Should You Add a Safe to Your Airbnb? Here’s What Hosts Need to Know Valerie called into the Hosting Hotline with a great question: she’s looking for a programmable guest safe—like the kind you find in hotel rooms—that guests can use to secure their valuables during their stay. But when she tried to find one […]

Pricing Isn’t Just Math—It’s Strategy: Wendy Doris on Revenue Management That Works If you’ve ever second-guessed your Airbnb pricing strategy or felt like dynamic pricing software is a mystery you’ll never solve—you’re not alone. This week on the podcast, we sat down with Arizona-based co-host and STR educator Wendy Doris of Mostess, who shared how […]

Can You Still Use StayFi with Airbnb’s New Policy Updates? Here’s What Hosts Need to Know When Airbnb announced its new Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy rolling out in May 2025, many short-term rental hosts had immediate questions about what it meant for guest communication—and third-party tools like StayFi. One of our Hosting Hotline listeners, […]

Are Minimum Stay Rules Costing You Bookings? If you’re a short-term rental host wondering why bookings have slowed down, this episode is for you. Hosts everywhere are reporting fewer reservations—but when we take a peek behind the curtain, the culprit is often hiding in plain sight: minimum stay rules. While setting a two- or three-night […]

On May 10, 2025, Airbnb’s updated Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy goes into effect—and if you’re a short-term rental host, there are important changes to understand. While some of the updates may seem like clarifications of existing rules, they come with new levels of enforcement and implications for how you operate your Airbnb listing. In […]

Should You Bake the Cleaning Fee Into Your Airbnb Rate? If you’ve been hosting for a while, you’ve likely wrestled with how to structure your cleaning fee—especially if your properties are larger or more luxurious. In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, listener Penny called in with a great question about whether she should keep […]

Spring Maintenance Checklist for Your Airbnb or Short-Term Rental As temperatures rise and peak season approaches, now is the time to refresh your short-term rental. Prevent emergency repairs, avoid guest complaints, and extend the life of your property with a strategic spring maintenance plan. Whether you’re a hands-on host or managing a team, this checklist […]

Are Your Airbnb Bookings Down? Let’s Talk Data, Strategy & Staying Competitive If you’ve found yourself staring at your Airbnb calendar lately wondering, “Where did the bookings go?” — you’re not alone. On this Hosting Hotline episode, a host named Courtney called in with a concern we hear often: fewer bookings and more cancellations. But […]

5 Tax Mistakes Short-Term Rental Hosts Should Avoid (and What to Do Instead) Taxes and short-term rentals — they don’t have to be scary, but they do require strategy. Whether you’re managing your own property or working with a team, understanding the tax landscape of short-term rentals (STRs) can save you thousands of dollars each […]

How to Collect Payment for Airbnb Upsells Like Early Check-In and Late Checkout If you’ve been hosting for a while, you likely know there are plenty of opportunities to earn extra income beyond just your nightly rate. One of the simplest ways? Upsells—things like early check-in, late checkout, pet fees, special occasion decor, or even […]

Spring Cleaning for Your Airbnb: 7 Deep Cleaning Tasks You Can’t Ignore When’s the last time you moved your furniture and looked underneath? Or washed your mattress protector? If you’re running a short-term rental, the answer needs to be recently. We know you care deeply about cleanliness (you’re a TFV host after all!), but the […]

Is Your PMS Holding You Back on Airbnb? Choosing a property management system (PMS) is supposed to streamline your short-term rental business, not create more headaches. But what happens when it feels like the PMS you’ve chosen is limiting your ability to fully optimize your Airbnb listings? That’s exactly the issue our listener Leslie called […]

5 Mistakes Airbnb Hosts Are Making Airbnb hosting can be incredibly rewarding, but even experienced hosts can make mistakes that cost them bookings and revenue. Many of these errors stem from misinformation, outdated strategies, or simply not seeing things from a guest’s perspective. If you’re not getting the bookings or revenue you expect, you might […]

How to Handle Guest Scams and Bed Bug Claims as an Airbnb Host If you’ve hosted for any length of time, chances are you’ve dealt with some kind of guest complaint. But when those complaints involve something serious—like bed bugs—and you’re not sure the claims are true, it can be hard to know what to […]

How to Start an Airbnb Host Meetup (And Why You Should!) Building a strong network as an Airbnb host can lead to more bookings, valuable partnerships, and even new real estate opportunities. One of the best ways to establish yourself as a leader in your community is by hosting a local short-term rental meetup. In […]

The Best Smart Locks for Your Airbnb (And Why You Need a Backup Plan) When it comes to running a successful short-term rental, smart locks are one of the most important investments you can make. They streamline check-in, enhance security, and eliminate the need for key handoffs. But not all smart locks are created equal, […]

Is It Time to Fire Your Airbnb Property Manager? As a short-term rental host, working with a Co-Host or property manager can be a game-changer—until it’s not. If you’re frustrated with communication issues, lack of transparency, or feeling like your property isn’t being managed properly, you may be wondering: Is it time to fire my […]

What’s the Best Day of the Week for Airbnb Bookings? Here’s What the Data Says When do guests actually book their stays? If you’ve ever wondered about booking trends and how to optimize your marketing efforts accordingly, you’re not alone. Julia, a short-term rental host in Maryland, noticed a pattern—her bookings often come in on […]

6 Ways to Use ChatGPT in Your Airbnb Business Running a short-term rental business is time-consuming. From crafting the perfect listing to responding to guest messages, pricing your property strategically, and optimizing operations, there’s always something to do. Enter ChatGPT—a powerful AI tool that can help Airbnb hosts streamline their processes, enhance guest communication, and […]

When Should You Replace Major Appliances in Your Airbnb? As an Airbnb host, you know that keeping your property in top shape is crucial for guest satisfaction and positive reviews. But when it comes to big-ticket items like HVAC systems, water heaters, and kitchen appliances, deciding whether to replace them proactively or wait until they […]

Maximizing Revenue & Efficiency: How Breezeway Transforms Short-Term Rental Operations As a short-term rental host, staying on top of daily operations while ensuring a seamless guest experience can feel like a full-time job. Between guest communication, maintenance coordination, and inventory management, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But what if you could streamline your operations and […]