Dive into the complete episode list for Host Planet. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
08 Sep 2023
HCH002: Damian Sheridan: Stay at your rental to understand the guest experience
Join host James Varley for an in-depth interview with Damian Sheridan, Founder of the Scale shows and The Book Direct Show.
James gives a rundown of the HCH platforms before Damian discusses his time in the short-term rentals industry, the platforms he represents, the importance of direct bookings, what hosts can do to supercharge their listings, and future trends to be looking out for.
(1:45) Damian’s short-term rentals journey
(2:25) Changes in the industry over 20 years
(3:00) Advice to people starting out – including the importance of direct bookings
(4:57) Online travel agencies play a key role
(7:08) You could lose your listing overnight if you’re only on one platform
(10:34) The Book Direct Show
(11:40) Scale shows
(13:44) Professionalisation in the industry
(16:00) Simple things hosts can do to improve
(18:00) Future trends investors, hosts, and property managers should be looking out for
Join host James Varley for an overview of the Holiday Cottage Handbook (HCH) platform and in-depth interview with Merilee Karr, Founder and CEO, UnderTheDoormat Group, and Chairperson, Short-Term Accommodation Association (STAA).
James gives a rundown of the HCH community before Merilee talks about her career in the short-term rentals industry and the prospect of legislation, before outlining the future trends that investors, hosts, and property managers should be looking out for.
(5:12) Merilee’s career
(7:18) UnderTheDoormat Group
(10:55) TrustedStays
(12:52) STAA Chairperson
(16:18) Regulation is coming
(20:25) Positive PR for the short-term rentals industry
(23:25) The importance of data and implementing a national registration system
(25:48) Legislation is coming – and technology can be part of the solution
(28:44) Future trends in the short-term rentals industry
Join host James Varley for an in-depth interview with Bryan Leblang, Co-Founder of both RentalWise and LuxGive.
James gives a rundown of the HCH platforms before Bryan discusses his time in the industry, the importance of utilising a property management system, advice for short-term rental hosts, tips on taking your listings to the next level, and future trends.
(2:40) Bryan’s short-term rentals journey
(9:38) What is a property management system?
(17:13) Why should short-term rental owners be using a property management system?
(20:50) Having a direct booking option is essential!
(24:55) Hosting properties in different countries
(28:10) Advice for people starting out in short-term rentals
(33:36) Advice for taking your listings to the next level
(37:35) Where the short-term rentals industry is heading
(43:21) Hosts who take a professional approach will thrive
Join host James Varley for an overview of the Holiday Cottage Handbook (HCH) platform and in-depth interview with Jessica Gillingham, Founder and CEO, Abode Worldwide.
James gives a rundown of the HCH community before Jessica discusses PR in the short-term rentals sector,
(2:15) Abode Worldwide
(3:20) Specialising in short-term rentals
(5:07) The monumental development of the short-term rentals sector
(8:22) Innovation in the industry
(10:35) The economic impact of short-term rentals
(13:13) Preparing for legislation
(14:38) Getting better at telling the positive stories
(16:43) Trends to be looking out for
(19:04) Growing your business in the short-term rentals sector
Join host James Varley for an in-depth interview with short-term rentals industry guru Simon Lehmann. As well as being the Founder and CEO of AJL Atelier, Simon is a keynote speaker, board member, and serial angel investor. He has his finger on the pulse of the vacation rentals sector unlike just about anyone else on the planet. This episode is a must-listen for anybody with a vested interest in short-term rentals.
(2:22) Simon’s journey in the short-term rentals industry
(3:32) AJL Atelier
(5:58) Why it’s a challenging period
(12:14) What people can do to improve their listings
(15:58) The impact of tech and AI
(20:57) Data is key – and is still not used enough
Join host James Varley for an in-depth interview with short-term rentals industry expert, Thibault Masson, the Founder of Rental Scale-Up and Head of Product Marketing at PriceLabs.
Thibault outlines his career in the industry, speculates what the future might hold for both Airbnb and Booking.com, outlines the benefits of using a dynamic pricing tool like PriceLabs, and offers some brilliant tips for both new and experienced hosts.
If you have any interest in the short-term rentals sector, you must listen to one of the most thoughtful and knowledgeable professionals in this space.
(2:34) Thibault’s story in short-term rentals
(5:15) Being a remote host
(6:07) Setting up Rental Scale-Up
(10:23) Helping Booking.com focus on short-term rentals
(11:24) Airbnb right now and in the future
(17:37) Airbnb’s co-hosts, striving for exclusivity, and preparing for regulation
(20:21) Airbnb’s plan for growth and mid-term rentals
(22:55) Brian Chesky wants people to live on Airbnb
(24:41) Booking.com’s focus on short-term rentals
(25:25) Booking.com is slow…but it’s a machine
(28:00) Airbnb has been losing market share to Booking.com
(29:11) Rental Scale-Up and PriceLabs
(29:22) PriceLabs is a dynamic pricing and revenue management platform
(37:59) Where the industry is heading – listen to great podcasts like this one to find out what is happening!
Join host James Varley for an interview with Alex Caravitis, CEO and Co-Founder of Hosthub – a top-rated property management software.
Alex spoke about his journey in the short-term rentals industry, the growth of HostHub, booking trends in 2023, the impact of AI, and professionalisation in the sector.
This is a must-listen for investors, hosts, property managers, and anyone with an interest in short-term rentals.
(2:17) Alex’s journey in the short-term rentals industry
(4:39) All about Hosthub and who it caters for
(6:38) How Hosthub helps you generate more bookings and revenue
(8:56) Losing an Airbnb listing happens more often than you think
Join host James Varley for an in-depth interview with holiday let consultant Jane Mack. Before becoming a consultant, Jane helped scale The Arran Team – based on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland – before selling the business to Cottages.com.
During this episode, Jane runs through her top 10 tips for hosts and property managers who are starting out in the industry.
(2:28) Buying a property management business in Scotland
(5:10) We never planned to sell until Cottages.com came along
(7:13) Consultancy work with companies who want to scale
(8:34) Tip No. 1: Do your research
(10:06) If money wasn’t an issue, where would you buy?
(12:03) Should I allow pets?
(14:43) Tip No. 2: Make it a home from home
(18:12) Tip No. 3: Put yourself in the guest’s shoes
(20:58) Tip No. 4: Be aware of local regulation
(22:50) Tip No. 5: Budget!
(25:02) Tip No. 6: Have a maintenance schedule
(26:27) Tip No. 7: Property management
(28:40) Tip No. 8: Automate as much as possible
(30:42) Tip No. 9: Less is more
(32:45) Tip No. 10: Take the rough with the smooth
Join host James Varley for a chat with Roger Graham, Founder and CEO of Orana Stay, which creates innovative digital guidebooks for holiday rentals, hotels, and other types of accommodation. Roger talks about his time in the industry, outlines how a digital guidebook can supercharge your guest experience, and the potential impact of AI in the industry.
Join host James Varley for a chat with Dana Young, CEO of AIPEX Technologies, which helps short-term rental owners elevate engagement with guests by providing state-of-the-art voice and touchscreen technology.
Hear Dana outline the 'Alexa Device' for holiday rentals and how it can take your guest experience to the next level.
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with Property Tribes Co-Founder, Vanessa Warwick. James and Vanessa discuss the importance of education for property investors and share some top tips for holiday rental hosts and managers.
(4:01) Founding Property Tribes (5:39) Property Tribes caters for everyone interested in property investment (7:28) User generated content to help everyone (8:42) Investing in short-term rentals (11:02) Vanessa’s experience as a holiday rentals host (12:48) The property market right now (15:42) Dealing with anti-landlord rhetoric (18:42) Providing a brilliant guest experience is key (20:48) Top tips for holiday rental hosts (25:02) The value of legitimate education (31:06) The best bookings are repeat bookings (33:34) Where to find Property Tribes
Vanessa is currently crowdfunding for legal fees after being sued by a property trainer. For further information, visit: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/vanessa-warwicks-case/
Join host James Varley for a chat with Noelia Novella, CEO of housekeeping operations specialists Doinn. Noelia talks about the importance of cleaning and automation for short-term rentals, and outlines how Doinn is helping property managers and cleaning companies to scale their operations.
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with Amanda Stecker, who runs Holiday Letology and Unique Cotswold Cottages.
Amanda offers one-to-one coaching for short-term rental hosts who are keen to improve and scale their operations.
During the pod, she offers a variety of tips for hosts and property managers, including the importance of photography, pricing, and how to get the most out of Airbnb.
3:19 Amanda’s journey in short-term rentals
4:35 The biggest mistake Amanda made (an expensive booking agent)
6:41 Supporting hosts and managers through Holiday Letology
8:47 Top tips for hosts starting out
10:46 Tips for people who manage remotely
13:09 Driving year-round stays
16:45 Excellent communication is essential
18:55 Sustainability measures
20:17 2023 so far – and future proofing for 2024 and beyond
23:05 How important are direct bookings?
26:11 Should you use a dynamic pricing tool?
27:20 Tips to achieve more bookings during quieter times of year
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with short-term rentals industry expert, Moriya Rockman, the Co-Founder of Smiling House, Triangle Luxury, and Villa Tracker.
Moriya discusses her journey in the short-term rentals space, shares key knowledge from her career, and outlines what everyone can learn from the luxury sector.
If you have any interest in vacation rentals, this episode is not to be missed. Moriya is a highly regarded thought leader and the knowledge she shares here is second-to-none.
3:18 Moriya’s journey in the short-term rentals industry
5:32 Luxury vacation rentals are thriving
5:48 Key learnings from the industry
7:15 Be an ambassador for your destination
9:55 What everyone can learn from the luxury sector
12:56 Invite your guests to be part of the community
14:37 Work with other hosts
15:50 Trends that Moriya is embracing
17:45 What Moriya is most excited about in the short-term rentals industry
19:03 Travel professionals are starting to offer vacation rentals rather than hotels
21:34 Airbnb changed the industry – and property managers who are wavering need to hold on
24:46 We need to keep the personal touch and use tech in the right way
27:36 Favourite brand in the STR space: Guesty / shout-out to Jodie Stirling
29:33 Best advice to a new company: work on your brand, find your identity, and get a property management system from day one
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with Joe Siart, Managing Director at RentalReady.
During the podcast, Joe tells us why RentalReady is one of the most powerful property management solutions on the market, outlines the trends hosts should be looking out for, and offers advice on how to improve the guest experience.
Joe’s brand shout-out went to Swikly, while he also praised RentalReady customer Matthew Lowe for supercharging his property business in 2023.
3:19 Joe’s career in the travel industry
4:48 All about RentalReady
5:57 Why RentalReady stands out from the crowd
8:11 RentalReady: All the essentials under one roof
9:59 The average customer at RentalReady
13:48 How a PMS can take your business to the next level
16:33 The trends people should be looking out for
18:43 Joe’s best advice to enhance the guest experience
22:42 It’s ‘early afternoon’ in the short-term rentals space
27:06 What Joe is most excited about in the industry
28:30 Joe’s favourite brand in the short-term rentals space: Swikly
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with Will Parry, CEO and Co-Founder of ALTIDO by Joivy. Will talks about his career in the short-term rentals industry, which materialised after stints in finance and selling apple juice. He outlines why ALTIDO is an industry disruptor and gives a whole host of shout-outs to people and businesses in the STR space. Will’s brand shout-out went to Unplugged, while his main individual mention went to Bob Garner from EnviroRental. Tune in to find out why.
3:41 Will’s journey in the travel industry, via finance and making apple juice
5:02 The apple juice industry
6:15 The story of ALTIDO, which started with one property on Airbnb
7:49 ALTIDO’s customers
9:44 ALTIDO is active in six countries – and each market is different
12:05 The biggest changes in the last decade
14:09 How ALTIDO has scaled operations
17:24 Getting listed on ALTIDO
20:00 Starting life with a new brand (saying goodbye to ALTIDO in 2024)
21:14 ALTIDO: An industry disruptor
24:07 Advice for hosts who want to scale
27:24 Is there room for all the tech companies in the STR space?
28:30 What are you most excited about in the STR industry?
30:00 The biggest threats to the industry
31:49 Favourite brand in the STR space apart from your own: Unplugged
34:11 Individual shout-out: Bob Garner from EnviroRental
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with Christianne Crump from STR HUB – a new resource which aggregates information about the short-term rentals industry.
Christianne tells us the story of STR HUB and shares a number of top tips, including for hosts starting out, the importance of understanding the major online travel agencies, and the trends everyone should be looking out for as we head into 2024.
Christianne’s brand shout-out went to the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA), while her individual shout-out went to Mark Simpson from Boostly. Tune in to find out why.
3:33 Christianne’s journey in short-term rentals
5:42 The story of STR HUB
8:34 The vision: Aggregating resources in one place
14:22 Christianne’s top tips for hosts starting out
18:26 STR marketing tips
21:52 The most exciting parts of the STR industry
24:55 The trends hosts and property managers should be looking out for
Kick off 2024 by finding out the five new year resolutions that every short-term rental host and property manager should be making!
Join host James Varley for an in-depth chat with industry guru Simon Lehmann, who shares his insight and knowledge for the benefit of hosts and property managers everywhere.
Simon’s brand shout-out went to Moving Mountains, while his individual shout-out went to Antonio Bortolotti from Vacation Rental World Summit. Tune in to find out why.
4:04 Is a storm still brewing for short-term rentals?
6:04 The operators that are going to thrive
8:05 Regulation will keep changing
9:46 Main takeaways from conference season
12:11 Simon’s predictions for 2024
14:15 Supply might continue to increase
15:03 Resolution No. 1: Prioritise sustainability
17:00 Resolution No. 2: Financial hygiene
18:55 Resolution No. 3: Pricing strategy
22:44 Resolution No. 4: Enhance the guest experience (remote work is here to stay)
25:55 Resolution No. 5: Market and promote effectively (we are at the mercy of the online travel agencies)
28:53 Favourite brand in the industry: Moving Mountains
29:54 Individual shout-out: Antonio Bortolotti from Vacation Rental World Summit
31:37 Which is your favourite: Airbnb or Booking.com?
Property Hub Co-Founder and best-selling author Rob Dix is the special guest on this week’s show.
Rob discusses his latest book, The Price of Money, outlines the 18-year property cycle, talks about the power of inflation, and makes his market predictions for 2024.
His favourite brand shout-out went to Savills, while his individual shout-out went to Expat Property Story.
4:00 Why Rob wrote The Price of Money
6:09 What everyone needs to know about money
8:44 Starting out in property
11:09 The growth of Property Hub
13:25 The 18-year property cycle
16:40 Can you time property investment?
18:23 The importance of taking a long-term approach to property
20:53 The great thing about inflation for property investors
24:04 The influx of investors getting involved in short-term rentals
26:34 Will there be any government support for the private rented sector?
28:57 Should the UK build more houses?
31:18 Rob’s property predictions for 2024
33:16 Rob’s favourite brand shout-out: Savills
33:39 Rob’s individual shout-out: Expat Property Story
34:32: Rob’s advice to a new company in the property industry
Short-term rentals expert Richard Vaughton is the special guest on this week’s episode.
A veteran of the industry, Richard has seen and done it all. From managing and building a family business, to launching and scaling tech companies, all the way through to advising some of the biggest brands in the sector.
During the interview, Richard talks growth, scaling, direct bookings, industry trends, AI, and much more.
His favourite brand shout-out went to OVO Network, while his individual shout-out went to Louis Andrews.
3:37 Richard’s story in the short-term rentals industry
5:00 From a host to an industry player
11:12 Where the STR space is right now and where it’s heading
14:05 Is there room for new companies every week?
16:15 Key trends for hosts and property managers
23:55 How STR hosts can utilise AI
26:01 How important are direct bookings?
29:56 Why should hosts go after direct bookings?
35:12 Favourite brand shout-out: OVO Network (special mentions to Moving Mountains, Jayne's Luxury Rentals, Host & Stay, and My Getaways)
37:16 Individual shout-out: Louis Andrews (OVO Network again!)
38:08 Which do you like best: Airbnb or Booking.com?
The CEO and Co-Founder of Turno, Assaf Karmon, is the special guest on this week’s #HCHPodcast.
Turno has grown into one of the biggest brands in the short-term rentals space – helping hosts and cleaners to significantly improve and expand their operations.
Assaf spoke about the story of Turno, outlined a bunch of actionable tips for hosts and property managers, and shared his pride at seeing cleaning professionals grow their businesses on the platform.
Turno has teamed up with HCH to provide listeners with a very special offer. You can earn $150 in Amazon vouchers simply by completing your first turnover with a Turno marketplace cleaner by 31 March 2024. Head to turno.com/hch for further details.
4:32 Assaf’s journey from a software engineer to co-founding Turno
7:03 Turno supports hosts and cleaners
8:01 The growth of cleaning companies dedicated to short-term rentals
8:43 The impact of COVID-19 on cleaners
10:35 The benefits of starting out as a host
11:17 Advice to hosts: find a good team and delegate
12:54 One trend to be aware of: quality
15:01 Delivering value for hosts and cleaners
17:29 Turno’s plans for 2024
19:04 Growth locations for Turno
20:37 Favourite brand in the STR space: Airbnb
22:18 Individual shout-out: Tim Rosolio at Vrbo (Expedia Group)
This week’s special guest is Philip Pickard, the CEO and Co-Founder of Speedy Wi-Fi. Philip talks to James Varley about how short-term rental hosts and property managers can advertise and leverage high-speed Wi-Fi in order to attract more bookings and boost revenue.
Philip’s favourite brand shout-out went to Plum Guide, while his individual shout-outs went to Boostly’s Mark Simpson and Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder, Brian Chesky.
3:39 The story of Speedy Wi-Fi
4:29 Helping property managers advertise and leverage high-speed Wi-Fi
5:21 What speed is high-speed Wi-Fi these days?
5:56 Consistently capturing Wi-Fi performance data
7:33 Guest demand for high-speed Wi-Fi is unquestionable
7:48 If you have great Wi-Fi, shout it from the rooftops
9:03 Targeting larger property managers
10:24 Guests are 84% more likely to book a property with verified Wi-Fi data
11:04 Speedy Wi-Fi pricing and sign-up info
11:56 Philip’s career before founding Speedy Wi-Fi
13:20 Being customer-obsessed is key
14:39 Favourite brand in the STR space: Plum Guide
15:18 Individual shout-outs: Mark Simpson from Boostly and Brian Chesky from Airbnb
16:25 Best advice: focus on what your customers want
This week’s special guest is Robert Kennedy, the Co-Founder and Product Director of SuperControl – a long-established property management solution based in the UK.
Robert charts his journey from hosting in Scotland to developing a simple booking channel and eventually creating a PMS which takes £50 worth of bookings every second.
Robert’s favourite brand shout-out went to Premier Cottages, while his individual shout-outs went to Fiona Campbell, from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, and Alistair Handyside, from PASC UK.
3:42 The story of SuperControl
9:11 What makes SuperControl stand out
11:51 The growth of PMS options on the market
14:15 Will we see consolidation in the PMS space?
15:53 Why hosts should consider SuperControl
17:52 Starting out as a host has been key to the success and growth of SuperControl
19:40 Tips for hosts: pricing, presentation, and partnerships
This week’s episode is dedicated to Holiday Cottage Handbook LIVE, which will be held in collaboration with the Property Investor Show on 19-20 April at ExCel London.
Property Tribes Co-Founder Vanessa Warwick – an ambassador for Property Investor Show – is the special guest and she explains why this is a must-attend event in our industry.
This week’s special guest is industry expert Mark Simpson – the direct booking king, Founder of Boostly, and the man Airbnb don’t want you to know about.
Mark spoke to James Varley about being born into the vacation rentals industry, founding Boostly, his top direct booking tips, marketing tactics, and what he really thinks about Airbnb.
Mark’s favourite brand shout-out went to Mount, while his individual shout-out went to HCH Founder, James Varley.
3:44 Born into the STR industry
15:47 The Boostly elevator pitch: the ultimate direct booking solution
19:05 Why are direct bookings so important?
28:12 Mark’s top three direct booking tips
39:21 What Mark has learned about marketing
45:27 ‘I love Airbnb’ – but you have to make the OTAs work for you
49:32 The future of Boostly
50:42 Top tips for hosts and property managers: start with a great bed!
51:20 Top trends in 2024
55:14 Favourite brand in the STR industry: Mount (shout-out for Madison Rifkin)
56:39 Individual shout-out: James Varley(!)
57:04 Biggest lesson learned: get a great accountant!
Beyond is the global revenue management system for the vacation rental industry and prides itself on helping customers increase their annual revenue by a whopping 40%.
During this week’s episode we hear from Beyond CEO Julie Brinkman about her career, the dynamism and innovation of the short-term rentals industry, and future trends we should all be looking out for.
Julie also offers a deep dive into the Beyond platform, outlining why it stands out in the dynamic pricing tool landscape.
Julie’s favourite brand shout-out went to Host & Stay, while her individual shout-out went to Fiona Campbell, CEO, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers.
3:32 Business, travel, and growth: Julie’s career journey
5:47 The dynamism of the short-term rentals industry
7:16 Where the STR space stands currently
8:19 Where the industry is heading
10:11 Why hosts and property managers should be using Beyond
11:20 A dynamic pricing tool like Beyond keeps you up-to-date with shifts in demand
12:43 Beyond can help you boost revenue by up to 40%!
13:53 Why Beyond stands out in the dynamic pricing tool landscape
17:12 The onboarding journey for new Beyond customers
18:30 It’s easy to set minimum and maximum nightly rates
19:02 The first 5,000 bookings with Beyond are free!
19:48 Trends in the short-term rentals industry
20:59 Julie’s top tip: know your market
21:57 What’s next for Beyond?
23:03 Favourite brand shout-out: Host & Stay, Dale Smith
23:32 Individual shout-out: Fiona Campbell, CEO, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers
24:03 Number one lesson learned from being CEO of Beyond
This week’s special guest is Howard Reuben, from HCH Financial Services – the new home of holiday let mortgages.
Howard discusses his career as a mortgage broker and financial advisor, founding HCH Financial Services (in collaboration with Holiday Cottage Handbook), and how the growth of short-term rentals has boomed since the pandemic.
Howard picked the Principality Building Society for his favourite brand shout-out, while Samantha Turmaine took the individual shout-out for her outstanding work in managing HCH Financial Services.
If you need any type of mortgage or financial product, contact HCH Financial Services:
This week’s special guest is Sally Henry, Vice President of Business Development at Key Data, the global leader in market intelligence in the short-term rentals industry.
Sally talks to HCH Founder, James Varley, about 2024 trends – shining a light on supply, occupancy, and rates. She also discusses Airbnb losing market share to Booking.com in Europe and the UK, how to get your pricing right, and how strict your cancellation policy should be.
Sally’s favourite brand shout-out went to cottages.com, while Simon Law (her fellow ‘radiator’) earned her individual mention.
3:30 Sally’s career in the STR world, which started in the brochure era!
7:35 The growth of the industry has been massive
9:14 Innovative tech is prevalent in the STR space
10:08 Elevator pitch for Key Data
11:43 The onboarding process for Key Data customers
This week’s special guest is Bob Garner, the Founder and CEO of EnviroRental – a free resource that is helping short-term rental managers make their properties more sustainable.
Bob talks to Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder James Varley about the upcoming SCALE Green event and shares five simple things that every host and property manager can do to make their rentals more sustainable.
Bob’s favourite brand shout-out went to Touch Stay, while Damian Sheridan from SCALE Rentals was his individual mention.
3:26 Bob’s journey in the short-term rentals world
4:37 Bob’s Italian adventure
4:58 How the hosting journey has changed over the years
6:57 Bob’s focus on sustainability
9:20 Green VR Events and EnviroRental
12:31 Bob’s top tips: No. 1: Shift to a green energy tariff
14:03 No. 2: Stop buying single use plastics
16:06 No. 3: Try using an accreditation scheme like Sustonica
17:55 No. 4: Invest in biodiversity
19:12 No. 5: Think about your web profile
21:52 SCALE Green in London on 23 April
24:59 SCALE Green presenters and subjects
26:48 Tickets are just £40 each. Visit green.scalerentals.show
27:40 Bob’s favourite brand in the short-term rentals space: Touch Stay
28:18 Bob’s individual shout-out: Damian Sheridan from SCALE
29:00 No. 1 lesson learned since founding EnviroRental: It’s not all about logic!
This week’s episode is a Spring Budget Special featuring Steve Taggert, the Founder and Managing Director of My Getaways.
Steve was in parliament to hear UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announce the abolishment of the furnished holiday lettings tax regime, and he spoke to Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder, James Varley, about the potential implications of the proposal.
3:52 Steve’s story in the short-term rentals world
7:51 My Getaways elevator pitch
8:59 Make sure you get your rates right
9:57 Advice to those who want to scale
11:48 Guest communication tips
14:28 Great Wi-Fi and photography
15:31 How hosts can be great neighbours
17:11 Working with homeowners
18:37 Key trends
21:15 The Spring Budget – Steve’s day in parliament
25:38 Promoting the industry is vital
28:32 Advice for hosts who want to help the cause
30:27 Why a registration scheme had to happen
32:10 Data is integral in order to create the right legislation
33:17 Why professionalisation is important
35:03 Weeding out the cowboys
37:33 Steve’s lobbying efforts
38:51 The impact on housing
40:03 Favourite brand in the STR space: Minut
41:00 Individual shout-outs: Richard Vaughton and Andy Fenner
42:24 Advice to people worried about the FHL tax regime: Don’t Panic!
We are learning from the luxury vacation rentals industry during this episode featuring Doron Meyassed, Founder and CEO of Plum Guide.
Learn why Plum Guide is home to one of the most meticulous vetting processes in the industry – which leads to 97% of properties being rejected by the platform.
Doron outlines why Plum Guide is brutally honest about every rental and what every host and property manager can learn from the luxury sector. He also talks about 2024 trends, including the fact guests are much more price conscious this year.
Doron’s favourite brand shout-outs went to Air Peace of Mind and Le Collectionist, while two former Plum Guide employees, Laura Iglesias and Jess Scott, earned his individual mentions.
4:53 The vision and development of Plum Guide
7:20 Scaling the platform after 99% of enquiries were ‘frustrated searches’
8:14 The vetting process, brutally honest descriptions, and quickly removing underperforming rentals
11:50 How Plum Guide will be utilising AI to vet properties
16:05 Managing guest expectations with honest listings
19:25 The importance of honest and actionable reviews
20:39 The constant tension of accepting only a small number of properties
22:29 Knowing your customer is everything
24:13 The future for Plum Guide
25:23 What hosts can learn from Plum Guide
28:28 Short-term rental trends in 2024
30:31 Favourite brands in the STR space: Air Peace of Mind and Le Collectionist
Hostaway Founder and CEO Marcus Rader is the special guest on today’s show, and he has plenty to say about the STR industry, particularly the property management software (PMS) space.
Learn about his journey – from frustrated employee to CEO of one of the biggest tech solutions in the business.
Marcus outlines his key predictions for 2024 and shares a bunch of tips for hosts and property managers, discusses the standardisation of the industry, and talks about ever-increasing guest expectations.
Marcus picked three leading dynamic pricing tools for his favourite brand shout-outs: Beyond, Wheelhouse, and PriceLabs. He also had kind words for Boostly’s Mark Simpson, and Frontdesk’s Jesse DePinto.
4:47 Realising his full potential with Hostaway
9:40 Why should hosts and property managers be using Hostaway?
11:07 Why hosts with a small number of properties should use a PMS
12:56 Why Hostaway will become the market-leading PMS
Carlos Perez-Lanzac, the Founder of Vitur Summit and Caleta Homes, is the special guest on today's show.
Carlos talks about the upcoming Vitur Summit, which will be held in Malaga, Spain, on 8-9 May. He also discusses his career in the short-term rentals space, including scaling Caleta Homes.
As well as sharing a number of tips for hosts and property managers, Carlos gives special shout-outs to Bob W (favourite brand) and Eduardo Botelho Miranda (individual mention).
4:34 Carlos’s journey in the short-term rentals industry
7:54 Vitur Summit 2024
10:29 The key topics at this year’s summit
15:11 Who should attend the summit
16:08 Legislators need to take a long-term view and be brave
19:33 Gathering data about the STR sector is imperative
22:24 The story so far in 2024
24:13 Top tips for property managers who want to scale
25:21 Top tips for delivering a great guest experience
26:15 Top tips for people starting out
29:50 Head to www.vitursummit.com for ticket details and use code HCHVITUR24 for a special discount
30:44 Favourite brand shout-out: Bob W
31:25 Individual shout-out: Eduardo Botelho Miranda, Chairman, European Holiday Home Association
Louis Andrews, President and Director, OVO Network France, is the special guest on today’s show – and he has plenty of tips and advice to share with our audience.
Learn:
· How to keep guests and owners happy.
· Why it’s important to concentrate on your niche and master it.
· How to secure more direct bookings.
· How to achieve great reviews.
· Key trends in the industry.
· Who the Leonardo Di Caprio and Brad Pitt of the short-term rentals industry are.
Louis also talks about sustainability, the prospect of regulation, and how to advocate for the STR sector.
He picked Plum Guide and Le Collectionist for his favourite brands, and gave Richard Vaughton and the entire OVO Network team a special shout-out.
3:36 Becoming part of the STR industry at a young age
6:48 The elevator pitch for OVO Network
9:29 Keeping guests and owners happy
13:28 What hosts and property managers can learn from OVO Network
18:13 How to secure more direct bookings
23:16 How to achieve great reviews
26:50 Challenges and opportunities in the STR space: sustainability and regulation
34:18 Talking up the STR industry
35:19 Key trends hosts and property managers need to be aware of
36:56 Favourite brands: Plum Guide and Le Collectionist
38:34 Individual shout-outs: Richard Vaughton and the OVO Network team
40:10 No. 1 lesson learned from being President and Director of OVO Network France
Alistair Handyside, Executive Chair of the Professional Association of Self Caterers (PASC UK), is the special guest on today’s show.
Alistair discusses his story in the industry – from software development all the way through to launching PASC UK, via holiday rentals near Silverstone, setting up in Devon, and playing a key role in the growth of Premier Cottages.
Listen in to learn:
· Property management and guest experience tips
· How PASC UK helps hosts and managers
· What PASC UK is doing in response to the spring budget
· Why the UK government needs data
· What Alistair would say to our political leaders
Alistair picked Touch Stay as his favourite brand and gave special shout-outs to Robert Kennedy, from SuperControl, and Richard Vaughton, from Yes Consulting.
3:55 Alistair’s story: from software to Silverstone
5:30 Setting up in Devon
7:20 Property management tips
9:57 How to deliver a great guest experience
11:38 Biggest lessons learned
13:29 Premier Cottages and setting up PASC UK
16:58 COVID-19 was a game-changer for PASC UK
20:46 PASC UK: support for people with one property or hundreds
22:15 Reaction to the spring budget
26:06 It is unclear what the abolition of furnished holiday lettings tax regime means
28:57 A change of government might move the goalposts again
30:04 The government needs data
33:04 What Alistair would say to politicians
35:30 Is the STR industry stopping first-time buyers from buying property?
37:37 How can we avoid being an easy target for the media and politicians?
39:39 PASC UK’s lobbying efforts
40:56 Favourite brand: Touch Stay
41:45 Individual shout-outs: Robert Kennedy and Richard Vaughton
43:20 Advice to people worried about the spring budget
Links:
Petition to reverse government plans to abolish the FHL tax regime: https://rb.gy/u0n35j
Alex Caravitis, CEO and Co-Founder of Hosthub, is the special guest on today’s show.
Find out more about one of the top-rated property management solutions on the market, plus discover 2024 trends and various hosting tips.
Listen in to learn:
· Why professionalisation is the leading trend
· How AI can supercharge your guest communication
· The benefits of having a direct booking channel
· How Hosthub can take your business to the next level
· Hosthub’s AI assistant takes the stress out of guest communication
Alex picked Tourmie as his favourite brand and gave a special shout-out to Marcus Rader from Hostaway.
Hosthub offers a 14-day free trial and 30% off for Holiday Cottage Handbook readers! Hosthub's team will set you up and get you synced with zero effort on your side. Benefit from world-class partners and take your vacation rental business to the next level.
3:41 2024 is tracking up compared to last year
4:36 Demand remains strong for short-term rentals
5:06 What we should call our industry
7:08 What we can do to ensure any regulation is fair and equitable
9:03 Key trends in the industry: professionalisation is number one
11:58 How to ensure success in 2024
14:48 AI can help to supercharge your guest communication
16:23 Why you need a direct booking channel
19:11 Advice to hosts who are worried about running a website
20:56 The elevator pitch for Hosthub
23:03 The key things Hosthub can help hosts and property managers achieve
25:06 Hosthub’s AI assistant answers guest questions
28:59 Favourite brand: Tourmie
29:43 Individual shout-out: Marcus Rader from Hostaway
30:26 No. 1 lesson learned since co-founding Hosthub
Links:
Petition to reverse government plans to abolish the furnished holiday lettings tax regime: https://rb.gy/u0n35j
Matt Landau, Founder of www.VRMB.com, is the special guest on today’s Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast.
The episode traverses the joy of travel, breaking up gang violence in Panama(!), hosting tips, guest emotions, eco-friendly rentals, AI, direct bookings, regulation, and much more.
Matt picked Inhabit for his favourite brand and gave Valerie Gangas from Juniper Holiday + Home a special shout-out.
4:48 Matt’s story begins with a love for travel
11:43 Dealing with gang violence in Panama
15:31 The elevator pitch for VRMB.com
19:25 How to be a brilliant host
24:06 Guest emotions are important
28:15 Are guests demanding eco-friendly rentals?
29:36 How is AI changing the industry?
32:14 Are direct bookings the be-all and end-all?
35:32 Matt’s message to political leaders about STR regulation
45:43 Favourite brand: Inhabit
50:01 Individual shout-out: Valerie Gangas from Juniper Holiday + Home
Vanessa de Souza Lage, CEO and Co-Founder of Sustonica, is the special guest on today’s Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast.
From property management in Rome to setting up Rentals United and eventually founding Sustonica, Vanessa is a trailblazer in the short-term rentals space.
During this episode, learn:
· Why Sustonica is making a difference in the STR space
· How to achieve sustainability certification for your rental
· The advantages of earning certification
· The simple things you can do to be more sustainable
· Why we need more education about sustainability
Vanessa picked Enso Connect for her favourite brand and gave Cristiana Carpini a special shout-out.
4:31 Vanessa’s story in the STR industry
7:27 Top tips for hosts and property managers
10:11 How the STR industry has developed since Rentals United was launched
13:54 The elevator pitch for Sustonica
17:06 How to earn sustainability certification (it’s simpler than you think)
20:58 The advantages of earning sustainability certification
22:34 The cost and further information
23:47 Guests are looking to stay at eco-friendly rentals
24:26 The simple things you can do to be more sustainable
28:20 More education is needed to help people implement sustainability
30:56 What would you say to hosts who say they don’t have the time or money for sustainability?
34:31 Favourite brand: Enso Connect
35:04 Individual shout-out: Cristiana Carpini
35:52 No. 1 lesson learned since founding Sustonica
Mark Shepherd, Founder and Managing Director of Apollo 3D, is the special guest on this week’s podcast.
Apollo 3D works with a large number of short-term rental owners, helping them develop 3D virtual tours, drone videos, and direct booking websites.
During this episode, learn:
• How Apollo 3D content can be utilised across numerous different channels • How you can create a video version of a digital guidebook • Why Apollo 3D can be a cost-effective solution • The process for developing content and direct booking websites
4:30 The story of Apollo 3D 5:53 Apollo 3D services for STR owners: photography, videos, drone shots, and direct booking websites 7:46 The content can be utilised across different channels: website, social media, newsletter, etc. 9:15 The process for creating video content for your property 12:53 A guest communication tool: the video version of a digital guidebook 14:06 The package of goods STR owners will receive from Apollo 3D 15:39 The feedback from STR hosts proves the value of this content 17:34 Apollo 3D has developed content for garden sheds up to country piles (and everything in between) 18:55 Apollo 3D is operational across the UK and works with trusted collaborators abroad 19:51 The cost varies from a few hundred pounds upwards and depends on the brief 21:04 The process for developing direct booking websites 22:43 Apollo 3D’s flagship projects with leading brands 24:01 The growth of the holiday let industry in the UK 25:22 No. 1 lesson learned from founding Apollo 3D
Henrik Kjellberg, CEO of Awaze, is the special guest on today’s show.
Awaze is home to a host of well-known brands in the holiday rentals industry, including Hoseasons, NOVASOL, and Cottages.com, who between them manage more than 100,000 properties across Europe.
During this episode, learn:
• How to keep owners and guests happy • The top three amenities for short-term rentals • Key trends in the STR industry • What Awaze prioritises during the acquisitions process
3:04 Henrik’s journey in the travel industry 4:31 The growth of Awaze 6:00 How to delight owners and guests 8:34 The importance of being ‘hyperlocal’ 10:43 How to deliver an outstanding guest experience 13:48 Getting your rates right 16:26 Henrik’s top tips for hosts and property managers 19:08 Key trends in the STR space 20:35 What makes a great acquisition for Awaze 22:24 Favourite brand: Ardennes Etape 23:37 Individual shout-out: Simon Lehmann 24:27 No. 1 piece of advice: deliver a great product
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Henrik Kjellberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrikkjellberg/ Awaze: https://www.awaze.com/
Mentions:
Ardennes-etaps: https://www.ardennes-etape.co.uk/ Simon Lehmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-lehmann-8375753b/
Vered Raviv Schwarz, President and COO of Guesty, is the special guest on today’s show.
Guesty is one of the leading property management solutions in the short-term rentals industry – whether you run one property or hundreds.
During this episode, learn:
• Why companies need to think big from day one • Why Guesty stands out from the crowd • Guesty’s growth plans • STR trends • Tips for hosts and property managers
2:35 Vered’s career journey: journalism, law, tech, and short-term rentals 5:41 Growing a company: think big from the outset 7:32 The importance of having an end goal 9:37 Joining Guesty and making an impact on global trends 12:23 The STR industry is the new kid on the block 14:53 Guesty elevator pitch 18:53 What marks Guesty out from the crowd 20:25 Helping hosts scale 21:19 Guesty’s growth plans 23:28 More consolidation in the PMS space 25:46 STR industry trends 28:16 Vered’s top tips for hosts and property managers 31:09 Favourite brand in the STR space: Breezeway 31:38 Individual mention: Amy Hinote 32:36 No. 1 lesson learned
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, is the special guest on today’s show.
Fiona is playing a key role in lobbying the Scottish government after the introduction of a controversial licensing scheme – which data suggests is having a disastrous effect on the short-term rentals industry and the wider tourism sector.
During this episode, learn:
• The impact of licensing on Scotland’s STR businesses • How major events like the Edinburgh Festival are being affected • What Fiona would say to Keir Starmer and John Swinney • Lobbying efforts – what’s the end goal?
Fiona picked Key Data and SuperControl as her favourite brands, and gave a special shout-out to Alistair Handyside, Chair of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC UK).
2:31 Fiona’s story in the self-catering industry 3:52 How things have changed during 22 years of hosting 5:55 Stay at Fiona’s place: https://mansefieldhouse.co.uk/ 7:11 What is going on in Scotland? 11:30 What do hosts and managers in Scotland need to do now? 14:19 The impact of licensing on Scotland’s STR businesses 16:55 The impact on tourism 18:58 The impact on major events, like the Edinburgh Festival 21:10 Are hotels the big winners? 21:46 ASSC lobbying efforts – what’s the end goal? 23:36 How the new UK government might change things 24:28 Fiona’s message to Keir Starmer and John Swinney 25:10 How people in Scotland can support the ASSC 26:44 What can the UK and the rest of the world learn from Scotland? 28:51 The importance of data in the legislation process 32:06 Favourite brands in the STR industry: Key Data and SuperControl 32:57 Individual shout-out: Alistair Handyside, from PASC UK 33:43 No. 1 lesson learned: it is possible to push water uphill!
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Fiona Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionaccampbell/ Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers: https://www.assc.co.uk/
Cynthia Huang, the Co-Founder and CEO of Dtravel, is the special guest on today’s show.
During this episode, Cynthia talks about founding Dtravel – a platform that connects travellers directly with vacation rental owners.
During this episode, learn:
• Cynthia’s journey in the short-term rentals industry • The reasons for launching Dtravel • Why hosts need to understand the power of AI • Why investors should be looking much further than their hometown
Cynthia picked Ministry of Villas as her favourite brand and gave a special shout-out to Mark Simpson from Boostly.
3:47 Cynthia’s story in the short-term rentals industry 6:39 Airhosts Forum: https://airhostsforum.com/ 7:15 Founding Dtravel 12:13 What is the blockchain? 13:54 Who is Dtravel built for? 16:34 How to set up your properties on Dtravel and attract direct bookings 19:00 You don’t have to get paid in Bitcoin! 20:29 Dtravel only takes a 3% transaction fee on bookings 21:14 Why hosts and property managers should be using Dtravel 24:24 Anyone around the world can use Dtravel 26:10 Why hosts need to be aware of the power of AI 28:15 Top tips for investors: consider buying in Albania 32:04 Favourite brand: Ministry of Villas 32:29 Individual shout-out: Mark Simpson from Boostly 33:36 No. 1 lesson learned from being CEO of Dtravel
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Matt Jeffery, Managing Director and Tax Partner at holiday let tax specialists Zeal, is the special guest on this week’s show.
Matt and his team work with holiday let owners across the UK – helping them pay the right amount of tax, and not a penny more. Zeal’s team of capital allowances specialists and quantity surveyors unlock tax savings for holiday let owners on the purchase, refurbishment, and construction of holiday let properties.
During this episode, learn:
• How Zeal helps holiday let investors • Key facts about stamp duty, capital allowances, VAT, and inheritance tax • Whether you should buy in your personal name or through a limited company • Common misconceptions about holiday let taxes
Matt picked Sykes Holiday Cottages as his favourite brand and gave a special shout-out to Alistair Handyside from PASC UK.
3:22 How Zeal helps holiday let investors in the UK 5:22 The holiday let tax landscape 6:22 The infamous spring budget 7:41 Proposals to abolish the furnished holiday lets tax regime did not make it through parliament 9:15 What the new Labour government might do 13:17 Stamp duty 16:12 Capital allowances 18:52 When can you make a claim for capital allowances? 19:26 VAT 22:58 Inheritance tax 25:00 Buy in your personal name or through a limited company? 26:30 Common misconceptions about holiday let taxes 28:09 The process of onboarding new clients 29:46 Be aware of business rates criteria 31:55 Get in touch with Zeal: hello@gozeal.co.uk 34:57 Favourite brand: Sykes Holiday Cottages 35:34 Individual shout-out: Alistair Handyside from PASC UK 36:26 No. 1 piece of tax advice: claim your capital allowances
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Matt Jeffery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-jeffery-156a8245/
The focus this week is Vrbo and how to succeed on one of the world’s premier online travel agencies.
Our special guest is James Cassidy, Senior Director – Partner Success Vacation Rentals, Expedia Group.
During the interview, James shares five top tips to achieve success on Vrbo and outlines a host of growing industry trends, including ‘set-jetting’ and ‘go-cations’.
James picked Sustonica as his favourite brand and gave Merilee Karr a special shout-out.
4:05 James’s story in the short-term rentals industry 7:31 How much the industry has changed 10:47 Continued growth 13:08 Focus on Vrbo 16:11 Competing with Airbnb and Booking.com 20:32 Why hosts should list on Vrbo 24:28 How to increase occupancy 32:48 Optimally presenting your property 33:50 Industry trends 36:40 ‘Set-jetting’ 38:25 ‘Go-cations’ 40:42 Tip No. 1: Accept and honour the bookings 41:12 Tip No. 2: Cancellation policy flexibility 42:01 Tip No. 3: Provide the best in-stay experience 43:12 Tip No. 4: Price your property effectively 44:34 Tip No. 5: Keep an eye on changing traveller needs 49:40 Favourite brand: Sustonica 50:45 Individual shout-out: Merilee Karr 53:17: No. 1 piece of advice: understand the traveller
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
James Cassidy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescassidy27/ Expedia Group: https://expediagroup.com/ Vrbo: https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/
The dreaded abolishment of the furnished holiday lettings (FHL) tax regime is back. It had been hoped this proposal had been kicked into the long grass due to last month’s election – but the new government has stuck with the scheme.
Alistair Handyside, from the Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC UK), is leading lobbying efforts – and he is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Alistair outlines what hosts and property managers can do to support the sector, discusses the potential impact of any legislation, and calls on the government to gather extensive data before formulating policy.
3:58 Abolishing the FHL tax regime is back on the agenda 5:34 Working in conjunction with the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers 6:30 There will be significant economic impacts 7:49 20% of operators will give up if the FHL tax regime is abolished 9:40 What PASC UK would like: get the data first 11:20 The data might surprise the government 15:37 How does this fit with the government’s plans to grow the economy? 16:52 What can operators do to help? 21:35 Rallying the troops for another push 24:00 Light at the end of the tunnel? 26:26 The case for furnished holiday lets
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Alistair Handyside: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-handyside-mbe-4170b216/ PASC UK: https://www.pascuk.co.uk/ PASC UK FHL reports: https://www.pascuk.co.uk/reports/ Update on new FHL abolition paper: https://www.pascuk.co.uk/francis-clark-update-on-fhl-abolition-august-24/ Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5KMN6JY
Property Management Masterclass is a six-part special brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost.
Hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook's James Varley and featuring Your AirHost Co-Founder, Stefan Hoffelner, the series contains a vast range of expert tips to help short-term rental hosts and property managers build successful and sustainable businesses.
Episode 1 focuses on the basics of hosting, including furnishing your rental, the guest journey, amenities, tech, and much more.
2:15 Furnish the property and define your audience 3:05 Good quality furniture is imperative 4:45 The property must photograph well 5:38 Think about the guest journey 6:36 Use the property before it’s available to check everything 7:38 Video instructions can be very useful 8:20 Get as much exposure as possible across different platforms 8:53 Always install the best Wi-Fi 10:35 The rental must be ready from day one 11:47 Bed, Wi-Fi, and sofa are so important 12:50 Kitchen appliances are vital – make it a home from home 14:02 Health and safety, including fire safety, and carbon monoxide alarms 15:10 The best amenities will depend on your location and target audience 16:42 Essential tech to get started, starting with property management software 17:53 Digital guidebooks 18:10 Insurance and risk management 20:13 Cleaning and maintenance: check, check, and check again 23:43 It is vital to set expectations for your cleaners (and have back up) 25:38 Insurance
Links:
Register for your free ticket to Your Air Success on Friday 8 November at Six Park Place in London (near Green Park tube station): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/ James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Email the show: james@holidaycottagehandbook.com
21 Aug 2024
Property Management Masterclass Episode 2: How to create the perfect listing
Property Management Masterclass is a six-part special brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost.
Hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook's James Varley and featuring Your AirHost Co-Founder, Stefan Hoffelner, the series contains a vast range of expert tips to help short-term rental hosts and property managers build successful and sustainable businesses.
Episode 2 focuses on how to create the perfect listing.
2:14 Start with professional photography 3:28 Description, titles, and SEO tactics 4:55 Try mentioning the best amenity in your title 5:44 Be honest and transparent 7:33 The OTAs you need to be present on 9:09 The importance of direct bookings 11:00 Channel management 12:19 Guest verification 14:11 Calendar management 15:51 Length of stay options
Links:
Register for your free ticket to Your Air Success on Friday 8 November at Six Park Place in London (near Green Park tube station): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/ James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Email the show: james@holidaycottagehandbook.com
Property Management Masterclass is a six-part special brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost.
Hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook's James Varley and featuring Your AirHost Co-Founder, Stefan Hoffelner, the series contains a vast range of expert tips to help short-term rental hosts and property managers build successful and sustainable businesses.
Episode 3 focuses on essential amenities.
2:03 Essential amenities, starting with Wi-Fi 2:36 Hotel quality linen 3:12 Comfy towels 3:51 Tea, coffee, and milk 4:07 Welcome gift 4:22 Work from home space 5:13 Kitchen essentials 6:43 Stay in your property to triple check everything 7:58 Desirable amenities for London rentals 8:29 Cater for pets if your location is suitable 9:15 Hot tubs and EV chargers 10:38 Appealing to affluent guests 12:07 Upselling
Links:
Register for your free ticket to Your Air Success on Friday 8 November at Six Park Place in London (near Green Park tube station): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/ James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Email the show: james@holidaycottagehandbook.com
21 Aug 2024
Property Management Masterclass Episode 4: Guest communication
Property Management Masterclass is a six-part special brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost.
Hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook's James Varley and featuring Your AirHost Co-Founder, Stefan Hoffelner, the series contains a vast range of expert tips to help short-term rental hosts and property managers build successful and sustainable businesses.
Episode 4 focuses on guest communication.
2:01 Communicate as soon as the guest books 2:21 Find out information about the guest 3:20 Send clear and concise check-in instructions 4:11 Respond quickly (within an hour ideally) 5:10 Automated messaging 6:10 Be flexible in terms of sharing check-in details 7:24 Deliver a great guest experience by asking questions 8:58 Dealing with guests who don’t communicate 10:20 Digital guidebooks 12:34 Video tutorials 14:14 When to communicate with guests during their stay 15:33 Incentivise the good review and direct booking 17:18 Communicate in your rental – try using QR codes
Links:
Register for your free ticket to Your Air Success on Friday 8 November at Six Park Place in London (near Green Park tube station): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/ James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Email the show: james@holidaycottagehandbook.com
21 Aug 2024
Property Management Masterclass Episode 5: How to earn great reviews
Property Management Masterclass is a six-part special brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost.
Hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook's James Varley and featuring Your AirHost Co-Founder, Stefan Hoffelner, the series contains a vast range of expert tips to help short-term rental hosts and property managers build successful and sustainable businesses.
Episode 5 focuses on how to earn great reviews.
1.58 Reviews are the most important part of running a short-term rental 3:29 The fundamentals of earning a great review 5:43 Solving problems quickly can help you earn a good review 7:18 Communicate quickly 8:22 Prompt and encourage your guests to leave a good review 9:27 Dealing with undeserved below par reviews 12:23 Dealing with bad guests 15:46 Should you be completely honest about guests in the host review? 17:11 The vast majority of guests are great
Links:
Register for your free ticket to Your Air Success on Friday 8 November at Six Park Place in London (near Green Park tube station): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/ James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Email the show: james@holidaycottagehandbook.com
21 Aug 2024
Property Management Masterclass Episode 6: How to scale your short-term rental business
Property Management Masterclass is a six-part special brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost.
Hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook's James Varley and featuring Your AirHost Co-Founder, Stefan Hoffelner, the series contains a vast range of expert tips to help short-term rental hosts and property managers build successful and sustainable businesses.
Episode 6 focuses on how to scale your short-term rental business.
2:14 The short-term rentals journey for Stefan and Your AirHost 3:56 Growing the number of rentals 4:56 The foundations for success 6:26 Recruitment and the challenges of managing a team 8:03 If you could go back and do one thing differently, what would it be? 9:19 Accountancy: a major lesson learned 10:45 How to keep guests and owners happy 11:50 How to stand out and have a unique selling point 13:15 The importance of setting targets 14:01 Top tips to people starting out 14:48 The future for Your AirHost 15:54 Exiting the business? 16:24 Lesson learned: the landscape can change quickly 17:31 Why the short-term rentals industry is so great
Links:
Register for your free ticket to Your Air Success on Friday 8 November at Six Park Place in London (near Green Park tube station): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/ James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Email the show: james@holidaycottagehandbook.com
22 Aug 2024
HCH052: Ed Maughan: The story of GroupAccommodation.com
Ed Maughan from GroupAccommodation.com is the special guest on today’s show.
Discover more about the benefits of listing large holiday rentals on the platform – which charges just £450 annually and takes zero commission.
Ed discusses how to stand out on the platform, the benefits of upselling, and the amenities which will help to attract the most guests.
Ed named Riparide as his favourite brand and gave Richard Offor at Mid Wales Lodges a special shout-out.
3:18 The story of GroupAccommodation.com 4:46 The type of properties on the platform 5:37 The benefits of listing on GroupAccommodation.com 7:18 Direct contact between hosts and guests 8:03 The cost of listing is from £450 plus VAT annually 9:06 Driving potential guests to the website 10:34 A platform which specialises in group bookings 11:58 The advantage of avoiding regular OTAs 13:11 How to stand out on the platform 14:24 The amenities which will help you stand out 15:31 Upselling 16:09 Get in touch: info@groupaccommodation.com 18:02 Favourite brand: Riparide 19:12 Individual shout-out: Richard Offor at Mid Wales Lodges 20:14 No. 1 lesson learned: customer service always wins
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Ed Maughan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardmaughan/
Eduardo Mandri, Co-Founder and CEO of Angel Host, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Eduardo shares the story of Angel Host, outlines marketing and communication tips, and discusses how AI is disrupting the industry.
Eduardo picked PriceLabs as his favourite brand.
3:29 Eduardo’s journey to the short-term rentals industry 7:25 Angel Host’s ideal customer 8:26 What makes Angel Host stand out 11:06 Supercharging marketing and guest communication 15:45 The OTAs provide interesting insights 17:06 Schedule a free audit with Angel Host 19:18 Angel Host’s collaboration with INTO 22:28 How AI is going to impact the industry 24:23 Industry trends 29:23 Favourite brand: PriceLabs
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Learn how to scale a short-term rental property management business in London by listening to Stefan Hoffelner, CEO and Co-Founder of Your AirHost.
Stefan shares advice for new property managers, explains how to navigate London’s 90-day rule, and outlines the top amenities for rentals in major cities.
Stefan named Holiday Cottage Handbook, Superhog, Lavanda, and Guesty as his favourite brands, and gave Leo Walton a special shout-out.
He also previewed Your Air Success – an event in London on 8 November which will be co-hosted by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Your AirHost. Click here to register for your free ticket and please note places are limited: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
3:35 Stefan’s journey in the short-term rentals industry 4:53 Advice for new property managers 6:44 The elevator pitch for Your AirHost 8:03 Navigating the 90-day rule in London 9:50 Top London amenities 12:05 How to acquire properties 13:33 How to keep guests and owners happy 16:01 The advantages of working with a property management company 18:56 How to get great reviews 23:45 How to achieve direct bookings 25:28 Where and what to buy in London 29:08 A new event in London: Your Air Success on 8 November 30:27 Favourite brands: Holiday Cottage Handbook, Superhog, Lavanda, and Guesty 31:30 Individual shout-out: Leo Walton from Superhog 31:54 Lessons learned: get your accounting right and enjoy the ride
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Stefan Hoffelner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hoffelner-6b360955/ Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/
Nicolas Francony, International Business Developer at Swikly, is the special guest on today’s show.
Learn about Swikly’s deposit solution for short-term rentals, including its discreet process for guests and robust claims procedure.
Nicolas named Avantio as his favourite brand in the industry and gave a special shout-out to the Kennedys of SuperControl fame.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Hosthub, Smiling House Luxury, and Beyond.
3:23 Nicolas’s journey in the short-term rentals industry 4:07 Swikly is built for self-caterers who want to secure a deposit 5:52 The Swikly process to discreetly obtain a deposit 7:09 What happens if the damage costs more than the deposit? 8:59 The limitations of AirCover from Airbnb 11:14 The Swikly claims process 12:43 Reminding hosts to be careful 14:28 How many stays result in a claim? 15:28 The cost of using Swikly 17:40 The growth plans for Swikly 18:38 The average Swikly customer 19:32 Head to www.swikly.com for further details 20:10 Trends to look out for 21:04 Top tips for hosts and property managers 23:54: Favourite brand: Avantio 24:47: Individual shout-out: The Kennedys of SuperControl
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Nicolas Francony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-francony-6a48a226/ Swikly: https://www.swikly.com/
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes will feature expert guests from across the STR space who will share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders will help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Frank Bosi, the Senior Director of Business Development at Hostfully. Frank gives us the lowdown on property management software – specifically how it can save you time and money.
2:00 What hosts can expect from HCH Bitesize 3:10 The textbook definition of a PMS 5:49 When is the optimum time to start using a PMS? 7:26 No. 1 reason why people should check out Hostfully: AI-powered unified inbox 9:00 No. 2 reason: multi-channel distribution 10:55 No. 3 reason: automated emails 12:40 No. 4 reason: leverage upselling opportunities 14:35 No. 5 reason: Hostfully’s amazing digital guidebooks 15:43 Bonus reason: Hostfully is awesome! 17:10 Save time and money with a PMS 18:27 Ongoing education and step-by-step onboarding 22:18 The simple process for developing a direct booking website
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Direct booking expert Jenn Boyles is the special guest on today’s show.
Jenn shares her top five direct booking tips, discusses industry trends, and talks about how to achieve trust as a host and property manager.
Jenn named Superhog as her favourite brand and gave Catherine Ratcliffe a special shout-out.
She also previewed the online Direct Booking Success Summit, which will take place on 8-10 October. Sign up (for free) here: https://directbookingsuccesssummit.com/
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.
3:45 Jenn’s journey as a host and STR professional 7:44 The pitfalls of being listed on a single platform 9:26 Where should you list your rentals when starting out? 11:12 How do you turn an OTA guest into a direct booker? 13:35 This is hospitality, people! 14:36 How to achieve trust as a host 16:50 Jenn’s top hospitality tips 18:38 Trends in the STR world: over-saturation, regulation, and AI 23:25 The best locations for STRs 24:53 Jenn’s top five direct booking tips 33:36 Favourite brand: Superhog 34:32 Individual shout-out: Catherine Ratcliffe 36:12 No. 1 lesson learned: you are not alone!
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost Priority list for new e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Jenn Boyles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennboyles/ Direct Booking Success: https://directbookingsuccess.com/ Direct Booking Success Summit: https://directbookingsuccesssummit.com/ Free guide: 10 ways to drive guests to your website instead of Airbnb: https://directbookingsuccess.com/10-ways-to-drive-guests-to-your-website-instead-of-airbnb/
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Ryan Saylor, the Director of Product Marketing at Beyond. Ryan shares his top five tips to utilise the power of dynamic pricing for short-term rentals.
1:56 What is dynamic pricing? 2:31 How does dynamic pricing work in the world of short-term rentals? 3:33 The difference between dynamic pricing and manually setting your rates 5:04 The extra revenue a dynamic pricing strategy can achieve 6:32 Tracking demand can be tricky 7:10 Dynamic pricing tip No. 1: do not set it and forget it 8:47 Dynamic pricing tip No. 2: use the right data 10:06 Dynamic pricing tip No. 3: monitor success 11:28 Dynamic pricing tip No. 4: set up a routine 12:33 Dynamic pricing tip No. 5: understand the non-pricing levers 15:03 Find out more about Beyond: https://www.beyondpricing.com/products/why-beyond?utm_medium=seo&utm_source=partner-2024&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook_2024
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
DOWNLOAD OUR NEW E-BOOK! https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Adams Taranda, the Co-Founder and CEO of Booklee, is the special guest on today’s show.
Adams shares the story of Booklee and how simple it is to create a direct booking site via the platform.
He also discusses direct booking strategies, and the trends hosts and property managers need to know.
Adams named StayFi as his favourite brand in the industry and gave special shout-outs to Jenn Boyles and Simon Lehmann.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.
3:36 Adams’s journey in the STR industry 5:10 The story of Booklee 9:23 The onboarding process with Booklee 11:14 Integrating with Booklee 13:00 How to turn OTA guests into future direct bookers 19:00 How to ensure guests trust your direct booking platform 22:26 Head to bookl.ee to set up a direct booking site for $26 per month 23:40 The future for Booklee 25:31 The STR trends hosts need to know 31:22 Favourite brand: StayFi 32:40 Individual shout-outs: Jenn Boyles and Simon Lehmann 34:05 No. 1 lesson learned since founding Booklee
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for STR Zone on 4-5 October: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/str-zone Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Liam Carolan, Head of Customer Success at Boostly, sharing his top five tips for attracting direct bookings.
1:39 Why direct bookings are so important 2:50 You need your own direct booking website 5:15 Billboard your website 7:27 Prioritise email marketing 10:01 Drive direct bookings through social media 14:16 Network to attract guests
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Katie Bessant from The Holiday Hive. During the show, Katie shares her top five social media marketing tips for short-term rental hosts and property managers.
1:45 Market the experience 3:01 Utilise the power of collaboration 4:34 Video is powerful 6:07 Be social on social media! 7:28 Use CTAs 8:32 How engagement helps to grow your platform 9:49 The social media platforms hosts should be using 10:34 Quality or quantity?
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Pierre-Camille Hamana, Founder and CEO of Hospitable, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Pierre-Camille outlines his story in the industry, the importance of understanding your target guest, and industry trends.
He also explains which type of hosts Hospitable caters for and how the platform can help you to run your short-term rental business on autopilot.
Pierre-Camille named PriceLabs as his favourite brand and gave special shout-outs to Pierre Becerril and Francois Gouelo.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.
5:00 A streak of happy accidents – from law to short-term rentals 9:56 Pierre-Camille’s hosting experience in the early days of Airbnb 13:24 Understanding your target guest 14:02 Starting on Airbnb and growing from there 15:42 Hospitable is built primarily for self-managers 19:46 The onboarding experience 22:31 How Hospitable can make your life easier 26:16 Head to hospitable.com for details. Solution available from $29 per month 31:18 How can a good host become a great host? 34:25 The industry trends you need to know, starting with AI 37:31 Small is beautiful in the STR world 40:16 Guest expectations 41:49 What the STR industry will look like in future 46:09 Favourite brand: PriceLabs 47:52 Individual shout-outs: Pierre Becerril and Francois Gouelo 50:27 No. 1 lesson learned: every six months my role changes
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Moriya Rockman, Co-Founder of Smiling House Group, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Moriya discusses the launch of Villa Tracker – a new platform which is linking legacy travel businesses, such as travel agents and VIP clubs, with the short-term rentals industry.
Moriya also discusses how luxury properties can stand out, the amenities you need to appeal to a large number of guests, and which upselling opportunities to offer.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.
3:47 How the luxury short-term rentals sector is performing in 2024 6:01 Villa Tracker – a platform for legacy travel players 9:58 Targeting seven industries within legacy travel companies 14:41 It’s mostly for luxury properties 16:29 Travel professionals: head to www.villatracker.com for further details 18:38 Guesty users can push their properties to Villa Tracker now 19:49 Luxury property owners can list on Smiling House and be pushed to Villa Tracker 21:50 How luxury properties can stand out 24:35 The amenities luxury properties need to stand out 27: 05 The upselling opportunities for luxury rentals 33:16 Short-term rental trends 36:11 Regulation
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Fred Bassili, the Marketing Manager at Hostfully, discussing how a digital guidebook can supercharge your guest communication and help you to achieve better reviews.
1:49 What a digital guidebook is and how it can help your business 5:26 Hosts may still want a ring binder – even with a digital guidebook 7:01 The content that goes in your digital guidebook 9:58 The upselling opportunities you can promote in your digital guidebook 12:55 How a digital guidebook can help you to achieve great reviews 16:02 How a digital guidebook can encourage direct bookings 17:11 The referral potential of digital guidebooks 18:55 Create a free digital guidebook with Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Andy Fenner, CEO, Short Term Accommodation Association, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Andy discusses lobbying efforts in relation to government proposals to abolish the furnished holiday lettings tax regime. He outlines the potential impact of the policy and calls on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to pause the plans until the government has gathered important data about the industry, including the number of operators.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Zeal, and Key Data.
3:40 Andy’s journey in the tourism industry: from Zambia to short-term rentals 7:10 The Short Term Accommodation Association 9:42 Furnished holiday lettings tax regime lobbying efforts 13:37 The potential impact of FHL tax changes 16:32 Airbnb/EY report about impact of short-term rentals in the UK 21:03 Andy’s message to the UK government: get the facts first 23:55 How people can support lobbying efforts 31:35 Favourite brand: holiday letting in general 32:28 Individual shout-outs: Diane Lloyd and Mike Ortegon (and all the STAA team) 34:48 No. 1 lesson learned: work together
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Andy Fenner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfenner2024/ Short Term Accommodation Association: https://ukstaa.org/ Short Stay Summit 2025: https://ukstaa.org/blogs/staa-short-stay-summit/
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Sally Henry, Vice President of Business Development at Key Data. During the show, Sally outlines the STR jargon every host needs to understand and shares her top tip for utilising data in order to build a successful property management business.
1:53 ADR (average daily rate) 2:57 Occupancy 4:40 RevPAR (revenue per available rental) 7:31 ALOS (average length of stay) 8:35 Booking window 10:03 Take control of your own data 11:28 Understand supply in your area 12:44 Understand your performance against the market 13:42 Track your competitors 14:55 Understand the channels which are working for you 16:08 The importance of pricing 17:53 Find out more about Key Data: https://www.keydatadashboard.com/products/prodata?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Rudy Abrahami, Founder and CEO of both Maveriks and HolyGuest, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Rudy talks about scaling a property business, how to deliver a great guest experience, and what you need to do in order to drive direct bookings. He also talks STR trends, including daily rates and regulation.
Rudy named SCALE as his favourite brand and gave Richard Vaughton a special shout-out.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Zeal, and Key Data.
3:36 Rudy’s journey in the short-term rentals world 6:12 How to scale a property management business 9:32 It is critical to get your hands dirty 11:39 How to deliver a great guest experience 14:58 How to maximise revenue 17:51 Drive more direct bookings 21:17 How to achieve great reviews 24:14 It’s not rocket science, it’s hospitality! 27:21 Maveriks: Giving tools to CEOs to grow their businesses 34:03 STR trends, including daily rates and regulation 40:28 Favourite brand: SCALE 41:21 Individual shout-out: Richard Vaughton 42:22 It’s not personal and enjoy the journey
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Dale Smith, Founder and CEO of Host & Stay, outlining his top five tips to scale a property management business.
2:05 Tip 1: Prioritise marketing early in your journey 6:46 Tip 2: Systems and processes 9:12 Tip 3: Invest in staff ahead of the growth curve 12:19 Tip 4: Keep services in-house if you can 14:20 Tip 5: Appoint somebody strong in your finance department 15:56 Host & Stay: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/_files/ugd/ccc922_537a705254d4437dbcb0558a26376ad2.pdf
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Get your free ticket for Your Air Success on Friday 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
Download The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Damian Sheridan, Co-Founder and Director of SCALE, is the special guest on today's show.
During the episode, Damian outlines what to expect at this year's SCALE UK, which will be held at The Oval cricket ground in London on 6-7 November.
Damian named Skift as his favourite brand and gave special shout-outs to Catherine Ratcliffe and Lorraine Woodward.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Zeal, and Key Data.
4:30 Damian’s journey and the story of SCALE 5:55 What to expect at SCALE UK 6:52 Tackling regulation and legislation 8:24 Uniting the industry 10:07 STR businesses united 10:59 Other topics: AI, revenue management, direct bookings, and more 12:03 Who SCALE is for and where you can get a ticket: https://uk.scalerentals.show/ 12:54 Key STR trends across the globe 14:41 Regional sentiment 16:53 SCALE’s growth plans 20:40 Favourite brand: Skirt 21:16 Individual shout-outs: Catherine Ratcliffe and Lorraine Woodward 22:54 No. 1 lesson learned: you can’t please everyone!
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
Join us as we welcome Bob Garner, Founder and CEO of EnviroRental. Bob shares his top five tips for running a sustainable short-term rental.
1:49 Tip No. 1: switch to a green energy tariff 3:49 Tip No. 2: use a digital guidebook to tell your guests about your green strategies 5:27 Tip No. 3: green web hosting 7:30 Tip No. 4: focus on cleaning products and avoiding single-use plastics 10:08 Tip No. 5: involve your team 11:03 EnviroRental: https://envirorental.earth/
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we welcome Bart-Jan Leyts, Founder and CEO of Otamiser, who shares valuable insights about how short-term rental hosts and property managers can boost their visibility on major OTAs (online travel agencies) like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.
Bart-Jan outlines the story of Otamiser, how often you should update your listing, the worst things you can do as a host, and the one simple thing everyone can do to improve their listing's ranking.
Bart-Jan named Casiola as his favourite brand and gave Thibault Masson a special shout-out.
2:58 The story of Otamiser 8:28 How to rank highly on the OTAs 9:44 How to integrate Otamiser 10:20 Frequency of updates to listings 11:33 The difference Otamiser can make 12:42 The cost of Otamiser 13:28 How to get your listing right from day one 15:13 The simple things you can do to improve your listing 17:23 How the OTAs decide which listings to rank the highest 19:28 The OTAs are scoring everything you do 20:09 The worst things you can do with an OTA listing 21:01 The differences between the major OTAs 21:59 The one thing you can do to improve your listing 23:04 Otamiser’s new tech: Autorank 24:22 The trends to be aware of 25:21 How to get your pricing right and how often you should change it 27:03 What to expect from Otamiser 29:57 Favourite brand: Casiola 30:35 Individual shout-out: Thibault Masson 31:13 No. 1 lesson learned: let people grow in certain roles
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free ticket for Your Air Success on Friday 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost Free e-book download: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Arthur Colker, Founder and CEO of StayFi, to the show to share his top five tips for maximising your marketing impact through branded Wi-Fi. Don’t miss his insights to take control of your guest experience and boost your bookings.
1:49 Tip 1: Collect and organise your guest data 2:58 Tip 2: Use automation for marketing 4:38 Tip 3: Have a direct booking website 5:29 Tip 4: Do not neglect the power of billboarding 7:05 Tip 5: Have a compelling reason for guests to return 9:05 Book a StayFi demo: https://meetings.hubspot.com/arthur46/stayfi-sales-demo?uuid=3808bc29-0b49-4571-bc21-6324b25d84a7
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
HCH: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Arthur Colker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolker/
StayFi: https://stayfi.com/
14 Nov 2024
HCH Bitesize 010: Joseph Cox: Boost revenue at your rental with upselling strategies
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
This week, we're excited to welcome Joseph Cox, Director of Business Development at Hostfully, who’s here to reveal his top five upselling strategies for short-term rental hosts and property managers. Tune in to learn how to enhance your guest experience, increase bookings, and unlock new revenue opportunities!
1:55 The definition of upselling 2:36 How hosts should offer upsells 3:32 Utilise a Hostfully digital guidebook to offer upsells 4:36 Earn more revenue 5:29 Location and season are key 6:40 Upsell No.1: early check-in and late check-out 7:01 Upsell No. 2: mid-stay clean 7:18 Upsell No. 3: food and drink 7:37 Upsell No. 4: local experiences 8:32 Upsell No. 5: transportation 9:20 Communication is key 10:07 You don’t have to deliver upsells yourself 11:51 Book a Hostfully guidebook demo: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we welcome Noga Barpal to discuss how short-term rental (STR) hosts and property managers can earn commission by selling travel insurance packages to their guests.
Noga outlines the best ways to offer travel insurance to travellers and the commission you can expect to achieve.
Noga named Guesty as her favourite brand in the industry and gave a special shout-out to Doron Meyassed from Plum Guide.
4:22 How Faye is supporting the STR space 7:32 The average Faye customer 8:48 The commission hosts can expect to achieve 9:26 The most common problems travellers face 11:15 The best way of selling Faye insurance to guests 12:32 Selling to OTA guests 13:45 The growth plan for Faye 15:06 Insurance is a growing upselling opportunity 17:35 The potential to earn commission from multiple policies 18:18 Head to www.withfaye.com for further details 21:05 Favourite brand: Guesty 21:34 Individual shout-out: Doron Meyassed
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Stefan Hoffelner, Co-Founder of Your AirHost, to share five tips on how to navigate London's 90-day limit for short-term rentals.
2:02 Explaining London’s 90-day limit 3:42 Tip No. 1: set your calendar up properly 5:27 Tools to help you find out peak demand 6:45 Tip No. 2: go after the longer stays and offer discounts 9:21 The platforms where you can attract 90+ day rentals 9:47 Tip No. 3: explore the potential of obtaining planning permission 10:53 Tip No. 4: the 90-day limit does not apply if you are renting a room in your own home 11:44 Tip No. 5: connect with local businesses who might need your rental 13:35 Occupancy levels and pricing flexibility 16:40 Find out more about Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Download free e-book: How to Navigate London's 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost
During HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
In this essential episode, we’re joined by Matt Jeffery, Tax Partner at Zeal, to discuss five crucial facts about holiday let taxes every UK homeowner and investor needs to know.
With the potential abolishment of the furnished holiday lettings tax regime on the horizon, Matt unpacks what this change could mean for your finances and shares actionable advice to help you stay ahead.
If you own or invest in short-term rentals in the UK, this is a must-listen episode to navigate tax complexities and protect your profits.
2:01 Tip No. 1: claim your capital allowances 3:20 Example capital allowance savings from a £200k purchase 5:32 Capital allowances can be used against any UK property income 6:26 Tip No. 2: declaration of trust 8:37 Tip No. 3: pension contributions 10:05 Tip No. 4: business asset disposal relief 11:08 Tip No. 5: the right business structure 12:32 Contact Matt: https://gozeal.co.uk/services/industries/hch-furnished-holiday-lets/
Zeal is offering a FREE 15-minute consultation to people who mention Holiday Cottage Handbook at the point of inquiry.
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
During HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Daniela Derin, Co-Founder of Skol Apartments Marbella, as she shares her game-changing strategies for growing a property management business with the power of WhatsApp.
Daniela breaks down her top five tips for leveraging WhatsApp to:
With first-hand experience of how WhatsApp has transformed her business operations, Daniela believes this tool can help property managers and hosts across all types of enterprises elevate their marketing efforts and achieve sustainable growth.
Tune in now and discover how you can turn WhatsApp into your ultimate business growth hack!
1:51 Tip No. 1: download WhatsApp Business 3:55 Tip No. 2: create a catalogue 5:30 Tip No. 3: WhatsApp status strategy 6:21 Tip No. 4: start a broadcast list strategy 8:45 Tip No. 5: be personal and proactive 11:02 The impact of WhatsApp on Daniela’s business 12:28 Posting frequency 13:29 Available on Amazon: Mastering WhatsApp Business: https://shorturl.at/Av7ve 14:30 Skol Apartments Marbella: https://www.skolapartmentsmarbella.com/
Mastering WhatsApp Business by Daniela Derin (Amazon link): https://shorturl.at/Av7ve
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
During HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
In this episode, we’re joined by Samantha Turmaine, Lead Consultant at HCH Financial Services, to break down the five essential facts every holiday let owner needs to know about holiday let mortgages.
Whether you’re planning to purchase your first holiday rental or looking to optimise financing for your existing portfolio, Samantha’s expert insights will guide you through the key considerations, pitfalls to avoid, and tips for making the most of your investment.
This is a must-listen for short-term rental hosts and property managers navigating the world of holiday let financing!
1:43 Holiday let mortgages are different to buy-to-let mortgages 2:39 Personal income and rental income projections 5:32 Location, location, location 6:59 Financial considerations, such as business rates or council tax 8:55 Regulation and market trends 10:30 HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Shahar Goldboim, Founder and CEO of BOOM, to explore his revolutionary AI-powered property management solution.
Shahar’s journey is nothing short of inspiring – from his early days as a property manager to becoming a trailblazer in the short-term rental tech space.
As a recognised industry leader, he shares:
– Insights into his career journey and lessons learned along the way. – Practical hosting tips to elevate your short-term rental game. – How BOOM is transforming property management with cutting-edge AI technology. – Why AI is a game-changer for the STR industry – and why this is just the beginning.
Shahar named SCALE and Better Talent as his favourite brands and gave a special shout-out to Andy Fenner from the UK Short Term Accommodation Association.
3:38 Shahar’s story in the STR space 7:05 A huge learning journey 9:21 The advice Shahar would give himself: buy more real estate! 10:24 The advice Shahar would give to people starting out in STR 11:37 This is a 24/7 business 13:12 A tech solution that allows hosts to focus on their guests 14:42 The creation of BOOM 18:03 BOOM’s ideal customers: mid to large STR companies 19:16 How BOOM improves the management experience 20:21 AI in STR: we’re just getting started! 23:33 Key trends in the STR world 25:11 The positives of running STRs 28:01 The industry needs to be united 33:12 Favourite brands: SCALE and Better Talent 34:20 Individual shout-out: Andrew Fenner 35:54 No. 1 lesson learned: AI is going to revolutionise everything we know
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Shahar Goldboim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahar-goldboim-80820b95/ BOOM: https://www.boomnow.com/
Mentions:
SCALE: https://scalerentals.show/
Better Talent: https://bettertalent.com/
Andrew Fenner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfenner2024/
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome not one, but two special guests: David Jacoby and Fred Bassili from Hostfully!
Fresh off the release of the eighth edition of their ‘Hospitality Trends in the Vacation Rental Industry’ report, David and Fred sit down with HCH Founder, James Varley, to unpack the latest in the STR world.
Here’s what’s in store:
🔹 How AI is transforming property management and guest experiences. 🔹 The rise of direct bookings and what it means for hosts. 🔹 Why Airbnb is losing market share – and where guests are booking instead. 🔹 Key challenges and opportunities for STR hosts worldwide.
If you’re eager to stay ahead in the STR industry, this episode is a must-listen. Don’t miss out on the expert insights that could shape your hosting strategy for the year ahead!
David named Hudson Creative Studio as his favourite brand and gave Robin Craigen a special shout-out, while Fred praised both Key Data and Madeleine Raiford-Holland.
This episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Zeal, Smiling House Luxury, and Search and Stay.
3:28 A tool to gather industry data 5:22 How AI is shaping the space 10:12 Direct bookings are rising and Airbnb is slipping 13:55 Direct bookings will keep growing 14:58 The strategies owners with 100+ rentals are using to get direct bookings 17:32 The tech divide 19:59 Surprising stats 23:59 Challenges and opportunities: the industry is ripe for disruption 26:56 Challenges and opportunities: regulation 29:29 How Hostfully supports hosts and property managers 31:23 Hostfully’s top tier integrations, including with Airbnb and Vrbo 33:10 View the report: https://www.hostfully.com/2024-hospitality-industry-study/ Find out more about Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1 36:36 David’s favourite brand: Hudson Creative Studio 38:16 Fred’s favourite brand: Key Data 39:19 David’s individual shout-out: Robin Craigen 40:59 Fred’s individual shout-out: Madeleine Raiford-Holland 42:32 David’s advice: focus on what you can control 43:02 Fred’s advice: avoid shiny object syndrome
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
David Jacoby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjacoby/ Fred Bassili: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-bassili/ Try Hostfully's PMS or digital guidebook: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1 Hostfully trends report: https://www.hostfully.com/2024-hospitality-industry-study/
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re joined by Alistair Malins, Founder of Luxury Cottages, as he shares his expertise on the art of managing luxurious short-term rentals.
Discover what truly defines a luxury property, how to deliver an unforgettable five-star guest experience, and the key takeaways every host can apply from the luxury sector. Alistair also dives into industry trends, including sustainability and regulation, offering valuable insights for navigating the ever-evolving STR landscape.
During the episode, Alistair names Thinking Traveller as his favourite brand and gives a special shout-out to Rachel Parsons for her contributions to the industry.
💡 Episode highlights:
✅ What makes a property truly luxurious ✅ How to deliver exceptional guest experiences ✅ Industry trends: sustainability and regulation ✅ Expert advice for short-term rental hosts
This episode includes sponsor mentions for: HCH Financial Services, Hosthub, Smiling House Luxury, and Booklee.
👉 Watch now and elevate your hosting game with exclusive tips from the luxury short-term rental sector!
📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more industry-leading insights from the HCH Podcast.
2:50 Founding Luxury Cottages 4:50 Who Luxury Cottages caters for 5:35 Getting listed on Luxury Cottages 6:54 Meeting the expectations of owners and guests 8:26 What makes a property luxurious 9:52 How to deliver a luxurious experience 10:48 What hosts can learn from the luxury market 12:17 Commitment to sustainability 15:24 Trends to be looking out for 17:45 Regulation 23:09 The future of the industry 27:14 Favourite brand: Thinking Traveller 27:58 Individual shout-out: Rachel Parsons 29:13 No. 1 lesson learned: don’t stand still
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/ Free e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by an incredible entrepreneur and industry innovator: Madison Rifkin, Founder and CEO of Mount.
Madison’s journey is nothing short of inspiring – from founding her first business at just 12 years old to scaling Mount into a global leader in the short-term rental space.
Here’s what’s coming up:
🚀 How Madison’s entrepreneurial journey began with bikes and evolved into game-changing software. 💼 The role of Mount as the ultimate upselling platform for busy short-term rental hosts. 💡 Why upselling is more important than ever and how it can significantly boost your revenue. 🐖 Quirky experiences that captivate guests – including mini pig petting! 🌎 Mount’s impressive growth into 250+ markets and its exciting future.
And here’s the best part: Mount is completely free for hosts! Tune in to hear Madison’s insights, STR trends, and lessons learned on her inspiring entrepreneurial path.
Madison named Can Monkey as her favourite brand and gave a special shout-out to Mark Simpson from Boostly.
The episode features sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Hosthub, Booklee, and Smiling House.
👉 Hit play now to learn how to elevate your guest experience and unlock more revenue opportunities!
2:59 Founding a business at age 12 4:43 Taking risks as a young entrepreneur 5:43 From bikes to scooters to software 10:39 Mount in its current form 12:07 An ideal upselling platform for busy hosts 13:40 You can add existing upselling link-ups to Mount 14:35 Why upselling is important and how much hosts can earn 16:02 The key to marketing upsells 17:45 The experiences which help hosts to stand out 18:41 Quirky experiences, including mini pig petting! 19:27 Mount is in 250+ markets and growing 20:14 Mount is free for hosts! Find out more: https://rentmount.com/ 20:51 Curators can get listed on Mount too 21:36 The future for Mount 22:45 STR trends 26:25 Favourite brand: Can Monkey 27:09 Individual shout-out: Mark Simpson 28:00 No. 1 lesson learned: there will be so many ups and downs
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free downloads:
The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Guest Communication 101 for Direct Bookings: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable
How to Navigate London's 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost
Madison Rifkin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-rifkin-23037712a/ Mount: https://rentmount.com/
Mentions:
Can Monkey: https://www.canmonkey.com/
Mark Simpson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarksimpson/
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of revenue management and dynamic pricing for short-term rentals with John An, the Founder and CEO of TechTape.
John shares his inspiring journey through the STR industry, revealing how each step in his career has strengthened his expertise in property management. From launching TechTape to redefining how hosts and property managers approach revenue management, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
We’ll explore how TechTape simplifies onboarding, takes the reins of dynamic pricing tools, and maximises revenue potential for your properties. Plus, John dishes out expert tips for optimising pricing strategies and highlights trends shaping the future of the industry.
John named Rent Responsibly as his favourite brand and gave a special shout-out to Julie George. The episode contains sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Hosthub, Booklee, and Smiling House.
3:00 John’s journey in the STR industry 6:46 Each career move has strengthened the property management journey 9:07 Starting TechTape 13:38 TechTape helps to drive revenue management performance 15:03 How TechTape helps you to earn more revenue 16:14 The onboarding process 18:01 TechTape takes over your dynamic pricing tool and revenue management 19:03 Tips to optimise dynamic pricing tools 22:51 Industry trends 24:55 Where the industry is heading 26:05 Top tip for host and property managers: be nimble 28:59 Favourite brand: Rent Responsibly 29:49 Individual shout-out: Julie George 30:40 No. 1 lesson learned: be prepared to navigate the changes
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
During HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
In this episode, we’re joined by Nicolas Francony, International Business Developer, Swikly, to share five reasons why every host should take a digital deposit from their guests.
Nicolas breaks down exactly what a deposit is, how this simple act can build trust between host and guest, and the benefits of outsourcing claim management.
1:43 Digital deposits 2:30 Zero transaction – no money is taken or held 3:34 Reason No. 1: communicate trust 4:28 Reason No. 2: save time 5:42 Reason No. 3: hassle-free communication between the host and guest 7:03 Reason No. 4: delegate the claim management 8:08 Reason No. 5: on the host’s side 9:12 Find out more about Swikly: www.swikly.com
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Annie Munro Sloan, Founder and CEO of The Host Co., to share her expert insights on the art of upselling in short-term rentals. From Silicon Valley inspirations to actionable tips, Annie covers everything hosts and property managers need to know about boosting revenue and enhancing guest experiences.
Tune in to gain practical advice and discover why upselling is more than just an extra income—it’s a way to delight guests and grow your business. Don’t miss this exciting episode packed with insights from one of the industry’s brightest leaders!
2:55: A Silicon Valley eye-roll(!) 7:00: How The Host Co. empowers hosts and property managers 9:29: Onboarding takes just two minutes – yes, really! 12:25: Unlocking the potential of upselling 15:56: The must-have upsells every host should offer 18:06: Connect with The Host Co.: @thehostcompany on Instagram 19:00: Annie’s top tips for hosts and property managers 20:09: Trends to watch, including the rise of direct bookings 21:53: Brian Chesky’s vision and what’s next for Airbnb 23:23: Social media strategies every host should know 27:42: Annie’s favourite brand: StayFi 29:32: Shout-outs to Margot Schmorak and Paul Hall 30:20: No. 1 lesson learned: you’re not 'nickel and diming' guests
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, sponsored by Hostfully, Jane Mack dives into the essentials of assembling your short-term rental dream team! Whether you're a new host or a seasoned property manager, this guide will help you identify the VIPs you need on your side to run a successful STR business.
1:50: VIP No. 1: your employees. Why your team is your biggest asset and how to empower them for success. 3:24: Recruitment, including tips for hiring the right people to fit your STR business vision. 5:55: Employee development and dealing with bad hires, including strategies for nurturing talent and managing the challenges of poor hires. 8:40: Probationary periods: setting expectations early and using probation as a growth opportunity. 9:42: VIP No. 2: housekeeping staff. The critical role housekeeping plays in maintaining your STR standards. 11:32: VIP No. 3: maintenance team. Why having reliable maintenance support is a must for smooth operations. 13:43: VIP No. 4: local suppliers. Building strong partnerships with suppliers to enhance guest experiences. 14:24: VIP No. 5: tech support. Leveraging tech to streamline operations and solve problems fast.
Whether you’re managing one property or scaling a portfolio, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you create a winning team and elevate your guest experience.
Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on short-term rental success!
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Are you a short-term rental host or property manager looking for innovative ways to boost your revenue and enhance guest satisfaction?
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, sponsored by Hostfully, Siddhi Mittal, Co-Founder of yhangry, shares how offering private chef services can transform your business. Whether you manage a cozy cottage or luxury villa, Siddhi reveals why this upselling opportunity is a game-changer for your rental business.
1:44 Deliver a six-star experience 2:12 Gain a competitive advantage 2:53: Leverage user-generated content 5:06 Boost customer retention 6:12 Increase your rental yield 7:09 Understand the earning potential 7:42 The story behind yhangry 9:26 Perfect for any rental size 10:15 Ideal for special occasions
Don’t miss this episode if you want to:
- Elevate your guest experience - Stand out in a competitive market - Tap into new revenue streams for 2025
👉 Listen now and take your rental business to the next level!
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we welcome Cristiana Carpini, Founder and CEO of Tara Home Consulting, to share her expertise on building and scaling successful short-term rental businesses.
Cristiana provides invaluable insights into marketing, legislation, scaling strategies, and what it takes to achieve success in today’s dynamic property management landscape.
2:58: Cristiana’s journey in the STR industry 5:54: The clients Tara Home Consulting works with and the challenges they solve 8:13: Marketing and branding for short-term rentals 9:55: Key industry trends, including regulation and legislation 11:29: Common mistakes property managers make and how to avoid them 13:19: How to scale a property management business effectively 15:03: Cristiana’s advice to new entrepreneurs: don’t do it on your own 16:43: What an exit looks like and how to prepare for it 19:49: The importance of having a clear end goal in business 21:13: Cristiana’s predictions and expectations for 2025 24:47: Cristiana’s favourite brand: BOOM 25:34: Individual shout-out to Neely Khan 26:34: No. 1 lesson learned: never take anything for granted
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Your Air Success, Six Park Place, London, Friday 4 April Register for your free ticket (places are limited): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess
Free downloads:
The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Guest Communication 101 for Direct Bookings: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable
How to Navigate London's 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost
Enjoy the show? Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Contact the show: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/contact
14 Jan 2025
HCH Bitesize 018: Guest communication with Margot Schmorak
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder of Hostfully, shares her expert insights on how short-term rental hosts can enhance guest communication to improve their ratings and overall guest experience.
0:00: Episode starts 1:38: Use a digital guidebook 2:36: Experience the guest journey yourself 4:27: Leverage AI tools to streamline communication and provide instant responses 5:57: Know your typical guests and personalise the experience 7:48: Back to basics – ask for the five-star review 10:15: Try a digital guidebook from Hostfully – the first one's free! Find out more: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Robin Craigen, Founder and CEO of Moving Mountains, a premier luxury vacation rental company.
Robin shares his journey of scaling a successful high-end rental business and reveals the secrets behind creating exceptional guest experiences that drive loyalty and revenue.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
2:19: Robin’s journey in the hospitality industry 6:18: The joy of working with people on holiday 7:28: The story behind Moving Mountains 9:39: The original vision and how it has evolved 12:29: 20 years of organic growth and its impact 16:06: How to deliver a great guest experience while scaling 19:17: Why employees must understand and live the company vision 22:36: Building employee engagement for long-term success 25:34: Lessons all hosts can learn from the luxury rental sector 28:00: Emerging trends in the short-term rental industry 32:15: Challenges and opportunities in 2025 36:20: Advice for new property managers starting out 38:14: What’s next for Moving Mountains? 42:29: Robin’s favourite brand: Breezeway 4343:: Individual shout-out: Simon Lehmann 45:11: No. 1 lesson learned: every challenge is an opportunity
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Welcome to HCH Bitesize, the podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have Genevieve White, from Campion Comms & Coaching, sharing her top five copywriting tips designed to help vacation rental hosts and property managers elevate their listings, attract more bookings, and enhance the guest experience.
Whether you’re a new host or a seasoned pro, these actionable tips will help you stand out on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, and increase your direct bookings!
What you’ll learn in this episode:
1:43: Tip 1: write with your ideal guest in mind 4:31: Tip 2: build your brand 7:06: Tip 3: take time over your headlines 10:01: Tip 4: focus on benefits, not features 11:51: Tip 5: keep it clear and easy to read 13:51: AI 14:52: Where to find Genevieve online
Why you should listen:
Good copy is the key to turning lookers into bookers! Learn how to communicate your property’s value in a way that resonates with your target audience and compels them to book. Genevieve shares real-life examples and proven techniques that you can implement right away.
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today (your first guidebook is free!). Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce, the innovative luggage storage company helping short-term rental hosts and property managers offer more value to guests.
Cody shares the Bounce journey, how they’re revolutionising travel, and the incredible opportunities for hosts to partner with Bounce and boost their earnings.
2:23 The story of Bounce 3:13 Serving the short-term rentals industry 4:55 Become a Bounce partner and earn commission 5:47 The advantages of collaborating with Bounce 6:52 The extra revenue hosts can expect to earn with Bounce 7:36 What if your rentals are not in a big city? 8:19 Where is the luggage stored? 8:50 The future for Bounce (and the travel industry) 11:42 Why will AI make things cheaper? 13:49 The ‘physical cloud’ and luggage shipping 14:35 How Bounce is utilising AI 15:58 The long-term vision for Bounce 19:36 Advice for budding entrepreneurs 22:55 Favourite brands: Airbnb and Guesty 24:12 Individual shout-out: Paul Stevens 24:59 No. 1 lesson learned: obsess over distribution
Whether you're looking to improve guest satisfaction or add a new revenue stream to your short-term rental business, this episode is packed with valuable insights you can’t miss!
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, sponsored by Hostfully, we’re joined by Sam Brownlow, Sales Director at Host & Stay, one of the UK’s leading property management companies. Sam breaks down five key reasons why short-term rental owners should consider using a professional property management company.
Whether you're a new host or a seasoned property owner, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you elevate your rental business.
1:46: Reason 1: marketing exposure 8:36 Reason 2: saves time 14:31 Reason 3: cleaning, maintenance, and compliance 21:33 Reason 4: account management and support 26:11 Reason 5: revenue optimisation and forecasting 30:44 Get in touch with Host & Stay: https://hostandstay.co.uk/host/?utm_source=holidaycottagehandbook&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=HOST&utm_content=20240618logo
Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today (your first guidebook is free!). Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
In this episode of the HCH Mortgage Podcast, host James Varley chats with Samantha Turmaine from HCH Financial Services about all things mortgages. From preparing for remortgaging to insights into the 2025 mortgage market, this episode is packed with practical advice for homeowners and investors alike.
Whether you’re a holiday let owner, a homeowner considering equity release, or an investor looking to scale, this episode has something for you.
Subscribe for more expert advice on mortgages, short-term rentals, and property investment.
2:30 How to prepare for remortgaging 3:52 Speak to a broker! 4:31 When to start and what lenders want to know 6:28 Common pitfalls when people are remortgaging 7:58 Holiday let owners who aren’t earning what they’d expect 9:19 The options available to homeowners who want to release equity 10:19 The options available to investors who want to scale 11:27 HCH Financial Services covers all your mortgage needs 11:57 What to expect from the mortgage market in 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Guest Communication 101 for Direct Bookings: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable
How to Navigate London's 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost
Contact the show: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/contact
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