Why Direct Bookings Are Now Essential for Boutique STR Operators The conversation around direct bookings in short-term rentals isn’t just heating up, it’s hit a boiling point. For boutique STR (short-term rental) operators, this shift is no longer theoretical. It’s real, it’s happening now, and it’s transforming how travelers search, discover, and book stays. In […]
The Great Hospitality Reset: What Fall 2025 Taught Us and How to Stay Relevant in 2026 By the end of 2025, three major data drops quietly confirmed what many of us in hospitality already suspected:📉 The old growth model is done.📈 Experience, efficiency, and trust now drive revenue. RMS’s State of Outdoor Hospitality Report, Hostaway’s […]
Turn Your Booking System Into an AI-Ready Direct Revenue Machine Most property managers think their biggest threat is the competition down the road—the slicker website, the fresher renovation, the deeper discounts. But let me say this clearly: You’re probably not losing bookings because someone else is doing it better. You’re losing them because your own […]
Why OTAs Are Winning Guest Loyalty (and How Hotels Can Win It Back) Every hotelier I know has the same complaint: “We’re paying OTAs 15–30% commissions, and yet guests are still loyal to them—not to us.” And here’s the kicker: those commissions you’re handing over? They’re the very fuel OTAs use to build their loyalty […]
Before It’s Too Late: Get The Direct Booking Playbook Every Host Needs A vacation rental owner told me recently, “We’ll just keep relying on OTAs to fill our calendar. It works for now, and I’m not sure what else to do.” That moment stuck with me, because what feels “safe” today is exactly what makes […]
How to Stay Profitable Amid Airbnb’s Fee Frenzy: A Host’s Guide to Smart Solutions Airbnb has long been the darling platform for hosts, offering high returns for a modest ~3% fee, plus handling lodging taxes. That model made it a no-brainer and it’s no wonder hosts have come to rely so heavily on the platform. […]