
Booked Solid Show - Short Term Rental Podcast
Join host Gil Chan on 'Booked Solid,' the podcast dedicated to helping short-term rental operators and property managers maximize bookings and scale their businesses. Each week, gain actionable insights from industry experts, uncover proven strategies, and learn the secrets to achieving more nights booked. Elevate your rental business and stay ahead in the competitive market with 'Booked Solid.'
Latest episodes

Dec 11, 2024 • 54min
EP40 - Overcoming Bankruptcy to Build STR Success: Lessons in Resilience and Direct Bookings with Alex Sabio
In this episode of Direct Bookings Simplified, Alex opens up about his journey from facing early challenges in real estate to building a thriving STR business, complete with seven properties, a coaching program, and innovative direct booking strategies. Discover how he uses guest videos, monthly inspections, and smart email marketing to create standout guest experiences and win loyal repeat bookings—all while balancing life as a father of four.
This is an episode packed with refreshing short-term rental perspectives, and heartfelt lessons you'd be interested to learn from.
Follow Alex Here ⤵️
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Dec 4, 2024 • 47min
EP39 - Direct Booking Made Easy by Simplifying the Guest Experience with Abby Grous from Hospitable
In a special episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we sit down with Abby from Hospitable to explore how simplifying the guest experience can transform your short-term rental business. From guest vetting and payment innovations to building a niche that resonates with your ideal audience, Abby dives into innovative strategies and highlights powerful examples of how simplicity can drive success in the world of direct bookings.
This episode will surely inspire you to take your hosting strategy to the next level! 💯💜
⚠️ Special Offer from Abby: Listeners of the Direct Bookings Simplified podcast get 25% off the first 3 months https://hospitable.com/craftedstays/
Follow Abby and Hospitable here:
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Nov 27, 2024 • 50min
EP38 - From Academia to 30 Properties: Tosin Obata’s Journey to 75% Direct Bookings
In the latest episode of Direct Bookings Simplified, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Tosin Obata, a former university professor turned successful short-term rental entrepreneur. Tosin shared his remarkable journey from academia to managing a thriving property portfolio of 30 units—and all the invaluable lessons he’s learned along the way.
From turning a one-bedroom apartment into a launching pad for his business to building lasting relationships with corporate clients, Tosin’s story reveals the unconventional strategies and fearless mindset shifts that helped him carve a unique path in the short-term rental industry. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance risk, ambition, and practicality, this episode is for you.
Follow Tosin here ⬇️
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Nov 19, 2024 • 54min
EP37 - SEO Strategies Every Host Needs to Know: Niching Down your SEO Strategy with Craig Webb
The latest episode of Direct Bookings Simplified dives into a critical yet often misunderstood topic: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), or better yet defined as "Serving Excellent Opportunities" according to our special guest. SEO can unlock new opportunities by driving direct bookings and reducing reliance on OTAs, making it invaluable for short-term rental hosts.
This week's special guest of Direct Booking Simplified, Craig Webb, an SEO expert with a hospitality background, shared practical advice to make SEO accessible for everyone. Why SEO Matters for Short-Term Rentals? What is SEO? Why Invest in SEO? Let’s break it down
Follow Craig here
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Nov 13, 2024 • 45min
EP36 - Financing, Marketing, and Growth: Insights from Mortgage Expert Jeff Chisum
Are you a short-term rental host looking to grow your business and build stronger guest relationships? In this episode, Jeff Chisum, mortgage expert and successful STR operator, shares his invaluable insights on everything from securing financing for your vacation properties to creating a memorable guest experience that keeps people coming back year after year. Jeff's real-world strategies on targeted marketing, leveraging your guest database, and maintaining consistency will help you tackle common challenges and unlock new growth opportunities in your rental business.
This episode surely goes well with a cup of coffee ️☕️
Another episode of Direct Booking Simplified, just for you! 🎙️💜
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Nov 6, 2024 • 49min
EP35 - The Power of Design and Storytelling: Transforming Your Property into a Destination with Isaac French
In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Isaac French, founder of the iconic Live Oak Lake, to discuss how he built a unique hospitality experience that caught the attention of guests and influencers alike. From design tips to marketing strategies, Isaac shares actionable advice for anyone looking to turn their property into a must-book destination.
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For the transcript and Key Takeaways of this episode:
"The Power of Design and Storytelling: Transforming Your Property into a Destination with Isaac French"

Oct 30, 2024 • 52min
EP34 - Niche Marketing Strategies for Short-Term Rental Hosts with Nihal Salah
In this episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we discuss Niche Marketing Strategies for Short-Term Rental Hosts with marketing expert Nihal Salah. Together, we brainstorm how to elevate your property by targeting specific guest segments, from dog lovers, digital nomads, unique guest needs, and personalized experiences.
Connect with Nihal here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nihalsalah/

Oct 23, 2024 • 46min
EP33 - Short-Term Rental Roadmap to Driving More Bookings through SEO and Digital Marketing with Scott Quesnell
Marketing expert Scott Quesnell shares his data-driven frameworks for supercharging your online presence and booking conversions. Let's discover Scott's strategies on how to leverage powerful tools like Google Analytics and SEM Rush to uncover insights about your customers, systematically test and optimize your marketing tactics, and build a flywheel of sustainable growth.
Whether it's fine-tuning your website content, refining your Facebook ad creatives, or mastering local SEO, Scott's actionable strategies will give you a serious competitive edge. If you're ready to start outsmarting the competition and taking your direct booking game to new heights, you won't want to miss this conversation.
Follow Scott here: @scottstrlift & strliftnewsletter.com

Oct 16, 2024 • 46min
EP32 - Family, Community, and Profits: The Triple Win of Purposeful Vacation Rentals with Debbie Todd
"Making A Difference, One Stay at a Time!"
In this episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we sit down with Debbie Todd, a Hospitable Host and a STR Impact Expert who's redefining success in the industry. Discover how Debbie transformed her family getaway into a thriving business that gives back to the community. From involving her kids in operations to donating 5% of each booking to charity, Debbie shares her unique approach to creating a purpose-driven vacation home rental.
Learn about her transition to self-management, marketing strategies, and the tools she uses for success. Debbie also reveals how her giving-back model has become a powerful branding tool that sets her properties apart from others.
Learn more from Debbie here: Hospitable Hosts Impact Community
Instagram: debbie.monti.kay & hospitablehosts
Email: stay@thewoodlandsathockinghills.com

Oct 9, 2024 • 55min
EP31 - Building a Thriving Business from Scratch: The Power of Education & Risk in STR with Victor Solano
From having no real estate background, to scaling up and managing 22 properties in just two years. In this episode, we dive into the incredible and inspiring journey of Victor Solano, a short-term rental expert who built a thriving business from scratch.
Victor shares how he took calculated risks, invested in the right education, and learned to build powerful, trust-based partnerships with property owners. From overcoming financial pressures to leveraging upgrades that boosted revenues by thousands of dollars, he reveals the strategies that took his business to the next level.
Tune in as Victor shares the strategies and insights that helped him crack the code to success in the short-term rental industry. Learn about the key lessons and actionable steps that could help take your own business to the next level.
Follow Victor on Instagram: @thevictorsolano