351. What a Direct-Booking Website Builder Wishes Every Host Knew

We sit down with Gil Chan, founder of CraftedStays, about what it takes to build a direct booking website for a STR. We cover the gap between a generic template and an expensive agency build, the new AI tool Aria, and why owning a few direct bookings changes a host's leverage across platforms: What a direct booking site actually replaces for an Airbnb-only host? The 2 options hosts face for a website, and why neither worked? How Aria reads a portfolio and reviews before writing a single word? What OTA fees really add up to over a year of bookings? Why this isn't about leaving Airbnb, and what it's really about? Gil's story is a good reminder that owning your guest relationship matters as much as owning your listing. Subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with another host who is tired of renting shelf space on someone's platform. Check out our videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShortTermRentalRiches Grab your free management eBook: https://strriches.com/#tools-resources Looking to earn more with your property (without the headaches)? Chat with our expert management team: https://strriches.com/management-services/