Host Planet: Airbnb, Holiday Let, and Vacation Rental Insights

What if you could walk into a room with zero AI knowledge – and walk out with your own AI agent built for your short-term rental business? That's exactly what's happening at the AI Buildathon, from Host Planet and Boostly, in Leeds on 27th November. In this episode, Mark Simpson from Boostly joins James Varley to explain what you'll build on the day, why it's for complete beginners as well as advanced AI users, and the AI agents he's building right now. They also dig into why only 1% of people pay for an AI service, reflections from VRMA International, why hospitality is the industry of making memories (and why you can't automate everything), and what Airbnb's new "direct booking" link means for hosts. 🎟️ AI Buildathon – Leeds, 27th November Only 40 seats available, so grab yours before they're gone. Tickets £50 + VAT. 👉 https://www.hostplanet.club/ai-buildathon 🎧 The Host Planet Podcast is powered by Lodgify – the all-in-one vacation rental software that helps you build a direct booking website, manage your…

Finding a great cleaner can make or break your short-term rental – and losing one at the wrong moment can wreck a five-star streak. In this episode of Turnover Tactics – from Host Planet and Turno – Brooks Sparks joins James Varley to walk through the full process of finding, hiring, and keeping great cleaners. From writing a cleaner brief that attracts the right people, to trial cleans, giving feedback and building a back-up plan for when someone lets you down, this is your playbook for a turnover team you can rely on. You'll learn: ✅ What a great cleaner brief looks like ✅ Why the cheapest option isn't always the right one ✅ How to interview cleaners and run trial cleans ✅ How to give feedback – both good and bad ✅ Why rewarding cleaners for 5-star reviews pays off ✅ The back-up plan every host needs 🧹 Find cleaners for your short-term rental with Turno – the largest database of STR cleaners worldwide: https://turno.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=host_planet 📧 Want to book a Turno…

Taking on other people's properties is where hosting becomes a real business. In Episode 4 of the STR Growth Curve, Tom Beerley breaks down the operator stage of your short term rental business – the mindset shift from host to operator, the systems to get right, and how to scale as an Airbnb co-host without losing consistency. Tom shares his guest messaging strategy, how he keeps the guest experience consistent across properties, the owner conversation that prevents future problems, how he approaches inspections, when to write a new SOP, the first hire to make, and the one metric to start tracking at this stage. He also explains how automation has helped him grow, and the signal that tells you if you're ready to scale or should stay put. Whether you're managing your first co-host client or building toward 10+ units, this is your playbook for building smarter, more successful, and more sustainable operations – including where automation and AI fit in day-to-day hosting. 📘 Download the STR Growth Curve e-book:…

How do you turn a London cleaning start-up into a global property operations business? In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – Georgi Georgiev from Fantastic Services shares how trust, quality, and systems helped scale from first customers in London to a global operation, and what hosts need to know to start and scale a short-term rental cleaning business that lasts. We cover hiring and training cleaners to short-term rental standards, aligning operations in a large cleaning business, the realities of operating in London, when to expand into new markets without losing quality, and what's next: fully integrated property operations. We also touch on how AI is helping hosts build smarter, more successful and more sustainable businesses. Get 20% off Lodgify with the code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.lodgify.com/hostplanet/?utm_source=landing-page&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet Timestamps: 1:07 Get 20% off Lodgify with the code HOSTPLANET20 1:53 The growth of Fantastic…

Welcome to Built to Book, the podcast series from Host Planet and Smoobu, where we dig into the operational side of short-term rentals. How much of your hosting business should be automated – and what should stay human? Jannik Abraham, Managing Director of Smoobu, joins us to break down short-term rental automation done right for hosts and property managers. We cover where Airbnb automation actually improves the guest experience, where to keep it in human hands, whether guests care if AI answers their questions, digital guidebooks, the small touches that earn five-star reviews, and the mistakes hosts make when automating. SPECIAL OFFER: Get 20% off Smoobu with the code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.smoobu.com/en/hostplanet/?utm_source=hostplanet&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=podcast_4 Timestamps: 1:35 How automation done right enhances the guest experience 3:52 Where to automate and which to keep in human hands 5:09 Do guests care if AI answers their questions? 6:00 Automate what annoys you! 8:15 What changes when…

Relying only on Airbnb is putting your short-term rental business at risk. Hosts can get suspended – and that means massive business disruption overnight. In this episode of Build for Growth, Brise Carpenter, Vice President of Customer Success at Hostfully, breaks down how to grow a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable business by listing on multiple channels the right way. You'll learn where else to be listed, how to avoid the dreaded double booking with a unified calendar and inbox, what to watch out for when you list on Booking.com and Vrbo, and how to price your rentals across different channels. We also touch on how AI-powered messaging and automation inside tools like Hostfully help you manage more channels without more workload. This is essential viewing for Airbnb hosts ready to diversify, increase occupancy, and build for growth. Timestamps: 1:37 Get free PMS onboarding and 30% off digital guidebooks for life with Hostfully: hostfully.com/host_planet 2:33 The issue with only being listed…

How guests find and book holiday lets has changed massively. In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, Owen Burt, SEO Manager at Sykes Holiday Cottages, explains how AI search works, why people are clicking less, and what hosts can do to build businesses that get found online. Owen breaks down how his SEO role has evolved, what makes a listing easy for AI to read and recommend, why consistent details across all booking sites matter, and why reviews are becoming even more important for AI visibility. If you want more direct bookings and to get your cottage cited in AI answers, this is your practical playbook for AI, SEO, and listing optimisation. In this episode: - How search behaviour has shifted to AI answers - Why only 5% of AI searches result in a click - How to structure your listing title, description, and amenities for AI search traffic, answer engine optimisation, and generative engine optimisation - Consistency, reviews, and trust signals that help AI recommend you - Simple steps to increase Airbnb…

Welcome to Episode 3 of the STR Growth Curve, a 12-part series from the Host Planet Podcast and Hospitable mapping the 12 stages of growth in short-term rentals – from setting up your first rental all the way through to selling your property management business. Our goal: help you build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable hosting business. Stage 3 is all about when hosting stops being fun and starts feeling like a full-time job. Mark and Kirsten Krikke share how to make it fun again by hiring cleaners, finding and training the right cleaners, why you need back-up cleaners, the first piece of STR software to pay for and what to avoid, the processes and average week at this stage, and how to communicate with guests when automation becomes essential. Plus the signals you're overwhelmed with hosting, a habit or system that pays back enormously at this stage, and the signal you're ready to scale or stay where you are, including how AI and automation with Hospitable helps hosts save time, handle guest…

Travellers are now booking stays directly from ChatGPT – but is your business getting cited? In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – we’re joined by Jason Cincotta from Kismet to break down how AI search really works for short-term rentals, and how you can get found, cited, and booked. If you want to build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable property management business, this is your playbook for AI search optimisation, vacation rental marketing, and winning more direct bookings. You’ll learn where LLMs get their answers from, why AI-delivered traffic is so hard to track, whether your traditional SEO still matters, where you need to show up online to get cited, the technical checklist to be AI-readable, and how to take a booking directly from AI. Jason also shares where AI search is heading next and why this could be the biggest direct booking opportunity in years. Timestamps: 1:03 Use code HOSTPLANET20 for 20% off Lodgify:…

Agentic AI is becoming the Chief Action Officer for short-term rental hosts. Here's how to use it to save time, make money, and scale. In this episode of AI-Powered Hosting – from Host Planet and BOOM – we talk to Sab Mulligan about agentic AI for short-term rental hosts and property managers, and what it takes to build smarter, more successful, and more sustainable businesses with AI. Sab shares how a 650-unit operation in Malta uses AI as a senior member of the team, how AI helped a guest propose to his girlfriend, and why the future is so much more than just responding to guests quickly. We dig into how to embed your brand tone in an AI agent, the difference between prompts and playbooks when training AI, how Zzzing works with BOOM, and why Sab is making the case for no more dashboards. Plus: why tech should be making money or saving money, what hospitality architects will do by 2027, and where Zoe is heading next. In this episode: - Agentic AI as Chief Action Officer - Using AI across 650 units in Malta…

Welcome to Episode 2 of the STR Growth Curve, a 12-part series from the Host Planet Podcast and Hospitable mapping the 12 stages of growth in short-term rentals – from setting up your first rental all the way through to selling your property management business. Our goal: help you build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable hosting business. Stage 2 is all about optimising your first listing so it actually gets booked. Sandy Lee shares the difference between listings that get booked and those that don't, why you need to treat hosting like a business from day one, why professional photos are everything, the most common mistake hosts make with guest messaging, how to earn strong reviews and turn a four-star review into a five-star review, and how to handle your first bad review. Plus what you should and should not automate from day one, including how AI and automation with Hospitable helps Sandy save time, use data to make better decisions, and get ready for property number two. 📘 Download the STR…

How can AI help you build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable short-term rental business? In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – we sit down with Francois Gouelo, Co-Founder of Enso Connect, to rethink guest experience, automation, upsells, and AI. Francois shares the story of Enso Connect, what great guest experience really means, what most hosts get wrong, and the one thing you can do today to level up guest experience and drive more revenue. In this episode, we cover: - How Enso Connect helps STR hosts and property managers bolt AI onto your PMS - What AI can (and can't) handle in the guest experience - Why guests can't always tell if it's AI – and why they don't care - How guest experience directly drives revenue - Best, craziest, and most lucrative upsells - How to gather and utilise guest data to grow - How AI and vibe coding will shape property management Use code HOSTPLANET20 for 20% off Lodgify:…

Slow replies are costing you bookings. Learn how to automate guest communication with AI without losing the personal touch. In this episode of Build for Growth – from Host Planet and Hostfully – James Varley is joined by Jay Ullrich from HostBuddy AI to share a clear, practical plan to help you build a smarter, more successful and more sustainable short-term rental business with AI-powered messaging. You'll learn what you can automate today, which messages to start with, why clean data matters, how to treat your AI like a team member, when humans still need to step in, and how fast, personal replies help you show up better on Airbnb and Booking.com. Timestamps: 1:49 Get free PMS onboarding and 30% off digital guidebooks for life with Hostfully 2:47 What can be automated and what's changed with AI 4:18 The messages you can automate with AI 6:04 The importance of clean data for AI systems 7:30 Treat your AI like a member of the team 9:03 Meet the guest where they prefer their communication 13:02 The importance…

Is Airbnb's 6% direct booking link actually a win for hosts? On STR Pricing Pulse – powered by Host Planet and Beyond – Dr Zak Ali, President of the ISTRM, breaks down Airbnb's in-the-news test to cut fees to 6% when you bring your own guest. Is it right to call it an affiliate link? Why is Airbnb doing this now? And how should you price direct vs OTAs? Zak covers the industry response, why it's all about the numbers, how to price across different platforms, the biggest mistake hosts and property managers make about channels, and what operators should check this week. Get channels, pricing and guest experience right to build a smarter, more successful and more sustainable business — and create the clean booking data AI tools need to actually help you price. Timestamps: 2:46 It’s right to call it an affiliate link 5:53 Why is Airbnb doing this? 9:40 The industry response 11:37 It’s all about the numbers 12:13 Check out Beyond: https://beyondpricing.info/launchbase 13:23 How to price across different platforms…

Setting up your first Airbnb? Stage 1 of the STR Growth Curve shows you exactly how to launch right – pricing, cleaning, reviews, and essential tech. Welcome to Episode 1 of the STR Growth Curve, a 12-part series from Host Planet and Hospitable mapping the 12 stages of growth in short-term rentals – from setting up your first rental all the way through to selling your property management business. Our goal: help you build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable hosting business. Stage 1 is all about hosting your first property. Colleen Coale from Hurford Place Hospitality shares how she got started, the logistical essentials when uploading your first listing, what she got wrong on day one, how to find and train your cleaning team, how to price right from day one, and how to win great reviews and handle difficult guests. Plus the essential tech you need from day one, including how AI and automation with Hospitable helped Colleen grow. 📘 Download the STR Growth Curve e-book:…

Struggling to turn followers into bookings? Vanessa Aguirre shares the social media strategy independent hosts need for 2026. In this episode of The Independent Host – a series from Host Planet and Lodgify – Vanessa breaks down knowing your target audience, updating a themed rental, which platforms to bother with in 2026, and how to win when we're all at the mercy of the algorithms. You'll learn how often to post, whether you should show your face, why behind-the-scenes content works, how to turn a follower into a booking, and the biggest mistake hosts make when posting about their properties. Plus Vanessa on staging photos for your listing, getting guests to post about your place, staying consistent, the content which actually drives bookings, and looking at the analytics. As always, we focus on practical ideas – including AI – to help you build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable hosting business. Learn how Lodgify helps Vanessa's business and use code HOSTPLANET60 to get 60% off:…

How do you design cleaning operations software that hosts and cleaners actually use when they're not at a desk? Gabi Celemin from Turno joins Turnover Tactics to share how customer support informs product development, what customers asked for versus what was actually built, and how to design for everyone from new hosts to managers with hundreds of doors. Plus: product localisation and the impact of AI on Turno and the future of turnovers. Turnover Tactics is powered by Host Planet and Turno – helping you build a smarter, more sustainable hosting business. In this episode: 2:12 The Turno user experience 4:15 Customer support informs product development 5:55 Designing a solution for people who are not at a desk 9:05 How to help hosts and cleaners 11:55 Surprising elements which have changed the product 13:50 What customers asked for versus what was built 16:24 Product localisation 18:53 Trying to please new hosts and people managing hundreds of doors 20:43 The impact of AI on Turno Connect with Gabi Celemin:…

Wales' 182-day rule is pushing self-catering owners to the brink – and there's a narrow window to change it. Almost a third of holiday letting businesses in Wales have already collapsed under 'hideous' council tax bills, and 26% are running at a loss. But there may finally be light at the end of the tunnel. In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – James Varley sits down with Nicky Williamson of PASC UK to unpack the 182-day threshold for self-catering properties in Wales: why it's crippling businesses, why the Welsh Government has launched a 12-week consultation, what the right level should be, and how proposed exemptions could create big winners and big losers. If you operate in Wales, this is your chance to be heard. We cover exactly what owners need to do – and how to respond to the consultation before it closes. 👉 If you found this useful, subscribe for weekly short-term rental insight, and share it with a host who needs to see it. The Host Planet Podcast helps short-term rental…

Why don't guests book direct – and how do you fix it? In this episode of Built to Book, Jonas Baum, Head of CX at Smoobu, breaks down how to build a direct booking website that converts. Learn the trust signals, AI workflows, and booking flow fixes to help you build a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable short-term rental business. If you're getting traffic but no bookings, this is your 30-day plan to turn Airbnb and Booking.com guests into repeat direct bookers – with offers the OTAs can't match, better photography, stronger brand, and a frictionless checkout. Special offer: Get 20% off Smoobu with the code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.smoobu.com/en/hostplanet/?utm_source=hostplanet&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=podcast_3 In this episode we cover: - What goes wrong when a guest doesn't book direct - Why brand matters whether you have one property or hundreds - Core trust signals every direct booking website needs - How to utilise AI to build your brand and content faster - Where booking flows lose…

Is your holiday let truly winter ready..? Because a cold property is a 1-star review waiting to happen. In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, from Host Planet and Sykes Holiday Cottages, Rachel Brennan shares exactly how smart hosts protect their property, price correctly, and deliver a 5-star guest experience when temperatures drop – helping you build a smarter, more successful and more sustainable business. This series shares practical insights for holiday let owners and managers, including how AI and automation can support winter pricing, guest communications, and property operations. Rachel breaks down the biggest winter pricing mistake owners make, how to adjust your listing and marketing to attract winter guests, and the simple touches that create a warm arrival and keep guests happy when it's raining outside. In this episode you'll learn: - The #1 winter pricing mistake that leaves your calendar empty - How to adapt your listing and marketing for winter demand - How to protect your property before…

Luxury hosting is getting harder – fire regulations, guest expectations, and running a UK business from abroad. Here's how top operators stay ahead. In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast, sponsored by Lodgify, James Cornwell joins us ahead of the Host Planet Roadshow in Bath, where his business, Curated Property, is Event Partner. We talk bringing the STR community together, collaborating with competitors, and managing in the luxury space. Plus: speaker Johnny Palmer on turning a plane linked to Pablo Escobar into an Airbnb – and James answers: was it really Escobar's plane? Get 20% off Lodgify with code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet Timestamps: 0:58 Get 20% off Lodgify with code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 1:42 Bringing the STR community together in Bath 2:40 The value of attending industry events 5:01 Collaborating with competitors 6:28…

Mid-term rentals are having a moment — a perfect storm of supply shifts, rising nightly-rate competition, and a flood of 30–90 day demand. In this Build for Growth episode, Host Planet sits down with Frank Bosi from Hostfully to break down the mathematics of mid-term stays: how to price them, how to rework your listing to attract longer bookings, and which distribution channels actually deliver them. You'll learn the specific changes to make to your listing, why a digital guidebook becomes a serious conversion tool for mid-term guests, and what most hosts underestimate about protecting themselves on longer stays. ⏱️ Timestamps 1:46 Free PMS onboarding + 30% off digital guidebooks for life with Hostfully 2:42 The growth of mid-term rentals — a perfect storm 6:39 The mathematics of running mid-term rentals 9:40 What needs to change in your listing to attract mid-term stays 11:30 Why a digital guidebook helps immensely 13:20 How to price mid-term rentals 15:39 Distribution channels to achieve mid-term stays…

Is agentic AI about to take real work off your plate – not just give you more information? In this episode of AI-Powered Hosting, from Host Planet and BOOM, Moran Goldboim unpacks where the short-term rental industry really is with AI, why trust and lack of experience are the biggest blockers, and the next leap: from information to action. Learn what day-to-day tasks AI can already handle, how to think about architecture over features, why connected data is a game-changer, and how property management companies will be structured and run differently as AI models get more reliable. This series helps you build a smarter, more successful and more sustainable short-term rental business — with AI as a practical tool, not hype. IN THIS EPISODE: • Where the STR industry is with AI right now – and why experience matters more than trust • From information to action: what agentic AI actually means for property managers • The day-to-day tasks AI will take off your plate • Why architecture beats features when building…

Planning to attend a major short-term rental conference this year – but not sure how to actually get value out of it? In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – Anne Gardner, Executive Director of the VRMA, breaks down everything you need to know about VRMA International 2026, heading to Nashville from 4-6 October. Host Planet is proud to be a Media Partner for this year's event. In this conversation we cover: - How to leverage an event this size – whether you manage one rental or thousands - Making the most of the side events and where the real connections happen - Why industry growth is driving international visitors to major events - What's new at VRMA International in 2026 and what attendees walk away with - How VRMA advocacy is supporting the short-term rental industry Chapters: 1:06 Get 20% off Lodgify: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 1:47 VRMA International is heading to Nashville (4-6 October) 2:59 How to leverage…

New Airbnb host? Katie Bessant from The Holiday Hive shares the most common mistakes new hosts make – and exactly how to fix them before they cost you bookings, reviews, and ranking. In this episode of The Independent Host, powered by Lodgify, Katie breaks down where most new hosts go wrong across pricing, photos, house rules, and cleaning – plus the quiet mistake that could be hurting your Airbnb ranking and what people keep getting wrong about the algorithm. The Independent Host is sponsored by Lodgify. Use code HOSTPLANET60 to get 60% off Lodgify. Offer valid until 31 August 2026: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet ⏱️ Timestamps: 1:12 Katie's journey in the world of short-term rentals 3:44 The most common mistakes new hosts make 7:02 How not to price your rental 12:27 The importance of photography 14:28 Check out Lodgify: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 15:11 How Lodgify has helped…

Direct bookings are the highest-margin channel most hosts still ignore – no OTA commission, full control of the guest relationship, and a booking engine you actually own. In this episode of Build for Growth, we sit down with Roger Gould, Director of Business Development at Hostfully, to break down exactly how to start, scale, and win with direct bookings. IN THIS EPISODE: ▶ Why direct bookings matter (and what they're worth to your bottom line) ▶ Where to start: building a direct booking website you control ▶ How to turn lookers into bookers ▶ How to gather guest data you actually own ▶ Using a Hostfully digital guidebook to boost conversions ▶ Guest verification and insurance for direct bookings ▶ Payment processing that protects you ▶ Getting your direct booking rates right ▶ The complete direct booking strategy, step by step CHAPTERS: 1:50 Get free PMS onboarding and 30% off digital guidebooks for life with Hostfully: https://www.hostfully.com/host_planet 2:54 Why direct bookings matter 4:16 Where to…

Revenue managers don't lose the room because their data is wrong – they lose it because they can't explain it. Dr Zak Ali (President, ISTRM) joins STR Pricing Pulse to walk through Beyond's Revenue Meeting Guide: lead with the answer, back it up with the numbers, and end with a decision senior management can act on. Download Beyond's Revenue Meeting Guide: https://go.beyondpricing.com/revenue-meeting-guide-3q26 In this episode: - Why "growth feels like success" can be dangerously misleading - How to frame revenue at risk without losing the room - Why good automation (and AI) should increase your control – not reduce it - The most common mistake revenue managers make in the room STR Pricing Pulse is brought to you by Host Planet and Beyond. Discover more about Beyond's world-leading revenue management software for short-term rentals: https://beyondpricing.info/launchbase ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Episode starts 1:53 The importance of communicating with management 5:02 Why people struggle to explain things to…

Registration schemes on hold. A tourism levy fight nobody's sure we can win. Business rates squeezing operators. Janet Uttley, Chief Executive of the Short Term Accommodation Association, joins Host Planet – powered by Lodgify – to break down exactly where STR regulation stands right now, and what a good registration scheme would actually look like. We also get into the STAA's first 12 months of targets, how they're working alongside PASC UK and the ASSC, and whether the new government (and Andy Burnham) will move the needle for hosts. This episode is powered by Lodgify — get 20% off with code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet Timestamps: 1:05 Get 20% off Lodgify with code HOSTPLANET20 1:52 Janet's first few months at the STAA 2:58 The make-up of the STAA 4:05 STAA targets for the next 12 months 5:48 Collaborating with other industry bodies like PASC UK and the ASSC 7:07 What the STAA does and why operators should be interested 9:13…

Christin Schmidt spent 20 years working inside Booking.com – and in this episode of Built to Book, she reveals exactly what most hosts get wrong about their OTA ranking, why reviews matter differently on Airbnb vs Booking.com, and how to build an OTA vs direct booking strategy that doesn't leave money on the table. Built to Book is a six-part series from Host Planet and Smoobu, built to help hosts optimise revenue, ranking, and guest experience across every channel. ⏱️ Timestamps 1:18 What hosts misunderstand about their ranking on Booking.com 3:26 If you want to boost your ranking tomorrow, this is what you should do 4:18 Do all the OTAs rank properties the same way? 5:58 Are reviews more important on Airbnb than on Booking.com? 6:38 Should hosts think about OTA commission differently? 9:07 How the OTA algorithms actually work 13:17 Preferred Partner and Genius… worth it? 16:38 Don't just put your rates up if you join a programme! 18:04 The most counterintuitive thing to do to boost your ranking 19:59 How…

Turnover management is one of the toughest parts of running a short-term rental – and it only gets harder as you scale. In this episode of Turnover Tactics, brought to you by Host Planet and Turno, we sit down with Isa Bortolossi from Turno to unpack what's really going wrong behind the scenes of most cleaning operations – and how to fix it before it costs you a booking. Isa shares the craziest turnover story she's seen, breaks down the recurring problems her team spots across thousands of support tickets, and explains why anticipating issues beats firefighting them. We also get into the numbers: over 40% of Turno's projects last year were same-day turnovers, and Isa reveals the Turno Cleaner Guarantee and the hand-rating system hosts actually trust. If you're heading into peak season and want your cleaning operation to hold up under pressure, this one's for you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 1:26 Check out Turno: https://turno.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=host_planet 2:17 There's always a new…

Direct bookings are more valuable than ever in 2026 – and Becky Ward, CEO of Simply Owners, breaks down exactly how hosts and property managers can win more of them without relying on the OTAs. In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – Becky shares the Simply Owners story, why accessible properties are converting more direct guests, how SEO and GEO strategy plays into visibility, and the biggest mistakes hosts make when they try to "go direct" without a real plan. We also cover the upcoming Host Planet Roadshow in Nottinghamshire, where Simply Owners is the Event Partner – including what attendees can expect, the roundtable sessions, and how to grab your ticket. 🎟️ Grab your ticket for the Host Planet Roadshow Nottinghamshire: https://www.hostplanet.club/hp-roadshow-nottingham 💰 Get 20% off Lodgify with code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 🔗 Learn more about Simply Owners: https://www.simplyowners.net/…

What's the best property management system... for YOU? 🏠 In this episode of Build for Growth, James Varley sits down with Frank Bosi from Hostfully to break down how short-term rental hosts should actually evaluate a PMS – and the biggest mistake operators make when choosing one. We cover researching PMS options on YouTube, where ChatGPT/Claude recommendations can lead you astray, the must-have features every host needs, and how to pressure-test a system before committing. 🎁 Hostfully is offering Build for Growth listeners FREE PMS onboarding + 30% off digital guidebooks for life. Find out more: https://www.hostfully.com/host_planet 📧 Email Frank: frank@hostfully.com 📅 Book a Hostfully demo with Frank: https://cal.mixmax.com/frankbosi/demo?re=IiY1x2YuQXZuFGbwR3cvhGQzVWbhpmI&rn=ISelxmchZFIzVWbhpkI&messageId=UjWJnyJQ1a9zxhP2C TIMESTAMPS 2:49 Free PMS onboarding + 30% off guidebooks with Hostfully 3:59 What's the best PMS… for me? 6:32 The biggest mistake operators make when choosing a PMS 10:05 How to research…

Shorter breaks. Last-minute bookings. Solo travellers. Group getaways. And a 1,389% spike in traffic from AI tools. The UK holiday let market is shifting – and if you're still managing your property the same way you were two years ago, you're probably leaving bookings on the table. In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, James Varley is joined by Owen Burt, SEO Manager at Sykes Holiday Cottages, for a data-driven breakdown of exactly where the UK staycation market stands right now – and what savvy owners are doing to stay ahead of it. 🕐 Episode Chapters: 00:00 Episode starts 1:45 Staycations in the UK remain very popular 4:35 Guests are booking shorter breaks at short notice 9:25 The most popular UK locations – and what to do if you're in a quieter area 14:59 The peak booking periods you need to plan around 19:51 How Sykes Holiday Cottages can help you manage your holiday let 20:40 The huge impact of solo travellers on the market 25:33 The growth of group travel 30:36 1,389% jump in traffic from AI tools –…

Dynamic pricing used to be a tool. Now it's a full revenue management system – and (in some cases) AI is running it. Julie Brinkman, CEO of Beyond, joins James Varley on the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – to break down how the platform has evolved far beyond pricing, why so few hosts actually use dynamic pricing (and what's stopping them), and what the revenue manager's job looks like in an AI-powered world. 🕒 Chapters: 0:00 Episode starts 1:26 Get 20% off Lodgify: https://www.lodgify.com/hostplanet/?utm_source=landing-page&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 2:08 Beyond's evolution from dynamic pricing tool to much more 4:59 The problems Beyond is solving for STR hosts & PMs 10:10 AI can run your revenue management through Beyond 12:41 How useful an AI agent could be to property managers 17:41 How many hosts use dynamic pricing (and why isn't it higher?) 24:25 What does the revenue manager's job look like in future? 28:10 How to ensure humans stay informed in an AI world 32:34 How…

Is your property management software already holding you back? Shahar Goldboim, CEO and Co-Founder of BOOM, makes the case for agentic AI – and why property managers who don't adapt risk being left behind. In Episode 1 of AI-Powered Hosting – the new series from Host Planet and BOOM – Shahar breaks down exactly why the traditional PMS can no longer support a modern portfolio, and what the shift from short term rental automation to agentic execution means for your business in practice. Whether you're managing five properties or 50+, this conversation will change how you think about AI, decision-making, and where the STR industry is heading. 🎙️ In this episode: – Is the traditional PMS as we know it dead? – Why legacy software can't support a modern STR portfolio – The critical difference between automation and agentic execution – Everything under one platform: what BOOM actually does – How closing every loop transforms the guest experience – Can you really trust an agentic AI system to run your business? –…

Starting an Airbnb? Lydia Patel shares the practical lessons she wishes she knew before welcoming her first guests – from pricing and photography to direct bookings, Instant Book, and getting your first reservation. This is Episode 1 of The Independent Host, a new monthly series from Host Planet and Lodgify for short-term rental hosts and property managers running their first 1–5 properties. Lydia talks openly about starting her short-term rental journey, the worries she had at the beginning, how her listing has improved over time, and what new hosts should prioritise before launching. In this episode, we cover: - How to get your pricing right from day one - Why professional photography can transform your listing - Where new hosts should list their property - How to create a direct booking website quickly - Whether you should turn on Instant Book - How much to spend preparing your property for guests - Why cleanliness matters for every booking - How long it can take to get your first reservation - What Lydia…

Why is your Airbnb not booking – even when the property looks great? In this episode of Build for Growth, a new Host Planet and Hostfully series, Ikram Mohamed explains the most common reasons Airbnb listings underperform and the practical fixes that can turn bookings around. We cover how Airbnb search ranking works, which host behaviours can push a listing down the results, and what smart dynamic pricing looks like for an everyday host. Ikram also explains how to improve an underperforming listing, why fast guest responses matter, and how to escape the “no reviews, no bookings” cycle. You’ll also learn why distribution matters, including the role of Vrbo, Booking.com, and your own direct booking website, before finishing with a clear seven-day action plan to improve your listing. In this episode: - The most common reasons an Airbnb stops booking - How Airbnb search ranking works - Dynamic pricing for everyday hosts - The biggest fixes for underperforming listings - How response speed affects bookings -…

Most revenue managers don't lose owners over bad rates – they lose them over bad communication. In this episode of STR Pricing Pulse, powered by Beyond, Zak Ali, President of the International Society of Short-Term Rental Management (ISTRM), unpacks why the same owner questions keep catching revenue managers off guard – and how to stop it for good. We break down Beyond's Owner Confidence Checklist: a practical framework for explaining rate moves, calendar gaps, and season performance in a way that builds trust, not anxiety. Plus – why RevPAN should replace occupancy as the headline metric you report to owners. Guest: Zak Ali – President, ISTRM: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-a-056b2714/ ISTRM: https://istrm.org/ Download Beyond's Owner Confidence Checklist: https://go.beyondpricing.com/peak-season-owner-communication-checklist-3q26?utm_source=social&utm_medium=youtube 📍 ISTRM: Revenue Management Intelligence 2026 📅 25th September | Leeds 🎟️ 50% off with code LEEDS 👉 https://www.hostplanet.club/events ⏱️…

What does it take to build, value, and sell a successful holiday let business in a location with a highly defined peak season? In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast, powered by Lodgify, John Keggin from Island Escapes shares the story of building a holiday rental business in the Isle of Man, managing demand during the TT Races, and hosting Brad Pitt and Channing Tatum while a Hollywood movie was being shot on the island. John also explains how he sold Island Escapes to Sapphire Holidays while staying involved in the business, how to value a company when the founder remains part of the operation, and what property managers should consider before selling. This is a practical conversation about holiday let management, business valuation, succession planning, and building a smarter, more sustainable short-term rental business. 🏡 The Host Planet Podcast is sponsored by Lodgify – the all-in-one vacation rental software to help you run and grow your STR business. Get 20% off with code HOSTPLANET20 👉…

What does professional hosting really look like when you’re trying to build a short-term rental business that lasts? In episode one of Built to Book, Host Planet sits down with Jannik Abraham, Managing Director of Smoobu, to explore the difference between simply operating a holiday let and building a professional, sustainable business. Jannik explains why professionalism starts with the guest experience, how technology can help hosts focus on what matters, and why buying more tools will not solve an unclear business model. We also discuss the questions hosts should ask before changing their systems, how to build a clear financial picture, and what it really means to reach the next stage of maturity. If your rental business still feels like a side hustle, this episode offers practical steps you can take this week to improve your systems, decision-making and guest experience. Chapters: 1:22 Where does professionalism start in short-term rentals? 3:13 Delivering a great guest experience 5:01 Hosts who thrive…

Host Planet Founder James Varley sits down with Armand de Juniac, General Manager for Europe at Turno, to unpack what it really takes to build and scale a cleaning marketplace across borders — and why so many US short-term rental companies are making avoidable mistakes when they expand into Europe. From marketplace discipline and building supply first, to why your cleaner is your single most important line of defence — this episode is packed with strategic insight for hosts and operators who want to grow without sacrificing quality. 🕐 Chapters 1:28 About Turno 2:14 How to build a new marketplace 5:58 Marketplace discipline & short-term rentals 9:20 What convinced Armand to join the STR world 11:03 Why you must build supply first 13:59 What convinces hosts to switch their cleaning system 16:59 Are US companies making a mistake entering Europe? 21:35 How to maintain quality as you scale across borders 24:18 The cleaner is your first line of defence 28:08 Turno's success story in Europe 30:52 Three key…

Most hosts never stay at their own property – and that blind spot is costing them guests they don't even know they're losing. In this episode, James Varley sits down with Ari Eryorulmaz, Founder at Extenteam, to unpack the quiet gaps in the short-term rental guest experience: where tech creates more friction than it solves, why hand-offs between tools are silently hurting your reviews, and what it actually looks like when the guest experience is done right. Whether you're managing one property or scaling a portfolio, this one's packed with honest takeaways. 🏡 The Host Planet Podcast is sponsored by Lodgify – the all-in-one vacation rental software to help you run and grow your STR business. Get 20% off with code HOSTPLANET20 👉 https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet ⏱️ Chapters 1:16 Lodgify 1:54 What hosts discover when they book their own rentals 5:25 What hosts find when they stay at their own property 6:52 Where property management quietly falls apart…

AI is changing short-term rentals – but is it actually solving problems for hosts, or just adding more noise? In this episode of Build for Growth, Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder of Hostfully, cuts through the hype and breaks down what AI is genuinely automating right now, what is still more promise than reality, and what hosts risk losing if they don't build the right tech stack. Key questions answered in this episode: • What is AI actually changing in STR today – and what's still hype? • How close is AI to solving guest communication (the biggest time drain)? • Does your tech stack influence how Airbnb markets your property? • What does an AI-ready STR set-up look like right now? • What happens to hosts who don't adapt over the next three years? Build for Growth is a new series from Host Planet and Hostfully, built for vacation rental hosts and property managers who are serious about scaling smarter. 🎙️ Guest: Margot Schmorak – CEO & Co-Founder of Hostfully:…

61% of Sykes' holiday let owners are already using AI — but how, and what does it actually mean for your listing, your guests, and your future? In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, James Varley sits down with Laura McKellar, Head of Digital Transformation & Optimisation at Sykes Holiday Cottages, to unpack the findings from their latest AI survey and what it means for hosts in 2026. They cover: ✅ How holiday let owners are actually using AI right now ✅ Whether AI kills the personal touch — or enhances it ✅ Where to start if you're AI-curious but haven't taken the plunge ✅ What Sykes is building for owners (and how you can try it) ✅ How to stay visible as AI reshapes how guests search for properties ✅ How life inside Sykes has changed since embracing digital transformation Whether you're already experimenting with AI or still on the fence, this episode will help you make sense of where things are heading — and what to do about it. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📊 Sykes AI Survey…

Is UK short-term rental regulation finally working in hosts' favour? In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast, Merilee Karr – CEO of UnderTheDoormat Group and former Chair of the Short Term Accommodation Association – breaks down exactly what's coming and what it means for your STR business. We cover UnderTheDoormat's acquisition of One Fine Stay's London and Paris portfolios, London's 90-day rule, the Renters' Rights Bill, Scotland's licensing system, and why the UK's registration scheme could finally give the STR industry the data it needs to fight back against the myths. 💻 THIS EPISODE IS POWERED BY LODGIFY Save 20% on Lodgify – the all-in-one vacation rental software trusted by thousands of hosts worldwide. 👉 Use code HOSTPLANET20 to claim your 20% discount: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 📋 EPISODE CHAPTERS 0:00 Episode starts 1:22 Lodgify 2:06 UnderTheDoormat Group's acquisition of One Fine Stay portfolios in London and Paris 3:45 The…

ChatGPT is changing how guests search for properties – and most short-term rental hosts are completely unprepared for what's coming. Here's how to get ahead of it. In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – Amirali Mohajer, Founder of hostAI (gethostai.com), breaks down how LLM search is reshaping vacation rental discovery and what it means for your direct booking strategy right now. Guests aren't just using Google anymore. They're asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini to find their next stay – and AI is already picking winners and losers based on signals most hosts don't know exist. Amirali explains exactly why one property gets recommended over another, how to make your listing visible to AI search, and why this shift could finally make direct bookings achievable at scale for independent hosts and property managers. 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Episode starts 1:22 Sponsored by Lodgify – get 60% off by using the code HOSTPLANET60:…

Most Airbnb hosts are leaving money on the table on event nights — not because they don't want to raise their prices, but because they never knew the event was happening. HostAlert is the tool that fixes that. Co-Founder Andy Crosby joins the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – to explain how it works, why it's different from dynamic pricing tools like PriceLabs and Beyond, and which events hosts consistently underprice for. 🕐 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:56 Lodgify: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 1:35 Why Andy built HostAlert 6:22 HostAlert vs PriceLabs and Beyond – what's the difference? 10:31 What events does HostAlert flag for property managers? 13:34 The events hosts consistently underprice for 16:24 How HostAlert works – it flags events, you decide the price 19:31 Are you tracking events? Drop a comment below 20:02 HostAlert for property managers 22:32 Who will benefit most from HostAlert? 23:57 HostAlert pricing: from £14.99/month…

Are you leaving money on the table with your Airbnb pricing strategy? In this episode of STR Pricing Pulse, we sit down with Dr Zak Ali – President of the International Society of Short Term Rental Management (ISTRM) – to break down the revenue management decisions costing hosts and property managers real money. This episode is powered by exclusive data from Beyond. Download The Automation Playbook using the link below. 📥 Beyond's The Automation Playbook: https://go.beyondpricing.com/en/the-automation-playbook-2q26?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=host+planet ───────────────────────────────────── IN THIS EPISODE ───────────────────────────────────── → Are hosts and property managers really losing 7 hours a week on revenue management? → The one revenue management task a tool does better than any human → Should you hand your pricing over to an algorithm? → How to build a pricing strategy that actually works → Pricing events: 30 days out vs 90 days out → The biggest mistake property managers make…

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway – and if you have a short-term rental in or near a host city, the next few weeks could make or break your season. Kyle Driskell from PriceLabs joins James Varley on the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Lodgify – to break down exactly what the live data is showing: which markets are flying, which aren't, and the smart pricing moves hosts are making right now. Whether you're in the US, Canada, or Mexico – or just close to the action – this episode gives you a clear playbook for the tournament, including the all-important knockout rounds. 🎙️ GUEST: Kyle Driskell, PriceLabs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-driskell-564043bb/ 📌 CHAPTERS 0:00 Episode starts 1:40 Get 60% off Lodgify (code: HOSTPLANET60 — offer ends 30 June): https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 2:31 FIFA World Cup data now the tournament is underway 5:32 Which markets are flying and which aren't 9:02 It's down to the teams 10:16 What's happening in each…

The Wimbledon fortnight is one of the biggest revenue opportunities for London Airbnb hosts – but one wrong move during a back-to-back turnover and your reviews pay the price. Chris Rule joins us on Turnover Tactics, the short-term rental cleaning and maintenance podcast from Host Planet and Turno. In this episode: – What separates hosts who are prepared from hosts who just hope for the best – What breaks down during multiple turnovers per day (and how to prevent it) – What you should offer your cleaners during peak season – Why you need a back-up cleaner before you need one – The most common negative guest feedback about turnovers – What to do after peak season to set yourself up for the next one 0:00 Episode starts 1:37 What separates hosts after a huge event 4:28 Prepared vs. hoping for the best 7:26 What happens when a back-to-back turnover goes wrong 10:58 What breaks down with multiple turnovers per day 16:17 What should hosts offer cleaners during peak season 20:32 You need a back-up cleaner 22:38 The…