The Secret Serviced Podcast

• 30. Living in a Caravan & Top Work Martin Lewis

  Episode 30 of Season 3 is LIVE 🎙️✨‘Living in a Caravan & Top Work Martin Lewis’This week has been… a lot. From tough moments and unexpected challenges to festive cheer and big steps forward, we have been on quite the rollercoaster. ❤️‍🩹🎄We headed to a beautiful Christmas event, met some amazing people, and made real progress at Sefton Place — including pulling together a 20-page vision brochure we are so proud of. Builder quotes came in higher than hoped (joy!), so we are deep in funding conversations while we wait for planning permission updates… complete with yet another survey request. Because of course. 😂🏗️📑We shared a visit from an ecology specialist, celebrated receiving the Gold Award for Quality in Tourism 🏆, and talked about how we are moving towards being a fully data-driven business. 📊✨We also touched on the recent budget and what it means for the property market, plus a must-see clip from Martin Lewis calling out aggressive council tax tactics 👀💥And to top it all off, we covered HMO licences, how they can genuinely benefit landlords, and why understanding them matters more than ever.From caravans to council tax, ecology to holiday spirit… this episode has it all. 🚐💧🎅Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 🎧✨#SecretServiced #PropertyPodcast #AparthotelJourney #SeftonPlace #MartinLewis #HMOLicence #PropertyInvesting #QualityInTourism #BehindTheScenes #PropertyDevelopment #PodcastSeason3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 29. A Beanbag With No Beans & I Won't Succumb To Slippers

  Episode 29 is live… and let us tell you, it is a vibe.This week on The Secret Serviced Podcast, we chat about life at Sefton Place in all its muddy, windswept, heater-dragging, beanbag-with-no-beans glory — and Mark digs his heels in on his ongoing refusal to wear slippers (pray for him).But it is not all cold floors and camp chairs. We also dive into:✨ Our latest battle with planning bureaucracy and biodiversity net gain🌳 Why we are passionately pursuing a nature-forward hotel model🏡 Direct booking strategy, loyalty ideas, and a big revenue management reset🌊 Huge momentum with Shetland Stays (including Sumburgh Lighthouse!)🧹 How our Quality in Tourism virtual inspection went — and why checklists really matter🎄 Prepping for the village Christmas event and meeting more of our new communityIt is cosy chaos, business strategy, and behind-the-scenes realness all rolled into one.Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — and if you enjoy it, leaving a quick review would mean the world.#SecretServicedPodcast #HospitalityLife #AparthotelJourney #ServicedAccommodation #ShetlandStays #SeftonPlace #BehindTheBusiness #UKHospitality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 28. Please Don't Kill Us & The Super Typhoon

  Please Do Not Kill Us & The Super Typhoon 🌪️🇵🇭In this episode we shine a big bright spotlight on our incredibly resourceful, tough and resilient team in the Philippines, who are literally weathering a super typhoon while keeping the business moving. It really makes you wonder how much better off the UK would be if we had even 10 percent of their work ethic and resilience… while we battle our own first world problems of driving up the road to McDonalds just to use the wifi 🤦‍♂️🍟We also share some big decisions on the future of Sefton Place and lift the lid on our new partnership with South Downs National Park Trust as we work towards becoming the most nature friendly hotel in the UK 🌿🏨Hit subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts, and give us a follow on Instagram and YouTube so you do not miss an episode 🎧📲#SecretServicedPodcast #ShortTermRental #ServicedAccommodation #HospitalityBusiness #PhilippinesTeam #SuperTyphoon #SeftonPlace #SouthDowns #NatureFriendlyHotel #StaycationUK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 27. Full On Springwatch & What Happened to the Honeymoon Period?

  🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT – #27: “Full On Springwatch & What Happened to the Honeymoon Period?” 🦊💍This week we’re talking: 🌲 Unexpected networking… in the woods?! 🏠 Accessibility conundrums and drainage drama at Eton House (plus our wild plans for Springwatch-style wildlife cams!) 😅 Mark’s unique approach to constructive criticism 🧹 Cleaner chaos — where’s the honeymoon period gone? 💰 Winter’s coming, so it’s all about revenue strategies that keep those long-term bookings rolling in.Tune in for laughs, lessons, and a little behind-the-scenes chaos from the serviced accommodation world!👉 Like, follow, and subscribe for more real talk on property, business, and all the madness in between. 📲 Follow us on Instagram & YouTube: @secretservicedpodcast#SecretServicedPodcast #ServicedAccommodation #PropertyPodcast #BehindTheStays #HospitalityLife @airhostcleanltd @airhostforyou @bbcspringwatch @luke_jellicoe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• 26. Calling 999 & Meeting Builders In A Pub Car Park

  🎙️ Episode 26 – "Calling 999 & Meeting Builders in a Pub Car Park"Season 3 of The Secret Serviced PodcastThis week’s episode is a rollercoaster of property updates, planning headaches, and a touch of chaos from the frontline of hospitality. Mark and Caroline kick things off with the latest developments at Sefton Place, including the final piece of the planning jigsaw – biodiversity net gain. With any luck, this could be the last hurdle before full steam ahead on their exciting Arundel project.Things take an unexpected turn when Mark recounts the surreal experience of meeting a potential builder in a pub car park, proving that in property, connections can happen in the most unlikely places. The pair also dive into the branding and logo design process for Sefton Place, exploring how to visually capture the identity of a luxury aparthotel in the heart of the South Downs.But not all updates are glamorous. Caroline shares a shocking story about dealing with an abusive guest at Eton House—and how it uncovered a serious case of negligence from the local council. The conversation sheds light on the realities of managing serviced accommodation, guest safety, and the importance of standing up for professional standards.To round off the episode, we have insights from Lisa's revenue management training with @bnbboosts, discussing the latest strategies for optimising occupancy and profitability across the Gateway Accommodation portfolio.Full of humour, honesty, and lessons from the trenches, this episode blends behind-the-scenes stories with valuable takeaways for anyone navigating the serviced accommodation world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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