

Booked Solid Show - Short Term Rental Podcast
Gil Chan
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.'
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 15, 2025 • 60min
EP45 - Personalization as the Key to Direct Booking Success: From 0 to 80% Direct Bookings with Jenn Boyles
In our latest episode of Direct Bookings Simplified, we sat down with Jenn Boyles, a trailblazer in the world of direct bookings and marketing strategies for short-term rentals. Jenn’s hosting journey began in 2012 with an apartment in France.
After navigating the challenges of a saturated market, she pivoted to direct bookings, focusing on branding, storytelling, and guest data. This approach led her to achieve an impressive 80% direct bookings in her second market, the UK. Today, Jenn leverages her wealth of experience as a host, marketer, and coach to run the Direct Booking Success podcast, an annual summit, and her latest venture, BookDirectPro, helping hosts streamline their marketing efforts. Jenn's insights into building a successful direct booking strategy will surely inspire.
Start Building Your Direct Booking Strategy TodayJenn’s journey is a testament to the power of storytelling, relationship-building, and leveraging the right tools to grow your direct bookings. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale, her advice is clear: take one step at a time and focus on strategies that align with your goals and resources.
If you’re ready to take control of your bookings, don’t miss the chance to try Jenn’s all-in-one marketing platform, BookDirectPro. Use code DIRECTSUCCESS for 50% off your first month, and schedule a free onboarding call to get started.
Follow Jenn Here ⤵️
jenn@directbookingsuccess.com
YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram

Jan 10, 2025 • 1h 2min
EP44 - From Pandemic Gamble to Hospitality Triumph: The Howzit Hostels Road to $10M in Assets with Michael Russell and Nathan St.Cyr
When you think of hostels, the image of a small, budget-friendly, often outdated lodging comes to mind. Nathan and Michael, the co-founders of Howzit Hostels, are flipping that narrative.
In our latest podcast episode of Direct Booking Simplified, these two entrepreneurs shared how they leveraged their backgrounds in real estate and luxury short-term rentals to redefine what a hostel can be—and how their direct booking strategy is a game-changer.
Follow Michael and Russell Here ⤵️
Instagram
Spotify
howzithostels.com

Dec 29, 2024 • 41min
EP43 - Building Guest Relationships as the Key to Achieving 50% Direct Bookings with Rodman Schley
Rodman Schley is a seasoned real estate investor and short-term rental expert with an impressive career spanning decades. Starting with fix-and-flip properties to pay for college, Rodman’s journey evolved into a passion for short-term vacation rentals. With over $20 billion in valuations as a certified appraiser, he’s mastered the art of analyzing markets and making strategic investments.
Today, his portfolio focuses on high-performing properties in Costa Rica, where he blends his love for travel with his investment expertise. Rodman’s philosophy is simple: align with your purpose, strive for excellence, and create exceptional guest experiences.
In our recent episode of Direct Booking Simplified, Rodman shared invaluable insights into his journey, strategies, and mindset for mastering direct bookings.
Here's where you can find Rodman ⤵️
Instagram & vacationpropertyexpertnetwork.com

Dec 23, 2024 • 43min
EP42 - Creating the Perfect STR and MTR Hybrid with Design Insights with Breanna Williams
In our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Breanna Williams, founder and principal designer of Mumford Designs. Breanna specializes in short-term rentals (STR) and mid-term rentals (MTR), blending interior design, market research, and marketing strategy to create unforgettable guest experiences.
With over 15 years of design expertise and a particular passion for hybrid rental properties, Breanna shared invaluable insights into leveraging thoughtful design to boost direct bookings.
Follow Breanna Here ⤵️
YouTube: The Luxury Rental Blueprint Podcast
Instagram: @mumford_designs

Dec 18, 2024 • 1h 5min
EP41 - The Power of Community and Strategy in boosting Direct Bookings with Stacey St.John
In our latest episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we had the privilege of hosting Stacy St. John, a powerhouse in the short-term rental (STR) industry. She is a Cincinnati-based STR investor and host with properties located 10 hours away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is the founder of the STR Sisterhood, a vibrant community exclusively for women in the industry, with over 62,000 members. Stacy also hosts the STR Sisterhood Podcast and runs coaching programs designed to empower women in STRs.
From building thriving communities to mastering direct bookings, Stacy shared invaluable insights that both seasoned hosts and newcomers can learn from. Here are some highlights from our conversation that will inspire you to take actionable steps toward increasing your direct bookings.
Follow Stacey Here ⤵️
Instagram
STR Sisterhood Podcast - Spotify
Website

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 ⤵️
Facebook Group - Healthcare Professionals Investing in Real Estate
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

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:
Instagram
Twitter
Linkedin
Facebook

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 ⬇️
Facebook Profile
Real Estate Campus - Website

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
Instagram
Facebook Page
Webb Marketing Page
LinkedIn
Email

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! 🎙️💜
Follow Jeff on his
Instagram
Spotify
STRHomeFinancing.com


