In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – Canadian STR expert Chad Harker shares his journey from ‘host hacking’ to scaling a successful vacation rental business.
Chad discusses how to deliver unforgettable guest experiences and drive direct bookings through social media. He also taps into the power of community and user-generated content, diving into key market trends that influence business growth – from experiential stays to the ripple effects of U.S. travel politics.
Join us to learn Chad's top lessons for hosts ready to enhance their Airbnb hosting skills and achieve significant growth in their vacation rental businesses.
0:48 Donald Trump’s impact on the Canadian vacation rentals market
2:34 Canadian tourists are shunning the US
4:46 Chad’s ‘host hacking’ journey in short-term rentals
6:34 Chad’s biggest lessons learned
7:56 How to deliver a great guest experience
8:46 How to drive direct bookings
10:25 Hospitality is key
11:21 How to scale a vacation rental business
13:08 Join your local Facebook group
14:47 Key trends, including experiential stays
16:30 Driving direct bookings through social media
17:57 User-generated content
19:43 Favourite brands: Boostly and Linkbase
20:52 Individual shout-out: Braydon Ross (AKA @MrAirbnb)
22:09 Number one lesson learned
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Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Chad Harker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-harker-50a839282/
Episode to check next: Mastering OTA Strategies for Direct Bookings and Brand Growth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa3wvkT-zRM&t=4s
Host Planet Podcast is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Contact the show: info@hostplanet.club
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