Host Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term Rentals

• Beyond’s Guide to Profitable Slow Periods

  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 Booking lead times matter3:38 Don’t tank the rate too quickly4:49 Revenue is the goal – but the definition of success can change6:59 Charlie’s message to hosts who don’t want to drop their minimum stay rules8:19 REVPAN (revenue per available night) is the most important metric11:00 It’s critical to understand your numbers (and make a profit)13:04 Play to your strengths15:11 Leverage strategies that evolve as your market does18:33 Check out Beyond: https://www.beyondpricing.com/products/why-beyond?utm_medium=seo&utm_source=partner-2024&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook_2024Looking 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/Charlie Gibbons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-gibbons-875a51116/Beyond: https://www.beyondpricing.com/products/why-beyond?utm_medium=seo&utm_source=partner-2024&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook_2024Episode to check next: Which Tools Actually Boost Your Airbnb Income?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJCFX9ExvIc&t=36sHost 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 #CharlieGibbons #Beyond #ShoulderSeason #DynamicPricing #RevenueManagement

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• From Travel Club to STR Powerhouse – South Africa's Euphoric Leisure

  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 right.1:52 The story of Euphoric Leisure2:21 From a travel club to the short-term rentals industry (via Netflix)4:32 The wild journey from 0-1006:46 How the South African STR space is developing8:12 The challenges in South Africa, starting with regulation13:15 The threat of regulation has united competitors in South Africa 16:05 What makes Euphoric Leisure stand out19:01 Tips to deliver an outstanding guest experience23:43 Never waste a good crisis26:09 Delivering a great guest experience makes the job joyful27:22 Quickfire questions32:02 Shout-out: Nick Taylor32:53 Ultimate goalDownload 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/hostplanetDean McLuckie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanmcluckie/Euphoric Leisure: https://euphoricleisure.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/

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• How Short-Term Rental Hosts Can Utilise AI Today

  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 should STR managers be using AI?4:46 The AI tools STR managers should be trying6:57 The best use cases involving AI right now11:12 AI won’t take over completely13:45 How can tech-savvy hosts stay ahead of the curve in relation to AI17:35 OpenAI’s Operator model20:46 Apaleo24:24 STR trends in 2025, including what Airbnb is up to26:04 Favourite brand: Cuckoo and Co in Switzerland 27:16 Shout-out: Jessica Gillingham from Abode Worldwide28:06 Top tips for people who want to use 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/Florian Montag: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmontag/Apaleo: https://apaleo.com/Episode to check next: UK STR Outlook: Late Bookings, Channel Mix & Pricing Discipline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnaFLgeYjl4&t=1sHost 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 #AI #FlorianMontag #Apaleo

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• How Vacation Rental Hosts Can Attract Digital Nomads

  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 coffee and facilities like a gym7:36 Bring in a membership for people who want to use your space for work8:55 Frasers Hospitality Looking 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/Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccahollants/Frasers Hospitality: https://www.frasershospitality.com/en/Episode to check next: Why Every STR Needs a PMS (Not Spreadsheets): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7otG2iYxI0Host 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

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• From Broadway to Bookings: Sarah Karakaian's STR Journey

  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 meaningful, scalable business.1:42 Sarah’s journey in the STR space2:25 From Broadway to vacation rentals5:29 Thanks for Visiting has replaced the acting bug6:05 How to deliver an outstanding guest experience 7:40 Boundaries are a good thing8:54 How to keep owners happy10:12 Challenges and opportunities in Columbus, Ohio 11:50 How Sarah’s brands stand out14:09 What Sarah loves about hosting 15:33 Thanks for Visiting19:58 The common questions new hosts ask21:38 Advice to people starting out25:16 Quickfire questions27:28 Shout-out: Justin Ford28:16 Ultimate goalSarah Karakaian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skarakaian/Thanks for Visiting: https://thanksforvisiting.com/The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with 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/hostplanetDownload a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbookThe 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/

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