Holiday Cottage Handbook
Holiday Cottage Handbook
We share everything you need to know about the short-term rentals sector.
We will help take your holiday home investment to the next level.
Visit our website: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Download our free e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
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Top 10 Holiday Cottage Handbook Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Holiday Cottage Handbook episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Holiday Cottage Handbook for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Holiday Cottage Handbook episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
HCH059: Moriya Rockman: Villa Tracker: A new frontier for the STR world
Holiday Cottage Handbook
10/10/24 • 39 min
Moriya Rockman, Co-Founder of Smiling House Group, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Moriya discusses the launch of Villa Tracker – a new platform which is linking legacy travel businesses, such as travel agents and VIP clubs, with the short-term rentals industry.
Moriya also discusses how luxury properties can stand out, the amenities you need to appeal to a large number of guests, and which upselling opportunities to offer.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.
3:47 How the luxury short-term rentals sector is performing in 2024
6:01 Villa Tracker – a platform for legacy travel players
9:58 Targeting seven industries within legacy travel companies
14:41 It’s mostly for luxury properties
16:29 Travel professionals: head to www.villatracker.com for further details
18:38 Guesty users can push their properties to Villa Tracker now
19:49 Luxury property owners can list on Smiling House and be pushed to Villa Tracker
21:50 How luxury properties can stand out
24:35 The amenities luxury properties need to stand out
27: 05 The upselling opportunities for luxury rentals
33:16 Short-term rental trends
36:11 Regulation
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Moriya Rockman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moriya-rockman-a3467a13a/
Villa Tracker: https://villatracker.com/
Smiling House: https://smilinghouse.ch/
Triangle Luxury: https://triangle-luxury.com/
Sponsor links:
HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/ Call: 0333 1234 536 Email: [email protected]
Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/
Key Data: https://www.keydatadashboard.com/products/prodata?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook
Minut: https://www.minut.com/?utm_campaign=holidaycottagehandbook&utm_source=partners
Enjoy the show?
Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Email the show: [email protected]
HCH Bitesize 009: Arthur Colker: Achieve more bookings with branded Wi-Fi
Holiday Cottage Handbook
11/12/24 • 11 min
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, a podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully, we delve into essential topics for the short-term rental industry. Each week, we invite expert guests who share valuable insights and practical advice to help you enhance your knowledge and build a successful property management business.
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Arthur Colker, Founder and CEO of StayFi, to the show to share his top five tips for maximising your marketing impact through branded Wi-Fi. Don’t miss his insights to take control of your guest experience and boost your bookings.
1:49 Tip 1: Collect and organise your guest data
2:58 Tip 2: Use automation for marketing
4:38 Tip 3: Have a direct booking website
5:29 Tip 4: Do not neglect the power of billboarding
7:05 Tip 5: Have a compelling reason for guests to return
9:05 Book a StayFi demo: https://meetings.hubspot.com/arthur46/stayfi-sales-demo?uuid=3808bc29-0b49-4571-bc21-6324b25d84a7
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. Join the thousands of satisfied property managers who trust Hostfully to grow their business: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
HCH: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Arthur Colker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolker/
StayFi: https://stayfi.com/
HCH060: Andy Fenner: Why the government should pause FHL tax plans
Holiday Cottage Handbook
10/17/24 • 37 min
Andy Fenner, CEO, Short Term Accommodation Association, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Andy discusses lobbying efforts in relation to government proposals to abolish the furnished holiday lettings tax regime. He outlines the potential impact of the policy and calls on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to pause the plans until the government has gathered important data about the industry, including the number of operators.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Zeal, and Key Data.
3:40 Andy’s journey in the tourism industry: from Zambia to short-term rentals
7:10 The Short Term Accommodation Association
9:42 Furnished holiday lettings tax regime lobbying efforts
13:37 The potential impact of FHL tax changes
16:32 Airbnb/EY report about impact of short-term rentals in the UK
21:03 Andy’s message to the UK government: get the facts first
23:55 How people can support lobbying efforts
31:35 Favourite brand: holiday letting in general
32:28 Individual shout-outs: Diane Lloyd and Mike Ortegon (and all the STAA team)
34:48 No. 1 lesson learned: work together
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Andy Fenner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfenner2024/
Short Term Accommodation Association: https://ukstaa.org/
Short Stay Summit 2025: https://ukstaa.org/blogs/staa-short-stay-summit/
Sponsor links:
HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/ Call: 0333 1234 536 Email: [email protected]
Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/
Zeal: https://gozeal.co.uk/services/industries/hch-furnished-holiday-lets/
Key Data: https://www.keydatadashboard.com/products/prodata?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook
Enjoy the show?
Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Email the show: [email protected]
HCH Podcast 069: John An: Redefining revenue management with TechTape
Holiday Cottage Handbook
12/26/24 • 32 min
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of revenue management and dynamic pricing for short-term rentals with John An, the Founder and CEO of TechTape.
John shares his inspiring journey through the STR industry, revealing how each step in his career has strengthened his expertise in property management. From launching TechTape to redefining how hosts and property managers approach revenue management, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
We’ll explore how TechTape simplifies onboarding, takes the reins of dynamic pricing tools, and maximises revenue potential for your properties. Plus, John dishes out expert tips for optimising pricing strategies and highlights trends shaping the future of the industry.
John named Rent Responsibly as his favourite brand and gave a special shout-out to Julie George. The episode contains sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Hosthub, Booklee, and Smiling House.
3:00 John’s journey in the STR industry
6:46 Each career move has strengthened the property management journey
9:07 Starting TechTape
13:38 TechTape helps to drive revenue management performance
15:03 How TechTape helps you to earn more revenue
16:14 The onboarding process
18:01 TechTape takes over your dynamic pricing tool and revenue management
19:03 Tips to optimise dynamic pricing tools
22:51 Industry trends
24:55 Where the industry is heading
26:05 Top tip for host and property managers: be nimble
28:59 Favourite brand: Rent Responsibly
29:49 Individual shout-out: Julie George
30:40 No. 1 lesson learned: be prepared to navigate the changes
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free downloads:
The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Guest Communication 101 for Direct Bookings: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable
How to Navigate London's 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost
Madison Rifkin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-rifkin-23037712a/
Mount: https://rentmount.com/
Mentions:
Rent Responsibly: https://www.rentresponsibly.org/
Julie George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-george-milliondollarhost/
Sponsors:
HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/
Hosthub: https://www.hosthub.com/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=HCH
Booklee: https://www.bookl.ee/
Smiling House: https://smilinghouse.ch/
Enjoy the show? Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Email the show: [email protected].
#shorttermrentals #propertymanagement #realestate #vacationrentalmanagement #vacationrentals #revenuemanagement #dynamicpricing
HCH Podcast 070: Unlocking upselling potential with The Host Co's Annie Munro Sloan
Holiday Cottage Handbook
01/02/25 • 37 min
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Annie Munro Sloan, Founder and CEO of The Host Co., to share her expert insights on the art of upselling in short-term rentals. From Silicon Valley inspirations to actionable tips, Annie covers everything hosts and property managers need to know about boosting revenue and enhancing guest experiences.
Tune in to gain practical advice and discover why upselling is more than just an extra income—it’s a way to delight guests and grow your business. Don’t miss this exciting episode packed with insights from one of the industry’s brightest leaders!
2:55: A Silicon Valley eye-roll(!)
7:00: How The Host Co. empowers hosts and property managers
9:29: Onboarding takes just two minutes – yes, really!
12:25: Unlocking the potential of upselling
15:56: The must-have upsells every host should offer
18:06: Connect with The Host Co.: @thehostcompany on Instagram
19:00: Annie’s top tips for hosts and property managers
20:09: Trends to watch, including the rise of direct bookings
21:53: Brian Chesky’s vision and what’s next for Airbnb
23:23: Social media strategies every host should know
27:42: Annie’s favourite brand: StayFi
29:32: Shout-outs to Margot Schmorak and Paul Hall
30:20: No. 1 lesson learned: you’re not 'nickel and diming' guests
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free event:
Your Air Success on Friday 4 April, London
Register for your free ticket: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairsuccess
Free downloads:
The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Guest Communication 101 for Direct Bookings: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/hospitable
How to Navigate London's 90-Day Short-Term Rentals Limit: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/your-airhost
Annie Munro Sloan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniesloan/
The Host Co.: https://www.thehost.co/
Mentions:
StayFi: https://stayfi.com/
Margot Schmorak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mschmorak/
Paul Hall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hallpaul/
Sponsors:
HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/
Hosthub: https://www.hosthub.com/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=HCH
Booklee: https://www.bookl.ee/
Smiling House: https://smilinghouse.ch/
Subscribe now to the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast for more tips, trends, and expert advice!
HCH058: Pierre-Camille Hamana: Run your business on autopilot with Hospitable
Holiday Cottage Handbook
10/03/24 • 55 min
Pierre-Camille Hamana, Founder and CEO of Hospitable, is the special guest on today’s show.
During the episode, Pierre-Camille outlines his story in the industry, the importance of understanding your target guest, and industry trends.
He also explains which type of hosts Hospitable caters for and how the platform can help you to run your short-term rental business on autopilot.
Pierre-Camille named PriceLabs as his favourite brand and gave special shout-outs to Pierre Becerril and Francois Gouelo.
The episode includes sponsor mentions for HCH Financial Services, Your AirHost, Key Data, and Minut.
5:00 A streak of happy accidents – from law to short-term rentals
9:56 Pierre-Camille’s hosting experience in the early days of Airbnb
13:24 Understanding your target guest
14:02 Starting on Airbnb and growing from there
15:42 Hospitable is built primarily for self-managers
19:46 The onboarding experience
22:31 How Hospitable can make your life easier
26:16 Head to hospitable.com for details. Solution available from $29 per month
31:18 How can a good host become a great host?
34:25 The industry trends you need to know, starting with AI
37:31 Small is beautiful in the STR world
40:16 Guest expectations
41:49 What the STR industry will look like in future
46:09 Favourite brand: PriceLabs
47:52 Individual shout-outs: Pierre Becerril and Francois Gouelo
50:27 No. 1 lesson learned: every six months my role changes
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free ticket for Your Air Success on 8 November: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/yourairhost
New e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Property Management Masterclass podcast series: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/property-management-masterclass
Pierre-Camille Hamana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pchamana/
Hospitable: https://hospitable.com/?utm_source=hchc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=hch
Email: [email protected]
Mentions:
PriceLabs: https://pricelabs.co/
Pierre Becerril: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbecerril/
Francois Gouelo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fgouelo/
Sponsor links:
HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/ Call: 0333 1234 536 Email: [email protected]
Your AirHost: https://www.yourairhost.co.uk/
Key Data: https://www.keydatadashboard.com/products/prodata?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=holiday_cottage_handbook
Minut: https://www.minut.com/?utm_campaign=holidaycottagehandbook&utm_source=partners
Enjoy the show?
Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Email the show: [email protected]
HCH Bitesize 003: Direct Booking with Liam Carolan
Holiday Cottage Handbook
10/01/24 • 17 min
Welcome to HCH Bitesize – a new podcast series brought to you by Holiday Cottage Handbook and Hostfully!
This weekly show delves into various topics essential to the short-term rentals industry. Episodes feature expert guests from across the STR space who share their insights and practical advice. These industry leaders help listeners enhance their knowledge and build successful and sustainable property management businesses.
Today’s episode features Liam Carolan, Head of Customer Success at Boostly, sharing his top five tips for attracting direct bookings.
1:39 Why direct bookings are so important
2:50 You need your own direct booking website
5:15 Billboard your website
7:27 Prioritise email marketing
10:01 Drive direct bookings through social media
14:16 Network to attract guests
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. 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/
Liam Carolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamsacarolan/
Boostly: https://boostly.co.uk/
Got a comment or interested in being a guest on the show? Email [email protected].
HCH Podcast 067: Alistair Malins: Unlocking success in luxury short-term rentals
Holiday Cottage Handbook
12/12/24 • 31 min
In this episode of the Holiday Cottage Handbook Podcast, we’re joined by Alistair Malins, Founder of Luxury Cottages, as he shares his expertise on the art of managing luxurious short-term rentals.
Discover what truly defines a luxury property, how to deliver an unforgettable five-star guest experience, and the key takeaways every host can apply from the luxury sector. Alistair also dives into industry trends, including sustainability and regulation, offering valuable insights for navigating the ever-evolving STR landscape.
During the episode, Alistair names Thinking Traveller as his favourite brand and gives a special shout-out to Rachel Parsons for her contributions to the industry.
💡 Episode highlights:
✅ What makes a property truly luxurious
✅ How to deliver exceptional guest experiences
✅ Industry trends: sustainability and regulation
✅ Expert advice for short-term rental hosts
This episode includes sponsor mentions for: HCH Financial Services, Hosthub, Smiling House Luxury, and Booklee.
👉 Watch now and elevate your hosting game with exclusive tips from the luxury short-term rental sector!
📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more industry-leading insights from the HCH Podcast.
2:50 Founding Luxury Cottages
4:50 Who Luxury Cottages caters for
5:35 Getting listed on Luxury Cottages
6:54 Meeting the expectations of owners and guests
8:26 What makes a property luxurious
9:52 How to deliver a luxurious experience
10:48 What hosts can learn from the luxury market
12:17 Commitment to sustainability
15:24 Trends to be looking out for
17:45 Regulation
23:09 The future of the industry
27:14 Favourite brand: Thinking Traveller
27:58 Individual shout-out: Rachel Parsons
29:13 No. 1 lesson learned: don’t stand still
Links:
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Free e-book: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/e-book
Alistair Malins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairmalins/
Luxury Cottages: https://luxurycottages.com/
Mentions:
The Thinking Traveller: https://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/
Rachel Parsons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-parsons-change-for-good/
Sponsors:
HCH Financial Services: https://www.hchfs.com/
Hosthub: https://www.hosthub.com/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=HCH
Smiling House Luxury: https://smilinghouse.ch/
Search and Stay: https://www.searchandstay.com/
Enjoy the show? Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Email the show: [email protected].
#LuxuryRentals #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #AirbnbTips #LuxuryCottages #HCHPodcast
HCH Bitesize 017: Unlock new revenue streams with private chefs
Holiday Cottage Handbook
01/05/25 • 11 min
Are you a short-term rental host or property manager looking for innovative ways to boost your revenue and enhance guest satisfaction?
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, sponsored by Hostfully, Siddhi Mittal, Co-Founder of yhangry, shares how offering private chef services can transform your business.
Whether you manage a cozy cottage or luxury villa, Siddhi reveals why this upselling opportunity is a game-changer for your rental business.
1:44 Deliver a six-star experience
2:12 Gain a competitive advantage
2:53: Leverage user-generated content
5:06 Boost customer retention
6:12 Increase your rental yield
7:09 Understand the earning potential
7:42 The story behind yhangry
9:26 Perfect for any rental size
10:15 Ideal for special occasions
Don’t miss this episode if you want to:
- Elevate your guest experience
- Stand out in a competitive market
- Tap into new revenue streams for 2025
👉 Listen now and take your rental business to the next level!
Holiday Cottage Handbook: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/
Hostfully: https://get.hostfully.com/46p7pafubra1
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Siddhi Mittal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddhimittal23/
yhangry: https://yhangry.com/
Got a comment or interested in being a guest on the show? Contact us: https://www.holidaycottagehandbook.com/contact
HCH Bitesize 016: Build the ultimate STR dream team
Holiday Cottage Handbook
12/29/24 • 18 min
In this episode of HCH Bitesize, sponsored by Hostfully, Jane Mack dives into the essentials of assembling your short-term rental dream team! Whether you're a new host or a seasoned property manager, this guide will help you identify the VIPs you need on your side to run a successful STR business.
1:50: VIP No. 1: your employees. Why your team is your biggest asset and how to empower them for success.
3:24: Recruitment, including tips for hiring the right people to fit your STR business vision.
5:55: Employee development and dealing with bad hires, including strategies for nurturing talent and managing the challenges of poor hires.
8:40: Probationary periods: setting expectations early and using probation as a growth opportunity.
9:42: VIP No. 2: housekeeping staff. The critical role housekeeping plays in maintaining your STR standards.
11:32: VIP No. 3: maintenance team. Why having reliable maintenance support is a must for smooth operations.
13:43: VIP No. 4: local suppliers. Building strong partnerships with suppliers to enhance guest experiences.
14:24: VIP No. 5: tech support. Leveraging tech to streamline operations and solve problems fast.
Whether you’re managing one property or scaling a portfolio, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you create a winning team and elevate your guest experience.
Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on short-term rental success!
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. 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/
Jane Mack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janemack10/
Got a comment or interested in being a guest on the show? Email [email protected].
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FAQ
How many episodes does Holiday Cottage Handbook have?
Holiday Cottage Handbook currently has 97 episodes available.
What topics does Holiday Cottage Handbook cover?
The podcast is about Entrepreneurship, Property, Investing, Podcasts, Business and Airbnb.
What is the most popular episode on Holiday Cottage Handbook?
The episode title 'HCH044: Mark Shepherd: Virtual tours, drone videos, and direct booking websites' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Holiday Cottage Handbook?
The average episode length on Holiday Cottage Handbook is 30 minutes.
How often are episodes of Holiday Cottage Handbook released?
Episodes of Holiday Cottage Handbook are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Holiday Cottage Handbook?
The first episode of Holiday Cottage Handbook was released on Sep 8, 2023.
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