What if you could ditch expensive booking platforms and turn your brand into a magnetic force that drives real revenue—directly? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Tori Bolt to unpack how she and her husband transformed Airbnb listings into a luxury treehouse empire—without relying on OTAs.

Tori shares the pivotal moment that changed everything—and how one bold decision led them to walk away from traditional booking platforms and build a direct-booking model that fuels every reservation they now receive. With zero hospitality background, they leaned into passion, persistence, and purpose to build something unforgettable.

We dive deep into the intentional design behind guest experiences that spark connection, the mindset shifts that turned them from beginners into industry leaders, and the radical clarity it took to say no to the wrong customers so they could say yes to the right ones. Tori opens up about the real challenges, the strategic moves that kept 100% of booking fees in-house, and how they built an Instagram following of over 600,000 by focusing on content that converts, not just entertains.

This isn’t just another marketing episode—it’s a blueprint for breaking free from conventional business models and building a brand that’s driven by purpose, not just profits. If you're ready to reclaim your bookings, grow with intention, and turn your business into something guests can’t stop talking about—this episode is your launchpad!

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:16] A short introduction about our guest Tori Bolt and her journey of founding and scaling Bolt Farm Treehouse, a mountaintop luxury glamping retreat in Tennessee

[03:32] What was the original spark that ignited Tori’s journey to begin Bolt Farm Treehouse

[07:27] Tori talks about the intentionally crafted environment at Bolt Farm Treehouse and how it fosters presence, connection, and the flow state

[10:15] How the decision to embrace an adults-only policy at Bolt Farm Treehouse clarified their brand and strengthened guest satisfaction

[18:36] Tori’s approach to mastering delegation in order to scale the business, reclaim time, and focus on high-impact leadership tasks

[22:44] Tori explains Bolt Farm’s bold shift to 100% direct bookings and the importance of owning your platform

[30:04] Tori reveals what is Bolt Farm’s channels for customer acquisition for brand awareness and direct bookings

[30:54] Tori’s three-part formula for growing a 600K+ Instagram following and driving meaningful business result

[35:14] The mindset shift from going it alone to investing in mentorship—and how it radically transformed their business

[40:51] Tori shares how she and her husband now host hands-on workshops at Bolt Farm, offering a full-access experience to a small group of entrepreneurs in the short-term rental space

[44:07] The lightning round

Golden Nuggets:

This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings!

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Let’s Connect!

Website: boltfarmtreehouse.com

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