Booked Solid Show - Short Term Rental Podcast

"Hospitality is the North Star. If it doesn't drive back to that, it's probably not gonna work."James Varley went from managing communications for the FIFA World Cup to building one of the fastest-growing educational platforms in the short-term rental space. In this episode of Booked Solid, James opens up about his unconventional path into hosting, the painful lessons he learned rebranding his company, and why consistency beats complexity when building an audience.Whether you're a new host wondering where to start or an experienced operator looking to sharpen your direct booking game, this conversation delivers practical wisdom on brand clarity, local marketing tactics, and why the simplest strategies often produce the biggest results. James also shares the QR code tactic that keeps bringing guests back to his properties and why building your email list remains the single most important thing you can do for your business.Connect with James:🌐 Website: hostplanet.club💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley📧 Email: info@hostplanet.club📚 Free Downloads: hostplanet.club/free-downloads🎤 Host Planet Roadshow: hostplanet.club/host-planet-roadshow

"I'd rather be small and personal and well known for that than just be a generalist."What happens when a marketing agency owner sees a gap in the vacation rental market that nobody else is filling? She builds an empire from scratch—175 properties across Cyprus, managed remotely from the UK for 18 years—and then successfully exits during a pandemic.Lisa Roads joins the Booked Solid Show to share her journey from hands-on property furnishing (yes, she shipped entire containers of furniture across the Mediterranean) to becoming one of the most respected voices in STR business strategy. Now, as The Holiday Property Coach and founder of Women in Short-Term Rentals, Lisa helps property managers build profitable direct booking brands that attract both the right guests AND the right property owners.In this episode, you'll discover why having a logo isn't the same as having a brand, how to curate your portfolio for maximum conversions, and the trust signals that actually get guests to book directly. Plus, Lisa reveals why dog-friendly marketing converted her from browser to booker in just hours—and how you can apply the same psychology to your ideal guest avatar.Whether you're managing 5 properties or 50, this conversation will reshape how you think about niching down, building trust, and positioning your business for long-term success.🔗 Connect with Lisa RoadsLisa welcomes connections from property managers and hosts looking to grow their businesses strategically.Website: theholidaypropertycoach.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisaroadsFacebook: The Holiday Property CoachInstagram: @theholidaypropertycoachCommunity: Women in Short-Term Rentals on Facebook and LinkedIn

"Your personal brand is what people are saying about you when you're not in the room."In this episode of the Booked Solid Show, Gil sits down with Amber Hurdle—brand strategist, keynote speaker, author, and former Gaylord Hotels executive—to explore why personal branding isn't just for influencers. It's the foundation of trust that converts lookers into bookers.Amber breaks down how short-term rental hosts and property managers can leverage psychology and neuroscience to build authentic brands that attract ideal guests, command premium rates, and create lasting loyalty. From her celebrity event planning days with Sony Music and Jessica Simpson to leading the internal rebrand when Marriott acquired the world's largest hotel property, Amber brings decades of hospitality expertise to help you stop hiding behind a logo and start building a business that books direct.Whether you manage two properties or two hundred, this conversation will shift how you think about showing up for your guests—and why it matters more than ever.Connect with Amber:🌐 Website: amberhurdle.com💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/theamberhurdle📸 Instagram: @theamberhurdle📘 Facebook: facebook.com/AmberHurdleFan

"Brand is where trust is built. Brand is the reason people say yes."In this episode of the Booked Solid Show, we welcome back our very first podcast guest—Steph Weber, CEO of The Weber Co. and co-owner of Cabins on the Cumberland, a 12-cabin micro resort in Kentucky. From building brands that emotionally connect with guests to navigating Airbnb's 2025 fee changes, Steph shares raw insights from the trenches of hospitality marketing.Whether you're managing one property or planning your first micro resort, this conversation covers the critical shifts every STR operator needs to embrace heading into 2026—including why your direct booking website matters only if a marketing strategy backs it.🔗 Connect with Steph Weber📸 Instagram (The Weber Co.): @theweberco📸 Instagram (Personal): @stephnweber💼 LinkedIn: Steph Weber🌐 Website: theweberco.com🏕️ Cabins on the Cumberland: cabinsonthecumberland.com

Hotels have spent decades perfecting the art of hospitality, systems, and guest experience. Short-term rentals? We're still figuring it out—and that's actually our most significant advantage.In this episode of the Booked Solid Show, Susan Barry joins Gil to bridge two worlds that are rapidly converging. With over a decade of experience opening hotels for Starwood, nearly 17 years running Hive Marketing, and hosting the award-winning Top Floor podcast, Susan brings a rare perspective on what STR operators can learn from hotels—and where we're actually ahead.From why hotels struggle to differentiate themselves (and what that means for you) to the single most important thing you can do to attract direct bookings, this conversation will change how you think about your rental business.Whether you manage two properties or twenty, Susan's insights on brand identity, messaging consistency, and standing for something will help you stop competing on price and start building a hospitality brand guests actively seek out.🔗 Connect with Susan BarryLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/susandbarryInstagram: @topfloorpodTop Floor Podcast: topfloorpodcast.comHive Marketing: hive-marketing.comDigital Guide: LinkedIn Content Made Easy

Make it till you make it—not fake it.That mindset carried Terri-Leigh Huleis from designing her first multimillion-dollar mountain property to building Found Home Co. into a powerhouse STR design studio, completing 64 projects annually. Her journey proves that scrappiness, customer obsession, and understanding your ideal guest can transform not just properties—but entire businesses.In this episode of the Booked Solid Show, Terri-Leigh Huleis from Found Home Co. reveals how ROI-driven, guest-targeted design transforms ordinary vacation rentals into unforgettable branded stays. From building a custom GPT for guest avatar research to creating boutique-hotel-level branding on Airbnb budgets, Terri-Leigh shares the systems she developed as she scaled from solo designer to leading a team of 15. You'll discover why knowing your ideal guest is the foundation of every design decision, how branded stays create the recognition that fuels direct bookings, and the mindset shift that turned burnout into sustainable growth.Connect with Terri-Leigh:🌐 Website: www.foundhomeco.com📸 Instagram: @foundhome_co💼 LinkedIn: Terri-Leigh Huleis

🎙️ From Wall Street to Private Chefs: How Siddhi Mittal Built the #1 Chef Marketplace and What It Means for Your STR"The universe has your back. No matter what you're doing, it'll just work out for the better."That's the philosophy that guided Siddhi Mittal through the rollercoaster of building Yhangry from scratch—and it's serving her well as she expands into the U.S. market with explosive growth numbers that make even Airbnb's recent services launch look modest.When 55% of your bookings come from a market you never intentionally targeted, you'd be crazy not to pay attention. That's exactly what happened to Siddhi Mittal, Co-Founder and CEO of Yhangry, when she discovered over half of her private chef bookings were happening at vacation rentals—not private homes.In this episode of the Booked Solid Show, Siddhi shares her unconventional journey from the Wall Street trading floor to building the UK's largest private chef marketplace. She explains why guest experiences are now the deciding factor for travelers—especially Gen Z—and reveals how property managers are earning $150- $200 per booking through a simple affiliate link. Whether you're managing 5 properties or 500, Siddhi's insights on positioning upsells at the top of your funnel (not after the booking) could completely reshape how you think about guest experience and revenue.🔗 Connect with Siddhi Mittal📧 Email: siddhi@yhangry.com💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/siddhimittal23📸 Instagram: @siddhimittal23🌐 Website: yhangry.com

Airbnb just changed everything with their new fee structure—and most hosts are sleepwalking into smaller profits.In this episode of Booked Solid, Sam Mistretta returns to share what he's learned after 18 months in the trenches helping hosts drive repeat bookings through text and email marketing. Sam built a system that grew his own direct booking revenue by 400%, and his company, Go STR Marketing, now helps hosts achieve an average 650% ROI on their guest retargeting campaigns.We break down why authentic, personal communication outperforms corporate branding, why coupon codes aren't the magic bullet you think they are, and the one rental agreement strategy that's still flying under Airbnb's radar. Whether you're a new host or managing dozens of properties, this conversation will shift how you think about guest relationships and building a direct booking business that compounds over time.🔗 Connect with Sam MistrettaWebsite: www.GoSTRmarketing.comInstagram: @samuelmistrpmSpecial offer for Booked Solid listeners: Sign up for an annual subscription and get a free 13th month with promo code CRAFTEDSTAYS at checkout.

From aerospace engineer to acquiring four boutique hotels in just 12 months—Harshad Lalan's journey proves that systems thinking and strategic boldness can transform your short-term rental business.In this episode of the Booked Solid podcast, Harshad shares how he and his wife Ishita scaled from zero properties to a thriving portfolio by combining her design brilliance with his analytical systems approach. He reveals how they jumped from less than 1% direct bookings last year to over 30% this year, his framework for using AI to streamline everything from listing creation to hotel underwriting, and why surrounding yourself with the right people accelerates growth faster than any spreadsheet analysis ever could.Whether you're just getting started or ready to scale aggressively, Harshad's honest take on overcoming "analysis paralysis" and building delegatable systems will give you a new perspective on what's possible.Connect with Harshad:Instagram: @harshad.lalanCompany: 5 Seasons HomestaysIshita Interiors: @ishita.interiors

What if the secret to better bookings wasn't flashier photos or bigger marketing budgets—but simply finding the right words?In this episode, we sit down with Genevieve White, a travel copywriter and coach based in Scotland's remote Shetland Islands. Genevieve helps vacation rental hosts and tourism businesses move beyond bland, AI-generated content to create messaging that actually connects with guests.You'll discover why copywriting isn't about grammar perfection or clever wordplay—it's about understanding who you're writing for and having the confidence to tell your story authentically. Genevieve shares her proven frameworks for identifying your ideal guest, developing your unique brand voice, and transforming everyday moments (like feeding sheep with apples) into compelling stories that inspire bookings.Whether you're struggling with a blank page or feeling like your website sounds too generic, this conversation will give you practical tools to write copy that sounds like you—not a travel brochure. If you've ever thought "I'm just not a good writer," Genevieve's approach will change your mind.🎧 Connect with Genevieve WhiteReady to transform how you write about your vacation rental? Genevieve offers both done-for-you copywriting services and coaching to help you develop the skills yourself.Join Campion Club: Genevieve's twice-weekly email list shares copywriting insights wrapped in stories from her life and work. It's her number one priority for building community with travel professionals who want to write better copy. Sign up at campioncopy.comGrab Her Book: Boldly Go is the definitive copywriting guide for travel and tourism professionals who want to move beyond generic language toward copy that genuinely connects.Follow Genevieve:LinkedInInstagram