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.
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Tourism news
European tourism holds firm despite rising uncertainty and changing traveller priorities
ETC's Q2 2026 report shows Europe arrivals up 5% year-to-date, with Greece, Italy and Malta leading growth, but Middle East conflict dampened aviation and hurt Cyprus and Türkiye.
The Power of a Negative Review
Research shows 31% of customers distrust businesses with no negative reviews, making how hotels respond to criticism a stronger marketing signal than five-star ratings alone.
GBTA Holds Annual Business Meeting for 2025, Announces 2026 Board Election Results
GBTA's 2025 Annual Business Meeting covered financial performance and org highlights, and announced five newly elected Board of Directors members starting August 5 at Convention in Chicago.
Hotel Robots: Integrating Automation in Hospitality
The hotel robotics market, valued at $0.76B in 2026, is expanding rapidly as labor costs hit 33% of revenue and turnover stays 76% above pre-pandemic levels, driving adoption of delivery, housekeeping
Fattal Hotel Group's First US Acquisition: A Strategic Entry into the American Market
Fattal Hotel Group acquires the 117-room Blakely Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, its first US property, with plans to close, renovate, and reopen it under an existing brand by mid-2027.
Anantara Marks 25 Years with Signature Culinary Experiences
Twenty-five years since it was founded in Thailand, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, the experiential luxury brand of Minor Hotels, marks the milestone with a collection of signature anniversary exp
JW Marriott Unveils a Mindful Sanctuary in Kenya’s Solio Game Reserve
JW Marriott announces the opening of JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp in Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia, Kenya. Nestled between the slopes of Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Ranges, the ca
Cruising to the edge of the world - New Argentina & Antarctica itinerary added by Approach Tours
Leading Canadian senior travel operator Approach Tours has added a new cruise itinerary to its portfolio of signature “radically all-inclusive” travel experiences. Starting in the birthplace of th
DR. JONES BY WHITE DESERT UNVEILS SECOND LATIN AMERICAN EXPEDITION: COLOMBIA TO GUATEMALA
Following the successful launch of Dr. Jones: Peru to Patagonia, the inaugural itinerary from White Desert’s new Latin American expedition series, White Desert is expanding the collection with the deb
How relationships are changing and the role travel plays in this transformation
WeRoad publishes the second edition of its annual research - dedicated to how relationships are changing and the role travel plays in this transformation. The idea stems from the first edition of
Scapia Wants to Own India’s Next Wave of Travelers — Through Their Credit Cards
Scapia won’t fight online travel agencies on price. Instead, this travel fintech is betting that everyday spending, loyalty rewards, and payments will determine where the next generation of travelers
Fattal Buys Its First U.S. Hotel, Testing an Asset-Heavy Model Against the Giants
The owner-operator of nearly 330 hotels is betting that its owner-operator model will win in the U.S. market, where other foreign entrants have stumbled.
Delta Launches Stripped-Down Business-Class Fares
Delta is betting wealthy customers will pay Delta One prices for a coach-class experience on the ground
The West Got Two Half-Apps Instead of a Super App: Google Maps vs. Uber
Uber owns the transaction, and Google Maps owns the moment before it, and in the first half of 2026, both started using AI to cross into the other's territory. Travel distribution sits directly i
Accor and China’s H World Detail Plans to Link Their 19,000 Hotels
The two companies tout 430 million loyalty members between them. The test is how many actually book.