Should you rename your Airbnb listing photos with SEO keywords before uploading them? In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette break down when photo naming actually matters and when it doesn’t.

They explain how Airbnb and other OTAs interpret image data, why guest search behavior matters more than marketing adjectives, and how intentional photo naming can support long-term visibility and accessibility across platforms. This isn’t a shortcut or hack—but it is a smart, low-effort optimization that compounds over time.

If you’re serious about aligning your listing with how guests search, and helping platforms better understand what you truly offer, this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned:

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Mentioned in this episode:

Working hard but not making the money you should? Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Working hard but not making the money you should? Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Working hard but not making the money you should? Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Furnishing a short-term rental can feel overwhelming and expensive, especially when you’re trying to stand out in a competitive market. In this episode, we break down exactly where hosts should splurge and where they can save when furnishing their properties.

After furnishing dozens of short-term rentals and helping hosts across the country do the same, we’ve seen the same costly mistakes over and over again: overspending on things guests don’t care about and cutting corners on the things they absolutely do.

We walk through the specific items that have the biggest impact on guest experience, reviews, and repeat bookings—from beds and seating to cookware, rugs, and design moments. Plus the areas where you can save without sacrificing quality. We also share our favorite insider strategy for getting access to high-quality brands at host-only pricing, even when you’re “splurging.”

If you’re furnishing a new short-term rental or upgrading an existing one, this episode will help you spend smarter and design with intention.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist!

Minoan: a no-cost, all-in-one purchasing platform for hosts, designers, and property managers. They offer insider discounts on 150+ top brands and the ability to track all of your orders, deliveries, invoices, and receipts in one streamlined view.

Airbnb’s host fee changes have left many hosts wondering where, and how, to make adjustments without breaking their pricing strategy.

In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette answer a question from Jenna Louise about whether management fee changes should be handled inside PriceLabs or directly through Airbnb or a PMS.

They walk through why your base rate must remain stable, why there’s no universal percentage that recaptures Airbnb’s new host fee, and what hosts should be tracking right now as platforms continue to evolve. If you’re trying to protect your margins without chasing hacks or distorting your data, this episode will help you make smarter, more controlled decisions.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Priced & Profitable Bootcamp

What do the most-downloaded Thanks for Visiting episodes of 2025 have in common?

They weren’t about shortcuts or trends. They were about pricing, revenue, and running a smarter hosting business.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the top-performing episodes of 2025 and what they reveal about how hosts are thinking differently. From pricing strategy and upgrades to insurance, taxes, cancellation policies, and direct bookings, a clear pattern emerged: hosts want clarity, confidence, and better decision-making backed by data.

If you’re heading into the next year focused on profitability and long-term growth, this episode highlights the conversations worth revisiting and why they matter.

What we covered:

1. What the most downloaded episodes of 2025 reveal about today’s hosts
2. Why pricing and revenue strategy continue to be top priorities
3. How hosts are shifting away from vanity metrics toward profitability
4. The role of upgrades, insurance, and cancellation policies in protecting margins
5. Why AI, listing titles, and direct bookings are no longer optional
6. How these lessons shaped the creation of Strategic Host coaching

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist

This week on the Hosting Hotline, Vanessa brings a highly unique scenario: an off-grid cabin by the river and a big decision to make: stay fully off grid or add water to potentially increase demand.

Rather than treating this as a technical upgrade question, Sarah and Annette zoom out to what really matters: your goals, your values, and the kind of hosting business you actually want to build.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why not every hosting decision is about maximizing revenue
• How your “why” should drive every investment you make
• The difference between designing an experience and chasing demand
• Why having expenses is part of being a business owner
• How to use data without letting it override your values
• When narrowing your guest profile is a strategic choice—not a mistake
• What it means to go all in on your version of hospitality

This episode is a reminder that success in hosting isn’t about copying others. It’s about choosing your lane and committing to it with confidence.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist

Hipcamp

AI is everywhere—and short-term rental hosts are using it more than ever. But where does AI actually help, and where can it quietly create risk?

This week, Sarah and Annette are joined by attorney Scott Brown to break down what hosts need to understand before relying on AI in their business, especially when it comes to legal agreements, contracts, and compliance.

In this episode, we cover:

• How AI is being used in STR businesses today
• Where AI saves time and where it can create serious problems
• Why using AI to draft contracts is risky
• Real-world examples of AI “hallucinations” in legal work
• What AI tools can help with safely
• The importance of editing and human oversight
• When transparency around AI use matters
• Why professional advisors still matter in an AI-driven world

AI isn’t going away, but understanding its limits is critical if you want to protect your business, your properties, and your income.

Resources Mentioned:

Scott Brown, Attorney

Thanks for Visiting Priced & Profitable Bootcamp 

This week on the Hosting Hotline, Randa writes in with a question many new hosts face: What should I be focusing on while I’m waiting to take possession of my first short-term rental?

Sarah and Annette walk through exactly how to use this in-between time wisely—so you’re not scrambling once the first guest checks in.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why buying an STR means starting a business—not just furnishing a property
• What to set up financially before you ever get the keys
• How to build your business “dream team” early
• Why revenue strategy should come before design decisions
• What market research you can do without stepping inside the home
• How to start building your operational support system
• The habits every successful host sets up before opening day
• Why consuming too much hosting content can actually slow you down

If you’re waiting to close—or planning your first STR—this episode helps you focus on the work that truly sets you up for long-term success.

Resources mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Priced & Profitable Bootcamp

Every market has a slow season—and no, it doesn’t mean your listing is broken. This week, Sarah and Annette break down how to use your slow season strategically so you can maximize revenue when demand returns.

In this episode, we cover:

• What actually defines a slow season (and why every market has one)
• How to stop “panic pricing” when demand doesn’t exist
• The industry secret: using a slow season to get ahead
• The operational tasks that matter most right now
• Why a deep clean isn’t just about your space—it’s about your numbers
• How to reconnect with past guests and segment your audience
• What financial foundations every host should review annually
• How reinvesting in yourself leads to better revenue outcomes

You can’t change the market. But you can change how you respond to it—and a smart slow-season strategy sets you up for your most profitable year yet.

Resources mentioned:

Priced & Profitable Bootcamp

Mentioned in this episode:

Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!