UK: Family-owned holiday let management company Host & Stay has acquired Host So Simple, a Liverpool-based short-term let property management company.
As a result, the Host & Stay portfolio will now exceed 900 properties, providing guests with an even wider range of accommodation across the UK.
Host So Simple, started by Katy and Joe Davies in 2016, has experienced rapid growth in Liverpool through its end-to-end short-term let management service, and the level of service is what encouraged the Host & Stay team to press ahead with the acquisition.
As part of the wider SDDE Smith Group, Host So Simple will further enhance its ability to expand across the North West, scaling all aspects of its end-to-end service that has already driven success, including winning the ‘Best leisure property management company’ category at the 2022 Shortyz Awards in London.
Joe Davies, founder of Host So Simple, said: “We are genuinely excited about the possibilities that merging with a brand like Host & Stay brings, and we look forward to continuing their ambitions of creating better places to live, work, and stay in the wider North West region. We are a company with a strong focus on our team, and it was clear from the initial conversations with Dale that he shared this vision with us.
“We feel that our ability to grow will be significantly enhanced by being part of the wider group, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds as we expand our services further afield,” he added.
Dale Smith, CEO of Host & Stay, said: “We are extremely proud to welcome the Host So Simple brand into the Host & Stay portfolio. From our initial discussions, it was quickly evident that we held the same passion for property, the same core, family-backed values, and that we were operating very, very similar businesses in terms of process, systems, and attitude towards offering an ‘in-house’ full management service.
“The merger represents a significant step forward, and we are committed to delivering a best-in-class property management service for our clients,” he added.
Since its founding in December 2018, Host & Stay has experienced impressive organic growth, with its property portfolio doubling year on year. The company puts its success down to its “hands-free, end- to-end service, from cleaning and maintenance to marketing and guest relations”.
Host & Stay offers holiday home owners a hands-free, hassle-free management solution, with a 10 per cent + VAT management fee and no restrictions on owner bookings. Its mission is to make the UK one of the most popular, guest centric holiday destinations in the world, and this initial acquisition is only the start for Host & Stay.
Over the next three years, the company’s plans include the acquisition of multiple holiday home and short-term rental management businesses across the UK. Through reinvestment of profits, Host & Stay is poised to scale its operations, enabling it to optimise its capabilities, enhance service offerings, and extend its reach to customers throughout the UK.
