Thanks For Visiting

Hosted by Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian

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575

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Get actionable advice and the essential fundamentals of running a profitable 5-star Airbnb side-hustle or full on business. Annette’s extensive background in business operations and Sarah’s experience in high-end hospitality management and interior design make them a powerhouse duo that will deliver high impact content. With almost a decade of combined hosting experience they will not only share their own stories welcoming thousands of guests from around the world but also those of other Superhosts to deliver you a wide array of stories, insights, and profitable and creative ideas to make your listing rise to the top. Whether you’re experienced, new, or nervous to start your own Airbnb this podcast promises to be informative, fun, and from the heart.

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60 recent

June 11, 202622 min

555. Never Turn On These Airbnb Settings (They're Costing You Bookings)

Think your bookings are down because of the algorithm, seasonality, or increased competition? The real problem might be hiding inside your Airbnb settings.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the Airbnb features that could be creating friction for potential guests and limiting your visibility in search. They share three settings they recommend turning off immediately and five settings every host should review and enable to improve conversions, increase booking velocity, and create a smoother guest experience.You'll learn why required booking messages can hurt conversion rates, the hidden downside of extra person fees, why Airbnb Smart Pricing may not be serving your revenue goals, and how tools like Instant Book and Professional Hosting Tools can help you attract more bookings.Whether you're managing one property or a growing portfolio, this episode is a reminder that your settings aren't "set it and forget it." Small adjustments can have a significant impact on your bottom line.Resources Mentioned:Apply for Strategic Host!

June 4, 202628 min

554. 6 Silent Mistakes Destroying Your Airbnb Reviews (And Costing You Bookings)

If your Airbnb rating is sitting at 4.6, 4.7, or even 4.8 and you're wondering why bookings aren't growing, this episode is for you.The truth is that most review-damaging mistakes aren't obvious. In fact, experienced hosts often make them because they're too close to their own properties to see the gaps.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down six silent mistakes that can cost you five-star reviews, lower your search ranking, and ultimately impact your revenue. From misleading listing descriptions and AI-generated photos to poor check-in experiences and inventory shortages, these are the issues that create friction for guests long before they leave a review.You'll learn how to spot these mistakes in your own business and what to do instead so guests arrive with the right expectations, enjoy a smoother stay, and leave glowing feedback.In This Episode We Cover:Why honesty in your listing leads to better reviewsThe risks of misleading photos and AI-generated imageryHow understocked amenities frustrate guestsCreating foolproof check-in instructionsThe ideal guest messaging cadenceWhat to do when things go wrong during a stayWhy guest impact matters more than your intentionsWhether you're managing one property or an entire portfolio, these six adjustments can help protect your ratings and improve the guest experience.

May 28, 202613 min

553. How to Make Your Airbnb Look Expensive Without Overspending

You don’t need to spend more money to make your Airbnb look expensive. You need to spend in the right places.In this episode, we’re breaking down what actually makes a property feel elevated to guests and more importantly, what gets them to click, book, and leave better reviews.We’re sharing where hosts should invest, where they tend to overspend, and how to design with performance in mind so your property not only looks better, but earns more.If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to “upgrade” your space without blowing your budget, this episode will give you a clear roadmap.Resources mentioned: Download our essentials checklist!

May 21, 202614 min

552. The New Rules for Getting More Airbnb Bookings in 2026

If it feels harder to get bookings right now, you’re not imagining it.The Airbnb landscape has changed and the hosts who are still operating the same way they did a year ago are starting to feel it.In this episode, we’re breaking down the new rules for 2026 and what it actually takes to compete in today’s market. From mindset shifts to pricing strategy to understanding your numbers, we’re sharing what the top-performing hosts are doing differently and how you can start applying it right now.Because bookings aren’t gone. They’re just going to the hosts who are running their properties like real businesses.What you'll learn: Why hosting is no longer passive and what that means for your strategyWhat winning listings are doing differently right nowWhy Superhost status isn’t enough anymoreThe key metrics every host needs to understandHow to stop panic pricing and make data-driven decisionsWhy pricing tools aren’t a strategy on their ownThe difference between revenue and actual profitHow to use your Airbnb funnel to diagnose performance issuesResources Mentioned:Download our Know Your Numbers Worksheet!

May 14, 202654 min

551. How Laura Wegner Built a High-Performing STR Brand in Whistler

Laura Wegner didn’t get into short-term rentals because it was trendy. She got into it because her business disappeared overnight during COVID.What started as a way to survive turned into a highly strategic hospitality business in Whistler, British Columbia. Today, Laura owns and manages premium ski-in/ski-out rentals and is preparing to expand into boutique property management with a very specific vision.In this episode, Laura breaks down:Why she stopped treating her STR like a side investmentHow understanding RevPAR changed her businessThe mistake she made with minimum stay requirementsWhat finally clicked with PriceLabsHow design, cleanliness, and hospitality justify premium pricingThe exact mindset shift that helped her outperform competitors in the same buildingShe also shares the real numbers behind her growth and how Strategic Host helped her increase RevPAR dramatically year over year.If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by pricing strategy, or unsure how to compete in a crowded market, this episode is a masterclass in using data with intention.Resources Mentioned: Join the Priced & Profitable Bootcamp Waitlist Price Labs

May 7, 202640 min

550. From Weekend Side Hustle to 35% Growth: How One Host Optimized Before Scaling

Josh Peterson didn’t start in short-term rentals by chasing deals. He started by solving a problem.After too many mediocre hotel stays visiting his daughter at UNC, he bought a home near campus. What started as a second home quickly turned into a high-performing short-term rental—and then a full-on business.But here’s where it gets interesting.Instead of rushing to scale, Josh hit pause. He went back, optimized his first property, and unlocked a 35% revenue increase and a major jump in occupancy.In this episode, we break down:Why optimizing one property can outperform adding moreThe exact pricing shifts that increased weekday bookingsHow data, not instinct, changed his strategyWhat “champagne taste” looks like in a profitable rentalWhy niche markets (like college towns) can be a long-term advantageHow to think about scaling without overextendingIf you’re thinking about your next property, this episode might change how you approach it.Resources mentioned: Check out Josh's STR at: https://phdstays.com/

April 30, 202649 min

549. From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Amy Ruocco Scaled Her Airbnb Business Without Losing Herself

What does it actually take to scale a short-term rental business without burning out?In this episode, we sit down with Amy Ruocco, founder of Hosted Guest, who went from running herself ragged in her business to building a more profitable, sustainable, and scalable operation.Amy shares how she transitioned from instinct-based decisions to data-driven strategy, what finally helped her let go of day-to-day tasks, and how hiring the right team member changed everything.We also dive into her journey from weddings to short-term rentals, the mindset shifts that unlocked major revenue growth, and how she’s on track to hit $1.4M this year without adding more properties.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to grow, this episode will show you what’s possible.What you'll learn:How Amy scaled her business to nearly $1M and beyondWhy instinct alone won’t grow your Airbnb businessHow to stop panic pricing and trust your dataWhat finally helped her hire and let go of controlHow to train a team member to match your voice and standardsWhy your role as a host needs to evolve as you growThe importance of investing in yourself and your businessHow time blocking can reduce overwhelm and create balanceResources mentioned: Join our Strategic Host Coaching Program!

April 23, 202620 min

548. Airbnb Changed the Fees Again… Here’s What Actually Matters

Airbnb changed the fee structure again… and most hosts are asking the wrong question.Everyone is debating which option to choose, but almost no one is looking at what actually happened to their numbers after the last change.In this episode, we break down what Airbnb quietly updated, the biggest mistakes hosts are about to repeat, and the four audits you need to run before touching a single setting.Because this isn’t about opinions, it’s about your profit.What You’ll Learn:What Airbnb actually changed with fee structuresWhy the “recommended” label matters more than you thinkThe biggest mistake hosts made during the last fee switchWhy copying someone else’s markup strategy doesn’t workThe four key audits you must run before making changesHow to evaluate your performance vs your marketWhy pricing is only one part of the equationHow to make decisions based on data instead of panicResources mentioned: Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.comJoin our Priced and Profitable Bootcamp!Mentioned in this episode:Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

April 16, 202616 min

547. Steal Our Airbnb Title Formula to Get More Clicks and Bookings

If your Airbnb listing is getting views but not bookings, your title might be the problem.In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the fastest and most overlooked ways to improve your listing performance: your Airbnb title. Because your title isn’t there to describe your space, it’s there to win the click.We’re sharing the exact prompts we use (and teach our students) to create high-converting titles using AI, plus the strategy behind why they work. From understanding the click-through funnel to aligning your title with real-time demand, this episode will help you stop guessing and start optimizing.If you want more clicks, more visibility, and ultimately more bookings, this is where to start.Resources Mentioned:Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp - Join the Waitlist!Strategic Host Coaching Program - Sign up!Download our Airbnb Photo Shoot Shot ListMentioned in this episode:Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

April 9, 202621 min

546. The Pre-Arrival Inspection Checklist That Protects Your 5-Star Reviews

Most hosts think once the cleaner leaves, the property is ready for guests. But that assumption is exactly where five-star reviews start to slip.In this episode of Thanks for Visiting, we’re walking you through the exact pre-arrival inspection checklist we use across our properties to ensure consistency, elevate the guest experience, and protect our reviews.We break down the difference between “clean” and “guest ready,” why relying on one person to do both jobs creates gaps, and how introducing an inspector role can completely transform your operations.You’ll learn how to systematize your turnovers, catch the small details that matter most, and create a repeatable process that leads to better reviews, more referrals, and higher perceived value.If you’ve ever felt like something small keeps slipping through the cracks—this episode will show you exactly how to fix it.Mentioned in this episode:Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.