Get Paid For Your Pad | Airbnb Hosting | Vacation Rentals | STR Revenue Management

👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

What happens when your cancellation policy is working against your revenue instead of protecting it?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers breaks down the real impact of cancellation policies across VRBO and Booking.com and explains why hosts are leaving significant revenue on the table by using the wrong rules for the wrong seasons. This episode is the continuation of last week’s conversation about Airbnb policies and goes deeper into how each platform structures cancellations, how booking windows shape risk, and how small policy adjustments can dramatically improve your ADR and occupancy.

Jasper unpacks why relying on a single, static policy for the entire year can be harmful, how different markets demand different rules, and why Booking.com’s flexible setup offers strategic advantages that most hosts don’t take advantage of.

You’ll discover:

• Why one cancellation policy for the entire year rarely makes sense

• How booking windows should determine whether you go strict or flexible

• The major differences between strict, firm, moderate, and relaxed VRBO policies

• How Booking.com lets you build multiple policies and price them separately

• Why offering both flexible and non-refundable rates boosts conversions

• How choice overload can confuse guests and reduce bookings

• A strategy to use flexible policies to gain early traction on new channels

• When and why to align your policies across platforms

• Why diversifying policies can help new listings grow faster

• How cancellations affect your ability to rebook at similar ADRs

Jasper also explores how Airbnb will introduce dynamic cancellation policies in 2026, why blocking your summer calendar can protect you from expensive last-minute cancellations, and why Booking.com is gaining momentum in the US short-term rental market.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Cancellation strategies for revenue optimization

• Booking windows and seasonal policy adjustments

• VRBO cancellation tiers explained

• Flexible vs non-refundable rate setup on Booking.com

• Guest behavior and choice stress

• Protecting ADR with the right refund windows

• Channel diversification for STR operators

• Onboarding strategies for new listings

• Airbnb’s upcoming dynamic policies for 2026

🔗 Relevant Links:

Learn more about Freewyld Foundry → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com

Follow Jasper Ribbers → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperribbers

Follow Freewyld Foundry → https://www.linkedin.com/company/freewyldfoundry

Keywords:

Short-term rentals, vacation rentals, cancellation policies, revenue management, booking windows, Booking.com strategies, VRBO cancellations, Airbnb update, STR host tips, non-refundable rates, flexible policies, ADR growth, occupancy strategy, channel diversification, dynamic pricing, STR profitability, Freewyld, Freewyld Foundry, Jasper Ribbers, hospitality strategy, maximizing revenue

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

What does a high-performing direct-booking setup look like when you’re tired of relying on OTAs and a weak booking engine?

In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) interviews Eli Pritykin, founder of Hudson Creative Studio and creator of HomeRunner, to dive into why most short-term rental operators are stuck building on “rented land” and how to reclaim control with a website that converts.

They discuss the shift from listing-manager mindset to e-commerce mindset, reveal the three key elements of a website that drives direct bookings, and explore how structured data and AI search are changing discovery for properties.

You’ll discover:

• Why many booking engines fall short and trap you on someone else’s platform

• How trust and user experience matter in the first 2–4 seconds of your site visit

• What it means to build your brand as a “curated box of chocolates” so guests choose you instinctively

• How friction in your booking flow silently destroys revenue

• Why WordPress and HomeRunner offer real ownership, flexibility and scalability for direct bookings

• How schema, structured data and emerging AI engines (AEO/GEO) will impact hosting in the near future

💡 Topics Covered:

• Direct booking strategy for short-term rentals

• Trust psychology in user experience and conversion

• Brand building vs commodity operations in STR

• Booking flow optimization and UX design

• Data strategy, schema markup and AI search in hospitality

• WordPress websites vs PMS-built solutions

🔗 Relevant Links:

Learn more about Hudson Creative Studio → https://www.hudsoncreativestudio.com

Explore HomeRunner → https://www.homerunner.io

Follow Kaye Putnam → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayeputnam/

Keywords:

direct bookings, short-term rentals, STR website, branding, user experience, trust signals, conversion optimization, booking engine, WordPress, HomeRunner, structured data, schema, AI search, AEO, GEO

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🔥 Get Your Free Revenue Management Report: https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

In this Rev Up Monday episode, Jasper dives deep into one of the most overlooked aspects of revenue management: cancellation policies. Learn why your strict cancellation policy might be costing you thousands in lost bookings and discover the optimal policy for your specific market and property type.

The Hidden Cost of Strict Policies

• Why strict cancellation policies discourage early bookings
• How policies impact your booking window and revenue
• The psychology behind guest booking decisions (44% of guests prioritize free cancellation)

Breaking Down Every Airbnb Policy

• Super Strict 30/60 (avoid)
• Firm: 30-day cancellation window
• Limited: 14-day cancellation window (NEW)
• Moderate: 5-day cancellation window
• Flexible: 24-hour cancellation window

Market-Specific Strategies

• Short booking window markets (like Miami): Go flexible
• Seasonal markets (ski/beach): Consider firm for peak season
• Stable mid-tier cities: Moderate or limited works best
• Large homes vs. small units: Different policies for different property sizes

Advanced Tactics

• Using flexible policies to recover from bad reviews
• Temporary policy changes to boost momentum
• The "last man standing" strategy for 100% occupancy markets
• Balancing protection vs. booking velocity

1. Check your current cancellation policy immediately
2. Review your market's booking window patterns
3. Consider loosening your policy if bookings are slow
4. Test different policies for different property sizes

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🔥 Get Your Free Revenue Management Report: https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

In this episode, Kaye and Eric celebrate Freewyld Foundry's first profitable quarter and reveal their unique approach to sharing success with their team. They discuss the three options for handling company profits and explain why they chose a profit-sharing bonus plan that incentivizes excellence while fostering a culture of ownership.

The Profit Milestone

• Achieving the first profitable quarter after years of reinvestment
• The difference between revenue and actual profit
• Why most entrepreneurs never see profit despite high revenue

Three Options for Profit

• Reinvesting back into the business
• Owners taking dividends
• Sharing with the team (the path Freewyld chose)

The Bonus Plan Structure

• Based on tenure, performance KPIs, and seniority level
• Designed to attract and retain top revenue management talent
• Future vision: allowing team members to invest bonuses into Freewyld real estate projects

Building Culture Through Rituals

• Starting every meeting with professional and personal wins
• Implementing "unreasonable hospitality" for B2B clients
• Creating company-specific language (like "MIFA" - Make It F***ing Awesome)

Communication & Leadership

• Leading without ego in challenging conversations
• Approaching problems as "us versus the problem"
• Over-communicating appreciation and celebrating client wins

• "We never really understand what profit is. We see top line revenue and we invest it, constantly keep growing the business."
• "By bringing the team members into the profit pool, it gives them a sense of ownership to what we're doing."
• "Culture is made up of rituals, emotional highlights, and how you communicate to each other."

• LinkedIn: Eric D. Moeller
• Follow Freewyld Foundry for more revenue management insights

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Want our team to run your pricing through World Cup ’26? Get a free revenue audit: https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report The 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19, 2026) will send up to 6 million visitors across host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. If you operate in or near a host market, a smart strategy could turn June/July into a year’s worth of revenue.

What we cover

• Key dates that move the market (including the group-stage draw on December 5, 2025)
• Host cities to watch (Vancouver, Seattle, SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, plus Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey)
• Why fan zones and downtown corridors matter as much as stadiums
• Pricing philosophy when comps are thin (bias high, protect inventory, monitor pacing)
• Travel spillover to nearby destinations (Grand Canyon, Vegas, national parks, regional drives)
• Cultural touches that convert (e.g., bikes + orange swag for Dutch supporters)
• How to monitor market signals daily without losing your mind

Action steps

1. Raise your June–July 2026 base rates now (2–10× your norm, depending on proximity + property quality).
2. Block or minimum-stay protect high-demand nights until after the draw.
3. Calendar alert: December 5, 2025 — release of group-stage draw → expect a booking rush within hours.
4. Map your micro-locations: stadium, downtown, fan zones (municipal announcements), transit, watch-party districts.
5. Daily scan post-draw: track competitor pricing, pick-ups, and event calendars; adjust pacing thresholds.
6. Differentiate listings for specific fan bases (amenities, décor accents, transit guides, supporter-area tips).
7. Widen your net: push content/SEO for “near [host city]” itineraries; capture spillover demand.

Links & resources

• Match info & schedule: fifa.com
• Free revenue audit (for $1M+ portfolios / ~15+ listings): freewyldfoundry.com/report

Work with us

Want our team to run your pricing through World Cup ’26? Apply for a free revenue audit: freewyldfoundry.com/report

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

What does real leadership look like when your STR company is growing faster than you can keep up?

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric Moeller (CEO of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry) and Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) take you behind the scenes of what it takes to lead, scale, and sustain a high-growth short-term rental business, without losing your sanity or your team.

They share how to evolve from attack mode to strategic leadership, how to build a strong culture of A-player talent, and what it really means to lead with humility and curiosity in a remote-first hospitality company.

You’ll discover:

• Why “pressure is a privilege” for fast-growing STR leaders

• How to stop micromanaging and start empowering your team

• The real difference between managing and leading

• How to identify and elevate A-players in your organization

• What it takes to build culture inside a remote STR team

• How to have hard conversations without ego or conflict

Eric and Kaye also unpack the leadership shift from control to clarity, the role of overcommunication in scaling, and why defining culture early is the key to sustainable growth in hospitality.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Leadership in the short-term rental and hospitality industry

• Building culture and alignment in remote STR teams

• Servant leadership and the “humble and hungry” mindset

• From operator to strategic CEO in STR growth

• Leading through pressure, uncertainty, and rapid scaling

🔗 Relevant Links:

Learn more about Freewyld Foundry → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com

Follow Eric Moeller → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmoeller/

Follow Kaye Putnam → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayeputnam/

Follow Freewyld → https://www.linkedin.com/company/freewyldfoundry

Keywords:

leadership, Airbnb, short-term rentals, team culture, property management, hospitality, Freewyld, Freewyld Foundry, STR growth, scaling teams, servant leadership, conscious leadership, leadership mindset, vacation rentals, hospitality business, Airbnb host, remote leadership

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

What if you could finally make your low season perform like a pro’s high season?

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers (Co-Founder of Freewyld Foundry) shares the exact Low Season Strategy they use across 43 short-term rental portfolios to stay ahead of the market, protect visibility, and keep occupancy strong when everyone else slows down.

The low season doesn’t have to drain your revenue. Jasper reveals how pacing, smart pricing, and proactive planning can help you maintain momentum on OTAs and build long-term growth even in your toughest months.

You’ll discover:

• Why low season performance determines your summer revenue potential

• How to track your Market Penetration Index (MPI) and stay ahead of the curve

• The right way to lower prices without hurting your high season ADR

• How to use seasonal pricing profiles instead of slashing base rates

• Why long-stay discounts can boost occupancy and visibility simultaneously

Jasper also explains why reacting late destroys algorithm traction, how to keep cleaners and maintenance teams busy during off months, and why momentum is the real currency of revenue management.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Pacing and MPI explained for low season success

• Seasonal pricing profiles in Pricelabs, Wheelhouse, and Beyond

• Length-of-stay discounts and snowbird opportunities

• Maintaining OTA visibility and momentum year-round

• Why low season planning starts months in advance

🔗 Relevant Links:

Join the Foundry community → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com

Get your Free Revenue Report → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Follow Jasper Ribbers → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperribbers

Keywords:

Airbnb, low season strategy, short-term rentals, Freewyld Foundry, revenue management, pacing, MPI, occupancy strategy, pricing optimization, property management, Airbnb growth, seasonal pricing, vacation rentals, host strategy, STR performance, Get Paid for Your Pad

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

What happens when your local government suddenly changes short-term rental laws, cutting your guest capacity from 17 to 10 overnight?

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric Moeller (CEO of Freewyld) and Kaye Putnam (Brand Strategist at Freewyld) share how Riverside County’s new short-term rental regulation forced a complete rethink of their operations, strategy, and brand growth plan.

You’ll discover:

• How a new Riverside occupancy cap instantly changed Freewyld’s business model

• The exact mindset shift that turned frustration into expansion

• Why regulation can be the best catalyst for brand and design innovation

• How Eric plans to rezone Freewyld’s Idyllwild cabins into a full hotel project

• The critical role of mentors, architects, and community when scaling STRs

• How to stay profitable and compliant amid fast-changing STR laws

Eric and Kaye also unpack what this means for the broader short-term rental industry, and why hosts must adapt their operations, brand story, and pricing models to survive the new wave of local regulation.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Riverside County’s new STR occupancy law

• How to pivot when guest capacity drops

• The difference between reaction and resilience in hospitality

• Turning regulation into opportunity through brand strength

• The future of STR zoning, compliance, and hospitality growth

🔗 Relevant Links:

Learn more about Freewyld Foundry → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com

Follow Eric Moeller → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmoeller/

Follow Freewyld → https://www.linkedin.com/company/freewyldfoundry

Keywords:

Riverside County, short-term rental law, STR regulation, occupancy cap, Airbnb, vacation rentals, Freewyld, Freewyld Foundry, short-term rental growth, hospitality brand, real estate development, zoning, hotel conversion, regulation strategy, Airbnb host, property management, STR pivot, compliance, hospitality innovation

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

What happens when Airbnb quietly shifts 12.5% of your revenue overnight?

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers (Head of Revenue Management at Freewyld) and Miles Chew (Revenue Manager at Freewyld Foundry) break down Airbnb’s new 15.5% host fee, explain what it means for your payouts, and show you how to fix your pricing strategy before your margins vanish.

You’ll discover:

• The exact markup you need to stay revenue-neutral

• How to adjust cleaning, pet, and resort fees to avoid losses

• Why small miscalculations in PMS markups can quietly drain six figures

• How this update affects management splits and owner payouts

• The hidden ripple effect on guest pricing, demand, and taxes

Jasper and Miles also explain why Airbnb made this move, what it means for hosts globally, and how to keep your pricing consistent across OTA channels without sacrificing rate parity.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Airbnb’s 15.5% host fee breakdown

• How to calculate the right markup using Freewyld’s tool

• PMS limitations, rounding errors, and pricing precision

• Adjusting management and cleaning fees to stay profitable

• How to communicate these changes transparently to owners and guests

🔗 Relevant Links:

Learn more about Freewyld Foundry → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com

Follow Jasper Ribbers → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperribbers/

Follow Freewyld → https://www.linkedin.com/company/freewyldfoundry

Keywords:

Airbnb, Airbnb host, Airbnb fees, Airbnb update, short-term rentals, vacation rentals, revenue management, pricing strategy, property management, Freewyld, Freewyld Foundry, STR growth, Airbnb pricing, Airbnb markup, hospitality industry, profit optimization

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👉 Get a Free Revenue Review → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Find out how much money your portfolio is leaving on the table. Risk-free.

In this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) sits down with Eric Moeller (CEO of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry) and Jasper Ribbers (Head of Revenue Management) to break down what they discovered at VRMA Las Vegas 2025, including how they uncovered millions in missed profit during live Turbo Rev Revs.

They reveal the surprising truth about pricing tools, why “set it and forget it” automation is quietly costing operators six figures a year, and how hands-on revenue strategy still beats AI every time.

You’ll discover:

• How Freewyld’s 15-minute Turbo Rev Revs exposed $4.15M in missed revenue
• The most common mistakes even experienced hosts make with pricing tools
• Jasper’s simple KPI framework to track and improve performance daily
• Why AI is trending everywhere but still not delivering real revenue impact
• The critical difference between cheap management and high-impact strategy
• How social content and brand storytelling are becoming essential to STR growth

Eric, Jasper, and Kaye also share the biggest takeaways from leading a packed Skills Lab at VRMA, the shift from “old-school vacation rentals” to modern STR operations, and why operators who review every single booking are the ones who win.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Real-world proof of hidden revenue inside STR portfolios
• The gap between automation and true optimization
• How to evaluate if your pricing process is leaving money behind
• Why AI tools aren’t enough without expert human oversight
• Content, community, and data as growth pillars for 2025

🔗 Relevant Links:

Apply for a Free Revenue Report → https://www.freewyldfoundry.com/report

Follow Eric Moeller → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdmoeller/

Follow Kaye Putnam → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayeputnam/

Follow Jasper Ribbers → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperribbers/

Keywords:

short-term rentals, Airbnb revenue, hidden revenue, VRMA, revenue management, pricing strategy, Turbo Rev Revs, STR growth, dynamic pricing, Freewyld, Freewyld Foundry, hospitality leadership, property management, Airbnb optimization, AI in hospitality

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