Tips for successful vacation hosts
Everything you need to know for a successful tourist season — from apartment preparation, legal obligations, to commission-free direct bookings.
How to prepare your apartment for the 2026 season — complete guide
Every tourist season starts with preparation. The difference between an average and excellent host is how ready you are before the first guest arrives.
How much Booking.com really costs you — commission calculator
Booking.com charges 15-25% commission on every reservation. For an average apartment, that means €2,000 to €8,000 per year.
10 things guests notice in the first 5 minutes
The review is written in the first 5 minutes. Everything after just confirms the first impression.
How to respond to a negative review — 5 examples
Every host gets a negative review. The question is not whether it will happen, but how you react.
Flat-rate rental business in Croatia — everything you need to know in 2026
If you rent out an apartment in Croatia, a flat-rate business is the simplest legal path.
How to photograph your apartment for Booking — 10 tips
A guest decides in 3 seconds — click or scroll past. That decision depends on the first photo.
Why you need your own website alongside Booking.com
Booking.com is great for new guests. But if Booking is your only channel — you have a problem.
The ultimate pre-season apartment checklist — 25 items you can't skip
Experienced hosts don't memorise — they use a checklist. These 25 items cover every corner of your apartment, from kitchen drawers to WiFi passwords.
A welcome pack that makes an impression — what to include and what it costs
For €2-3 per guest, you can dramatically improve the first impression. A welcome pack isn't a cost — it's an investment in reviews.
Google Business profile for your apartment — a free channel for direct bookings
Google Business is free and takes 30 minutes to set up. Every guest who searches for you on Google should find your page — not Booking.
How to get a 5-star review — 7 rules the best hosts follow
The difference between 4 and 5 stars isn't luxury — it's the details. Learn the 7 rules hosts with an average above 4.8 follow.
Smart lock for your apartment — self check-in guests love
The guest arrives at 11 PM, you're 200 km away. With a key — problem. With a smart lock — "Your code is 4729, enter whenever you arrive." Review: 5 stars.
How to turn a guest into a repeat guest — 5 strategies for repeat bookings
A repeat guest is gold. No Booking commission, they already know your apartment, no surprises, and better reviews. The only question is — how to win them over.
Ready for your own website?
A professional website for your apartment in 5 minutes. No technical skills, no commissions, no contracts.
Start freeFree 14-day trial · No credit card · Cancel anytime
Tourism news
Government ministers and global industry leaders to address the future of travel at ATM 2026
Government ministers, policymakers and senior international travel leaders will gather at Arabian Travel Market’s (ATM) 2026 next week, as the tourism industry comes together in Dubai to examine the f
EU Ends Border ‘Safety Valve’ as Airlines Warn of More Delays
The training wheels are off – Brussels now finds out whether Europe’s airports can actually stay upright.
A Visa Change Hits the Floor Before It Hits the Report, Seven Accor Hotels Change Hands in the UK, Hotels Put AI Where the Value Isn't
Monday opened with a regulatory change most properties have not audited for. DHS has moved J-1 exchange visitors from Duration of Status to fixed admission dates, which means a delayed arrival no long
Flyadeal CEO Reveals Plans for Premium Economy and Long-Haul Network
Flyadeal’s move into connecting flights and premium economy marks a natural next step for a budget carrier scaling into long-haul.
Vrbo’s Biggest Product Push Yet, and What Hosts Need to Know
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandy Canaley, and Jamie Lane sit down with Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group, to unpack what the expansion
Starboard/LaSalle JV acquires seven Accor hotels in key markets across the UK from Ares and EQ Group
Starboard Hotels and LaSalle Investment Management acquired seven Accor-branded hotels across the UK, growing Starboard's portfolio to 28 properties and over 3,000 rooms.
Africa Outside the Window, Twenty-First Century Nairobi Inside
Ole Sereni and Emara Ole-Sereni occupy one of the most extraordinary positions in African hospitality. On one side, Nairobi National Park and a landscape shaped over millennia. On the other, one o
The Neuroscience of Natural Materials: Why Wood, Stone and Patina Outperform Synthetic Finishes in Guest Perception
Opinion piece argues natural materials like wood, stone and aged metals shape guest perception more effectively than synthetic finishes by triggering positive neurological and emotional responses.
HVS Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 4 September 2026
Five deals across Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan totaling hundreds of millions in transaction value, covering acquisitions, a mixed-use luxury development, and a value-add repositioning
More Than Half of Canadian Business Travellers Say They Have a Different Personality at Work, According to New Hotels.com Report
A Hotels.com survey of 1,000 Canadian business travellers finds free breakfast is the top hotel perk, 53% adopt a different work personality on trips, and September is the busiest travel month.
Miles & More, Currensea and Mastercard launch rewards debit card for UK frequent flyers
Miles & More, the Lufthansa Group’s loyalty programme, has partnered with Currensea, the market-leading payments technology platform for co-branded multi-bank debit cards, and Masterca
Hurtigruten reveals new 2027 offer to discover Norway all-year round
Hurtigruten, the leader in iconic Norwegian coastal voyages, has announced a new wave offer of at least 15% off 2027 fly cruises. Available across select Signature and Original Voyages booked between
IATA Releases 2027 Cargo and Ground Operations Manuals
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the updated 2027 editions of key industry manuals for cargo and ground operations, which incorporate major changes and revisions to alig
Air India’s New CEO Gets a Clear Mandate: Safety, Reliability and Profit
New CEO Tewolde Gebremariam is taking over a very different Air India from the one Campbell Wilson inherited in 2022. The airline has more aircraft, more resources and bigger ambitions, not to forget,
A Viral AI Bot Just Showed Travel What Frictionless Actually Means
Instinct, a freshman AI assistant that has Silicon Valley buzzing, can book and rebook trips from a text thread. Key lesson for travel: Talking about frictionless booking isn't the same as delive