Host Planet: Airbnb, Holiday Let, and Vacation Rental Insights

In this episode of Host Planet Playbook – powered by property management software, Hospitable – we’re joined by Greg Lupone, Founder of Stingray Villa in Cozumel, Mexico.

Greg shares his journey into short-term rentals – from a career in the US Navy, to running restaurants, and ultimately building a standout vacation rental brand in one of Mexico’s most popular island destinations. We explore what makes Stingray Villa unique, how Greg uses blogging and photography to build an online presence, and why guest experience sits at the heart of his hosting strategy.

This episode is packed with practical insights for hosts looking to stand out in destination markets, attract the right guests, and build a brand that lasts.

1:36 Stingray Villa in Cozumel, Mexico

1:56 Getting involved in short-term rentals

3:05 From the US Navy to restaurants and eventually short-term rentals

3:59 How Stingray Villa stands out in Cozumel 

5:03 Building an online presence with blog posts 

5:57 The location and target guests 

6:34 Great photography is key

7:12 How to deliver a great guest experience 

8:00 The power of blog posts 

11:02 What makes your brand stand out 

11:46 Challenges and opportunities in Cozumel 

12:49 What Greg loves about hosting

13:28 Biggest lesson learned 

13:54 Quickfire questions

Greg Lupone / Stingray Villa, Cozumel: https://stingrayvilla.com/

The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet

Download a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbook

The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

What happens when you stop treating property like real estate – and start treating it like hospitality?

Real estate investor Frank Iglesias joins the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – to explain why vacation rentals outperform traditional property strategies, and what investors need to understand to build a five-star, guest-first business.

1:08 The lightbulb moment 

6:07 Step one: look for properties in vacation areas 

8:58 Vacation rentals compared to other types of property investment 

12:31 Understand you’re buying a business – this is hospitality 

15:38 How to deliver a great guest experience 

19:14 The tech you need when starting out: start by leveraging Airbnb and Vrbo

22:06 How to achieve five-star reviews

24:12 Favourite brands: Amazon and Walmart

25:29 Shout-out 

27:19 Biggest lesson learned

Looking for a great property management software or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!

Check out these special offers:

Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.

Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.

Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtk

Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo

Email Frank: [email protected] 

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Frank Iglesias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-iglesias-755415b9/

Episode to check next: Budget Hits Holiday Let Owners | Here's What Changed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5frnO4oY20

Host Planet Podcast is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #FrankIglesias

Tired of manual check-ins, missed cleaning notifications, and utility bills going through the roof? It's time to automate your short-term rental business!

In this episode of Host Planet Bitesize – powered by Hostfully – we welcome Dipen Gala from Lynx, the leading smart home automation software for property managers. Dipen shares the five essential automations that will free up your time, cut operating costs, and dramatically enhance your guest experience.

These automations are the secret to running a true hands-off, scalable STR business.

2:08 Door locks

2:37 Text the guest the moment they arrive

3:21 Personalise the TV screen

4:11 Temperature control for energy saving

5:15 Upselling 

10:15 Lynx 

Looking for a great property management software or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!

Check out these special offers:

Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.

Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.

Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtk

Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo

Email Frank: [email protected] 

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Dipen Gala: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipengala/

Lynx: https://www.getlynx.co/

Episode to check next: How Short-Term Rental Hosts Can Utilise AI Today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJCr2Aq47v0&t=1183s

Host Planet Bitesize is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #STRAutomation #SmartHome #VacationRental #LynxAutomation #PropertyManagement #AirbnbHost #DipenGala #HospitalityTech #Lynx

In this Host Planet Playbook episode, powered by Hospitable, James sits down with Allison Craft, Founder of Crafty Hosting, who scaled from a single rental to 16 listings in Tampa, Florida.

Allison shares her journey from corporate finance into vacation rentals, how she built a family-oriented brand, the systems that keep owners happy, and what it really takes to deliver a great guest experience at scale.

She also breaks down the opportunities in Florida, the realities of regulation, her biggest lessons learned, and her advice for anyone dreaming of leaving their job to become a co-host.

1:42 Crafty Hosting – 16 listings in Tampa, Florida 

2:16 From the first rental to co-hosting 

3:23 Scaling to 16

4:43 From corporate finance to vacation rentals 

7:40 How Allison stands out with a family-oriented brand

9:09 How to keep owners happy

10:31 How to deliver a great guest experience 

13:23 Opportunities in Florida

14:29 Regulation

15:37 Biggest lesson learned 

18:51 What Allison loves most about hosting: creating the systems 

20:21 Advice for people who want to leave their jobs and start co-hosting

21:47 Quickfire questions

Allison Craft / Crafty Hosting: https://craftycohost.com/

The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet

Download a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbook

The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn:

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

On today's Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – Matt Jeffery from Zeal Tax explains how a client with 15 holiday lets was able to save thousands in tax by claiming previously overlooked capital allowances.

This case highlights the importance for furnished holiday let owners to stay informed on UK business tax strategies. Ensure you're not missing out on crucial savings – reach out to Zeal for expert advice today.

0:51 Key takeaways from the budget 

7:39 The impact of higher taxes on dividends (it might be more than you think)

9:23 People with jobs and property income are likely to suffer from stealth taxes – because personal allowances are not moving

10:33 Should people with property in their personal name incorporate it into a limited company?

14:16 Stamp duty implications for investors incorporating into a limited company

15:51 Was there any positive news from the budget? Business rates, perhaps?

20:39 The government’s Making Tax Digital campaign

28:13 Capital allowances – why holiday let owners need to claim now

20:25 The deadline for claiming capital allowances 

Looking for a great property management software or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!

Check out these special offers:

Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.

Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.

Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtk

Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo

Email Frank: [email protected] 

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Matt Jeffery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-jeffery-156a8245/

Zeal Tax: https://gozeal.co.uk/services/industries/hch-furnished-holiday-lets/

Episode to check next: Holiday Let Pricing Secrets & Hot Tub Hype: Maximise Your Revenue with Sykes Holiday Cottages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fu3kkR90-8

Host Planet Podcast is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #ZealTax #HolidayLetTax #FHL #MattJeffery

In this Host Planet Bitesize episode, sponsored by Hostfully, Thomas Tewolde from Charge Automation shares five powerful automation tips that every short-term rental host should implement.

Thomas breaks down how to automate everything before arrival, keep the check-in flow short, personalise the guest journey, provide instant access, and reduce guest effort at every stage.

If you want to streamline operations, save time, and improve guest satisfaction, these insights are essential.

1:56 Automate everything before arrival

2:18 Keep the check-in flow short

3:15 Personalise the journey for each guest

5:41 Give instant access

7:15 Reduce guest effort

8:37 Charge Automation

Looking for a great PMS or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!

Check out these special offers:

Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.

Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.

Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtk

Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo

Email Frank: [email protected] 

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Thomas Tewolde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-tewolde-22098a30/

Charge Automation: https://chargeautomation.com/

Episode to check next: 5 Reasons Your STR Needs AI Right Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM-zt2OvS3k

Host Planet Bitesize is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer #ChargeAutomation #Automate #ThomasTewolde

Discover how Amy O’Sullivan built Wild Hideaways – a collection of six luxury lodges with an on-site spa in the heart of south-west Ireland – and turned it into one of the region’s most memorable five-star escapes.

In this inspiring Host Planet Playbook episode – powered by property management software, Hospitable – Amy shares her journey from Somerset to Cork (with stopovers in Manchester and Australia), her leap from music and drama teacher to hospitality entrepreneur, and the passion behind creating a space guests instantly fall in love with.

We explore how Wild Hideaways generated direct bookings from day one, why guests keep coming back, what makes the brand stand out, and the biggest challenges and opportunities facing rural luxury accommodation. Amy also reveals her top tips for delivering an unforgettable guest experience, the power of upselling, and the importance of community in Cork.

1:39 Wild Hideaways: six luxury lodges + on-site spa

2:12 The journey to south-west Ireland, from Somerset, via Manchester and Australia

2:50 Sharing a special space 

3:38 Music and drama teacher to five-star hotel in a field

5:50 Direct bookings from day one

7:29 Repeat bookings from happy guests 

9:15 What makes Wild Hideaways stand out

11:09 Challenges and opportunities

12:30 Tips for delivering an outstanding guest experience

15:32 Upselling

17:33 Community is huge in Cork

19:20 Biggest lesson learned

21:04 Loving those five-star reviews

21:51 Quickfire questions

Amy O'Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-o-sullivan-540909302/

Wild Hideaways: https://wildhideaways.ie/

The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: 

Download a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbook

The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

The lines between hotels and short-term rentals are dissolving. In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – we sit down with Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke, COO EMEA of Frasers Hospitality, one of the world's largest serviced apartment operators.

Rebecca shares key strategies on:

Corporate and extended stays: how to attract and manage reliable, long-term corporate bookings (the most stable revenue stream).

The luxury of space: why spacious, home-like functionality is now non-negotiable for high-end guests.

Scaling quality: lessons on using smart technology and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent, hotel-level service across a global portfolio.

If you want to professionalise and secure long-stay revenue, this episode is essential viewing.

0:49 Why serviced apartments are the future 

1:56 How the pandemic supercharged serviced apartments

3:34 Nomadic young people who work remotely

6:14 Lack of seasonality and high corporate demand

7:45 The non-negotiables for serviced accommodation

9:16 Revenue management 

11:33 Blended portfolio helps to avoid some regulation

13:19 Distribution channels, including 70% direct bookings

13:48 Business development, including direct sales management 

15:02 Loyalty programme

16:28 How to attract more corporate bookings

17:45 Essential tech stack for serviced accommodation

19:53 Delivering a local experience

22:40 Favourite brand

24:22 Another favourite brand: Kayak

24:57 Key learning from serviced apartment space

Looking for a great PMS or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!

Check out these special offers:

Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.

Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.

Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://tinyurl.com/3ay8bhtk

Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo

Email Frank: [email protected] 

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccahollants/

Frasers Hospitality: https://www.frasershospitality.com/en/

Episode to check next: Hosting in Paradise with Robin Bass (Hold the Rum!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTEkLHIzef8&t=4s

Host Planet Podcast is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #JamesVarley #Hostfully #PMS #DigitalGuidebooks #SpecialOffer

Thinking about buying a holiday let, or looking to boost the income from your current property? This Holiday Let Insider episode is packed with data-driven strategies from one of the industry's top experts!

We sit down with Rachel Brennan from Sykes Holiday Cottages to unpack the operational, marketing, and pricing tweaks that can instantly increase your holiday let revenue.

Discover the secrets to securing more bookings, earning higher prices, and optimising your property for modern guests.

2:30 The best places to buy a holiday let

5:42 Do your research

7:22 Pets: a good revenue driver or too much hassle?

9:40 Hot tubs, EV chargers, and other amenities

11:57 No Wi-Fi is no go!

13:04 The biggest pricing mistake hosts make

16:18 The importance of being flexible and keeping up with booking trends

20:27 Reduce your minimum stay for extra visibility

21:35 Photography is everything

24:01 Upsells that guests love and hosts earn from

27:41 The operational tweaks that increase revenue

30:36 How to increase revenue straightaway 

32:10 Everyone has a dedicated account manager with Sykes

Staycation Index 2025: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/blog/sykes-staycation-index-2025/

Rachel Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-brennan-26098118a/

Work with Sykes Holiday Cottages to let your property: 

Call: 01244 356 666

Visit: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Episode to check next: Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slITtAudCAs&t=1s

Holiday Let Insider is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #SykesCottages #JamesVarley #RachelBrennan

How do you manage a premium property and foster a loyal guest base that books directly?

For our latest Host Planet Playbook feature, we speak with Louis Andrews from OVO Network, a leading luxury chalet and holiday rental company based in the French Alps. Louis shares the playbook for building a high-value rental business, from driving direct bookings to perfecting the end-to-end guest experience.

This conversation is essential for any host managing high-end properties who wants to reduce OTA dependency and maximise profit through superior service and brand loyalty.

1:40 OVO Network works with 200+ properties in the French Alps and Switzerland

2:31 Louis’s short-term rental journey

4:06 From studying art to vacation rentals

4:52 How artistic skills help in the STR space (Brian Chesky isn't the only one!)

6:08 What makes OVO Network stand out

7:37 Direct bookings

10:35 Getting exposure on platforms like ChatGPT

12:42 Challenges and opportunities in the Alps

14:27 Snow machines and regulation

16:34 Tips to deliver a great guest experience

18:49 Upsells

19:17 How to keep owners happy

20:23 Biggest lesson learned

22:02 What Louis loves most about the business

22:51 Quickfire questions

28:35 Ultimate goal for OVO Network

Download a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbook

The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with the property management software, Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet

Louis Andrews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-jacques-andrews/

OVO Network: https://www.ovonetwork.com/en/home

The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

#DirectBookings #LuxuryChalet #OvoNetwork #VacationRental #HostTips #ShortTermRental #GuestExperience #FrenchAlps #PropertyManagement #HostPlanetPlaybook #HostPlanet #Hospitable #PMS #PropertyManagementSoftware