Your relatives are coming! Receive them with a healthy helping of Southern charm.
For out-of-town guests, you’ll want to pull together hospitality baskets or bags to greet them at their hotel. Before you buy anything, though, check with your city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). They may supply bags, maps and local information to help your guests feel at home. For example, the Alpharetta CVB supplies bags containing visitor info, maps, a things to do brochure and a souvenir. Some hosts use the bags as is, and others drop them into a larger welcome bag with snacks, drinks and event-specific info.
For major relative bonus points, have your Mitzvah teen write friendly notes to slip into bags or baskets. Guests who have traveled many miles to celebrate with your family will appreciate the personal touch!
Here’s a guide to approaching your guest welcome letter:
Dear Family and Friends,
Welcome to Atlanta! We are thrilled you could join us for our Mitzvah weekend. We hope this welcome package makes your stay more comfortable, and we are looking forward to celebrating with you! Enclosed are details of the weekend’s events, along with some goodies for you.
While you’re here, we hope you’ll get a taste of why we love our home. Here are some of our recommendations for local flavor:
Do
(Insert three favorite places here, like nearby parks, museums or activity centers)
Taste
(Insert three favorite restaurant/coffee shops/fro yo spots here, including name, website and address and a brief sentence about why your family likes it.)
Shop
(Insert closest grocery store, drugstore and any specialty stores worth noting in the nearby area, including name, address and hours.)
Connect
(Insert cell phone numbers for hosts.)
We’re so glad you’re here!
Love,
(Names of hosts)
What to Include in Baskets or Bags
