This guide is for small hotel owners who want guests to know what is open and how to get in before they book or arrive. That covers the listing text and the message before arrival. AI can draft both from your own facts, and you check them before they go out.
What guests at small Corfu hotels report
The main complaint is a gap between what the listing promises and what is open or working. At one Paleokastritsa hotel, the food and bar facilities were listed but closed. Access is another issue in Corfu Town, where hotel entrances can have steps and dropped kerbs are rare, so guests with limited mobility need the facts before booking. Insects come up as well, such as a cockroach on the first day at a hotel in Moraitika.
- «none of the food or bar facilities are open» Guest review on trip.com
- «There is a problem with lack of drop kerbs generally in Corfu Town» Euan's Guide review
- «The only disappointment was a big cockroach we saw the first day we came to the room.» Guest review on trip.com
If the bar or restaurant is closed this season, update the facilities on every channel and say so in a message before arrival, with nearby tavernas listed. Publish the number of entrance steps, whether there is a lift and where taxis can stop. Before opening, check the channel manager after winter so room categories and dates match what guests booked.
Why guest communication in Corfu is a job of its own
Corfu has many front doors. Guests land at the airport next to Corfu Town, drive over on the ferry from Igoumenitsa, or arrive by boat from Italy. Each route brings its own questions, and you hear the same ones every season:
- How do we get from the airport or port to you? Can you arrange a transfer?
- Do we need a rental car? Where do we park? Are the roads difficult?
- Which beach do you recommend, the west coast or the east?
- Is the Old Town worth a day? How do we get to Paxos or take a day trip to Albania?
- Our ferry arrives late. Can we still check in?
The season changes the mix too. Spring and Easter bring walkers and people who come for the famous Corfiot Easter. Summer brings families from across Europe, August brings many Italian and Greek guests, and autumn is calmer. That means several languages and dozens of repeat questions, usually handled by an owner who is also reception, bookkeeper and review manager.
A pre-arrival message that answers questions before they're asked
The most valuable message you send goes out 2-3 days before arrival. If it covers the journey, parking and arrival time, many of the calls never happen. Here is an example for guests flying in. Fill in the brackets with your own details:
Hi [Name], we're looking forward to welcoming you on [date]! A few practical tips for your trip: from Corfu airport we're about [time] by car. Here's our exact location: [map link]. If you'd like a transfer, just reply with your flight number and we'll arrange it for [details]. If you're renting a car, the last [km] of road are [description], so take it easy and enjoy the views. You can park [where]. Check-in is from [time]. If your flight lands late, let us know and we'll make it work. For your first swim we love [beach], and for dinner [taverna]. Any questions, we're right here on WhatsApp. Safe travels! [Your name]
You can ask AI to adapt the same message for guests coming by ferry, or to translate it into German, French or Italian. Read it once before sending.
Let AI answer from your facts, not its imagination
The biggest mistake is asking ChatGPT what time the Paxos boat leaves. It may answer confidently and be wrong. Give it your facts instead and tell it to stick to them:
You are the front desk of [hotel name] in Corfu. Reply to the guest warmly and briefly, in the language they write in, using ONLY the information below. If something isn't covered, say we'll check and get back to them. Information: [transfers, parking, times, beaches, excursions…]
Timetables, prices and opening hours stay under your control. AI only does the wording and the translation.
Reviews: calm replies, even when the road is to blame
In Corfu, plenty of critical reviews aren't about the room at all. They're about a narrow road, parking or summer noise. A good reply stays calm, avoids defensiveness and helps the next reader. For example:
Thank you for staying with us and for your honest feedback. You're right, the road up to us is narrow. That's why we now send every guest detailed directions and a photo of our entrance before arrival. We're so glad you enjoyed the view and breakfast, and we'd love to welcome you back.
When replies only get written when there's time, some reviews never get one. With a template and a prompt, you can write a reply in a few minutes, and it still sounds like you.
Listings and Google: sell your corner of the island
Every listing says close to the sea, friendly staff. Guests want specifics. Will they see the sunset from the west coast? Are you in a village with tavernas? Do they need a car? An honest listing that even mentions the steep lane attracts guests who know what to expect. On your Google Business Profile, a short post about Easter, the season opening or a Corfiot touch at breakfast keeps you active in local search.
FAQ
Do I need a paid ChatGPT or Claude account?
Not necessarily. The templates and prompts work with the free versions, and the setup guide shows you how to start.
Will the messages sound robotic?
Not if you personalise them. The templates are written in a human voice, and one of the prompts exists specifically to make them yours: your tone, names and local details.
Which languages are included?
The 6 guest messages come in English, Greek, German, French and Italian, so you get 30 ready texts.
Can I use them as quick replies?
Yes. The setup guide shows how to save them as quick replies in WhatsApp Business, Booking.com and Airbnb.
— Gal Tuvyahu, Promethe