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    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

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    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]

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    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

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    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/

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    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/

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    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.

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    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

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    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.

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    Remember the Oasis Ticketmaster scandal, when 'dynamic pricing' was blamed by the media for eye-watering ticket prices?

    The reality is that dynamic pricing had nothing to do with it: the actual menace was 'surge pricing'.

    During this episode, Beyond's Roman Solyanyk details exactly what dynamic pricing is, how it's completely different to surge pricing, and why it won't rip off your guests.

    Roman tackles the Oasis tickets controversy and explains how short-term rental hosts can achieve an average 18% revenue boost by using dynamic pricing strategies.

    He also dives into 2025 trends, highlights Beach Retreats as a standout brand, and gives Andy Easton a special shout-out.

    3:07 Oasis tickets controversy: surge pricing vs dynamic pricing
    6:50 Does surge pricing keep the cost going up?
    8:38 Dynamic pricing will not rip off your guests!
    14:09 Why property managers should use dynamic pricing
    15:58 Average 18% uptick in revenue if you use dynamic pricing
    18:54 Simplifying dynamic pricing
    24:05 Trends in 2025 so far
    31:05 Favourite brand: Beach Retreats
    32:14 Individual shout-out: Andy Easton
    33:11 No. 1 dynamic pricing 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/

    Roman Solyanyk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romansolyanyk/

    Beyond: https://www.beyondpricing.com/products/why-beyond?utm_medium=seo&utm_source=partner-2024&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook_2024

    #ShortTermRentals #HolidayLets #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #ServicedAccommodation #Airbnb #AirbnbTips #PropertyManagement #HolidayLetting #ShortTermRentals #DynamicPricing #RevenueGrowth

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    Welcome to HCH Bitesize, the podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!

    In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Bevan Thompson from Hostfully sharing his top five tips to supercharge your short-term rental listings on major platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.

    1:50 The OTAs every rental should be listed on
    2:35 Google Vacation Rentals and direct bookings
    3:55 Tip No. 1: optimise the content in your descriptions
    6:08 Tip No. 2: know your target guest
    7:12 Bonus tip: fresh is best – make your listing stand out
    9:17 Tip No. 3: put guests in the picture
    11:13 Tip No. 4: mystery shop your listing
    12:09 Tip No. 5: review to get reviewed
    14:47 Find out more about Hostfully (your first guidebook is free!): https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1

    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/

    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 Bevan to the show.

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    The furnished holiday lettings (FHL) tax regime will be abolished next month and to help UK owners prepare for this major change, we've invited Matt Jeffery from Zeal Tax back on the podcast.

    Matt explains the changes in detail and outlines the fact that every holiday let owner in the UK needs to claim their capital allowances. This is tax relief that a whopping 80% of owners have failed to claim – primarily because general accountants are not equipped to assess it.

    Download a free e-book about the upcoming tax changes: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/zeal

    Book a free consultation with Zeal Tax to find out how much you could save: https://calendly.com/hch-zeal

    This episode is sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/

    0:00 Episode starts
    2:15 Overview of tax changes
    3:58 Interest on finance costs will be restricted to basic rate of income tax
    5:23 No capital allowances can be claimed for qualifying expenditure
    11:57 Capital gains tax relief will no longer be available
    15:23 Income from FHLs will no longer count as relevant UK earnings in relation to pension contributions
    17:45 The questions Matt is being asked every day, including whether to own in your personal name or through a limited company
    20:42 In the last three months, Zeal has identified £21 million in capital allowances tax savings
    25:08 The process for claiming capital allowances
    27:43 Don’t panic!

    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/

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

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

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

    #ShortTermRentals #HolidayLets #HolidayLetTaxes #FurnishedHolidayLets #FHL #TaxChanges #VacationRentals #SelfCatering #ServicedAccommodation #Airbnb #AirbnbTips #PropertyManagement

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    Welcome to HCH Bitesize, the podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!

    In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Bart-Jan Leyts, Founder of Otamiser and Autorank, sharing how to supercharge your Airbnb listings and appear at the top of guest searches every time.

    1:50 Tip No. 1: get the first photo right
    4:25 Tip No. 2: utilise your gap nights
    6:52 Tip No. 3: use your reviews
    9:35 Tip No. 4: respond quickly to your guests
    10:50 Tip No. 5: get your content up to date
    14:36 Otamiser: https://www.otamiser.com/

    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/

    Bart-Jan Leyts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-jan-leyts-b427151b1/

    Otamiser: https://www.otamiser.com/

    Autorank: https://www.autorank.com/

    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 Bart-Jan to the show.

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    Emma Kelman from The Island Holiday Company is the special guest’s on today’s show.

    During the episode, Emma talks about scaling, direct bookings, and how to deliver an outstanding guest experience. She also discusses the unique challenges of running a holiday let management company on the Isle of Wight.

    Emma named Beyond as her favourite brand and gave Christopher Dillon from Avantio a special shout-out.

    There are sponsor mentions during the episode for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Zeal, and Key Data.

    2:26 Emma’s holiday rental journey
    4:33 Scaling to 76 properties
    8:01 Offering a better experience for owners
    10:41 The unique challenges of operating on the Isle of Wight
    13:12 How to attract direct bookings
    15:25 How to deliver a great guest experience
    17:43 Keeping owners happy
    20:16 How to scale
    22:50 Acquisition = more than 100 rentals
    25:02 Last-minute bookings
    29:07 Favourite brand: Beyond
    30:03 Individual shout-out: Christopher Dillon from Avantio
    31:06 No. 1 lesson learned: do as much research as you can

    Register for Your Air Success (free event for short-term rental hosts, property managers, and industry professionals on Friday 4 April in London): https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess

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

    The Island Holiday Company: https://www.theislandholidaycompany.co.uk/

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

    Emma Kelman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-kelman-694552148/

    Beyond: https://www.beyondpricing.com/products/why-beyond?utm_medium=seo&utm_source=partner-2024&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook_2024

    Christopher Dillon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonchristopher/

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    In this episode of the HCH Mortgage Podcast, host James Varley chats with Samantha Turmaine from HCH Financial Services about why property investors are heading north.

    James and Sam also discuss interest rates, inflation, and EPCs – with news that holiday let properties look set to be mandated to achieve minimum standards of energy efficiency in a similar way to long-term rentals.

    Subscribe for more expert advice on mortgages, short-term rentals, and property investment.

    2:10 Northern powerhouse
    4:26 Interest rates and inflation
    5:26 Some mortgage rates are up; some are down!
    6:54 Lock in the best rate as early as possible
    7:30 EPCs
    9:32 Going from E to C by 2030
    11:30 The best rates on the market
    12:57 Thank you, Sam!

    Links:

    Register for Your Air Success (free event for short-term rental hosts, property managers, and industry professionals) on Friday 4 April in London: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess

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

    Call: 0333 1234 536

    Email: [email protected]

    Samantha Turmaine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-turmaine-mlibf-cemap-cerer-97a1b298/

    PASC UK: https://www.pascuk.co.uk/

    ASSC: https://www.assc.co.uk/

    Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
    James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

    Free downloads:

    The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/2024-e-book

    Guest Communication 101 for Direct Bookings: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable

    Direct Booking Checklist: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable

    How to Navigate London’s 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost

    Contact the show: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/contact

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    Welcome to HCH Bitesize, the podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!

    In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Eli Pritykin, Founder of Hudson Creative Studio, sharing the top features every direct booking website needs in order to build trust and attract guests.

    1:45 Feature No. 1: communicate trust by getting your hero section right
    5:03 Feature No. 2: guest reviews
    9:16 Feature No. 3: selling the experience
    11:26 Feature No. 4: professional photos are key
    14:12 Feature No. 5: clarity in pricing and policies
    18:10 Hudson Creative Studio: https://hudsoncreativestudio.com/

    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/

    Eli Pritykin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pritykin/

    Hudson Creative Studio: https://hudsoncreativestudio.com/

    Got a comment or interested in being a guest on the show? Get in touch:

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

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    Spotless Stays is a six-part podcast series about short-term rental cleaning and maintenance produced by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Rural Stays.

    During episode six, Rural Stays Founder, Stephanie Flint, discusses training and tracking your cleaning team.

    The show is presented by Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder and CEO, James Varley.

    1:19 Training and tracking
    3:38 Checklists
    7:18 The recruitment process
    11:02 Holiday rental cleaning vs domestic cleaning
    12:09 Due diligence
    13:50 Training
    18:34 The importance of tracking
    21:00 The tech holds staff accountable

    Links:

    Stephanie Flint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-flint-23170351/

    Rural Stays: https://www.ruralcleansyorkshireltd.com/

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

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

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

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    Spotless Stays is a six-part podcast series about short-term rental cleaning and maintenance produced by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Rural Stays.

    During episode five, Rural Stays Founder, Stephanie Flint, outlines the cleaning essentials every Airbnb host needs.

    The show is presented by Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder and CEO, James Varley.

    0:56 Essential cleaning supplies
    2:23 Fairy Liquid, bleach, and white vinegar are pretty much all you need!
    3:05 Dishwasher tablets are fantastic
    3:35 The power of laundry pods
    4:19 What needs to be left for guests
    5:58 Bathroom bins
    6:47 Essential cleaning equipment
    9:37 Showers
    10:46 Air fresheners and ventilation

    Links:

    Stephanie Flint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-flint-23170351/

    Rural Stays: https://www.ruralcleansyorkshireltd.com/

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

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

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

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    Spotless Stays is a six-part podcast series about short-term rental cleaning and maintenance produced by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Rural Stays.

    During episode four, Rural Stays Founder, Stephanie Flint, outlines why you should not allow pets at your holiday rental and discusses how to clean popular amenities such as hot tubs.

    The show is presented by Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder and CEO, James Varley.

    1:07 Should hosts allow pets?
    2:25 Increased wear and tear
    3:23 Tips for dealing with pets at holiday lets
    5:10 Tips for dealing with dog hair
    7:14 Dealing with scratches
    9:12 How to deal with a doggy smell
    11:18 Hot tubs
    15:14 How long it takes to clean a hot tub
    18:18 Cleaning kitchen amenities
    21:40 Steph’s oven nightmare, involving bacon!

    Links:

    Stephanie Flint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-flint-23170351/

    Rural Stays: https://www.ruralcleansyorkshireltd.com/

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

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

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

  • Send us a text

    Spotless Stays is a six-part podcast series about short-term rental cleaning and maintenance produced by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Rural Stays.

    During episode three, Rural Stays Founder, Stephanie Flint, outlines why you should never charge a cleaning fee to your guests.

    The show is presented by Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder and CEO, James Varley.

    1:19 Should you charge a cleaning fee or not?
    3:29 The pros and cons of charging a cleaning fee
    4:39 Steph says: understand your numbers!
    6:21 Airbnb might get rid of the cleaning fee
    7:36 What if an owner wants to offer one-night stays?
    9:35 The challenges of managing one-night stays
    11:46 Nobody should charge a cleaning fee!

    Links:

    Stephanie Flint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-flint-23170351/

    Rural Stays: https://www.ruralcleansyorkshireltd.com/

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

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

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

  • Send us a text

    Spotless Stays is a six-part podcast series about short-term rental cleaning and maintenance produced by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Rural Stays.

    During episode two, Rural Stays Founder, Stephanie Flint, discusses whether short-term rental owners should employ a freelance cleaner or a cleaning company.

    The show is presented by Holiday Cottage Handbook Founder and CEO, James Varley.

    1:10 Freelancer or company?
    2:18 Benefits of working with a cleaning company
    4:29 The challenges freelancers face
    6:42 The gap between sole trader and business cleaning charges is closing
    8:17 A company should deliver a higher standard of cleaning
    11:23 A hybrid model can offer the best of both worlds

    Links:

    Stephanie Flint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-flint-23170351/

    Rural Stays: https://www.ruralcleansyorkshireltd.com/

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

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

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