Hospitable Hosts

At this Hospitable Town Hall, the company announced a new navigation design aimed at improving user experience, with an opt-in feature for early access. Updates were shared on the Vrbo integration, including payment processing changes and tax remittance details. Trip insurance was highlighted as a new revenue opportunity for hosts. Dynamic pricing updates were announced, with a deadline for existing users to review their pricing settings.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we speak with Marissa Schulze, founder of Haymaker Marketing, about the importance of social media for short-term rental businesses. We discuss strategies for building an independent social media presence, the significance of storytelling in content creation, and the role of keywords in enhancing visibility. Marissa shares insights on influencer marketing and provides practical tips for hosts to improve their branding and engagement on social media. For more information, go to: https://www.haymakersocial.com/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:03 - The importance of social media presence 2:17 - Getting started with social for short-term rentals 5:22 - Creating engaging content 9:00 - The role of keywords 12:00 - Encouraging bookings through social media 14:40 - Follow requests 15:55 - Are influencers worth it? 21:15 - Quick-fire round

This Hospitable Town Hall focused on the new Vrbo integration pilot program. The team demonstrated the improved connection flow and listing management capabilities. They explained the merchant of record concept and associated fees, and shared updates about owner payouts and a new marketplace referral program. Hospitable also discussed upcoming operational features, including task management and cleaner portal integration.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, our guest is Bailey Kramer. Bailey shares his journey from short-term to midterm rentals, discussing the benefits, challenges, and strategies for rental hosts. He highlights the operational differences, the misconceptions about profitability, and the importance of long-term thinking in the rental business. Check out Bailey's podcast and connect with him on Instagram. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:28 - Bailey's portfolio 2:10 - Transitioning to midterm rentals 3:35 - Misconceptions about midterm rentals 6:17 - Using Hospitable for midterm rentals 7:40 - Operating midterms vs short-terms 10:47 - The Midterm Rental Show 12:10 - Community for midterm rental operators 13:40 - Keys to success in rental operations 16:35 - Quickfire questions

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, our guest is Craig Saunders, founder of BookingTrust. We talk about trust accounting for short-term rentals. Craig discusses the importance of compliance, the services offered by BookingTrust, and the common pitfalls property managers face in accounting. Craig emphasizes the need for proper accounting infrastructure from the start and how it helps make informed business decisions. He also explores future trends in the industry, including the impact of AI and increased regulations. For more information, check out: https://www.bookingtrust.com.au/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:56 - Creating Booking Trust 7:33 - Countries of operation 9:53 - Understanding trust accounting 12:50 - Setting up accounting infrastructure 16:20 - Common accounting mistakes in property management 19:30 - The value of proper accounting 23:41 - Future trends in short-term rental accounting

This Hospitable Town Hall focused on the launch of new dynamic pricing features and improvements, including seasonality controls, historical anchoring, and auto-tuning for users transitioning from third-party tools. The team highlighted the enhanced model's ability to optimize revenue by better understanding demand and reducing manual adjustments. Additionally, the team discussed updates to the AI-powered auto-reply system, offering more transparency and customization options, and introduced a new owner invoicing feature set to launch in February.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we speak with Marisa Grover, a seasoned property manager and community leader in the short-term rental space. Marisa shares her journey of managing around 50 properties through her company, Simply Stay, and discusses the importance of building systems and workflows for hosts. She emphasizes the need for documentation and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline operations and reduce burnout, especially as hosts scale their businesses. Marisa also highlights the significance of community support for hosts, encouraging them to connect with others in the industry to share insights and resources. For more information, go to: https://withmarisa.co/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:37 - Community for hosts 3:07 - Common operational pain points 5:20 - The importance of systems 9:50 - When to implement software solutions 12:00 - Picking the right tools 17:15 - Scaling to multiple properties 19:15 - Quick-fire questions

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we talk with John Bradford, Co-Founder and CEO of Pet Screening. We discuss the importance of managing pets and assistance animals in rental properties. John shares insights on the challenges faced by landlords, the misconceptions surrounding pet policies, and the legal implications of service animals. John emphasizes the revenue opportunities for property managers who embrace pet-friendly policies and provides best practices for navigating the complexities of pet-friendly short-term rentals. For more information, check out petscreening.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 4:40 - How PetScreening helps 7:45 - Hosts' misconception about allowing pets 10:17 - Revenue opportunities for pet-friendly rentals 13:00 - Service animals at short-term rentals 14:46 - Legal considerations 18:25 - Best practices for pet-friendly rentals 20:20 - Quick facts about pet-friendly rentals

The first Hospitable Town Hall of 2026 featured updates on the product roadmap and company initiatives. The team highlighted the focus for 2026, which includes polishing existing features, enhancing performance, and launching a property manager marketplace. They discussed improvements in listings management, operations, and the inbox, as well as new revenue opportunities through upsells and trip insurance. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:00 - New Team Members 8:13 - 2026 Roadmap The team emphasized the focus on growing the seeds planted in 2025, such as listing management, AI integration, and the Mogul platform. The roadmap for 2026 will prioritize improving existing features and expanding their utility to more users, shifting away from the intense feature releases of 2025. 13:09 - Listing Management Platform Updates The team presented updates on listings management, highlighting current features and upcoming improvements. They announced the beta launch of cancellation policies, property creation, and spaces management, with a new VRBO integration pilot starting in two weeks. 17:00 - Operations Product Enhancements Hospitable discussed the improvements made to the operations product in 2025, including AI-generated checklists, issue alerts, and a marketplace for cleaners. They outlined plans for 2026, including refining task assignment, releasing a cleaner app, and redesigning the inbox with new features such as WhatsApp and SMS integration. 23:23 - Listings Optimization and Direct Booking The team discussed listings management and optimization for 2026, focusing on improving rankings, conversions, and quality through insights and amenities features. They highlighted effortless distribution across multiple channels, including TripIt.com, Marriott Homes and Villas, and Rentals United, aiming for simplified setup and increased visibility. Hospitable also emphasized the importance of direct bookings, introducing a next-generation direct website builder with advanced customization and AI-assisted setup to enhance brand presence and booking conversions. 26:55 - Upsells and Add-Ons The team discussed the evolution of the guest portal, highlighting its transformation from a basic tool to a significant revenue driver. They introduced a new feature, trip insurance, which will be available to all USD hosts by the end of the day. The team also announced plans to develop damage waivers and a property opportunity dashboard to help hosts optimize their business and revenue opportunities. 33:44 - Property Manager Marketplace Launch The team discussed the success of upsell features and introduced a new marketplace for property managers. They explained that the marketplace would connect property managers with potential clients and help owners find trusted managers. 42:25 - $HOST Token Updates 45:09 - Upcoming Events 46:25 - Q&A

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, Miles speaks with Nicole Bansal. Nicole shares her journey as a marketer and short-term rental host. She discusses her experience in the tech industry, her approach to marketing her properties, and the importance of understanding customer profiles. Nicole also highlights effective marketing tactics for hosts, the transition from a side project to a main focus in real estate, and the significance of guest communication. As she looks to the future, she expresses excitement about scaling her business and the growth potential in the short-term rental market.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we speak with Mike Anderson, co-founder of Breezy Beach Stays, who shares insights into the world of short-term rental management and financing. He discusses the importance of understanding the hospitality aspect of property management, the role of automation in scaling operations, and strategies for maximizing revenue during off-peak seasons. Mike emphasizes the importance of the guest experience and shares common mistakes new property managers make. He also reflects on his journey from managing a few properties to scaling up to over fifty, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way.

On this Town Hall, the Hospitable team reviewed 2025's performance, highlighting significant growth and achievements. Hospitable users hosted 26.84 million guests across 193 countries, generating $5.2 billion in revenue, and integrating AI to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences. Key updates included the expansion of direct booking capabilities, improved guest portal features, and advancements in smart device integrations. The team also shared progress on tax remittance for direct premium bookings and emphasized the importance of direct bookings for hosts. The conversation ended with a look ahead to 2026, emphasizing continued innovation and support for hosts.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, our guest is Annie Holcombe, a seasoned expert in the vacation rental industry. Annie shares her journey from working at a hotel front desk to becoming a prominent figure in vacation rental management. The conversation covers essential topics, including choosing the right channels for property listings, the importance of direct bookings, building trust with guests, pricing strategies, and transitioning from self-management to property management. Annie emphasizes the need for clear communication, strategic planning, and staying up to date on industry trends, particularly the impact of AI on the hospitality sector. For more information, go to: https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/ Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we speak with Bri and Jordan, co-founders of Somerled Designs, a leading design firm specializing in short-term rentals. They discuss their journey of creating a successful design business focused on maximizing guest satisfaction and profitability through strategic design. The conversation covers common mistakes hosts make, the importance of balancing aesthetics with durability, effective photography strategies, and how to adapt designs for seasonal trends. Bri and Jordan also share insights on managing multiple properties, the challenges of business growth, and the significance of complementary skill sets in their partnership. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we speak with Siddhi Mittal, co-founder of Yhangry, about the growing trend of private chef experiences in vacation rentals. Siddhi shares her journey from finance to hospitality, the evolution of Yhangry, and how they are bridging the gap between private chefs and guests. The conversation explores the impact of experiential amenities on guest satisfaction, the ease of integrating private chef services into rental properties, and the future growth of the industry, including the influence of AI on travel experiences. For more information, click here. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

This Hospitable Town Hall focused on the launch of new metrics and dashboard features, including reporting capabilities and data visualization tools for tracking performance and business optimization. It also covered updates on various product developments and upcoming features. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts podcast, we interview Paul Stewart, founder of Cozy Co-Host, who shares insights on scaling a short-term rental management business from zero to nearly 100 properties in just a few years. Paul discusses the competitive landscape of the Jersey Shore market, operational strategies that have contributed to their rapid growth, the importance of dynamic pricing, and how effective guest communication enhances the overall experience. He also addresses the challenges of managing property-related expenses and offers advice for aspiring co-hosts. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

On this Hospitable Town Hall, the team discussed upcoming product tests and major upgrades for property management customers. They reviewed various product updates, including improvements to owner and guest management features, highlighted the development of new owner payout capabilities, and discussed enhancements to the guest portal. The session concluded with community updates, including information about token investments and upcoming events, followed by discussions about future product developments. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

In this episode of the Hospitable Hosts Podcast, our guest is Scott Sherin, founder of Trusted Stays and a short-term rental owner. Scott shares his journey into short-term rentals, emphasizing the importance of automation and technology in streamlining hosting. He discusses how AI and tools like Zapier can save time and improve guest experiences. Scott also provides insights into becoming a superhost, managing properties remotely, and the balance between automation and personal touch in hospitality. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.

In this episode of the Hospitable Host Podcast, we interview Chad Phyllis, the founder of Checkmate Rentals, a short-term rental property management company. Chad shares his journey from managing two properties to overseeing 220, emphasizing the importance of a hospitality-first mindset, effective communication, and the role of design and amenities in enhancing guest experiences. He discusses strategies for optimizing property listings, the significance of direct bookings, and the challenges of managing a large portfolio while maintaining quality service. Chad also highlights the importance of security measures and risk management in the property rental business, and shares his vision for the future of Checkmate Rentals. Sleep easy, host confidently with Hospitable. Automate your guest messages, sync your calendar across booking channels, and protect yourself from bad direct booking guests. Sign up today at hospitable.com/podcast and get 25% off your bill for 3 months.