Why “Build in Public” Is the Smartest STR Strategy in 2026

Airbnb Pricing Strategy That Beats Your Competition (Higher Rate + Higher Occupancy)

👋 Welcome to Boostly, where STR & MTR owners get the tools, strategies, and support to win more direct bookings — no fluff, no ads. In this episode of The Boostly Podcast, I’m joined by Danny Rusteen from Optimize My Airbnb — former Airbnb employee, STR investor, and one of the most data-driven voices on pricing strategy. Danny breaks down how to price your STR so you can achieve the rare combo most hosts miss: ✅ Higher nightly rate ✅ Higher occupancy And he explains how to prove you’re pricing correctly using Airbnb’s Insights Dashboard. ✅ What to say when guests ask for a discount (and when it actually makes sense) ✅ The 3 L’s rule for discounts: Low season, Low demand, Last minute ✅ Why “set and forget” pricing tools quietly bleed revenue ✅ How Danny uses booking lead time to structure discounting ✅ How to use Airbnb Insights to compare occupancy + nightly rate vs similar listings ✅ Why Airbnb Smart Pricing is designed to benefit Airbnb (not you) ✅ The “far out premium” concept and why most hosts misprice future dates ✅ Danny’s real-world revenue lifts from changing pricing strategy This is one of those episodes where you’ll pause… and go update your calendar immediately. If you’re fully booked but your nightly rate is below similar listings, you’re not “winning”… You’re just underpriced. Danny shows you exactly how to check this inside Airbnb’s dashboard.  📲 Danny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimizemyairbnb/  🎥 Danny on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OptimizeMyAirbnb  🌍 Danny’s site / resources: https://optimizemyairbnb.com/  Danny also runs a monthly live session where he shares his screen and walks through pricing in real time (with Q&A).  🎟️ Save Your Spot: Boostly’s Free 90-Minute Workshop Master the systems top hosts use to hit 65%+ direct bookings 👉 https://boostlybootcamp.com/workshop/ 📊 Try the Bookings Booster Score Card 15 questions. Instant insights. Personalised plan. 👉 https://www.bookingsbooster.ai/ 📞 Ready to scale your direct bookings? Book a free strategy call: 👉 https://boostly.co.uk/call

2026 Predictions: AI, Direct Bookings, Regulation and the Future of Short-Term Rentals

In this episode of the Boostly Podcast, I’m joined by voices from across the industry to break down what’s coming next and what hosts and property managers need to prepare for now. Drawing on insights from operators, tech leaders, consultants, and founders, we cover the biggest shifts already happening beneath the surface, including: • AI moving from hype to table stakes • Direct bookings becoming a survival strategy, not a nice-to-have • Automation reshaping guest communication, marketing, and operations • Rising guest expectations and the return of high-touch experiences • Consolidation across software and management companies • Regulation, tourist taxes, and what they could mean for supply • Longer stays, digital nomads, and stronger shoulder seasons • Why revenue management and marketing are finally merging I also share my own prediction for 2026 and why I believe this is the year the industry fully crosses into a new operating model. If you’re a host or property manager who wants to stay profitable, future-proof your business, and reduce reliance on OTAs like Airbnb and Booking.com, this episode will help you see what’s coming before it hits. Listen now and decide which side of the change you want to be on.

Why “Build in Public” Is the Smartest STR Strategy in 2026

👋 Welcome to Boostly — where STR & MTR owners learn how to grow direct bookings, leverage content, and build brands that compound. In this episode of The Boostly Podcast, I sit down with Rajan [https://www.instagram.com/chida.rajan/] Chida — one of the fastest-growing real estate storytellers on Instagram. At just 23 years old, Rajan has: * Built and launched a luxury STR retreat * Grown over 500,000 followers * Documented every step of the journey publicly * Turned storytelling into leverage, not noise And here’s the kicker… He didn’t start with: ❌ A finished property ❌ A big budget ❌ Fancy gear ❌ Experience He started with a phone, a tripod, and the decision to document everything. ✅ Why “build in public” beats polished marketing ✅ How boring topics (yes, even septic systems) go viral ✅ The 3-second visual hook rule Rajan uses on every video ✅ How to turn construction, financing & setbacks into content ✅ Why personal brands don’t always convert — and how to fix it ✅ The real difference between personal brand vs property brand ✅ How Rajan uses influencers, ManyChat & systems to drive bookings ✅ Why your network is more valuable than monetisation (early on) This is not an Airbnb success story. It’s a leverage story. Most hosts ask: Rajan asked: Bookings were a by-product. 🎟️ Boostly’s Free 90-Minute Direct Booking Workshop Learn the systems top hosts use to hit 65%+ direct bookings 👉 https://boostlybootcamp.com/workshop/ 📊 Bookings Booster Scorecard 15 questions. Instant clarity. Personalised plan. 👉 https://www.bookingsbooster.ai/ 📞 Free Strategy Call 👉 https://boostly.co.uk/call 🤖 Ask the Boostly AI (24/7) 👉 https://boostly.co.uk/bot

She Filled Her Cabins With TikTok (No Ads, No OTAs)

👋 Welcome to Boostly — where STR & MTR owners learn how to win more direct bookings without relying on OTAs, ads, or gimmicks. In this episode, I’m joined by Britney Max from Mountain Mama Cabins, one of the best real-world examples of social media actually driving bookings in the short-term rental space. If you’ve ever thought: * “I’ve been posting for years and nothing happens…” * “TikTok is just dancing and trends” * “Social media doesn’t convert for STRs” This conversation will challenge everything you believe. ✅ How Britney went from one cabin to multiple properties ✅ The exact TikTok & Instagram strategy that drives 65–70% direct bookings ✅ Why viral videos don’t automatically mean sales ✅ The hook structure that stops the scroll ✅ How she films, edits, and batches content (even living out of state) ✅ Why direct bookings reduce stress — not just fees ✅ The mindset shift that makes putting your face on camera easier ✅ What STR hosts must do before social commerce becomes mainstream This is not theory. This is real strategy, real systems, real results. Social media doesn’t fail STR hosts. Unstructured content fails STR hosts. This episode shows how: * Storytelling beats posting * Hooks beat aesthetics * Systems beat motivation 🎟️ Save Your Spot: Boostly’s Free 90-Minute Workshop Learn the systems top hosts use to hit 65%+ direct bookings 👉 https://boostlybootcamp.com/workshop/ 📊 Bookings Booster Scorecard 15 questions. Instant insights. Personalised plan. 👉 https://www.bookingsbooster.ai/ 📞 Book a Free Direct Booking Strategy Call 👉 https://boostly.co.uk/call 🤖 Ask the Boostly AI (24/7) 👉 https://boostly.co.uk/bot 🎯 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE🧠 KEY TAKEAWAY (DON’T SKIP THIS)🎟️ FREE TRAINING & TOOLS

The Final Episode: What We Learned Building STR Daily and What’s Next for AI in Hospitality

After hundreds of episodes, insights, and conversations, this is the final episode of STR Daily. In this closing chapter, we look back at the journey — from launching the show and hitting 36,000 downloads to uncovering the biggest lessons about AI’s impact on hospitality, travel, and business. You’ll hear: • What we learned about growing a podcast and building an audience • The key shifts we’ve seen in AI and short-term rentals over the past year • Our biggest takeaways from interviews and analytics • What’s next for our team — and where you can follow our new projects This episode isn’t just a farewell — it’s a reflection on how far we’ve come and where innovation in hospitality tech is heading next. Thank you to everyone who listened, shared, and supported the journey. STR Daily may be wrapping up, but the conversations around AI and growth are just getting started.