How do you build a vacation rental business around themed properties – and turn it into a marketing engine that drives direct bookings?

In this episode of the Host Planet Playbook – powered by property management software, Hospitable – James Varley sits down with Ryan Moyer, Founder of Cosmic Vacations, the operator behind one of the most distinctive themed rental portfolios in Florida and Utah.

Ryan walks through how he made the leap from short-term rental investor to running a themed-rental brand, the operational reality of setting up themed properties, why theming is one of the strongest direct booking levers in 2026, and the specific tactics he uses to deliver the kind of guest experience that turns first-time stays into repeat bookings.

Whether you're running one rental or scaling a portfolio, this is a practical case study in standing out in a crowded market.

1:38 Cosmic Vacations in Utah and Florida

2:29 From STR investor to managing Disney-themed rentals

5:01 Why hospitality and staying ahead of the market matters

7:55 How to set up a themed rental

10:11 How theming drives marketing and direct bookings

10:48 Top tips for delivering a great guest experience

14:48 How to keep owners and co-hosts happy

16:40 The challenges and opportunities of operating in Florida

19:18 Cosmic Vacations' unique selling points

20:51 Ryan's biggest lessons learned

22:25 What Ryan loves most about hosting

23:37 Quick-fire round

Cosmic Vacations: https://cosmicvacations.com/

Download a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbook

The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with property management software, Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet

The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

The Host Planet Podcast is where Airbnb hosts, Booking.com hosts, Vrbo hosts, and short-term rental operators come to learn what actually works. Each episode features expert insights from people actively building, managing, and scaling short-term rentals, covering everything from Airbnb hosting fundamentals to advanced rental strategies. Whether you’re focused on guest satisfaction, rental management, or smarter automation tips, the show delivers practical advice you can apply immediately to improve performance and increase Airbnb bookings.

Across the series, we explore Airbnb host tips, listing optimization, price optimization, and Airbnb listing optimization – alongside real-world investing insights and behind-the-scenes Airbnb secrets you won’t hear elsewhere. From hosted conversations with industry leaders and Airbnb ambassadors to actionable guidance on bookings and short-term rental growth, Host Planet helps hosts navigate short term rentals with confidence and clarity.

The show is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact: info@hostplanet.club

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