How Borealis Basecamp Turned a 3-Month Northern Lights Airbnb into an 8-Month, $18M Revenue Machine

Happy Friday!

This week's edition is contains surprising emerging markets, new AI features, a lucrative 19% CoC STR deal (...and a dash of wizardry.)

Let’s get into it.

Read Time: 4 mins

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

50%.

That’s how much Airbnb’s booked nights in India grew year-over-year in 2025.

First-time bookers jumped over 60%.

For years, Airbnb’s growth leaned heavily on five major countries. But that’s changing fast.

According to Airbnb’s latest Q4 report, expansion markets are growing at twice the pace of core markets like the U.S.

The fastest-growing regions: India, Brazil and Japan.

👉 Read our full Q4 breakdown to see more global market insights, how Airbnb performed in 2025, and the biggest shifts that could impact your business in 2026.

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

HomeToGo Launches a New AI Travel Companion

HomeToGo is saying goodbye to its AI chatbot Sunny and bringing in a new AI travel companion called Dash.

Dash answers guest questions instantly—check-in times, Wi-Fi codes, local recommendations.

And it’s already getting results: The new AI feature has cut customer escalations by 85%.

The tool is now available to millions of users across HomeToGo's marketplace, iOS app, and web platform, including sister brands Wimdu and Tripping.com.

Read the full story here.

AirDNA Picks 10 (Unconventional) Cities for STRs and MTRs

AirDNA released its picks for the best short-term rental markets for 2026.

But these aren’t trendy vacation towns.

They’re powered by military bases, refineries, hospitals, AI data centers and state government travel.

Here are three of the highest-yield picks:

Abilene, TX — 16.4% Yield | 77.2% Occupancy

Lebanon, PA — 15.7% Yield | 59.2% Occupancy

Port Arthur, TX — 14.4% Yield | 77.6% Occupancy

Read the full breakdown to learn:

✔️ AirDNA’s top 10 cities to invest for under $250K (some showing yields over 18%)

✔️ How to identify hidden-gem markets using AirDNA

Or get 10% off AirDNA here →

Over 50% of Hosts Trust AI to Handle Guest Messages

Hospitable surveyed 500+ short-term rental hosts for their 2026 report.

The main themes? Competition, AI, and staffing pressures.

Here’s what stood out:

▪️ 80.9% use AI for guest communication

▪️ 52.9% fully trust AI to handle guest messages accurately

▪️ 47.1% say rising competition was their biggest challenge in 2025

▪️ 45.1% struggled with rising operational costs

▪️ Nearly 40% found it difficult to hire staff and cleaners

Despite the challenges and uncertainty, hosts are still optimistic and plan to grow their portfolios.

59.9% plan to scale up in 2026.

👉 Get more insights from Hospitable’s report here.

Deal of the Week
Stoneham, ME | 6-Unit Glamping Portfolio on 56 Acres

859 Maine St, Stoneham, ME is a 6-unit experiential STR portfolio located in the White Mountains near Sunday River and North Conway.

This is a fully operating hospitality property featuring treehouses, A-frames, trails, and on-site amenities across 56 acres.

The Property

▪️ Purchase Price: $899,900

▪️ 6 Units: 3 Treehouses + 3 A-Frame Cabins on 56 Acres

▪️ Trails + Disc Golf Course

▪️ 50-ft Mountaintop Tower

▪️ On-site Convenience Store

▪️ Fully Furnished & Currently Operating

Year-round demand drivers: ski season + summer outdoor recreation.

The Numbers (6 Units + Hot Tubs)

Hot tubs are revenue-critical in this market.

▪️ Required CapEx: ~$48K (6 hot tubs)

▪️ Projected Gross (with hot tubs): ~$200K

▪️ Estimated NOI: ~$75K

▪️ With 25% down (~$225K) + hot tubs:

▪️ Total Cash Invested: ~$273K

▪️ Projected Cash-on-Cash: ~5.5%

The Expansion Play (10 Units)

Add 4 more small units (~$200K build cost total).

▪️ Projected Gross (10 units): ~$280K

▪️ Estimated NOI: ~$150K

▪️ Projected Cash-on-Cash: ~19%

▪️ Total Cash Invested: ~$473K

This deal hinges on one question: Can you legally add more units?

If yes → strong upside.

If no → thin returns.

Critical Due Diligence

▪️ Confirm zoning allows additional units

▪️ Verify septic and well capacity

▪️ Review Maine building codes for unique builds

Why Our Coaches Like This Deal

✔️ Rare multi-unit experiential portfolio in a strong four-season market

✔️ Existing infrastructure supports future expansion

✔️ Revenue materially increases with strategic value-add (hot tubs)

✔️ Clear upside if zoning permits additional units

The base case works—but the expansion play is what makes this a true winner.

View the full listing on Zillow →

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

How to Turn a 3-Month Peak Airbnb into an 8-Month Money Machine

When Adriel Butler built Borealis Basecamp in Alaska, bookings flooded in for one reason: the northern lights.

The problem? Most reservations came in a tight 3-month window.

Instead of accepting seasonality, Adriel engineered demand and stretched a seasonal attraction into an 8-month revenue machine.

The Strategy

1. Built for all seasons, not just peak season

The igloos weren’t just photogenic. They were engineered for extreme weather.

2. Added bookable experiences year-round

Dog sledding. Snowmobiles. UTV tours. Helicopters. Reindeer encounters.

One attraction (aurora) became multiple booking triggers across seasons.

3. Created restaurants that drive their own demand

He turned the property into a culinary destination—bringing in locals and adding revenue that doesn’t depend on overnight stays.

The Results

✔️ Expanded to ~8 months of annual operation

✔️ ~65% average occupancy

✔️ $1,000–$1,600 ADR (peaks up to $2,500)

✔️ Multi-million-dollar annual revenue estimates

✔️ $60M–$100M+ estimated valuation in under a decade

👉 Get the full playbook here + 6 strategies to boost year-round bookings.

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

The School of Sorcery Wizard Retreat, Ohio

Themed Airbnbs walk a fine line.

Too on the nose? Gimmicky.
Too subtle? Forgettable.

This Harry Potter-inspired Ohio castle nails it—floating candles, flying books, and immersive Hogwarts house-themed rooms. It’s detailed and cohesive.

And it fully commits.

Check it out here →

Got a Few More Minutes? Dive Deeper.

Why I'm leaving Airbnb (and why you should too)

Rob breaks down why relying on one platform is risky — and shares insights on funnel marketing, social media traffic, and paid ads for building a direct booking strategy.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

Should You Invest in One of America’s 4,531 Abandoned Towns?

Kai explores the surprising world of ghost towns for sale—why they were abandoned, what they cost, and whether they make sense as STR investments.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

And that’s it for this week.

Have a wonderful weekend,

The Host Camp Team

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