Because of You

A guest gratitude initiative for hospitality teams

Created by Erinne Magee, host of The Heart of Travel

There are certain trips I remember and think about often because of the people behind them.

The front desk employee who remembered my name after check-in and asked me later, in passing, how I was doing; if I needed anything.
The tour guide who went off script to engage with me and my family.
The concierge who took the time to get to know us before offering a thoughtful recommendation.
The bellhop who talked to my son about the upcoming Barcelona match after seeing him in a jersey.

As a long-time travel writer and the host of The Heart of Travel podcast, I spend a lot of time thinking about the human side of hospitality … the people who shape how travel feels.

And over the years, I kept coming back to one thought:

Guests often carry these moments home with them, but hospitality employees rarely receive tangible reminders of the impact they’ve had.

That idea became Because of You.

Because of You is a simple guest gratitude initiative designed for hotels, inns, resorts, and hospitality spaces that want to create more meaningful moments of recognition between guests and staff.

The concept is intentionally simple. I designed cards with prompts like:

“Because of you…”
“Thank you for…”
“You are the heart of travel …”

Guests complete the message in their own words and pass it to the hospitality team member who made the trip extra special.

Small moments. Lasting impact.

Why I Created This

I don’t believe hospitality is simply about service. It’s emotional. It’s the feeling someone we leave with.
It’s connecting with another human being in a moment that goes beyond standard guest-employee pleasantries.
It’s kindness remembered long after the trip ends.

The people working quietly behind the scenes of travel help shape some of our most meaningful memories, and I wanted to create something that allows guests to acknowledge that in a personal and lasting way.

Because of You was created to support:

• employee appreciation

• meaningful guest connection

• intentional hospitality culture

• moments of gratitude that feel human rather than transactional

What’s Included

Each Because of You Hospitality Kit includes:

• digital access to 4 professionally designed card templates

• print-ready files

• editable Canva template access

• suggested implementation ideas for hotels and hospitality spaces

• space on the backside for optional hotel logo placement/branding

The collection is intentionally designed to feel timeless, thoughtful, and easy to implement across a variety of hospitality environments.

Hotels are able to print the cards in-house and place them:

• at the front desk

• inside guest rooms

• during turndown service

• as part of guest experience programming

A Note From Me

This project is deeply personal to me.

Through my years as a travel writer, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing extraordinary hospitality around the world — and what I remember most often are not the amenities or aesthetics, but the people.

Your employees are your greatest amenity.
Your employees are the heartbeat of the hotel.
Your employees are the people we cherish.

Because of You was created as a way to celebrate those who bring your culture to life.

A little love note goes a long way.

— Erinne Magee

Purchase the Because of You Hospitality Kit

One Time Fee: $99 (print as many as you want!)

Includes instant digital download access.

Buy Your Love Notes