Hospitable Hosts discuss their careers as rentalpreneurs
Worldwide: STRz speaks to some of the ‘rentalpreneurs’ who contributed to the inaugural Hospitable Hosts book published in May this year, including its creator, Jodie Stirling.
Andrew Hanson, Pond Life Rentals [USA]:
- Please introduce yourself and your business.
I’m Andrew Hanson, the co-founder of Pond Life Rentals, a vacation rental management company and owner of CS Companies, which is a family of specialised companies in the real estate industry.
- Why did you want to contribute to Hospitable Hosts in the first place?
I wanted to help educate and inspire others in the industry, to show others that it doesn’t matter what your background is that if you go out and work hard you can rise to the top!
- What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘rentalpreneur’?
This means everything to me, especially just being a recent nominee for the ‘2022 Entrepreneur of the Year‘ here in New Hampshire. To me, it means that you have several different businesses and are making an impact in many ways on your local economy, all while having the ability to serve others and make an impact on their lives.
- What is one notable passage or story from the book that readers should look out for in your contribution?
The section where I share my top five quick tips for new hosts and property managers that are planning to get into this industry. This is a must-read section of the chapter!
- If you had just one piece of advice to give to prospective or new hosts, what would it be? Or looking back in hindsight, what would you have done differently as a host starting out if anything?
My advice would be to go out and buy Hospitable Hosts. That would be a great start with over 40 expert authors giving out their advice, then start to network and join like-minded groups and masterminds that can help you expand your context and reality. The best way to start is just that “Start” and you can figure out the rest on the journey!
Tatianna Taylor-Tait, Tatianna Taylor-Tait Ltd [Canada]:
- Please introduce yourself and your business.
- Why did you want to contribute to Hospitable Hosts in the first place?
- What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘rentalpreneur’?
- What is one notable passage or story from the book that readers should look out for in your contribution?
- If you had just one piece of advice to give to prospective or new hosts, what would it be? Or looking back in hindsight, what would you have done differently as a host starting out if anything?
Tracey Northcott, Tokyo Family Stays [Japan]:
- Please introduce yourself and your business.
- Why did you want to contribute to Hospitable Hosts in the first place?
I wanted to tell my story and hopefully inspire other hosts that despite setbacks, you can rebuild after a disaster.
- What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘rentalpreneur’?
- What is one notable passage or story from the book that readers should look out for in your contribution?
- If you had just one piece of advice to give to prospective or new hosts, what would it be? Or looking back in hindsight, what would you have done differently as a host starting out if anything?
Toby Dore, Cajun Stays [USA]:
- Please introduce yourself and your business.
- Why did you want to contribute to Hospitable Hosts in the first place?
- What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘rentalpreneur’?
- What is one notable passage or story from the book that readers should look out for in your contribution?
- If you had just one piece of advice to give to prospective or new hosts, what would it be? Or Looking back in hindsight, what would you have done differently as a host starting out if anything?
Sean McGregor, SWAP CoHosting [USA]:
I am the chief experience officer of Stay Work And Play or SWAP CoHosting for short. SWAP CoHosting has over 2,400 reviews, our SuperHosts have had a 4.96 star rating since 2018, and SWAP is so confident in the experience provided that it offers a five-star guarantee where no commission is owed if a guest leaves anything other than a five-star review.
Lizzie, Owl Valley Glamping [UK]:
- Please introduce yourself and your business.
Hi, I’m Lizzie and I am a co-owner of Owl Valley Glamping, situated in North Devon, UK.
- Why did you want to contribute to Hospitable Hosts in the first place?
My main reason for contributing to Hospitable Hosts was because the idea of the book made me really excited. It’s something really unique and it really intrigued me.
- What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘rentalpreneur’?
To me, being a ‘rentalpreneur’ gave my family and I the time and freedom to be together and help make some lifelong dreams a reality.
- What is one notable passage or story from the book that readers should look out for in your contribution?
Whilst we may not be the biggest or the most experienced, we are just ‘normal’ people who have jumped in with both feet and are enjoying the process.
- If you had just one piece of advice to give to prospective or new hosts, what would it be? Or looking back in hindsight, what would you have done differently as a host starting out if anything?
My one piece of advice is don’t sweat the small stuff. Not everything is going to go the way you wished, hoped or planned for and that’s okay. Also, hosting can at times feel like a really lonely profession – social media is your friend, network and connection. You’ll find the most amazing community of crazy, knowledgeable individuals to help guide you and be your biggest cheerleaders along the way.
Jodie Stirling – “the visionary behind the book”
Stirling knows that being hospitable is about ensuring her guests have a wonderful experience, not just a place to lay their heads. She had the vision to share her story and the stories of others from around the world about their passion for the short-term rental industry. Each author shares their journey of how they got to where they are in the industry and who their most memorable guests were. Hospitable Hosts is also an education tool as each author shares their top tips to inspire others.
Boostly, I-PRAC, SUPERHOG, Operto, Invested Talent, BNB Amplify sponsored the project. All proceeds from the sale of the book have been donated to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London and WarChild.