Dynamic pricing is a must-have for every short-term rental host and property manager – but not everyone knows how to use it effectively.

In today's Host Planet Podcast, Shreeja Jamdar from PriceLabs shares five tips to help hosts leverage dynamic pricing to boost revenue and occupancy.

Key takeaways:

• It is vital to understand your market

• You must set the correct base price

• Having a minimum stay strategy is a must

0:52 Tip 1: understand your market

4:49 Tip 2: get your base price right

9:48 Tip 3: set a strategic minimum rate

11:55 Tip 4: adapt minimum stays accordingly

15:15 Tip 5: track performance

Use code HOSTPLANET15 for 15% off PriceLabs: https://pricelabs.co/users/sign_up?referral=HOSTPLANET15

Links:

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

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

Shreeja Jamdar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreejajamdar/

PriceLabs: https://pricelabs.co/users/sign_up?referral=HOSTPLANET15

Episode to check next:

Airbnb does not want you to listen to Mark Simpson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B7VBSExRkU&t=11s

The 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 almost a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HolidayLets #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #Property #PropertyInvestment #PropertyManagement #Airbnb #BookDirect #DirectBookings #JamesVarley #Bookingcom #Vrbo #DynamicPricing #RevenueManagement #PriceLabs #ShreejaJamdar

Kay Walten is a hospitality and AI expert who has merged her two passions to create a growing business: Smart Pineapple.

On today's episode of Host Planet Bitesize, sponsored by Hostfully, Kay explains how short-term rental hosts and managers can utilise AI to create marketing content for their properties.

Key takeaways:

• Your prompts must be clear, direct, and full of detail

• Try various AI platforms to see which is the best fit for your business

• You must review and edit the content

1:25 Be clear and direct

2:39 Add detail

7:07 Keep the conversation going

9:06 Review and edit

12:57 Try different AI platforms

14:34 The AI platforms Kay recommends trying

15:42 Smart Pineapple: https://www.smartpineapple.ai/

Links:

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

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

Kay Walten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaywalten/

Smart Pineapple: https://www.smartpineapple.ai/

Episode to check next:

Airbnb do not want you to listen to Mark Simpson: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AW5aNPaOWvtoizOA9Rd1U

The Host Planet Mortgage 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 almost a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#AI #Content #ChatGPT #SmartPineapple #HolidayLets #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #Property #PropertyInvestment #PropertyManagement #Airbnb #BookDirect #DirectBookings #JamesVarley #Bookingcom #Vrbo

Direct booking champion Mark Simpson is the man Airbnb do not want their hosts to listen to.

In today's episode of the Host Planet Podcast, Mark explains why he is Airbnb's nemesis and shares some quirky direct booking strategies (bin advertising, anyone?!) that you have probably never considered.

Mark also shares his business story – including how close he came to selling Boostly last year. He also talks about dealing with online trolls in Facebook groups and Trustpilot after being forced to quadruple prices for some of his most loyal customers.

There are shout-outs for yhangry, Mount, Siddhi Mittal, Madison Rifkin, and Jodie Odlin during the episode.

Key takeaways:

• Airbnb hosts need to learn about direct bookings.
• There are so many quirky and effective direct booking strategies – and they start with knowing where your target guests are.
• Mark was weeks away from selling Boostly in 2024 after losing 1,000 customers. 
• Despite a tough year, Boostly is now more profitable than ever.

1:06 Why Mark Simpson is Airbnb’s nemesis 
4:16 Don’t build your house on someone else’s land
6:22 Can direct bookings be a false economy?
9:37 The best direct booking websites have this in common
11:00 Weird (but effective) direct booking strategies
15:44 Challenges and opportunities in 2025
20:36 Wild times running Boostly
32:51 How close was Mark to selling Boostly?
34:54 Dealing with online trolls, including 1-star Trustpilot reviews
37:35 Favourite brands: yhangry and Mount
38:57 Individual shout-out: Jodie Odlin
39:39 Number one lesson learned from the last year

Links:

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

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

Mark Simpson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarksimpson/

Boostly: https://boostly.co.uk/

Episode to check next: 

Why stamp duty is stalling the UK property market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt2H9LWDwT4

The Host Planet Mortgage 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 almost a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HolidayLets #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #Property #PropertyInvestment #PropertyManagement #Airbnb #BookDirect #DirectBookings #MarkSimpson #JamesVarley #Bookingcom #Vrbo

Send us a text

During this episode of Host Planet Bitesize – sponsored by Hostfully – Oscar Hepworth from KeyNest shares five reasons why Airbnb hosts and property managers should utilise key management systems.

Key takeaways:

• Learn how key safety provisions can improve the guest experience and enhance security.
• Find out why neighbours and local regulators prefer key management solutions.

1:33 Reason number one: guest experience
3:27 Reason number two: avoid break-ins
5:35 Reason number three: automation
6:48 Reason number four: tracking
8:51 Reason number five: neighbour issues
10:25 KeyNest: https://keynest.com/

Links:

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

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

Oscar Hepworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-hepworth-257521166/

Episode to check next: 

Why stamp duty is stalling the UK property market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt2H9LWDwT4

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 almost a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

Contact the show: [email protected]

Send us a text

During this episode of the Host Planet Mortgage Podcast, Howard Reuben from HCH Financial Services assesses the current state of the holiday let mortgage market.

Howard discusses the Bank of England base rate, the Spring Statement, and stamp duty. He also shares details of the best holiday let mortgage products currently available.

Key takeaways:

• The Bank of England’s decision to hold the base rate was not a surprise
• Borrowers and investors who need to remortgage in 2025 should plan early and avoid going onto their lender’s standard variable rate (SVR)
• Hefty stamp duty fees are stalling the UK property market

2:00 Bank of England base rate holds steady at 4.5%
5:49 Advice for people who need to remortgage in 2025
9:23 Make sure you avoid the standard variable rate
11:16 The Spring Statement, stamp duty, and market sentiment
15:36 The best holiday let mortgage products on the market

Links:

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

HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/

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

Howard Reuben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardreuben/

Episode to check next: 

Everything you need to know about holiday let taxes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/everything-you-need-to-know-about-holiday-let-tax-changes/id1706573555?i=1000697982739

The Host Planet Mortgage 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 almost a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

Contact the show: [email protected]

#HolidayLets #HolidayLetMortgages #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #Property #PropertyInvestment #PropertyManagement #MortgageBroker #Airbnb

Send us a text

In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we sit down with Gareth Phillips, Founder of Guestive, to explore how AI is transforming the short-term rentals industry.

Gareth shares his journey building Guestive, an AI-powered platform designed to help hosts streamline operations and enhance guest experiences. He discusses the feedback he’s received, the process for improving AI accuracy, and the challenges of AI 'hallucinations'.

For those hesitant about embracing AI, Gareth offers practical advice and insights into where the technology is heading. He also shares Guestive’s vision for 2025, gives a nod to industry brands like Hostaway and Hostflow, gives Bob Garner a special shout-out, and highlights the importance of listening to customers.

Whether you’re an early adopter of AI or still on the fence, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways to help you stay ahead.

2:14 The story of Guestive
4:32 An AI-powered platform 
7:33 Feedback from hosts 
9:05 How to help the AI
11:26 AI 'hallucinations'
14:17 Message to AI-hesitant hosts 
15:58 Where AI is heading
18:22 Guestive in 2025
21:07 Favourite brands: Hostaway and Hostflow
22:22 Individual shout-out: Bob Garner
22:57 No. 1 lesson learned: talk to customers

Register for Your Air Success (free event for holiday let owners, hosts, and industry professionals on Friday 4 April in London): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess

Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/

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

Gareth Phillips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth326771/

Guestive: https://www.guestive.ai/

Send us a text

In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re joined by Umair Hassan, Senior Manager of Partner Growth & Revenue Operations at PointCentral.

Umair shares invaluable insights on how short-term rental hosts and property managers can solve tech overload, build strong relationships with neighbours, and stay ahead in a competitive market.

There are shout-outs for PriceLabs and Rent Responsibly during the episode, plus sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, and Zeal Tax.

2:11 PointCentral
5:04 How to save time and money
9:57 Future proof your rentals
10:32 Guest experience
13:23 How to be a great neighbour
19:45 Tech overload
21:27 Hosts need to prioritise education
24:19 Favourite brand: PriceLabs
25:19 Individual shout-out: Rent Responsibly
26:40 No. 1 tech tip

Register for Your Air Success (free event for holiday let owners, hosts, and industry professionals on Friday 4 April in London): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess

Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/

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

Umair Hassan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umairhassan/

PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/

Send us a text

In this episode of HCH Bitesize, we’re joined by John Deroulet from Wheelhouse, a leader in revenue management for the hospitality industry. 

John shares his expert tips on how choose a dynamic pricing tool and discusses how to optimise revenue management for your vacation rental business. Whether you're new to revenue management or looking to refine your strategy, John provides valuable insights to help you stay ahead of market trends and make smarter pricing decisions.

Throughout the episode, John discusses the importance of doing your research, collaborating with others, and understanding the bigger picture of revenue management. He emphasises that it's not just about adjusting prices but about making revenue management a consistent practice. Tune in for practical advice that will help you maximise your rental income and get a deeper understanding of how to stay competitive in a dynamic market.

1:37 Tip number one: there’s more to revenue management than dynamic pricing
6:58 Tip number two: do your research and check with others
9:54 Tip number three: agree to disagree
14:37 Tip number four: understand market trends
16:52 Tip number five: make revenue management a practice 
19:37 Wheelhouse

Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today (your first guidebook is free!). Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1

Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/

Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1

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

John Deroulet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jderoulet/

Wheelhouse: https://www.usewheelhouse.com/

Active Revenue Management Fundamentals: https://www.usewheelhouse.com/research/education-active-rm-course-page#1-identify

Got a comment or interested in being a guest on the show? Get in touch: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/contact 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Your support helps us bring more industry experts like John to the show.

Send us a text

In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we dive into the world of property investment and management in Cyprus, uncovering what it takes to run a successful holiday rental business from the UK. Our special guest, Lisa Roads, shares her biggest lessons learned, strategies for scaling and exiting, plus insights into holiday let coaching and industry trends.

Lisa also discusses the importance of getting your foundations right and shares her number one lesson learned. 

There are shout-outs for The Secret Glamping Company and Daniela Derin during the episode, plus sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.

2:33 Property investment and management in Cyprus
5:54 Managing rentals in Cyprus from the UK
8:01 Biggest lessons learned
9:51 How to scale 
12:27 How to exit 
17:04 Holiday let coaching
21:11 Industry trends
22:35 Get your foundations right when starting out
25:00 Favourite brand: The Secret Glamping Company
25:55 Individual shout-out: Daniela Derin
26:47 No. 1 lesson learned: it’s about people!

Register for Your Air Success (free event for holiday let owners, hosts, and industry professionals on Friday 4 April in London): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess

Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/

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

Lisa Roads: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaroads/

#ShortTermRentals #HolidayLets #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #ServicedAccommodation #Airbnb #AirbnbTips #PropertyManagement #Cyprus #Easyjet

Send us a text

In this episode of HCH Bitesize, brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we’re joined by Paul Anderson, Founder of The Social Media Hotelier.

Paul shares his top strategies for using Instagram effectively, focusing on how hosts and property managers can optimise their profiles, engage authentically with followers, and ultimately increase bookings. Whether you're new to Instagram or looking to refine your strategy, Paul’s tips will help you avoid common mistakes and make the most of the platform.

Paul covers key fixes for Instagram success, such as why the platform is a one-to-one channel, the importance of a strong profile, and how to stop chasing vanity metrics. He also reveals why a great photo is just the hook, while compelling captions are what truly sell your property. Don’t miss out on Paul’s expert advice, and be sure to use the code HCH to get 30% off his Instagram teaching programme!

1:57 Fix number one: Instagram is a one-to-one platform
4:32 Fix number two: your profile is vital
14:42 Fix number three: don’t post and ghost
18:26 Fix number four: stop chasing vanity metrics
21:26 Fix number five: the photo is the hook, but words sell
26:04 How often you should post
31:51 Use code HCH to get 30% off Paul’s Instagram teaching programme

Are you looking to streamline your operations and amaze your guests? Look no further than Hostfully! Try their top-rated property management software and award-winning digital guidebooks today (your first guidebook is free!). Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1

Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/

Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1

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

Paul Anderson: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialmediahotelier/

InstaBooked programme: https://thesocialmediahotelier.com/instabooked

Book a free consultation: https://calendly.com/thesocial/15-mins-1-on-1-with-paul

Got a comment or interested in being a guest on the show? Get in touch: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/contact 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Your support helps us bring more industry experts like Paul to the show.