The Airbnb Superhost

Hosted by Neil Harvey

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135

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Airbnb Superhost, your ultimate guide to mastering the art of hosting on Airbnb. In each episode, lasting about 15 minutes, Neil will reveal the secrets to creating unforgettable guest experiences and maximizing the potential of your property, drawing on over 10 consecutive years as a qualifying Airbnb Superhost and hosting over 2000 guests from over 40 countries. With a focus on 3 specific aspects of running an Airbnb business; the host, the property, and Airbnb itself, Neil provides step-by-step guidance on everything from ambiance creation to effective communication. In each episode, a Superhost Secret will help you elevate your hosting game and keep guests coming back for more. Whether you're a seasoned host or just starting out, Neil’s actionable tips and tricks will help you become a hospitality superstar. Disclaimer: The Airbnb Superhost is in no way affiliated with Airbnb. All ideas, thoughts, concepts and data presented in this podcast are entirely Neil’s own and do not represent the views of Airbnb.

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October 13, 2026Episode 13616 min

#136. Does anything ever get broken?

Episode 136 – Does Anything Ever Get Broken? What happens when your Airbnb guests break something? And what if the thing they break is actually your way of thinking? After eleven years of hosting and around 19,000 guest-nights, I've come to accept that things occasionally get broken. It's part of welcoming strangers into a working home. But when a mysterious broken fridge door turns up with a vital piece missing, I'm left wondering whether someone has been covering their tracks! That little incident got me thinking about a completely different kind of breakage. This week, a couple from India staying for a month have challenged just about everything I thought I knew about equipping my guest rooms! From removable shelving and full-length mirrors to bathroom locks, fridge space and a rather amusing incident involving a lady trapped in my bathroom, I've found myself questioning arrangements that have worked for years. And there's more! A simple change to a sofa bed creates an unexpected chain of improvements, including under-bed storage and a private workspace for a guest delivering a webinar at two in the morning. Sometimes the greatest improvements come not from buying something new, but from looking at what you already have in a completely different way. In this episode, you'll discover: Why broken belongings don't bother me nearly as much as concealed damage. How guests can reveal problems you've stopped noticing. Why eleven years of experience doesn't necessarily mean you've got everything right. How a fridge swap solved a problem without spending a penny. Why one small change can create a whole chain of unexpected opportunities. This week's Superhost Secret "Don't let years of experience become years of resistance." Just because nobody complains doesn't mean there's nothing to complain about. And the next time a guest challenges the way you do something, instead of saying, "That's how I've always done it," try asking yourself: "What if they're right?" You might be surprised at what else falls into place! Want to learn how to become a live-in Airbnb host? I regularly run a free live webinar where I share how I've turned spare rooms in my own home into a source of income. Follow me on Instagram @SuperhostNeil for more hosting tips, stories and a bit of laughter. And if you've enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who has a spare room and might be surprised by what it could do for them! Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

October 7, 2026Episode 13516 min

#135 Get rid of what you don't want to make room for what you do want

Get rid of what you don’t want to make room for what you do want. What does throwing away a 60-year-old armchair have to do with making more than £300 from Airbnb the very next day? Quite a lot, as it turns out. In this episode, I explore something I first learned many years ago called the Principle of Vacuum : Get rid of what you don't want to make room for what you do want. It's a principle that has followed me throughout my Airbnb journey — sometimes without me even realising it. I share how getting rid of furniture I'd inherited from my mother helped create my very first Airbnb room; how throwing away an appallingly uncomfortable futon eventually led to a sofa bed that's earned me more than £50,000; and how completely stripping out my master bedroom allowed me to see how one room could become two — floor space that has subsequently generated well over £120,000 in turnover. There's also the story of a useless patch of bumpy lawn that I levelled in 2014. Five years later, that empty space was the reason I came home from the Game Fair with something I had absolutely no intention of buying — particularly as I'd deliberately left my wallet at home! A wood-fired hot tub. That hot tub went on to become a major lead magnet for my Dome. But the story that prompted this week's episode happened only a few days ago. After eleven years of procrastination, I finally disposed of an old armchair that had been in my family for around sixty years. Within 24 hours, the space it left behind presented me with a solution to a problem I hadn't known was coming — and helped me retain a guest booking worth more than £300. Coincidence? Maybe. But I've seen this principle work too many times to ignore it. Sometimes we become so accustomed to what we already have that it prevents us from seeing what could be there instead. And that doesn't only apply to furniture or Airbnb rooms. It can apply to habits, working practices, attitudes, beliefs — and sometimes even relationships. This week's Superhost Secret “Create the space before you know what will fill it.” Because the real power of the vacuum isn't getting rid of something once you've found something better. It's having the courage to let go first. Then seeing what moves into the space you've created. This week's limerick When something no longer serves well, It's time to bid fondly farewell. Create a clear space, Put the vacuum in place, What comes next, you never can tell! Follow me on Instagram @SuperhostNeil for more Airbnb tips, stories and a bit of laughter. And if you'd like to learn more about becoming a live-in Airbnb host yourself, follow the link below to register your interest in my free live webinar. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

September 29, 2026Episode 13415 min

#134. Airbnb: The Entrepreneur's Training Ground

Episode 134 — Airbnb: The Entrepreneur’s Training Ground What if the best place to learn how to run a business isn't in a classroom, on a course, or by risking tens of thousands of pounds? What if it's your spare room? In this episode, I explore why I describe Airbnb as a “business in a box” —and why becoming a live-in host can teach you many of the skills every entrepreneur eventually needs. I share the story of one of the students who helped me run my Airbnb before taking what he'd learned back to India and eventually to Berlin, where he used those skills to secure accommodation by helping another Airbnb host. I also look at what my student helpers are really learning when they're changing beds, doing laundry and preparing rooms. Behind those apparently mundane jobs are lessons in teamwork, time management, critical-path thinking, stock control, systems, accountability, customer service, problem-solving—and perhaps most importantly, learning to think like an owner rather than an employee . Because that's where entrepreneurship really begins. Airbnb gives you the marketplace, booking system, payment infrastructure and access to potential customers. But it can't teach you how to price your room, understand your customer, solve problems, exceed expectations, make a profit or eventually delegate without allowing your standards to fall. Those things you learn by doing. And the beauty of starting small is that your mistakes can become lessons rather than disasters. This week's Superhost Secret “Entrepreneurship isn't something you study. It's something you practise.” You don't learn to become an entrepreneur and then start. You start—and that's how you learn to become one. If you've ever thought about starting your own business but wondered whether you have the skills, perhaps your first question shouldn't be: “What business should I start?” Perhaps it should be: “Where can I learn how to run one?” And if you've got a spare room sitting idle, your training ground might already be right under your nose. 🎧 Also mentioned: Episode 107, my interview with the student whose Airbnb education eventually took him from my home to India and then Berlin. Want to find out more about becoming a live-in Airbnb host? Join me on one of my free webinars. Use the Zoom registration link below and come and say hello. Follow me: @SuperhostNeil May your rooms be booked, your reviews 5-star—and Airbnb teach you the entrepreneurial skills you need. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

September 23, 2026Episode 13318 min

#133. Romance in the Dome

Episode 133 Show Notes The Dome at the bottom of my garden has witnessed rather a lot of romance over the years. Marriage proposals. Newlyweds. Candlelit pathways. Engagement rings hidden inside fruit. And then... there was the Viagra. In this episode, I share five very different stories from my years of hosting guests in the Dome — some genuinely touching, some wonderfully unexpected, and one that required a particularly good pair of rubber gloves. You'll hear about an encounter with a film producer where Bambi, Thumper, Honey and some suspiciously memorable leather costumes eventually made perfect sense. I'll tell you how my old theatre instincts kicked in when a guest asked for help proposing to his girlfriend — resulting in twenty IKEA lanterns, an engagement ring beneath a six-metre-high Michelangelo's David and me watching the whole thing unfold from a darkened bedroom. There's another proposal involving an extraordinary fruit sculpture and an engagement ring hidden inside a pineapple, followed by the newlyweds who arrived at the Dome to discover a huge candlelit heart waiting for them on the lawn. And finally, there's the mysterious blacked-out car, four voices in the hot tub, two unexpected guests... and poor Martin's unforgettable first day working in hospitality. Because after ten years of welcoming strangers into my home, I've learned that you can prepare for almost anything. But you can never quite prepare for everything. This week's Superhost Secret: “Don't try to control the story. Just be ready to host it.” When you open your home to other people, you never quite know what stories they're going to bring with them. Some will make you laugh. Some will genuinely touch you. And occasionally, you'll get the opportunity to become part of a moment they'll remember for the rest of their lives. And occasionally... you'll need the rubber gloves. If you'd like to discover how you could generate an income from the spare space in your own home, join me for one of my free live webinars. You'll find the registration link below. Follow me on Instagram etc: @SuperhostNeil Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

September 15, 202615 min

#132. My Airbnb makes money for my neighbours.

What happens when your Airbnb is full — but one of your regular guests still needs somewhere to stay? You send them next door! In this episode, I explore something I rarely hear mentioned when people talk about running an Airbnb: the importance of having great relationships with your neighbours. It starts with a young Malaysian student arriving in the UK for the first time. I'd promised to collect her from the bus stop after dark — before realising I wasn't actually going to be there. One phone call to my neighbour solved the problem. But why was he so willing to drop everything and collect a complete stranger on my behalf? The answer goes back more than 20 years, to the day I first moved into my home and made a conscious decision: I was going to like my neighbours. Over the years, cups of tea, glasses of wine, shared garden tools, parties, small acts of kindness and countless little favours became hundreds of deposits into what I call my relationship bank account . And when I eventually found myself in serious financial difficulty and Airbnb became increasingly important to me, those neighbours became an extraordinary part of my support network. Today, three of them even act as my “guest reservoir” — accommodating trusted regular guests when all my own rooms are full. They earn the money, my guests still have somewhere to stay, and I don't lose valuable regular customers. My Airbnb actually makes money for my neighbours. So perhaps your Airbnb “power team” shouldn't just include your plumber, electrician, cleaner, handyman and gardener. Perhaps some of its most valuable members are already living next door. And if you're not an Airbnb host but your neighbour is, perhaps there's an opportunity for you too. Could your spare room, your time or simply your willingness to help become an extension of their business? My Superhost Secret “Build relationships before you need favours.” Don't be nice to your neighbours because you might need something from them one day. Make those tiny deposits without expecting to make a withdrawal. Because one day, when you really do need somebody, you might discover just how wealthy that relationship bank account has become. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

September 8, 2026Episode 13116 min

#131. The unexpected joy of strangers

Episode 131 – The Unexpected Joy of Strangers “I couldn't have strangers in my home.” It's probably the number one objection I hear when I talk to people about becoming a live-in Airbnb host. But here's the thing: every guest starts off as a stranger. And over the years, some of those strangers have given me experiences, friendships and memories I could never have anticipated when they first walked through the door. In this episode, I'm sharing five of them. There's the captain of a winning USA Ultimate Frisbee team who ended up giving us a lesson on my lawn, in the dark, before I retaliated by teaching him croquet. There's a professional juggler called Twirly who came to improve his clowning skills — and somehow ended up teaching me to juggle. Then there's the guest who, when she discovered I was in serious financial trouble, spontaneously offered to lend me £10,000 with no security and virtually nothing in return. I'll also tell you about Malcolm, the Vietnamese film student whose request I very nearly turned down, but who went from stranger to guest, colleague and mentee. And finally, I share an encounter that forced me to confront one of my own prejudices — and taught me the difference between noticing someone's physical appearance and actually discovering the person behind it. Hosting isn't only about occupancy, reviews or making money. Sometimes the greatest rewards come from the people you would never otherwise have met. This week's Superhost Secret “Don't judge the stranger. Discover the person.” Ask questions. Be curious. Give somebody the opportunity to become more than the first impression you've formed of them. Because every one of the people in this episode walked through my door as a stranger. They just didn't all leave as one. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

September 2, 2026Episode 13013 min

#130. Never forget the 'mint sauce'!

Episode 130 – Never Forget the ‘Mint Sauce’ What does a dollop of mint sauce have to do with being a great Airbnb host? Quite a lot, as it turns out. This week, a new guest paid me a wonderful compliment. Having stayed in countless Airbnbs around the country, he told me there was something about staying in my home that just felt... different. So different, in fact, that he immediately booked another three consecutive weeks. But what was that something ? In this episode, I go back to my experiences dining at the five-star Luton Hoo hotel, where I learned an important lesson about the ‘theatre’ of hospitality — and why the smallest details can completely change the way an experience feels. I look at the Airbnb equivalent of those little dollops of ‘mint sauce’: clear pre-arrival communication, welcome videos, thoughtful room layouts, a reading light where you actually need one, somewhere convenient to charge your phone, simple house rules — and the human touches such as carrying a guest's bags, offering them a cup of tea or meeting them at their car with an umbrella when it's raining. None of these things on their own will make a great stay. And no amount of ‘mint sauce’ can rescue a bad meal. The fundamentals still have to be right: cleanliness, comfort, safety and a good night's sleep. But once you've got those fundamentals right, it's often the hundred tiny details surrounding them that turn accommodation into hospitality. Because your guests may never consciously notice everything you've done. They'll simply notice how staying with you feels . This week's Superhost Secret “Great hospitality isn't one big gesture. It's a hundred little ones.” And, naturally, there's a limerick: It’s not grandiose gestures that win, But the details you quietly slip in. For a memorable stay, It’s the small things that say: “We’re delighted to welcome you in.” If you're interested in learning how you could generate an income from your own home by becoming an Airbnb host, join me for one of my free live webinars. You'll find the registration link below. And follow me on Instagram @SuperhostNeil for more hosting tips, tricks and a bit of laughter. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

August 27, 2026Episode 12915 min

#129. When Archie refused to pay

Episode 129 – When Archie Refused to Pay After ten years of hosting, thousands of guests and pretty much every situation you can imagine, there was still one thing I'd never done: escalated a payment dispute to Airbnb. Until Archie. And it was over just £35 . Archie booked my Dome for a romantic night away with his fiancée and asked to use the hot tub — an optional £35 extra clearly stated in the listing. Wanting to add a little Unreasonable Hospitality , I offered him an “I Love You” banner free of charge and even threw in a heart-shaped helium balloon. Unfortunately, one seemingly harmless word in my message — “it” — created an ambiguity I hadn't anticipated. Archie subsequently claimed he thought the hot tub was complimentary too. When payment didn't arrive, I asked again. And again. I even raised a £35 payment request through Airbnb to make settling the bill as easy as possible. Nothing. No payment or response or denial that he'd used the hot tub. No suggestion that anything had been wrong with it. So I had a decision to make: Would I really pursue a guest over £35? For the first time in ten years, I decided I would. In this episode, I take you through exactly what happened when I escalated the dispute to Airbnb, the evidence I provided, how quickly Airbnb reached its decision — and whether I got my £35. More importantly, I look at what I could have done better . Because this experience highlighted some valuable lessons for any host: Why important booking conversations should remain on the Airbnb message thread Why you should confirm additional charges explicitly How innocent words such as “it” and “they” can create ambiguity Why following your established procedures matters even when everything seems friendly The importance of checking during a stay that guests are happy with what you've provided What happens when Airbnb becomes involved in a payment dispute Why an evidence trail can become invaluable if somebody later challenges what happened Looking back through the message thread made me realise that I'd made life unnecessarily difficult for myself simply by becoming too casual with procedures and language. This week's Superhost Secret Casualness creates casualties. Being professional doesn't mean you can't be friendly, generous or spontaneous. But don't let being friendly make you casual . Follow your procedures. Be precise with your language. Keep important communication where it can be referred back to. And if a dispute ever arises, you shouldn't have to explain what happened. The message thread should do it for you. 🎧 Listen now to discover what happened when Archie refused to pay — and what my first Airbnb dispute in ten years taught me about my own hosting... and did I get my money or not?? Follow me on Instagram @SuperhostNeil for more hosting tips, tricks and a bit of laughter. And if you'd like to learn how to earn an income by hosting from your own home, you'll find the link below to register for my free live webinar . Till next time — may your rooms be booked, your reviews 5-star… and all your guests pay for their extras on time! Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

August 18, 2026Episode 12815 min

Episode 128. Every House Rule has a story.

Episode 128: Every House Rule Has a Story House Rules can easily become a long list of DON'Ts. Don't smoke. Don't make noise. Don't bring visitors back. Don't eat in your room. But what are House Rules actually for? This week, I've been writing a set of Extended House Rules for a potential long-stay guest — and realised that almost every rule I've included is there because something has happened in the past that made me think, “Right... I need a rule about that!” From soy sauce spilt over a bedroom carpet and broken mugs hidden in the bin, to unexpected visitors, powerful cooking smells and guests spending rather too long in the shower, experience has shaped the way I run my home. But I've also realised that my House Rules essentially serve just two purposes: To protect the property — and to protect the experience of the people staying in it. In this episode, I explore: Why House Rules should have a reason behind them The importance of remembering that a live-in Airbnb is someone's home Why my kitchen has just one overriding rule: “Leave no evidence” Food, cooking, smoking, pets and breakages Why I'd rather hear immediately that something has been broken than discover it hidden later Visitors, overnight guests and why I want to know who's in my home Protecting guests from unnecessary noise How my 10-Minute Shower Challenge solved a shared-bathroom problem without really being a rule at all Why the rules appropriate for my home may be completely inappropriate for yours The answer isn't to copy somebody else's House Rules. It's to think about what could affect your property, your guests and the experience you're trying to create — and make your expectations clear before a problem arises. This week's Superhost Secret Good House Rules aren't about controlling behaviour. They're about protecting what matters. Because good hosting isn't about creating more rules. It's about understanding why you need them. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!

August 11, 2026Episode 12716 min

#127. My worst guest ever - and what lessons he taught me.

After more than 2,500 guests , 18,500 guest nights and over ten years of hosting, I finally encountered a guest I genuinely didn't like. If you're thinking this episode is going to put you off becoming an Airbnb host... think again. In fact, quite the opposite. This story reinforced just how rare serious incidents really are, how supportive Airbnb and the police can be when something does go wrong, and perhaps most importantly, how our own reactions can either calm a situation or make it worse. In this episode I share, in full, the only hosting experience that has ever genuinely made me feel uncomfortable—and the valuable lessons it taught me about leadership, people skills and keeping everyone safe. In this episode you'll discover: Why this incident was so unusual after more than a decade of hosting. The simple precaution I already had in place that proved invaluable. Why my live-in helper did exactly the right thing. How quickly the local police responded and why their calm professionalism impressed me. The advice Airbnb gave when the guest disappeared after check-out. The mistake I made when confronting the guest—and what I'd do differently today. Why I've now removed same-day bookings from all my listings. The practical step I took to ensure this guest can never book with me again. Why one unpleasant guest should never put you off hosting. My Superhost Secret "In difficult situations, your priority isn't to win the argument. It's to guide everyone safely to the best possible outcome." Sometimes the greatest act of leadership isn't proving you're right—it's keeping everyone safe. Mentioned in this episode Airbnb Superhost Support The importance of smart locks and sensible safety systems Managing same-day bookings Writing honest, professional guest reviews Blocking unsuitable guests from future bookings Here's how to block a guest If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, open your conversation with the guest on Airbnb, click the three dots beside one of their messages, select Report this message , choose a reason, and then you'll be given the option to Block this person . Here's how to do it, from a message thread with the guest: Go to Messages on airbnb.com and open your conversation with that guest. Find the message you want to report and click the three dots next to it (or click Report near their profile picture, depending on your view). Click Report this message , choose your reason, and hit Ok . You'll then be given the option to Block this person — select it and confirm Block . Once blocked, they won't be able to send you messages, book your listing, or accept a reservation request from you. This also means they'll no longer be able to see your profile or listings when browsing. Thinking about becoming a host? If you've ever wondered whether Airbnb hosting could work for you—but have concerns about having strangers in your home—I'd love to invite you to one of my free live webinars . I'll show you the practical systems, people skills and mindset that have helped me welcome thousands of guests safely, earn a consistent income from my own home and achieve Superhost status year after year. Register using the Zoom link below. 📸 Instagram: @SuperhostNeil ⭐ If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with someone who has a spare room, an annexe or an empty property. You never know—it might just change the way they think about their home. Register for my next FREE webinar on how to monetize your own home, here - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/61WTjBMhTF2MPCh_WrcMbA If you’re enjoying the show, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more people find it!