Direct Bookings Surge 90%, Hospitable Launches Cleaner Payments & a 20.4% CoC Green Bay Deal: Your Weekly STR Update

Err...Happy Friday the 13th?

We promise there's no bad energy in this email.

Just helpful insights, revenue-boosting strategies, and a high-potential real estate deal.

Let's jump in.

Read Time: 4 mins

By The Numbers
Data...and what you should do about it.

90%+

That's how much direct booking revenue grew last year, according to a Hostaway report.

Guests aren't OTA-loyal anymore.

They're hunting for better deals and want to book direct with brands they trust.

But hosts are still lagging behind.

Last year, hosts lost over $1 billion to OTA fees and commissions—and that was just from repeat guests. Oof.

Ready to put that cash back in your pocket and start taking direct bookings?

👉 Read our STR direct booking guide for marketing strategies, SEO tips, and all the tools you need to start.

Host Headlines
The latest stories and takes in the world of short-term rentals

Finally: Manage Cleaners + Staff (and Pay Them) in Your PMS

Ever lost your Superhost status because a cleaner missed a text? This one's for you.

Hospitable just launched Tasks—a new feature that brings cleaning coordination, team tasks, and payments into one place.

No more juggling texts, emails, checklists, and separate payment apps.

What it does:

✔️ Assign cleanings, turnovers, or other tasks with instructions + due dates

✔️ Teammates update progress in real time ("on the way," "in progress," "complete")

✔️ All communication stays inside the platform—time-stamped, auditable

✔️ Optional automated payouts once tasks are marked complete

Read more about Hospitable Tasks here.

Is Airbnb Going "Pay to Play"? Or Is This Their New Loyalty Program?

ICYMI, Airbnb is testing a "Top-Rated Guest" discount that lets hosts offer 10–20% off to travelers with strong review histories.

In exchange, Airbnb boosts those listings' visibility when those guests search.

The twist: That discount only goes to highly-rated guests—think 4.8+ ratings, reliable communication, good feedback.

You're not discounting for the masses.

You're discounting for the guests you actually want.

Yes, this feels like an unconventional spin on sponsored listings.

But we also think it's a direct shot at Booking.com's Genius program—except instead of rewarding spend, Airbnb is rewarding good guest behavior.

👉 Read the full story here

AirDNA's First Investor Survey: Amateurs Hesitate, Pros Are Bullish

AirDNA just dropped their first-ever Short-Term Rental Investor Survey, polling over 400 hosts.

The top findings:

▪️ Investors with 5+ properties are ready to buy again. First-timers are sitting this one out.

▪️ What's holding hosts back: Property prices (40%), demand uncertainty (37%), rising costs (36%), interest rates (28%), regulations (24%).

▪️ No one's selling. Over 60% said they're highly unlikely to sell anything in the next year. Those who will are doing it strategically.

▪️ Where they're buying: Outdoor destinations (30%), coastal (24%), urban (17%).

New investors stick to "safer" cities. Pros chase mountains and beaches.

👉 Read our full breakdown for more findings here

Deal of the Week
Green Bay, WI | 8BR Trophy Asset Built for Group Hospitality

902 S Madison St, Green Bay, WI 54301 is an 8-bedroom, 5-bathroom home spanning 7,216 square feet, positioned as a boutique group hospitality asset with serious profit-to-pocket potential.

The Property

▪️ Purchase Price: $950,000

▪️ Bed/Bath: 8BR / 5BA

▪️ Square Footage: 7,216 sqft

▪️ Location: Green Bay, WI

The Strategy

This is designed to operate like a small boutique hotel—prioritizing group bookings, premium guest experience, and operational systems that protect profit.

The revenue lift comes from strategic upgrades: cohesive luxury furnishing and curated guest experience zones.

The Numbers

The Numbers (Stabilized Year)

▪️ Target Occupancy: 40% (146 nights)

▪️ Target Blended ADR: $1,884

▪️ Estimated Gross Revenue: $275,000

▪️ Operating Expenses: 46% (~$126,500)

▪️ NOI: $148,500

▪️ Annual Debt Service: $62,214 (6.75%, 30-year)

▪️ Profit to Pocket (PTP): $86,286

▪️ Startup / CapEx (~$180,000)

▪️ Total Cash Needed: ~$423,500
(incl. CapEx, down payment, reserve and closing costs)

▪️ Cash‑on‑Cash Return: ~20.4%

Why Our Coaches Love This Deal

✔️ 8BR layout captures the high-value group and event market—think bachelor parties, family reunions, corporate retreats

✔️ Boutique hotel positioning creates premium ADR potential ($1,884 blended)

✔️ Green Bay benefits from year-round demand drivers—football, events, and growing tourism

✔️ Impressive ~20.4% cash-on-cash return makes it a true winner!

Note: This only hits max-return targets if it's run like a small boutique hotel—guest screening, rule clarity, and operational discipline are profit-protection here.

View the full listing on Zillow →

Peek the Playbook
Real host strategies you can steal (tested in the wild)

The Genius Financing Hack That Turned Their Last $500 into $2.8 Million

Tori and Seth Bolt poured their life savings into a glampsite with four luxury treehouses in South Carolina.

Then the county passed an ordinance effectively banning short-term rentals.

They were evicted from their own property.

Down to their last $500. Living in an RV with a leaky roof.

Banks laughed when they asked for loans.

So they got creative.

The Hack: Pre-Sell What Doesn't Exist Yet

They took that last $500 and got professional renderings of what they wanted to build next—a new property in Tennessee.

Then they built a simple Shopify website and started pre-selling reservations for treehouses that weren't built or funded.

Their insane goal? $500,000 in pre-sales.

They hit $1 million.

That pre-sale money gave banks the confidence to green-light a construction loan.

Fast forward to today: Bolt Farm has 24+ units, 93% occupancy, and a $30M valuation.

Strategies to Steal from the Bolt Farm Playbook

✔️ Don't ask if you can afford it. Ask how you can afford it.

That question unlocks creative solutions like pre-sales.

✔️ Always have an exit strategy.

No market is truly "STR-friendly" forever. The Bolts survived because they pivoted fast.

✔️ Scale experiences, not just doors.

More cabins aren't the only way to more income. On-theme upsells and packages multiply revenue.

👉 Read the full playbook for their complete comeback story, construction costs, and more strategies to add to your arsenal.

Airbnbs we ♥️
Our favorite listings that stop the scroll + raise the bar!

Tom's Cabana Royal Pickleball Resort – Clearwater, FL

Tom’s epic sport court is so bright and attention-grabbing…you might be able to see it from space.

This professionally designed stay features a fun outdoor pool area and cinema, a karaoke and game room, and a kids' room with a climbing wall you'll wish you'd thought of.

Of course, it has a perfect 5-star review streak.

Check it out here and give it a ♥️→

Got a Few More Minutes? Dive Deeper.

The $200,000 Airbnb Super Backyard... Worth It??

The real Airbnb competition is happening outside.

Rob and Funkit Interior's Blue Delgado break down a $10K vs $50K vs $100K vs $200K Airbnb backyard to see what actually drives bookings.

One property made over $200K in its first month live!

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

18 Tools I Bring to Every Build

For almost 21 years, Kai has been obsessed with buying and building unique STR structures—from domes and container homes to luxury cave homes.

Here are the tested, proven tools he brings to every project.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

That's it for this week!

Thanks for sticking around. For making it to the end, here's a little gift:

Click here to download our free Airbnb profitability calculator and use it to analyze any potential deals—and avoid money pit investments.

You're welcome.

Have a great weekend,

The Host Camp Team

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