467: Hosting Across the Pond: Global Lessons from the UK Retreat

This week’s episode is a special one—we’re taking you behind the scenes of an exclusive short-term rental retreat held in the UK at the stunning, historic Knowsley Hall. Alongside 17 founders, CEOs, and global leaders in the STR space, we got to talk shop, exchange ideas, and ask bold questions about where our industry is headed.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Knowsley Hall (est. 1385!) is blending historic preservation with modern hospitality
• Lessons from tech leaders who got their start as hosts—and the problems they built businesses to solve
• Candid insights on profitability, pricing, direct bookings, AI risk, and OTA algorithms
• Interviews with Ella (Autohost), Bart (Autorank), Phil (Futurestay), and Marc (Boostly)—all with actionable takeaways for your business

We asked them:

• What separates thriving hosts from those struggling right now?
• Is there hope for direct bookings—and how do we make it work?
• What tech is worth investing in (and what can you ditch)?
• What’s one trend in hosting that needs to die already?

If you’ve ever wanted an inside look at the STR industry from a global perspective, this episode is packed with high-level insight, practical advice, and some spicy opinions on what needs to change.

RESOURCES:

• Hostfully | Use Code TFV500 for $500 off!
• Stayfi | Provide an exceptional WiFi experience for your vacation rental guests
• Autohost.ai – Smart Screening for Hosts
• Autorank.io – Optimize Your Airbnb Ranking
• Futurestay – Simplified Property Management
• Boostly – Build Your Direct Booking Brand
• Short Stay Summit
• Knowsley Hall on Instagram

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Mentioned in this episode:

StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV500 to get $500 off your subscription.