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PODCAST

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals

James Varley | Host Planet

Short-term rental hosting, Airbnb tips, direct bookings, vacation rental management – Host Planet is your go-to source for expert insights and real estate strategies.

business investing

All Episodes

00:27:33

Hotel Takeover: What STR Hosts Must Learn from the...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/12/11

The lines between hotels and short-term rentals are dissolving. In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – we sit down with Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke, COO EMEA of Frasers Hospitality, one of the world's largest serviced apartment operators.Rebecca shares key strategies on:Corporate and extended stays: how to attract and manage reliable, long-term corporate bookings (the most stable revenue stream).The luxury of space: why spacious, home-like functionality is now

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00:33:35

Holiday Let Pricing Secrets & Hot Tub Hype: Maximise...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/12/08

Thinking about buying a holiday let, or looking to boost the income from your current property? This Holiday Let Insider episode is packed with data-driven strategies from one of the industry's top experts!We sit down with Rachel Brennan from Sykes Holiday Cottages to unpack the operational, marketing, and pricing tweaks that can instantly increase your holiday let revenue.Discover the secrets to securing more bookings, earning higher prices, and optimising your property for modern guests.2:30

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00:30:24

Direct Booking Secrets & High-End Guest Experiences...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/12/06

How do you manage a premium property and foster a loyal guest base that books directly?For our latest Host Planet Playbook feature, we speak with Louis Andrews from OVO Network, a leading luxury chalet and holiday rental company based in the French Alps. Louis shares the playbook for building a high-value rental business, from driving direct bookings to perfecting the end-to-end guest experience.This conversation is essential for any host managing high-end properties who wants to reduce OTA

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00:34:35

Hosting in Paradise with Robin Bass (Hold the Rum!)

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/12/04

Join us for a trip to the sun-drenched shores of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, as we sit down with Robin Bass, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Premier Properties USVI. Robin has built a booming portfolio of luxury villas and high-end rentals on a stunning island.In this Host Planet Podcast episode – powered by Hostfully – Robin describes how she hosts remotely, prioritising human connection, mastering team and contractor retention, and leveraging technology to enhance genuine hospitality.This

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00:12:16

5 Reasons Your STR Needs AI Right Now

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/12/02

Is AI hype or is it the future of short-term rental hosting?In this episode of Host Planet Bitesize – powered by Hostfully – we sit down with Cole Rubin from Conduit, the company using conversational AI to revolutionise hospitality operations.Cole shares five compelling, actionable reasons why every STR host – from single-unit owners to large property managers – needs to stop viewing AI as a luxury and start treating it as essential for scaling success and maximising revenue.1:56 Fast responses =

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00:30:37

From Psychology to STR Leader: Anna Morris on Hosting...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/29

In this Host Planet Playbook feature, sponsored by Hospitable, James speaks with Anna Calder Urquhart Morris from Adore Scotland and The Edinburgh Address.Anna shares her remarkable journey from studying psychology to taking over her family’s apartment and ultimately scaling into one of Scotland’s most respected short-term rental operators.She discusses the mindset and transferable skills that helped her grow from one property to more than 100, the unique challenges of hosting in Edinburgh, and the

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00:21:43

What STRs Must Learn from Holiday Parks & Hotels

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/27

In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – James sits down with Zen Valli from RMS Cloud for a masterclass in cross-industry learning.Zen shares what short-term rental operators can take from holiday parks and hotels, where the biggest upsell opportunities are hiding, and why giving guests a reason to book direct is more essential than ever.You’ll also hear his take on the ideal lean tech stack, which integrations deliver the best ROI, and the lessons holiday parks can learn

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00:20:11

Beyond’s Guide to Profitable Slow Periods

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/25

In this episode of Host Planet Bitesize, powered by Hostfully, Charlie Gibbons from Beyond shares a clear playbook for autumn/winter: watch your booking lead times, don’t slash rates too fast, and judge success by REVPAN (revenue per available night) – not vanity metrics.Charlie tackles minimum stay rules, stresses knowing your true costs so every booking is profitable, and shows how to adapt tactics as the market shifts. Smart, practical moves to keep calendars healthy when demand softens.1:56

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00:34:31

From Travel Club to STR Powerhouse – South Africa's...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/22

In this Host Planet Playbook episode, Dean McLuckie shares the roller-coaster rise of Euphoric Leisure in South Africa – from a travel club to scaling fast in a complex, ever-evolving STR market.We dig into regulation challenges, how industry rivals have united to protect responsible hosting, and what makes Euphoric Leisure stand out. Dean drops practical tips for five-star guest experience, why you should never waste a good crisis, and how joy returns to the job when you get the guest journey

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00:29:27

How Short-Term Rental Hosts Can Utilise AI Today

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/20

In this Host Planet Podcast, powered by Hostfully, Florian Montag from Apaleo breaks down how short-term rental managers can use AI today – including what tools to try, the best live use cases, and where humans still matter.We touch on OpenAI’s Operator model, practical workflows for tech-savvy hosts to stay ahead, and the STR trends for 2025 (including what Airbnb is up to). Florian also spotlights standout operators and closes with actionable tips to start – or scale – your AI journey.0:52 How

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00:10:51

How Vacation Rental Hosts Can Attract Digital Nomads

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/18

In this Host Planet Bitesize, Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke from Frasers Hospitality shares quick wins for hosts and property managers to attract remote workers.She discusses flexibility, the importance of fast, reliable Wi-Fi, offering adaptable services (early check-in, housekeeping on demand), and wellbeing extras such as great coffee and gym access.1:57 Flexibility is imperative3:16 Fast, reliable Wi-Fi is essential4:46 Adaptable services are important6:24 Offer wellbeing extras, such as great

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00:29:42

From Broadway to Bookings: Sarah Karakaian's STR Journey

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/15

From Broadway to brilliant hosting. In this Host Planet Playbook episode, Sarah Karakaian, Co-Founder of Thanks for Visiting, shares how she swapped the stage for short-term rentals and built brands that wow guests and keep owners smiling. We dig into the nuts and bolts of five-star guest experience, why boundaries matter, standing out in Columbus, Ohio, and the most common questions new hosts ask. Sarah closes with practical advice for getting started – and the mindset that turns hosting into a

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00:37:23

Has Google Given Up on Vacation Rentals?

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/13

On this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – we’re joined by Conrad O’Connell, Founder of BuildUp Bookings, to break down how STR operators can move from OTA dependency to meaningful direct bookings in as little as three months.Conrad shares the non-negotiable pages every direct booking site needs, the most common SEO mistakes he sees (and how to fix them), and the quick wins that actually drive traffic.We also cover Google Business Profile, the current state of Google

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00:15:50

Why Every STR Needs a PMS (Not Spreadsheets)

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/11

In this episode of Host Planet Bitesize – powered by Hostfully – Frank Bosi breaks down why a property management system (PMS) is the backbone of any serious STR operation.Learn how a PMS delivers channel manager sync, direct booking support, automated guest messaging, smart-home integrations, and payments and reporting that actually save time and lift revenue.Frank also shows how Hostfully’s digital guidebooks complete the guest journey.Want to see it in action? Book a demo with Frank and choose

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00:21:35

Designing Magic at Acorn Glade: Guest Experience,...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/08

In this Host Planet Playbook episode, we head to Acorn Glade near York in the UK to speak to Wendy Wilkinson Coe.Wendy shares her STR journey into glamping, how she’s crafted a standout guest experience (from wildlife moments to thoughtful touches), and what she learned at British Airways about service that truly lands.We dig into location challenges and opportunities, working with the local community, defining ideal guests, and how she’s flipping the script on direct bookings. If you’re building a

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00:25:23

UK STR Outlook: Late Bookings, Channel Mix & Pricing...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/06

What’s really happening in the UK short-term rental market heading into 2026?In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – Sally Henry, VP of Business Development at Key Data, breaks down late-booking trends, the right OTA vs direct mix, why pricing discipline matters, and how hosts/managers can lock in early demand for peak periods.1:15 What’s happening in the UK’s STR industry in 2025?4:52 Is late booking the new normal?6:51 Hosts need to cover their costs8:27 Property

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00:20:52

Shorter Booking Windows? Get Your Rates Right with...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/04

Booking windows are shrinking and winter is coming – so how should hosts price the shoulder season?In this episode of Host Planet Bitesize – powered by Hostfully – Siana Vesselinova from PriceLabs breaks down UK summer trends, why you shouldn’t panic-drop rates, and the pricing and occupancy signals to watch as we head into winter.You’ll learn practical tactics to capture demand in a slower market: flexible minimum stays, dynamic minimum stay settings, workation-friendly policies, and how to use

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00:26:03

Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/03

Thinking about diversifying your farm income? In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, Katie Williams from Sykes Holiday Cottages explains why holiday letting can outperform other property investments – and how to get started the right way.What we cover:- Why diversification into holiday lets makes sense for farms.- Best conversions (barns, annexes, shepherd’s huts) and must-have amenities.- A real case study and what to focus on first.- Planning permission and regulation essentials.- How Sykes can

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00:33:20

How to Scale a Luxury Holiday Let Business

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/11/01

For our latest Host Planet Playbook feature, we’re joined by James Cornwell, Co-Founder of Curated Property, to discuss scaling operations, challenges and opportunities in the holiday let industry, and how to prosper in the luxury sector.James shares candid insights on:- Scaling ops: playbooks for quality control, owners, and multi-market growth.- UK landscape: how current legislation impacts STR strategy.- Work-life balance: hard-won lessons from the founder seat.- Upsells that serve: why not every

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00:23:14

DAC7 Explained: What Every STR Host and Property...

Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals ·

2025/10/30

In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – Natalie Dowling breaks down DAC7 – the EU directive changing how short-term rental income is reported and taxed.We cover:- What DAC7 is and why it was introduced.- How it affects hosts and property management companies.- Who’s responsible for data collection and reporting.- How to stay compliant — and what happens if you don’t.- The real penalties for getting DAC7 wrong.Many STR businesses are still in the dark about DAC7 – this

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248 results

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