Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals

• Holiday Let Pricing Secrets & Hot Tub Hype: Maximise Your Revenue with Sykes Holiday Cottages

  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 The best places to buy a holiday let5:42 Do your research7:22 Pets: a good revenue driver or too much hassle?9:40 Hot tubs, EV chargers, and other amenities11:57 No Wi-Fi is no go!13:04 The biggest pricing mistake hosts make16:18 The importance of being flexible and keeping up with booking trends20:27 Reduce your minimum stay for extra visibility21:35 Photography is everything24:01 Upsells that guests love and hosts earn from27:41 The operational tweaks that increase revenue30:36 How to increase revenue straightaway 32:10 Everyone has a dedicated account manager with SykesStaycation Index 2025: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/blog/sykes-staycation-index-2025/Rachel Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-brennan-26098118a/Work with Sykes Holiday Cottages to let your property: Call: 01244 356 666Visit: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/Episode to check next: Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slITtAudCAs&t=1sHoliday Let Insider is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Contact the show: [email protected]#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #SykesCottages #JamesVarley #RachelBrennan

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• Direct Booking Secrets & High-End Guest Experiences with Louis Andrews

  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 dependency and maximise profit through superior service and brand loyalty.1:40 OVO Network works with 200+ properties in the French Alps and Switzerland2:31 Louis’s short-term rental journey4:06 From studying art to vacation rentals4:52 How artistic skills help in the STR space (Brian Chesky isn't the only one!)6:08 What makes OVO Network stand out7:37 Direct bookings10:35 Getting exposure on platforms like ChatGPT12:42 Challenges and opportunities in the Alps14:27 Snow machines and regulation16:34 Tips to deliver a great guest experience18:49 Upsells19:17 How to keep owners happy20:23 Biggest lesson learned22:02 What Louis loves most about the business22:51 Quickfire questions28:35 Ultimate goal for OVO NetworkDownload a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbookThe Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with the property management software, Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanetLouis Andrews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-jacques-andrews/OVO Network: https://www.ovonetwork.com/en/homeThe Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/#DirectBookings #LuxuryChalet #OvoNetwork #VacationRental #HostTips #ShortTermRental #GuestExperience #FrenchAlps #PropertyManagement #HostPlanetPlaybook #HostPlanet #Hospitable #PMS #PropertyManagementSoftware

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

  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 is a masterclass in building a scalable, luxury brand where relationships truly equal revenue.1:03 Managing units in the US Virgin Islands from New Hampshire5:13 Tech and systems which help Robin manage rentals remotely11:48 How to deliver a great guest experience18:15 Developing direct bookings23:01 Intrigued by AI24:33 How Robin got involved in the STR world28:56 Robin’s favourite brands and people in vacation rentals31:52 Biggest lesson learnedLooking for a great PMS or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!Check out these special offers:Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtkKeen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-DemoEmail Frank: [email protected] Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/Robin Bass: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinbass/Premier Properties USVI: https://premierpropertiesusvi.com/Episode to check next: What STRs Must Learn from Holiday Parks & Hotels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtHPA2wYDQHost Planet Podcast is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Contact the show: [email protected]#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #RobinBass #USVI #StCroix

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• 5 Reasons Your STR Needs AI Right Now

  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 = better reviews3:26 Your team is freed up to focus on higher leverage tasks4:49 AI can help you develop a huge company database6:07 AI can boost upselling7:46 Brand voice, rules, and policies are consistent8:34 Conduit: https://www.conduit.ai/9:11 How AI will change the vacation rental industry10:01 How STR managers can utilise AILooking for a great PMS or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!Check out these special offers:Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtkKeen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-DemoEmail Frank: [email protected] Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/Cole Rubin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colerubin/Conduit: https://www.conduit.ai/Episode to check next: Beyond’s Guide to Profitable Slow Periods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLIi2ftGzSs&t=4sHost Planet Bitesize is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Contact the show: [email protected]#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #STR #AIforSTR #VacationRental #ConduitAI #PropertyManagement #AirbnbHost #HospitalityTech #ColeRubin

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• From Psychology to STR Leader: Anna Morris on Hosting in Scotland

  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 impact of Scotland’s controversial licensing laws. Anna also explains why lawmakers need to listen more closely to the sector, how the regulations have affected the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and what it takes to deliver an exceptional guest experience while keeping owners happy.1:43 Adore Scotland and The Edinburgh Address2:16 Anna’s STR journey: from psychology to running a family apartment5:40 The transferable skills from psychology8:47 Scaling from 1-10010:17 Hosting in Edinburgh11:29 Scotland’s controversial licensing laws for short-term rentals15:55 Scottish lawmakers need to listen to the sector16:59 How licensing has affected the Edinburgh Festival Fringe19:12 How to deliver a great guest experience21:16 How to keep owners happy23:27 What Anna loves most about her work24:28 Quickfire questions27:50 Shoutout28:28 Ultimate goal for the businessDownload a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbookThe Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with the property management software, Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanetAnna Calder Urquart Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-calder-urquhart-morris-85533317/Adore Scotland: https://www.adorescotland.com/The Edinburgh Address: https://www.theedinburghaddress.com/The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/9eHxOrp61zwUP76zveov

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