Today’s expert guest, Mark Simpson, helps hosts get the tools, tactics, training – and most importantly – the confidence to boost their direct bookings. After working in hospitality for many years, he founded Boostly in 2016 in the UK and his mission there is to empower people to own their own bookings.Mark’s the poster child for direct booking, so in today's episode, we talk all about diversifying your process and leaning into the direct model – covering who direct booking most benefits, how to power through painful growth, and his new documentary!For the past year, Mark followed and coached two STR hosts, one in the US and one in the UK. They both navigate unique scenarios, painting an informative picture of what it takes to effectively scale in this industry. Don’t miss its premiere on December 26th on YouTube.(00:01:02) Update on Mark Simpson’s Mission(00:07:57) Effective Ways to Communicate With Guests(00:21:28) Sharing the Hosting Experience on YouTube(00:29:09) Navigating the Ups & Downs of Direct Booking(00:33:30) Airbnb’s Winter Update vs. Direct BookingsResources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com#STRShareSunday: @domehausholidaysPodcast: The Boostly PodcastThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Breezeway | Go to breezeway.io/tfv to claim your free implementation when you start a Breezeway account.Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $200 off your subscription.Relay | Go to https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=ThanksForVisiting for your FREE business banking account.

Welcome back to Success Unlocked, where our hosting business master membership coaches discuss operations, social media, unique builds, co-hosting strategies, and so much more. This week’s episode is Co-Hosting Confidential, hosted by Amy Corbett.Amy is joined by Jamie Stark Inlow, owner and operator of Be Still Getaways, a boutique management and design company located in the Shenandoah Valley in the Central Virginia area. Beginning her career in higher education, Jaimie has translated her hospitality-focused approach to work and relationships into a quickly expanding business, managing a dedicated team of 60+. With concrete plans to double her doors in 2024, Jamie is a great resource for operations design and team building – sharing valuable takeaway advice for hiring from within and onboarding partners (and properties) that fit your long term vision. (00:02:20) Meeting Jaimie: Getting Her Start in Hosting(00:12:23) Tips for Vetting Potential Partnerships & Properties(00:21:59) Building & Managing a Team of 60+(00:39:04) Getting Started with Vacation Rental Co-Hosting(00:47:23) What’s Next for Be Still Getaways?Resources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comWebsite: bestillgetaways.comInstagram: @bestillgetawaysWebsite: allbelong.coInstagram: @allbelong.coTik Tok: @allbelongcoFacebook: allbelong.coThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between.Nick asks:I really get into the holiday season and I wonder… Do you think there's any value in decorating for the holidays for guests? Are there any pieces that I'm missing as far as our cleaners or anything like that in terms of cost vs. reward?(00:01:52) Cost vs. Reward on Holiday Decorations?(00:02:30) Communicate With Cleaning Team About New Decor (00:03:05) Look for Tasteful, Non-Denominational Pieces (00:05:36) Positive Experiences & Good Examples (00:06:44) Making Decor Choices Repeatable & Replaceable Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.

Today’s expert guest is Jessie Lang, a buy-and-hold investor with over 70 (!) rentals in Columbus Ohio – most of which she’s acquired since 2021. She has used the BRRRR method to acquire her portfolio with little to none of her own money left in the deals. Now, she’s committed to teaching others how to do the same – and we get a great outline of it today.Jessie walks us through the BRRRR Method, sharing the real-life math on an active project she’s working on right now to illustrate exactly how it works and why it’s been so successful for her. Of course, we also compare and contrast how this method applies to STRs, where it works and where you might need to tweak your approach.We also go over her process for qualifying residents, because if you are even considering mid-term rentals (let alone long-term), you need to understand that you are no longer hosting guests. You are hosting residents, and specific laws kick into place that you might not be used to.(00:01:44) #STRShareSunday: @lakearrowheadmanor (00:05:37) Jessie Lang’s Path to 70 Rentals(00:10:42) BRRRR Method 101(00:16:34) Success Tips & Common Beginner Mistakes(00:27:18) BRRRR-bnb: Does it Work for STRs?(00:29:34) Effective Resident Communication Practices (00:35:34) How to Qualify Potential Renters(00:48:27) Jessie’s Long Term Plan for the FutureResources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comUnlocked Guide: Unlocked Guide#STRShareSunday: @lakearrowheadmanor Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Breezeway | Go to breezeway.io/tfv to claim your free implementation when you start a Breezeway account.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Relay | Go to https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=ThanksForVisiting for your FREE business banking account.Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $200 off your subscription.Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.

Welcome back to Success Unlocked, where our hosting business master membership coaches discuss operations, social media, unique builds, co-hosting strategies, and much more. This week’s episode is Systems Shakedown, hosted by Wendy Doris.Wendy welcomes our very own Sarah Karakaian to go deep on what makes effective copy and photography in vacation rental listings. They share the latest wisdom on hero images, aspect ratios, collages, and so much more – before delving into the power of the pen, and how to write bookings-boosting description copy.Wrapping up, they share their most important lessons learned from testing and tweaking their listings while singing the praises of constant experimentation, data-fueled insights, and keeping a sharp eye on the competition. (00:03:14) Quick Tips for Optimizing Photography(00:18:29) Writing Effective Copy to Describe Your Listing(00:25:26) Seeking Outside Opinions & Checking for Updates(00:31:07) Tips for Testing & ExperimentationResources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comWebsite: mostess.hostInstagram: @mostess.hostThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between.Sarah asks:I'm wondering about the extras that you do for guests, the stuff that really wows them. Is there a rule for how much money you spend on this? How do you decide when to do something special? How do you organize it? All of the things.(00:01:38) How Do You Make Decisions About Wow-Factors?(00:02:24) Collect Data & Know Your Numbers(00:04:44) Reusable Amenity Ideas for That Special Moment(00:05:22) Keep It All Organized With Asana(00:06:41) Don’t Forget: A Forgot-Something BasketThanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Welcome Basket Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Don’t forget Fido for today’s special pet-themed episode of Thanks For Visiting as we unpack the immense power of the pet-friendly designation on Airbnb, recommended processes and platforms to smooth out your animal operations, and preview our brand new Pet-Friendly Essentials Checklist: breezeway.io/pet-checklist.That’s right, we’ve created the most comprehensive pet checklist that we could so that you can download it and use it to set up your rental to be pet friendly. In this episode, we spotlight Breezeway as our partner in data collection on this project – sharing a few eye-opening figures on how welcoming pets into your properties can impact your bottom line.We also touch on recommended cleaning supplies, offer up some ideas on homey pet-themed amenities, and do a deep dive on what your tech stack might look like when it’s all said and done. Make 2024 the year you check that box, invite furry family members into your homes, and watch as your booking and profitability metrics get a case of the zoomies. (01:29) #STRShareSunday: @cedarglengetaway(04:45) Breezeway Shares the Data on Pet-Friendly Rentals (08:19) Preview to Pet-Friendly Essentials Checklist(17:55) Recommended Cleaning Supplies & Communicating Pet RulesResources:Pet-Friendly Essentials Checklist: breezeway.io/pet-checklistVisit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com#STRShareSunday: @cedarglengetawayThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Relay | Go to https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=ThanksForVisiting for your FREE business banking account.Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $200 off your subscription.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Breezeway | Go to breezeway.io/tfv to claim your free implementation when you start a Breezeway account.Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.

Welcome back to Success Unlocked, where our hosting business master membership coaches discuss operations, social media, unique builds, co-hosting strategies, and so much more. This week’s episode is Vacation Ventures, hosted by Michael Hicks.Micheal chats with his friend and business partner, Charlie Eich, a restaurant owner and hospitality guru out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. They met four years ago as Mike sat down to eat in one of six restaurants he’s owned over the years. In this episode, they chat about crossover qualities in what it takes to be successful in both the food service industry and the vacation rental industry – telling the legendary tale of Cheeburger Cheeburger, exchanging tips for top-shelf customer service and experience building, and looking ahead at their shared future in the pizza business. (00:02:29) Charlie Eich’s Background in Hospitality(00:05:41) Goodbye, Cheeburger Cheeburger – Hello, River Drifters(00:13:10) Becoming Unreasonably Hospitable (00:25:22) Importance of People Skills & Managing Personalities (00:40:39) Going the Extra Mile for GuestsResources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comInstagram: @river.driftersRiver Drifters: riverdrifterschatt.comRead: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraInstagram: @findyourrepurposeTikTok: @findyourrepurposeInstagram: @wanderchattWebsite: wanderchatt.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between.Megan asks:My question relates to goals for next year. I'm working with my business partner to begin setting goals for our rental property, but we've never really done that before. What advice do you have on where to start or what should we be looking at to begin?(00:01:22) How Should I Formulate 2024 Goals for My SRT?(00:01:56) Making Your Goals Meeting a Top Priority (00:02:35) Focus on P&L: Where Are You Winning?(00:04:20) Balancing Big Dreams With Realism (00:06:09) How To Track Success Over TimeThanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.

Today, we unpack Airbnb’s 2023 winter platform update, featuring: Guest Favorites, revamped reviews, a New Listings tab, enhanced pricing and payouts, expanded co-hosting support, smart lock integration, and much more.Plus, we touch on what it all means for the future for hosts, co-hosts, guests, and the short-term rental industry as a whole. What do you think of the updates? We’d love to hear from you by email at hi@thanksforvisiting.me.(01:29) #STRShareSunday: @thepineconehouse(03:37) What’s New to Airbnb in Winter 2023?(09:32) Improvements & Additions for Hosts (14:15) Consolidation of Communication: One-Stop Shop?(20:00) Changes to the Airbnb Earnings Dashboard Resources:Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com#STRShareSunday: @thepineconehouseThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $200 off your subscription.Relay | Go to https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=ThanksForVisiting for your FREE business banking account.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Hosting Business Mastery Method | Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!HBMM | Sign up today at hostmasterclass.com.Breezeway | Go to breezeway.io/tfv to claim your free implementation when you start a Breezeway account.