Thanks For Visiting

Latest Episodes:

536. Unconventional Ways Hosts Are Making Money Without Overnight Guests Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

What if your short-term rental could make money without guests sleeping there?

In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down unconventional — but proven — ways hosts are generating additional revenue by leveraging their properties during the day, shoulder seasons, or slower periods.

From commercial photo shoots to coworking days, private events, pool rentals, and wellness experiences, this conversation challenges the idea that overnight stays are the only path to profitability.

You’ll learn:

How hosts are monetizing their properties without overnight guests
Why commercial photography and content creation can be highly profitable
How day-use bookings attract entrepreneurs, teams, and creators
Where private events can make sense — and where they don’t
Why pools, outdoor spaces, and amenities can become revenue drivers
The guardrails you must have in place before exploring these ideas

These strategies aren’t shortcuts — they require planning, boundaries, and intention. But for the right properties and markets, they can unlock meaningful new income streams.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

535. How to Plan Your 2026 Holiday Pricing Without Leaving Money on the Table Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

If you haven’t looked at the 2026 calendar yet, this episode is your wake-up call.

In 2026, major holidays fall on Fridays and Saturdays — and that one detail changes how guests book, arrive, and leave. If you price holidays the same way you always have, you risk blocked calendars, forced turnovers, or sitting empty on some of the biggest revenue weekends of the year.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette walk through the 2026 holiday calendar and explain exactly how different holiday placements affect demand, guest behavior, minimum stays, and turnover flow. This is not about guessing — it’s about planning ahead so your calendar works for you.

You’ll learn:

Why Saturday and Friday holidays require completely different strategies
How Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and ski weekends can create hidden risk
What makes the 4th of July especially tricky in 2026
Why Halloween doesn’t always increase demand
How Friday holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day create multiple booking opportunities
The biggest pricing mistakes hosts make when they focus on the holiday date instead of the full booking window

If you want to protect your time, your team, and your revenue in 2026, this episode is required listening.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

534. Hosting Hotline: Why We’re Sunsetting the Hotline and What Comes Next Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

This Hosting Hotline episode looks a little different.

Instead of answering a listener question, Sarah and Annette are pulling back the curtain on a big decision: sunsetting the Hosting Hotline format and refocusing their time, energy, and creativity on deeper ways to support hosts.

In this episode, they share the real reasons behind the shift, what they’ve learned from years of Hotline questions, and why “less but better” has become a guiding principle for both Thanks for Visiting and their own hosting businesses.

You’ll hear:

Why quick answers were no longer serving hosts at the level they deserve
What the Hosting Hotline taught Sarah and Annette about real hosting challenges
How context, data, and deeper strategy lead to better results
Why sunsetting something good can be the right move for long-term growth
What comes next for hosts who want to go deeper with Thanks for Visiting

This isn’t the end of support. It’s a commitment to better support.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting YouTube Channel: In-depth visual breakdowns, strategy sessions, and hosting education

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist!

Mentioned in this episode:

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

533. How AI Is Changing the Way Guests Find and Book Your Short Term Rental Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

AI is no longer a future concept for hosts. It is already shaping how guests search, discover, and choose where to stay.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with AI strategist Rick Mulready to break down what hosts actually need to understand about AI right now and how it impacts visibility, bookings, and direct booking websites. From generative engine optimization to answering guest search questions inside AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, this conversation goes beyond buzzwords and into real, practical applications.

You will learn how AI is changing search behavior, why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough, and how hosts can start positioning their listings and websites to show up where guests are already looking. Rick also shares how AI can save hosts time, simplify decision making, and help you run your short term rental like a real business without losing the human touch that great hospitality requires.

If you want to stay competitive, increase visibility, and future proof your hosting business, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Resources mentioned:

Rick Mulready’s AI Playbook community

Rick Mulready’s YouTube channel on AI for business

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

532. Hosting Hotline: Does Renaming Airbnb Photos Actually Improve SEO? Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Should you rename your Airbnb listing photos with SEO keywords before uploading them? In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette break down when photo naming actually matters and when it doesn’t.

They explain how Airbnb and other OTAs interpret image data, why guest search behavior matters more than marketing adjectives, and how intentional photo naming can support long-term visibility and accessibility across platforms. This isn’t a shortcut or hack—but it is a smart, low-effort optimization that compounds over time.

If you’re serious about aligning your listing with how guests search, and helping platforms better understand what you truly offer, this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned:

Subscribe to the Thanks for Visiting Youtube Channel!

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

531. Where to Splurge and Where to Save When Furnishing a Short-Term Rental Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Furnishing a short-term rental can feel overwhelming and expensive, especially when you’re trying to stand out in a competitive market. In this episode, we break down exactly where hosts should splurge and where they can save when furnishing their properties.

After furnishing dozens of short-term rentals and helping hosts across the country do the same, we’ve seen the same costly mistakes over and over again: overspending on things guests don’t care about and cutting corners on the things they absolutely do.

We walk through the specific items that have the biggest impact on guest experience, reviews, and repeat bookings—from beds and seating to cookware, rugs, and design moments. Plus the areas where you can save without sacrificing quality. We also share our favorite insider strategy for getting access to high-quality brands at host-only pricing, even when you’re “splurging.”

If you’re furnishing a new short-term rental or upgrading an existing one, this episode will help you spend smarter and design with intention.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist!

Minoan: a no-cost, all-in-one purchasing platform for hosts, designers, and property managers. They offer insider discounts on 150+ top brands and the ability to track all of your orders, deliveries, invoices, and receipts in one streamlined view.

Mentioned in this episode:

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

530. Hosting Hotline: Should You Adjust Airbnb Fees in PriceLabs or Airbnb? Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Airbnb’s host fee changes have left many hosts wondering where, and how, to make adjustments without breaking their pricing strategy.

In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette answer a question from Jenna Louise about whether management fee changes should be handled inside PriceLabs or directly through Airbnb or a PMS.

They walk through why your base rate must remain stable, why there’s no universal percentage that recaptures Airbnb’s new host fee, and what hosts should be tracking right now as platforms continue to evolve. If you’re trying to protect your margins without chasing hacks or distorting your data, this episode will help you make smarter, more controlled decisions.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Priced & Profitable Bootcamp

Mentioned in this episode:

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

529. The Top Short-Term Rental Hosting Lessons of 2025: Pricing, Profit & Strategy Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

What do the most-downloaded Thanks for Visiting episodes of 2025 have in common?

They weren’t about shortcuts or trends. They were about pricing, revenue, and running a smarter hosting business.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the top-performing episodes of 2025 and what they reveal about how hosts are thinking differently. From pricing strategy and upgrades to insurance, taxes, cancellation policies, and direct bookings, a clear pattern emerged: hosts want clarity, confidence, and better decision-making backed by data.

If you’re heading into the next year focused on profitability and long-term growth, this episode highlights the conversations worth revisiting and why they matter.

What we covered:

What the most downloaded episodes of 2025 reveal about today’s hosts
Why pricing and revenue strategy continue to be top priorities
How hosts are shifting away from vanity metrics toward profitability
The role of upgrades, insurance, and cancellation policies in protecting margins
Why AI, listing titles, and direct bookings are no longer optional
How these lessons shaped the creation of Strategic Host coaching

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist

Mentioned in this episode:

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

528. Hosting Hotline: Choosing Your Lane—Revenue, Experience, or Both? Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

This week on the Hosting Hotline, Vanessa brings a highly unique scenario: an off-grid cabin by the river and a big decision to make: stay fully off grid or add water to potentially increase demand.

Rather than treating this as a technical upgrade question, Sarah and Annette zoom out to what really matters: your goals, your values, and the kind of hosting business you actually want to build.

In this episode, we cover:

Why not every hosting decision is about maximizing revenue
How your “why” should drive every investment you make
The difference between designing an experience and chasing demand
Why having expenses is part of being a business owner
How to use data without letting it override your values
When narrowing your guest profile is a strategic choice—not a mistake
What it means to go all in on your version of hospitality

This episode is a reminder that success in hosting isn’t about copying others. It’s about choosing your lane and committing to it with confidence.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist

Hipcamp

Mentioned in this episode:

Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

527. The Real Risks of Using AI in Your Short-Term Rental Business Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

AI is everywhere—and short-term rental hosts are using it more than ever. But where does AI actually help, and where can it quietly create risk?

This week, Sarah and Annette are joined by attorney Scott Brown to break down what hosts need to understand before relying on AI in their business, especially when it comes to legal agreements, contracts, and compliance.

In this episode, we cover: