guest stays at your property
2. They get a unique referral link
3. They share with friends
4. Friend books using the link
5. Both get rewarded

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Why Referrals Matter

Metric	Industry Benchmark
Referral conversion rate	3-5x higher than ads
Customer lifetime value	16% higher for referred guests
Acquisition cost	50-75% lower than paid marketing
Trust factor	92% trust recommendations from people they know

Referrals are your highest-quality leads. Someone who was personally recommended your property is far more likely to book—and rebook.

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Setting Up Referrals

Step 1: Enable Referral Tracking

1. Go to Dashboard → Properties → [Your Property] → Settings
2. Scroll to "Referral Program" section
3. Toggle "Enable Referral Tracking" ON

Step 2: Configure Rewards (Optional)

Set what guests get for successful referrals:

Reward Type	Example
Discount on next stay	10% off their next booking
Credit amount	$50 credit toward future stay
Free upgrade	Free early check-in
Gift	Local welcome basket

Note: Rewards are fulfilled manually. GuestLoop tracks referrals; you deliver the reward.

Step 3: Customize Referral Landing Page

Each property gets a unique referral landing page:

• guestloop.io/r/your-property-code

Customize:

• Hero image
• Property description
• Testimonial quotes
• Call-to-action text

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How Guests Share

Referral Link

After their stay, guests can access their referral link:

1. Email: Include link in post-stay email
2. Guidebook: Add to your guidebook footer
3. Thank you page: Show after checkout

Example link format:

https://guestloop.io/r/mountain-cabin?ref=SARAH123

What the Referral Page Shows

When someone clicks a referral link, they see:

• Beautiful property showcase
• "Referred by [Guest Name]" badge
• Property highlights
• Booking CTA

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Tracking Referrals

Referral Dashboard

Navigate to Dashboard → Referrals or Dashboard → Properties → [Property] → Referrals

You'll see:

• Total Referrals: All-time referral count
• Successful Bookings: Referrals that converted
• Conversion Rate: Bookings ÷ Referrals
• Revenue Generated: Total booking value from referrals

Referral Details

Click any referral to see:

• Referring guest name
• Referred guest name
• Referral date
• Booking status (pending/confirmed)
• Booking value
• Reward status

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Attribution System

How Attribution Works

When a referred guest books:

1. Cookie-based: Referral code stored in browser (30-day window)
2. URL parameter: ?ref=CODE passes through to booking
3. Manual entry: Guest can enter referral code at checkout

Attribution Window

Referrals are attributed within:

• 30 days of clicking the referral link
• No limit if referral code is manually entered

Multi-Touch Attribution

If a guest clicks multiple referral links:

• First touch wins (first referrer credited)
• All touches are logged for analysis

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Managing Rewards

Viewing Pending Rewards

Go to Dashboard → Referrals → Pending Rewards

For each pending reward:

• Referring guest info
• Reward type/amount
• Referral date
• Action buttons

Fulfilling Rewards

1. Click "Mark as Fulfilled"
2. Add fulfillment notes (optional)
3. The system logs the fulfillment date

Tip: Set up email automation to notify guests when their reward is ready.

Handling Cancellations

If a referred booking is cancelled:

• Referral status changes to "Cancelled"
• Reward is automatically removed from pending
• No action needed

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Best Practices

Timing Your Ask

The best time to ask for referrals:

Timing	Why It Works
At checkout	Guest is happiest, fresh memories
24 hours post-stay	Had time to reflect, still engaged
After positive review	Proven they're a promoter

Making Sharing Easy

Reduce friction:

• Pre-written share messages
• One-click social sharing
• Easy-to-remember codes
• Mobile-friendly landing pages

Reward Ideas That Work

Low-cost, high-value:

• Early check-in (costs you nothing)
• Local partner discounts
• Exclusive returning guest rate
• Welcome amenity upgrade

Cash-based:

• % off next booking (encourages rebooking)
• Flat credit amount
• Cash back after referral books

Promoting Your Program

• Mention in post-stay email
• Include in guidebook
• Add to booking confirmation
• Display in property (QR code)
• Share on social media

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Referral Analytics

Key Metrics to Track

Metric	What It Tells You
Referral rate	% of guests who share
Click-through rate	% of links clicked
Conversion rate	% of clicks that book
Revenue per referral	Average booking value

Identifying Top Referrers

The Referrals dashboard highlights your best advocates:

• Most referrals sent
• Highest conversion rate
• Most revenue generated

Tip: Reach out personally to top referrers with special thanks or VIP perks.

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Integration with Campaigns

Referral-Focused Campaigns

Create email campaigns targeting:

• Guests who haven't shared yet
• Guests whose referrals converted (thank them!)
• Top referrers (special offers)

Template Variables

Use these in your campaigns:

• {referral_link} - Guest's unique referral URL
• {referral_code} - Guest's referral code
• {referral_count} - Number of successful referrals

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FAQ

Do referral rewards expire?

That's up to you. We recommend 12-month expiration to create urgency.

Can I offer different rewards for different properties?

Yes, each property has independent referral settings.

What if someone books without using the referral link?

They can enter the referral code during booking or you can manually attribute the referral.

Can guests refer themselves?

No, self-referrals are automatically blocked.

How do I handle disputes?

Review the attribution chain in the referral details. You can manually adjust attribution if needed.

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Related Guides

• Creating Email Campaigns
• Audience Targeting
• Revenue Analytics