Your property management system (PMS) is supposed to make hosting easier—but what happens when it feels like it's limiting what you can do on Airbnb?

In this Hosting Hotline episode, we answer Leslie’s question about using HostAway and navigating PMS limitations when trying to run last-minute promotions or access Airbnb’s categories (like treehouse, cabin, or OMG stays).

We break down:

• Why some Airbnb features may not be visible through your PMS
• How to troubleshoot and get direct support from both your PMS and Airbnb
• The truth about Airbnb categories and how listings actually get included
• Tips for using office hours and chat support to get unstuck faster

If you've ever felt unsure whether your PMS is helping or holding you back, this episode is for you.

Resources:

• How to Create a Direct Booking Site for Your Airbnb Business | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Hostfully | Get $500 off with code TFV500
• Pricelabs | Sign up for your free 30-day trial today!

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!

Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Many Airbnb hosts are unknowingly making mistakes that are costing them bookings, revenue, and guest satisfaction. In this episode, we’re breaking down the five most common mistakes we see over and over again—and more importantly, how to fix them fast.

Mistake 1: Chasing Hacks Instead of Focusing on Guests

Are you joining wishlist groups or hiring VAs to remove bad reviews? Hacks might seem like quick wins, but they won’t fix the real problem—your guest experience.

Mistake 2: Poor Quality Photos

Bad, outdated, or cluttered listing photos are killing your conversion rate. We’ll walk you through why professional, realistic photos matter more than ever.

Mistake 3: Rigid Calendar Management

Are unnecessary rules and blocked dates limiting your bookings? We’ll show you how minimum stays, check-in restrictions, and cleaner availability might be hurting your revenue.

Mistake 4: Emotional Pricing

If you're pricing based on feelings instead of data, you’re leaving money on the table. We discuss how to use market-driven pricing to maximize revenue.

Mistake 5: Operating Out of Fear Instead of Strategy

Are strict house rules, excessive guest screening, and an overprotective mindset keeping you from welcoming great guests? We talk about why trust is key to running a successful Airbnb.

These simple fixes can increase your bookings, boost guest satisfaction, and help your business thrive—so don’t miss this one.

Beginner’s Guide to Dynamic Pricing Software (PriceLabs) | Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Mentioned in this episode:

Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!

Fido | Visit getfido.com/tfv & get your first month free!

Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 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!

Hosting Hotline: How Do I Know If a Guest Is Scamming Me?

In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, we're diving into a tough but important topic: how to handle guest claims that may not be true—specifically bed bug accusations. Francesca from Puerto Rico calls in to ask about a troubling trend she's noticing among fellow hosts: guests claiming bed bugs without evidence.

Sarah shares her personal experience of dealing with bed bugs in New York City and breaks down the realities of what these pests are, how they spread, and what it really takes to get rid of them. She and Annette also offer advice for how hosts can prepare, respond quickly and professionally to guest claims, and protect their reputation and revenue in the process.

Whether it’s a true infestation or a potential scam, this episode will help you feel more confident handling high-stress guest situations with professionalism and care.

Resources:

How to Respond to Negative Airbnb Reviews | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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!

Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

If you want to be the go-to expert in your community, build strong local relationships, and grow your hosting network, starting a meetup for Airbnb hosts is a game-changer. In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how to plan, promote, and run a successful short-term rental meetup, based on our own experience hosting packed events for hosts in Columbus.

We cover:

• Why hosting a meetup can help you land more co-hosting clients, connect with vendors, and even find real estate deals
• The key factors for choosing the right venue (and how to get one for free)
• How to plan and structure your meetup for maximum engagement
• Getting sponsors to cover costs (so you’re not paying for pizza and drinks out of pocket)
• How to attract the right attendees and get them excited to show up
• The most important things to do after your meetup to build momentum

If you’ve ever wanted to create a hosting network in your community or become a leader in the short-term rental space, this episode is for you!

Resources:

Boost Airbnb Income with these 4 EASY Upsells! | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Mentioned in this episode:

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.

Fido | Visit getfido.com/tfv & get your first month free!

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!

In this Hosting Hotline episode, Jane calls in with a question every host has to consider: What smart lock should I be using for my short-term rental?

Sarah and Annette break down their most trusted smart locks, the brands they avoid, and the key factors to consider when choosing the right lock for your property. They also share their must-have backup system to prevent lockouts—because even the best smart locks can fail at the worst times.

In this episode, we cover:

• The two smart lock brands we trust the most
• Why some locks can create more headaches than they’re worth
• The importance of integrating your lock with your PMS
• Why using the same code for all guests is a huge safety risk
• Our non-negotiable backup system to avoid guest lockouts

Smart locks are a crucial part of the guest experience. Get this decision right, and you’ll save yourself time, stress, and potential disasters.

Resources:

This Secret Airbnb Setting That Can Improve Your Listings by 300% | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite locks:

• Yale Assure
• Schlage Encode
• Wall-mounted Lockbox

Submit your question at HostingHotline.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

Is It Time to Fire Your Airbnb Property Manager?

Hiring a property manager or Co-Host can take a huge weight off your shoulders—but what happens when the relationship isn’t working? In this episode, we break down how to evaluate whether your property manager is helping or hurting your business.

We cover:

• Common frustrations hosts have with property managers (and when they’re valid)
• The difference between a property manager and a Co-Host—and why expectations matter
• Key contract terms you should review before making a decision
• Signs that it’s time to fire your property manager—and when it’s NOT
• What to consider before taking on self-management
• How to have a productive conversation before making a big change

If you’re feeling frustrated with your current setup, this episode will help you decide whether to stay, go, or adjust your expectations.

Beginner Airbnb Marketing Mistake New Hosts Make | Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Mentioned in this episode:

Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!

Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

Extenteam | Receive 20% off the first 2 months with Tailwind!

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.

Fido | Visit getfido.com/tfv & get your first month free!

In this Hosting Hotline episode, listener Julia asks a smart and strategic question: When do guests actually book their stays? She’s noticing a trend of Sunday evening bookings and wants to fine-tune her marketing efforts based on real booking data.

Since we didn’t have the hard numbers on hand, we called in an expert—Jeff Brown from Intellihost—who pulled data from 466,000 reservations across thousands of properties worldwide. He breaks down:

• The least and most popular days for bookings globally
• How trends in Maryland compare to the worldwide dataset
• Why tracking your own booking data is key to personalized marketing
• The real takeaway: New leads are great, but don’t forget about returning guests!

Julia’s question highlights an important aspect of hosting—understanding booking behaviors to optimize marketing efforts. Tune in to learn how you can leverage this knowledge to drive more bookings!

• Intellihost | Learn More!
• The Airbnb Instant Book Mistake YOU Might be Making that is Costing You $$$!!!! | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
• Hosting Hotline | Get your hosting questions answered!

Mentioned in this episode:

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

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!

ChatGPT is more than just a tool—it’s like having an extra team member in your short-term rental business. Whether you’re optimizing your listing, handling guest communication, or strategizing pricing, AI can help you save time and make more money. In this episode, we’re breaking down six powerful ways to use ChatGPT in your Airbnb business.

If you’re new to AI or hesitant to dive in, don’t worry—we’re keeping things practical and actionable. Even implementing just one of these strategies could make a huge impact on your hosting workflow.

• How ChatGPT can refine your Airbnb listing for higher conversions
• Using AI to streamline guest messaging and maintain a hospitality-first tone
• How to analyze competitor listings and leverage their guest feedback
• The power of AI-generated checklists and operational efficiencies
• ChatGPT for pricing strategy and revenue management
• Writing high-converting emails with AI to drive direct bookings

Ready to integrate ChatGPT into your Airbnb business? Tune in to hear how it can save you time and enhance your hosting experience.

Beginner’s Guide to Dynamic Pricing Software (Pricelabs) | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Mentioned in this episode:

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Fido | Visit getfido.com/tfv & get your first month free!

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 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!

Extenteam | Receive 20% off the first 2 months with Tailwind!

In this Hosting Hotline episode, we tackle a crucial question from host Julia: Should you proactively replace major appliances like HVAC systems and water heaters, or wait until they fail?

Julia’s concern is common—her property is 20 years old, and she’s weighing the risk of unexpected breakdowns against the cost of upgrading early. We break down the key factors to consider, including:

• The hidden costs of running old, inefficient appliances
• How energy efficiency upgrades can save you money in the long run
• The potential risks of waiting—guest discomfort, refunds, and emergency repairs
• A middle-ground approach: inspections, planning, and prioritizing replacements
• What appliances should take top priority (hint: HVAC failures can be a nightmare)
• The importance of water monitoring devices and insurance considerations

If you're a host wondering when to invest in major replacements, this episode will help you make a smart, informed decision that protects your business, your guests, and your peace of mind.

Resources:

Preventative Airbnb Maintenance: Stop ignoring this or Pay later!! | Subscribe to our YouTube channel

AHR | HVAC Expo

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!

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

In this episode, we sit down with Koryn Okey, Vice President of Community & Engagement at Breezeway, to explore the tools and strategies that can help short-term rental hosts streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and increase revenue.

Koryn has been in the vacation rental industry since 2008, starting at FlipKey, where she helped introduce guest reviews to the industry. Now, she plays a key role at Breezeway, helping hosts optimize their businesses through smart automation and operations management.

• How Breezeway Messaging automates guest communication and creates efficiency in your business
• The power of Gap Night messaging and how it can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line
• Breezeway’s inventory tracking system and why managing consumables properly can save you money
• Breezeway Assist, a guest messaging solution that frees up your time while maintaining high-quality service
• How software can help hosts run their businesses more effectively, whether managing one property or a hundred

• Breezeway | Your first property is free!
• Breezeway Elevate | A free, two-day event happening on March 11-12
• The Airbnb Guest Check-In Routine You're Not Doing (And It’s Losing You Money) | Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Mentioned in this episode:

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Fido | Visit getfido.com/tfv & get your first month free!

Extenteam | Receive 20% off the first 2 months with Tailwind!

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.