The AI Welcome Book, Explained
The next evolution of the guest welcome book — guests ask, the AI answers from your property information, and fewer routine questions need to reach you.
What is an AI welcome book?
An AI welcome book is a replacement for the paper binder or digital guidebook in a short-term rental. Instead of guests browsing pages to find the wifi password or checkout time, they open the concierge and simply ask — in their own language — and an AI set up for that specific property answers in seconds, 24 hours a day. The host adds the property information once, and the concierge answers from it around the clock — and makes gaps visible when something is missing.
The three generations of the welcome book
The paper binder
Printed, laminated, rarely read, always out of date.
The digital guidebook
Browsable on a phone. Better, but guests still have to hunt for answers.
The AI welcome book
Guests don't search, they ask. Answers in seconds in 30+ languages, drawn from the details the host has added.
How it works
Share your Guest SmartLink
Every property gets one automatically. Paste it into the guest message you already send — or print the included QR sign if you'd rather have something in the property.
Guests open it and ask
No app, no download. Guests tap the link or scan the code, and ask in their own language.
Routine questions get answered first
ValAi uses the property information you provide to answer guest questions, and escalates to you when it genuinely matters.
What guests actually ask
The same questions repeat at most properties: the wifi password, check-in and checkout times, parking, how the appliances work, and where to eat nearby. With an AI welcome book, many of these repetitive questions can be answered before they reach your phone — while urgent or sensitive issues can still be escalated to you.
What an AI welcome book costs
ValAi starts at $9/month per property, and it reduces repetitive guest questions about Wi-Fi, parking, check-in, appliances and local recommendations.
AI welcome book vs the alternatives
AI welcome book vs the paper binder
A binder looks lovely, but guests have to browse it and it goes out of date the moment something changes. Here's the honest comparison:
Read ValAi vs paper welcome bookAI welcome book vs Touch Stay
Touch Stay combines digital guidebooks with an AI chatbot and listing-based guide generation. ValAi takes an ask-first concierge approach centred on Guest SmartLink, QR and embed access, property-specific answers and optional live local web search.
Read ValAi vs Touch StayAI welcome book vs the digital guidebook
A digital guidebook is a set of pages guests scroll through. An AI welcome book answers the question they were going to ask instead.
Read digital guidebook vs AI welcome bookAI welcome book vs HostBuddy
HostBuddy focuses on AI guest messaging inside your booking-platform inbox. ValAi sits in the property, so many repetitive questions can be answered before they become a host message.
Read ValAi vs HostBuddyFrequently asked questions
What is an AI welcome book?
An AI welcome book replaces the paper binder or digital guidebook in a short-term rental. Guests open it from a Guest SmartLink, QR code or website embed, ask a question in their own language, and an AI set up for that specific property answers in seconds from the details the host has provided — 24 hours a day.
How is an AI welcome book different from a digital guidebook?
A digital guidebook is a set of pages a guest still has to browse to find the answer. An AI welcome book skips the browsing — guests ask the question directly and get a specific answer, in 30+ languages, without hunting through sections.
How much does an AI welcome book cost?
ValAi starts at $9/month per property, and it reduces repetitive guest questions about Wi-Fi, parking, check-in, appliances and local recommendations.
Do guests need to download an app?
No. Guests tap the Guest SmartLink or scan the QR code and start chatting in the browser. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
Set up your AI welcome book in one sitting
Build and privately test one property free — no card. Start your 30-day free trial when you're ready for guests — still no card required.