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

Hosted by James Varley | Host Planet

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Oct 2026

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Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals is the go-to podcast for short-term rental hosts, property managers, and vacation rental operators. Hosted by James Varley, each episode shares practical strategies on Airbnb hosting, holiday let management, direct bookings, revenue management, guest experience, and listing optimisation. If you run an STR or want to grow a smarter hosting business, Host Planet gives you actionable insights from leading voices in the industry.

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October 31, 202627 min

The Stage Where Most Airbnb Hosts Lose Control of Their Business

Every five properties, something needs to change. Wendy Doris from Mostess shares the exact tech, hiring, and pricing decisions that separate hosts who scale from hosts who burn out. Welcome to Episode 6 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 6 is all about the messy middle of scaling — where the systems that got you here stop working. Wendy explains why every 5 properties something has to change, how to get yourself out of the day-to-day of your hosting business, the tech stack decisions that actually matter at this stage, her onboarding process, and her pricing strategy. She also breaks down her focus on revenue management and upselling, how to control your calendar as you grow, when and how to hire for impact, and why quality control with inspectors matters more than ever. Plus: the mistake that slowly eats your margin and standards, the low-cost habit that pays dividends at scale, and the signal that tells you whether it's time to stick or scale. 📘 Download the STR Growth Curve e-book: https://www.hostplanet.club/str-growth-curve 🏠 Try Hospitable – Get 25% off for your first 3 months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet 1:38 Wendy's journey 2:37 Every five properties, something needs to change 3:31 How to get yourself out of your hosting business 5:05 The tech stack decisions that matter at this stage 6:07 The onboarding process 7:12 Wendy's pricing strategy 8:22 Wendy's day-to-day: going down rabbit holes and trying things 9:28 Focusing on revenue management 10:52 Upselling 13:01 How to control the calendar at this stage 14:02 Hiring for impact 15:29 Quality control with inspectors 17:16 Hospitable 18:06 How Hospitable has helped Wendy grow her business 19:00 Reliance on software 19:56 The mistake that slowly eats your margin and standards 21:33 A habit or system which costs nothing but pays dividends at this scale 24:01 The signal you're ready to stick or scale 25:12 The advice Wendy would give herself at the start of her journey 25:47 Get in touch with Wendy #AirbnbHost #ShortTermRental #PropertyManagement #Hospitable #HostPlanet

October 29, 202623 min

How to Get 5-Star Reviews on Airbnb (and Avoid the 4-Stars) | Mercedes Sanchez, MBX Homes

Is one 4-star review dragging your Airbnb rating down? Mercedes Sanchez of MBX Homes shares how independent hosts can win more 5-star reviews and protect their ranking. In this episode of The Independent Host – a series from Host Planet and Lodgify – Mercedes explains why an accurate listing is the secret to a 5-star rating, how to avoid 3- and 4-star reviews, and why some guests simply don't understand how Airbnb's review system works. You'll learn whether hosts should ask for reviews, the real difference between a 4.7 and a 4.9 rating, how many reviews you need before Airbnb promotes you in search, and how to earn the Guest Favourite badge – plus whether Guest Favourite or Superhost matters more. Mercedes also covers how to respond to bad reviews, how to get reviews when you're just starting out, and why it all comes down to accuracy, value, communication, and cleanliness. 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 Mercedes' business and use code HOSTPLANET20 to get 20% off: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet Timestamps: 1:22 Mercedes' journey into short-term rentals 2:47 An accurate listing (oversharing) will help you get a 5-star rating 4:10 How to avoid 3- and 4-star reviews 5:42 Some guests don't understand the review process 7:02 Should hosts be asking for reviews? 9:30 The difference between 4.7 and 4.9 on Airbnb 11:11 Get 20% off Lodgify with the code HOSTPLANET20: https://www.lodgify.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet 12:09 Lodgify is the brain of Mercedes' business 13:45 How many reviews before Airbnb promotes you in search? 14:40 The Guest Favourite badge on Airbnb 16:44 Guest Favourite or Superhost? 17:32 How to respond to bad reviews 19:24 How to get reviews when you first start hosting 20:57 It boils down to accuracy, value, communication, and cleanliness - MBX Homes: https://www.mbxhomes.com - Instagram: https://instagram.com/mbxhomes?psln=dWN6Z2t0dmNxMXE3 Follow Host Planet for more holiday let revenue tips, Airbnb growth hacks, and short-term rental automation. #AirbnbReviews #AirbnbTips #TheIndependentHost

October 27, 202637 min

How to Make More Money From Every Booking With Upsells | Build for Growth

Most hosts are sitting on extra revenue they never collect. Upsells are one of the easiest ways to earn more from every booking, yet they're still massively underused. In this Build for Growth episode, Host Planet sits down with Frank Bosi from Hostfully to break down the upsells every host should be offering, from early check-in and late check-out to local partnerships with private chefs. You'll learn how to price and run your most popular upsells, how to package them in a digital guidebook, the right moment to offer them to guests, and the simplest place to start if you're not offering any yet. ⏱️ Timestamps 1:18 Free PMS onboarding + 30% off digital guidebooks for life with Hostfully 2:18 Why upsells are underutilised 4:59 The basic upsells every host should be offering 9:55 How to price and operate early check-in and late check-out 13:41 How to package upsells in a digital guidebook 16:44 Local partnerships, like private chefs 21:37 The right moment to offer an upsell 25:23 How to make upsells simple to offer 33:25 Where to start with upsells 35:22 Get in touch with Frank 🔗 Connect & Resources 🎁 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 #Upsells #BuildForGrowth #Hostfully #AirbnbHost #VacationRental

October 26, 202625 min

How to Plan Your 2027 Short-Term Rental Revenue (Do This Before Christmas)

Next year's revenue is decided by what you do in the next few weeks. Zak Ali, President of the ISTRM, joins STR Pricing Pulse to show you how to plan 2027 revenue for your short-term rental or holiday let business. We cover how to set goals that are ambitious but realistic, how to manage owner expectations, what to check in your revenue management system, how to grow ancillary revenue, and the three things every host and property manager should do before Christmas. STR Pricing Pulse is brought to you by Host Planet and Beyond. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:53 Check out Beyond 1:51 Why you need to plan next year's revenue right now 3:32 The figures that jump out 4:20 How to set ambitious and realistic revenue goals 6:32 How to set expectations with owners 7:45 What to check in your revenue management system 11:44 Ancillary revenue 13:50 When to review your strategy 19:09 Quickfire round 21:34 Three things to do before Christmas 🔗 LINKS Beyond: https://go.beyondpricing.com/en/demo-request/growth-plan?utm_source=partnership&utm_medium=sponsorship&utm_campaign=Launchbase+|+Sponsorship+|+1Q26 Zak Ali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-a-056b2714/ ISTRM: https://istrm.org/ 📅 UPCOMING EVENTS Chester, 10 November: https://luma.com/5bqlxktj AI Buildathon, Leeds, 27 November: https://luma.com/6d503u8s Edinburgh, 3 December: https://luma.com/71u7us4p Host Planet Roadshow 2027: https://www.hostplanet.club/roadshow-2027 📩 Get the Host Planet newsletter, read by hosts in 100+ countries: https://www.hostplanet.club/ #ShortTermRental #RevenueManagement #HolidayLet

October 24, 202624 min

Team vs Freelancers: What Professionalising Your Airbnb Really Means

Welcome to Episode 5 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 5 is all about professionalising your business and operating like a real company. Brian Seelos from Athens Vacation Rentals shares what professionalising means to him, how to develop your systems as you go along, team vs freelancers, setting brand standards, review protection, and the most expensive mistake hosts make at this stage. Plus maintenance at this scale, the part of the operation Brian is proudest of, being happy at a certain number of rentals, how to measure consistency, and what to stop doing at this stage, including how AI and automation with Hospitable helps Brian save time, handle guest messaging, and build systems that scale. 📘 Download the STR Growth Curve e-book: https://www.hostplanet.club/str-growth-curve 🏠 Try Hospitable – Get 25% off for your first 3 months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet In this episode: 1:49 What professionalising means to Brian 2:40 Develop your systems as you go along 3:58 Team vs freelancers 6:25 Brand standards 8:12 Review protection 11:33 The most expensive mistake 13:17 Hospitable: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet 14:18 How Hospitable helps Brian's business 15:44 Maintenance is important at this stage 17:26 The part of the operation Brian is proudest of 19:13 Being happy at a certain number of rentals 20:34 How to measure consistency at this scale 21:39 What to stop doing at this stage Follow the Host Planet Podcast to catch the entire STR Growth Curve series. Sign up for the Host Planet Newsletter, read by hosts and property managers in 100+ countries: https://www.hostplanet.club/ Athens Vacation Rentals: www.athensgavacationrentals.com

October 22, 202625 min

AI Buildathon: Build an AI Agent for Your STR Business | Mark Simpson

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 channels, and automate your business. Get 20% off with code HOSTPLANET20. 👉 https://www.lodgify.com/hostplanet/?utm_source=landing-page&utm_medium=creator-collab&utm_campaign=host-planet ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:59 AI Buildathon – from Host Planet and Boostly – in Leeds on 27th November 3:30 What will people be able to create on the day? 5:22 The event is for anyone – even if you have no AI knowledge 6:08 The AI agents Mark Simpson is building 10:17 Only 1% of people pay for an AI service 13:49 Reflections on VRMA International 17:07 This is the industry of making memories – you can't automate everything 19:43 Airbnb's 'direct booking' link 23:48 Good food, a pint and good company… and you'll walk out with way more knowledge than you walked in with 🔗 LINKS Mark's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarksimpson/ Boostly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boostlyuk/?hl=en AI Buildathon: https://www.hostplanet.club/ai-buildathon 📬 Subscribe to the Host Planet newsletter: https://www.hostplanet.club 👍 Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe and share it with a host who needs to hear it. #AIBuildathon #ShortTermRentals #AIforHosts

October 19, 202620 min

How to Find, Hire and Keep Great STR Cleaners | Brooks Sparks, Turno

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 demo? Email Brooks: brooks@turno.com ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:52 Brooks Sparks on how Turno helps hosts find cleaners 1:37 Introducing Turno 2:32 What a great cleaner brief looks like 4:03 Turno has the largest database of STR cleaners worldwide 6:42 How to pick the right cleaner for your operation on Turno 8:39 Don't necessarily pick the cheapest option 10:29 Interviewing cleaners and trial cleans 12:51 Have some back-up cleaners ready 13:48 How to set up the relationship properly 15:02 How to give feedback to cleaners – both good and bad 16:20 You can give your cleaners a tip if they earn a 5-star review 17:07 The back-up plan you need if cleaners let you down 📬 Subscribe to the Host Planet newsletter: https://www.hostplanet.club 👍 Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe and share it with a host who needs to hear it. #TurnoverTactics #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbCleaning

October 17, 202654 min

How to Scale as an Airbnb Co-Host Without Losing Guest Experience | STR Growth Curve Ep 4

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: https://www.hostplanet.club/str-growth-curve 🏠 Try Hospitable – Get 25% off for your first 3 months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet Timestamps: 1:34 The mindset shift from host to operator 4:31 The systems you need to get right at this stage 7:09 Feeling more responsibility when you take on other people's properties 10:19 Tom's guest messaging strategy 13:38 How to keep the guest experience consistent 17:17 The conversation with owners that prevents future problems 20:12 Inspecting properties 26:03 Hospitable 27:01 How Hospitable has helped Tom to grow his business 32:19 The first hire to make at this stage 35:21 What goes wrong at this stage that didn't go wrong before 39:44 When to draft a new standard operating procedure 43:55 The metric to start tracking at this stage 49:37 The signal someone is ready to scale or stay put The STR Growth Curve is a 12-part series from the Host Planet Podcast in partnership with Hospitable, mapping the 12 stages of short-term rental business growth. Follow the Host Planet Podcast for smarter hosting, vacation rental systems, automation and AI-powered hosting strategies. #STRGrowthCurve #ShortTermRental #AirbnbCoHost

October 15, 202622 min

From London to Global: Building a Short-Term Rental Cleaning Empire

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 Services 3:24 How the tech stack and business have developed 5:24 Getting the first customers – trust and quality were key 7:24 Going from a London business to a global business 8:54 Everything needs to be aligned in a large cleaning business 10:38 How to start a short-term rental cleaning business 13:15 The realities of operating in London 14:54 Cleaners need to understand short-term rental standards 17:05 The right time to expand and how to ensure quality across different markets 18:48 What’s next for the STR sector: fully integrated property operations 20:36 Reach Georgi and Fantastic Services Georgi Georgiev: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgi-georgiev-04b6b8150/ Fantastic Services: https://www.fantasticservices.com/ The Host Planet Podcast - powered by Lodgify - helps hosts and property managers build smarter, more successful and more sustainable short-term rental businesses. Join STR professionals in 100+ countries by signing up for the Host Planet Newsletter: https://www.hostplanet.club/

October 14, 202622 min

Automate Your Airbnb: What to Systemise vs What to Keep Human

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 you start using a digital guidebook – for hosts and guests 10:59 Get 20% off Smoobu with the code HOSTPLANET20 11:52 The small touches that get you a five-star review 15:59 The mistakes hosts make when automating 17:54 What do you want out of your time? 21:04 Where hosts should start with automation Smoobu: https://www.smoobu.com/en/hostplanet/?utm_source=hostplanet&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=podcast_4 Jannik Abraham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannik-abraham/ About Built to Book from HostPlanet and Smoobu: practical conversations to help hosts build smarter, more successful, and more sustainable businesses.