Confessions of a Host

What if you could turn your Airbnb guests into repeat customers—and stop relying entirely on third-party platforms?In this episode of Confessions of a Host, we’re diving into the world of direct bookings and why building your own booking strategy can be a game changer for short-term rental hosts. We’ll talk about how to encourage guests to book directly, create a strong guest database, stay connected with past guests, and build a system that can generate repeat bookings outside of Airbnb and Vrbo.Whether you manage one property or an entire portfolio, direct bookings can help you build a stronger brand, create lasting guest relationships, and have more control over your business.If you’re ready to go beyond Airbnb and start building a business you actually own, this episode is for you.Connect with us on instagram: @confessionsofahost

What separates high-performing vacation rentals from the rest? It's not just beautiful design or five-star reviews—it's smart revenue management.In this episode of Confessions of a Host, we're joined by Federico Zimerman, a revenue management expert, to break down the strategies that help vacation rental owners and property managers maximize bookings and increase profits. We dive into dynamic pricing, market trends, common pricing mistakes, seasonality, owner expectations, and the metrics that truly matter when growing a successful short-term rental business.Whether you're managing one Airbnb or an entire portfolio, Federico shares practical insights and real-world examples that will help you make more informed pricing decisions and unlock your property's earning potential.Connect with Federico:https://www.instagram.com/federico.zimerman/https://www.revfactor.io/reviewConnect with us:https://www.instagram.com/confessionsofahost/

In this episode, we sit down with our friend Cameron Masters to discuss how he completely transformed his business by scaling from 14 units to 140 in just a matter of months through the acquisition of an established property management company in Lake Tahoe.We dive into every stage of the acquisition process—from finding the right business and securing financing to successfully taking over operations and growing it to the next level. Cameron shares the biggest challenges he faced during the transition, the lessons he learned along the way, and the advice he'd give to anyone considering buying an existing company instead of starting from scratch.You can find Cameron on Instagram: instagram.com/cameron.masters_You can find us at: instagram.com/confessionsofahostinstagram.com/nataliebykovinstagram.com/hostiwthmariam

Every host will eventually face a guest complaint—but some are far more memorable than others.In this episode of Confessions of a Host, we're sharing the real stories behind some of the most unexpected guest issues we've encountered, including the infamous sex toy incident, a broken A/C during a guest's stay, bugs in a cabin, and more.We break down exactly how we handled each situation, the guest recovery strategies that worked, and the lessons we've learned from years of managing vacation rentals. Whether it's responding with empathy, offering thoughtful solutions, or knowing when to go the extra mile, these are the moments that separate good hosts from great ones.If you're a vacation rental host or property manager, this episode will leave you better prepared for the unexpected—and show you how even the biggest hospitality nightmares can still end with a 5-star review.Connect with us on Instagram: @confessionsofahost

In this episode of Confessions of a Host, we sit down with Patryk Swietek, Co-Founder of The Cohost Company, to talk about one of the hottest topics in the short-term rental industry: acquiring and scaling vacation rental management companies.Patryk shares what he looks for when evaluating management businesses, how acquisitions work behind the scenes, and what it takes to build a company that's attractive to buyers. Whether you're planning to grow your portfolio, scale your management business, or eventually prepare for an exit, this conversation is full of valuable insights for hosts and property managers alike.If you've ever wondered what makes an STR management company worth acquiring, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Follow us on Instagram: @confessionsofahostReach out to Patryk: @patryk_swietek

Not every owner is the right owner. In this episode, we're sharing the biggest red flags we've encountered when onboarding vacation rental owners—from unrealistic income expectations and micromanagement to deferred maintenance and communication issues. We'll also discuss the green flags that make for successful, long-term partnerships and why saying "no" to the wrong client can be one of the best business decisions you'll ever make.Follow us on Instagram: @confessionsofahost

In this episode, Natalie shares how her journey into hosting didn’t start with Airbnb at all. It started by renting out her backyard pool on Swimply, eventually generating over $200,000 in revenue.We dive into the unconventional ways homeowners and Airbnb hosts can monetize their properties beyond overnight stays, including renting spaces for movie productions, photo shoots, events, and content creation through platforms like Peerspace and Giggster. If you’re looking for creative ways to unlock additional income from your home, this episode is packed with ideas and real-world experiences. You can follow along Natalie's pool journey at @TheOrangePool or join the pool hosting FB Group "Pool Hosting 101"Websites for the site are:Swimply.comPeerspace.comGiggster.comFollow us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/confessionsofahost.podcasthttps://instagram.com/hostwithmariamhttps://instagram.com/nataliebykov

Ever wonder why some Airbnbs stop you mid-scroll while others blend into the crowd? In this episode, we're diving into the boldest, craziest, and most memorable Airbnb properties we've come across and breaking down what makes them stand out.From jaw-dropping amenities and unique design choices to the must-have features that guests now expect in certain markets, we're talking about what actually moves the needle when it comes to bookings. Is that expensive upgrade worth it? What amenities are becoming non-negotiable? And when does "unique" cross the line into "what were they thinking?"We also tackle one of the biggest mistakes hosts make: designing a home for themselves instead of designing for their guests. If you've ever struggled to balance personal taste with profitability, this conversation is for you.Go bold or go home. We're sharing what works, what doesn't, and how to create a property that guests can't stop talking about.

If you've been posting on social media and hearing crickets — or worse, not posting at all — this episode is your wake-up call. In this quick but packed episode, we are breaking down exactly how short-term rental managers can turn social media into a powerful tool for attracting property owners, guests, and direct bookings.We're covering which platforms are actually worth your time, what to post when you have no idea where to start, and how to build a personal brand that makes property owners want to work with you before they even get on a call.Tune in, take notes, and start showing up online like the expert you already are.

Thinking about getting into Airbnb cohosting in 2026? In this episode of Confessions of a Host, we’re talking about how we got started in cohosting, how we landed our first clients, and what helped us grow our businesses in the short-term rental industry.We share practical advice for new cohosts, ways to stand out when starting from zero, how to build trust with owners, and the strategies that helped us get our names out there early on. Whether you’re looking to start cohosting as a side hustle or build a full-time business, this episode is full of real experiences and actionable tips for getting started in 2026.If you are interested in cohosting and have questions, feel free to send us a DM on:instagram.com/confessionsofahostJoin Airbnb's Cohosting Network:https://www.airbnb.com/e/local-partners

AI is everywhere right now—but how are hosts actually using it in their day-to-day operations?In this episode of Confessions of a Host, we sit down with Alex Bykov, the cofounder of The Orange Cabins to break down how he’s using AI to run and streamline his short-term rental business. From guest communication to automation and systems, we’re talking about what’s actually working, what’s not, and where AI is making the biggest impact.If you’ve been curious about how to start using AI—or wondering if you’re falling behind—this episode will give you a real, practical look at what’s possible.Follow us on:⁠Instagram.com/confessionsofahost⁠Ask Alex about AI:[email protected]

Let’s be honest… most hosts and business owners hit a point where doing everything themselves starts holding them back.In this episode, we sit down with Blendi Muriqi, Founder & CEO of Delegate.co, to talk about scaling smarter—not harder.We get into remote teams, systems, and the real reason so many people struggle to grow: they don’t delegate soon enough.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or stuck, this conversation might be the shift you need.Follow us on:Instagram.com/confessionsofahost.podcastBlendi Muriqi on Instagram:instagram.com/_thedelegatedudeCheck out Delegate.co

This podcast breaks down the real mistakes that cost short-term rental operators time, money, and sanity.From hiring the wrong photographers and taking on bad owners, to weak contracts, poor systems, and relying too heavily on platforms like Airbnb, we cover the lessons most people learn the hard way.If you're building or scaling a property management business, this is where you learn how to protect your time, your team, and your brand before small mistakes turn into expensive problems.Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/confessionsofahost.podcasthttps://instagram.com/hostwithmariamhttps://instagram.com/nataliebykov

Welcome to our very first episode! We’re getting real about how it all started! We’re Natalie and Mariam: moms, business owners, and operators managing a combined portfolio of short-term rentals and this is the behind-the-scenes version of hosting no one talks about. We break down how we each got into the industry, the messy middle between “this could be something” and actually building a business, and the moments that forced us to level up fast. No fluff, no highlight reel, just the real decisions, risks, and mistakes that got us here. If you’ve ever thought about getting into Airbnb, scaling a cohosting business, or just want to hear what actually happens behind the bookings… this is where it starts.Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/confessionsofahost.podcasthttps://instagram.com/hostwithmariamhttps://instagram.com/nataliebykov