Host Camp Weekly: AI Tools, Tourism Trends, and a 35% CoC Motel Deal

Ever thought of investing in a historic motel, {{contact.first_name}}?

Then we've got a tempting motel deal with a 35% CoC with your name on it. Plus, tourism-industry drama, AI chatbot takeovers, dinos scaring investors.

That's all in this week's edition. Let's dive in.

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

5.2%

That's how much total nights booked increased this year from 2025. AirDNA's March 2026 US review is out, and most numbers are trending up.

• Revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 2.3% year over year.
• Demand went up by a full 2%.
• Average daily rates climbed 2.6% to $269.34.
• Available listings increased by 3.3% year over year (take that how you will...)

There was just one thing that decreased, and it's the one everyone's been talking about. Occupancy slightly sank by 0.3% year over year.

Overall, 2026 is still looking pretty promising for short-term rentals.

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

VRBO's AI Took Over and Answered 1.3 Million Questions

This is not another AI horror story. It's actually a win for the OTA.

VRBO built a simple Q&A chatbot that lives on the listing page. The AI reads the listing description, amenities, and reviews. When a guest asks a question, it answers instantly. Hosts get no notifications, guests never have to wait.

And so far, it's crushing it. In its first few weeks, the tool answered 1.3 million traveler questions.

Guesty's New AI Sounds Exactly Like You.

Meanwhile, Guesty just launched new AI-powered features for ReplyAI. ReplyAI Autopilot handles guest messages. It even adapts to your tone and style to sound exactly like you (creepy, but genius). ReplyAI Task Creation automatically turns guest requests into tasks to assign to your team.

👉 Read the full breakdown here

Rental Arbitrage Still Works in 2026. But Only If You Invest HERE.

We're not the biggest fans of Airbnb arbitrage. It gets you cash flow fast, but you get no equity, no ownership, no tax benefits, and no lasting wealth. But love it or hate it, arbitrage is still an accessible way for many people to start.

AirDNA just did the research and found the best (and worst) cities to start Airbnb arbitrage based on the premium, or the difference between rent and earnings.

The top cities for arbitrage right now:

•  Charleston, SC – 333% premium
•  Salinas, CA – 251% premium
•  North Port, FL – 200% premium
•  Providence, RI – 195% premium

Don't be fooled by the cash. The real wealth-building strategy is to use arbitrage as a launch pad. Start there. Stack cash. Then buy a property you actually own.

👉 Read the full market guide for the complete list (including the worst cities for arbitrage), arbitrage market insights and risks, and a free calculator to see if your next rental will actually pay off.

US Tourism Is Still Dropping (And the World Cup Won't Save the Day)

2026 was supposed to be a banner year for US tourism thanks to the FIFA World Cup. Instead, the industry is still in a prolonged slump.

Tourism fell by more than 5% last year, and America is now the only large advanced economy where tourism is shrinking. Overseas arrivals have dropped for nine straight months, and the economy was expected to lose around $12.5 billion last year.

In January 2026, overseas arrivals were down roughly 3.5% to 4.8% compared to January 2025. Flight bookings from Europe for summer 2026, our busy season, are down more than 14%.

But at least we can count on the World Cup, right?

Not exactly, the tourism industry is worried. Hospitality groups report lackluster demand for FIFA hotel blocks. Many hotel rooms set aside for the tournament are still empty.

👉 Read the full article to learn what's driving the slump, what this means for hosts, and tips to attract more domestic travelers right now.

Deal of the Week
Paris, ID | Historic Motel Conversion with 35% CoC (Seller Financing Available)

52 S Main St, Paris, ID 83261 is a former historic motel in Bear Lake country on the Idaho side. The property comes with city utilities, commercial zoning, and almost no STR regulations. And it's 10 minutes from North Beach.

The Property

•  List Price: $299,000 (seller financing available)

•  Units: 5 rooms + office/laundry area

•  Zoning: Commercial (already set up for lodging)

The Strategy

Convert this historic motel into a 5-room boutique lodging operation targeting Bear Lake vacationers. Bear Lake is known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its turquoise water and draws 35,000 to 40,000 visitors on summer holiday weekends.

Revenue & Performance (Individual room model)

•  Target ADR: $135/night per room

•  Target Occupancy: 50% (Market average is 45%)

•  Target Gross Rev: $123,000

•  NOI: $72,000

•  Renovation Budget: ~$128,000

•  Total Investment: $427,000

•  Total Cash Invested: ~$232,000

Cash-on-Cash: 18.6% (25% down, 25-year)

With seller financing (aggressive terms: $275K, 10% down, 6%, 30-year):

Cash-on-Cash: 35%

This is an extremely seasonal but profitable investment.

Why Our Coaches Love This Deal

•  City utilities
No septic capacity issues or replacement costs (huge win for a rural property)

•  Idaho side property
Almost no STR regulations compared to strict Utah rules

•  Commercial zoning
Freedom for multi-unit lodging without rezoning headaches

•  Seller financing available
Preserves capital and seriously improves returns

•  Recent updates already done
New water lines, water heater, electrical in 2 rooms, windows, doors

•  Bear Lake demand and opportunity
Only 1,000+ STR listings serving 35,000+ summer weekend visitors

This is a strong buy with conventional financing. But it becomes exceptional with seller financing. Lead with an aggressive seller financing offer and settle at conservative terms if needed.

👉 View the full listing on Zillow

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

This Viral Jurassic Park Airbnb Is Stuck on the Market. Here's Why.

That Jurassic Park-themed cabin you see up there is a viral sensation. Life-sized animatronic dinosaurs spread through jungle landscaping inside a fully equipped luxury cabin. Guests absolutely love it.

So why has it been listed for sale over three times in five years? And why did it sit on the market for almost a year with no buyers? The numbers tell a cautionary tale.

Everything Looks Great...Until You Do the Math.

This property pulls in about $110,000 a year. It has a 4.96-star rating, and it's been featured in travel magazines and blogs. On paper, it looks like a winner.

But what about after expenses? Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and the hidden costs of keeping animatronic dinosaurs alive. The annual net profit is only about $17,000.

That's an 8% cash-on-cash return on a $210,000 down payment. For the headaches of running a themed property and the surprise expenses when a T-Rex stops moving? That's not nearly enough.

Most of the time, this property sits just above or below break-even. And while the cool factor is definitely there, it's not getting the results it should be.

6 Fatal Flaws Hiding Behind the Velociraptors

Too niche-dependent. The Jurassic Park theme limits both guests and future buyers. If you go this niche, you need very high cash flow and a plan to convert it for a broader audience.

The theme doesn't go all the way. The outside is incredible. The inside feels generic. The immersion stops at the front door.

Hidden maintenance costs were ignored. Where do you buy a replacement T-Rex head? Those costs add up fast.

Viral hype is not sustainable. You can't bank on going viral. You need a strategy to attract guests year-round.

A good, but not resort-level backyard experience. A dinosaur theme is begging for excavation pits, outdoor cinemas, and fire pits. That space is a goldmine.

No direct booking website. When you have viral attention, you need to own the audience. That is how you build a sustainable business.

👉 Read the full playbook to learn:

•  Our strategy for saving this investment (and protecting your next one)
•  The 5 questions to ask before you buy any property
•  The full expense estimate so you never miss hidden costs
•  The one thing most investors skip that can make or break your wealth plan.

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

This Octagonal Cabin Might Already Be in Your Airbnb Wishlist

Our favorite feature in this unconventional octagon cabin is the wrap-around floor-to-ceiling glass windows to enjoy the 7 private woodland acres.

With a cozy fireplace, well-designed interiors, and a large deck for grilling and stargazing, this home is serene and well executed. It's no wonder it made it onto Airbnb's most wishlisted stays for 2026.

Check it out here and give it a ♥️→

Got a Few More Minutes? Dive Deeper.

I Spent $50,000 on My Airbnb Backyard Renovation. These 8 Upgrades Matter Most.

Rob breaks down the eight high ROI amenities he chose for his favorite backyard renovation. He shares why he chose them, how much they cost, and why they're super important for STRs in 2026.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

How The Top 1% Identify Ideal Locations to Buy

Struggling to afford your first property? Kai breaks down a time-tested strategy that's helped generations build wealth that most people overlook today. Learn how to spot affordable high-growth areas for both equity appreciation and future cash flow.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

That's it for this week, {{contact.first_name}}.

To thank you for sticking around, here's a link to our new Does It Pencil STR Calculator. This quick and easy tool will help you figure out if your STR deal can actually make money in minutes.  

Check it out here and let us know what you think!

'Til next week,

The Host Camp Team

P.S. Know another host or investor who would love this newsletter? Invite them to sign up here.

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