Ever wondered how to break free from OTAs and take control of your bookings? Sarah Pell did just that. She went from teaching elementary school to managing a thriving short-term rental portfolio using a mix of ownership, arbitrage, and co-hosting. In this episode of Direct Bookings Simplified, Sarah reveals the exact strategies she used to scale her business, build a strong direct booking system, and maximize profitability—without overcomplicated tech. Summary and Highlights Building a Portfolio with Three STR Strategies “Arbitrage really opened up my world. Just within a year and a half, I had acquired four. Compared to saving for a single purchase, it was a game-changer.” Sarah’s path to STR success wasn’t conventional. After getting into real estate through house hacking, she realized that long-term rentals weren’t providing the cash flow she wanted. Instead, she turned to vacation rentals. She initially purchased a condo in Orange Beach but quickly recognized that saving for down payments would take too long. That’s when she discovered rental arbitrage, allowing her to scale faster. Within a year and a half, Sarah went from one STR to four through arbitrage, while also co-hosting for other owners. Balancing ownership, arbitrage, and co-hosting has given her a well-rounded perspective on managing STRs and optimizing guest experiences. Direct Booking Strategies That Work Sarah emphasizes that while starting on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo is essential, building direct bookings is what truly allows STR owners to scale. Here are some of the strategies that have worked for her: 1. Leveraging Facebook Groups for Direct Bookings One of Sarah’s biggest game-changers was tapping into Facebook groups to promote her listings. Instead of relying solely on Airbnb, she joined vacation rental and travel-related groups in her market. “I found that Facebook groups were like a secret sauce. I would join groups for vacation stays in my area and respond to travelers looking for dates with a direct booking link. That was a huge boost early on.”  2. Using Repeat Guests to Drive More Direct Bookings Sarah actively encourages repeat guests to book directly. She offers a 15% discount to returning guests who book through her direct website and includes promotional business cards and magnets inside her properties. “We text every guest after their stay with a promo code they can share with friends and family. It’s a simple way to encourage direct bookings.”  3. Capturing Guest Emails for Long-Term Success Sarah initially collected guest emails manually but later streamlined the process using her property management software. Her team now sends email campaigns and promotional offers to past guests through MailChimp. “Even before I had MailChimp, I was manually emailing past guests with BCC. You don’t need a fancy system to start—just start collecting emails.”  4. Setting Up a Strong Direct Booking Website While Sarah started with a simple site, she’s now investing in making it more streamlined and guest-friendly. She plans to integrate better search functionality and branding to make it easier for guests to find and book her properties. Automation vs. Personalization in Direct Bookings One key takeaway from Sarah’s journey is that automation is helpful, but personal connection matters. While she uses automated text and email follow-ups, she still handles guest communications manually to ensure a personal touch. “I still handle my guest messaging personally because I want to interact with them. It helps me understand their concerns and improve my guest experience.” Scaling Direct Bookings with the Right Tools Sarah’s experience shows that you don’t need a complex system to succeed with direct bookings—you just need the right mindset and simple, effective strategies. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale, her approach proves that taking small steps, like leveraging Facebook groups and collecting emails, can make a big impact. If you want to hear Sarah’s full journey and her step-by-step direct booking tactics, listen to the full episode of Direct Bookings Simplified [link to podcast episode]. Join the Community Want to connect with like-minded STR owners focused on direct bookings? Join our community, where we discuss strategies, share insights, and support each other in building sustainable short-term rental businesses. [Link to community] Looking to optimize your direct booking site? At CraftedStays, we help STR owners create high-converting, mobile-optimized direct booking websites. If you’re ready to take control of your bookings and maximize revenue, check out CraftedStays today. Follow Sarah Here ⤵️ Transcription Sarah: Part of my direct booking as well is Facebook groups. So I do have a business Facebook page and you wouldn’t even need to do a page. I’ve done it even just personally. And I will have a little message with my direct booking link. And so what I do is join these groups. So like, um, you know, vacation stays of orange beach, and I will go in there and I will look for people that are searching for dates to come and I will just copy and paste my little message about my condo and. I have found that was like a, in the beginning to a huge boost in like my direct bookings is I found that a lot of people would find me on Facebook and then reach out on my direct booking website. And so I would say that, uh, I feel like Facebook groups are kind of like a secret sauce. I mean, cause you can find co hosts, you know, arbitrage, properties, direct booking clients. Like it kind of, it’s all, all there. Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified, where we break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings. On today’s show, I have Sarah Pell. Sarah, welcome to the show. Sarah: Thank you, Gail, for having me. I’m excited to be here. Gil: Yeah. As we get into it, do you mind giving folks a quick introduction on who you are? Folks may have seen you on Instagram or other places, but yeah. Introduce yourself. Sarah: Yeah, of course. So, I’m originally from Pierce, South Dakota. That’s where I was born and

 “Trust comes from having a secure site and a seamless booking process. If your site instills confidence, guests will book without hesitation.” – Jennifer Spencer In the latest episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we sat down with Jennifer Spencer, a seasoned host with over a decade of experience in the vacation rental industry. Jennifer owns two stunning properties: one nestled in the Canadian Rockies and another in the sunny paradise of Maui. Her journey from renting a family ski getaway to running a thriving vacation rental business offers a wealth of insights for both seasoned hosts and newcomers alike. Summary & Highlights A Journey from Ski Enthusiast to Business Success Jennifer’s story began ten years ago when she purchased her first vacation rental property in the Canadian Rockies. Initially intended as a home base for her family’s ski trips, Jennifer soon realized its potential as a vacation rental. “Back then,” she shared, “Airbnb wasn’t even in my market. The primary player was VRBO, and there were no guest fees.” Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to transform the property into a six-figure revenue business. Fast forward to 2021, Jennifer expanded her portfolio by purchasing a property in Maui. This move showcased her ability to diversify not just geographically but also seasonally, offering her guests a choice between the ski slopes and the sea. The Turning Point: Building a Direct Booking Website In 2017, Expedia’s acquisition of VRBO was a pivotal moment for Jennifer. Recognizing the growing control OTAs were gaining over her business, she decided to establish her own direct booking website. “I didn’t want to be 100% reliant on a large multinational company,” she explained. “Having my own site gave me the ability to capture repeat bookings, reduce guest fees, and build direct relationships with my guests.” This decision not only provided Jennifer with more control but also helped her retain a larger share of her revenue. Key Strategies for Direct Booking Success Jennifer shared several actionable strategies during the episode that have been instrumental in her direct booking success: The Importance of Taking Action Jennifer’s advice for hosts looking to grow their direct booking strategies is simple: “Take action.” Whether it’s setting up a property management system, building a direct booking website, or sending your first marketing email, she believes progress comes from doing. “You’ll learn and grow from the process,” she encouraged. Join the Conversation This episode is packed with more insights, including Jennifer’s mindset on overcoming perfectionism and how she cross-markets her properties. Be sure to listen to the full episode for a deep dive into her strategies. Want to connect with like-minded hosts and learn more direct booking strategies? Join our Direct Booking Simplified community and continue the conversation. And if you’re ready to take control of your bookings, CraftedStays can help you build a secure, guest-friendly website that reflects your unique brand. Book a demo today and see how we can help you grow your direct bookings. Follow Jennifer Here ⤵️ Transcription Jennifer: Trust comes from having a secure site from having a tool in place that is seamless for them to book. And when you start to put kind of roadblocks or friction or things that make them question, they may not proceed with the booking, right? So I think a testament to your site is if people book and you have had no conversation with, like, I get that. Jennifer: You know, someone just books off my site, my, my direct booking site. And I’m like, awesome. I don’t know necessarily. I mean, I could find out where they came from, Google analytics and things like that, but like when I initially get that, I’m like, awesome. That means my site looked trustworthy enough that they would just go ahead and make that booking without reaching out to me, without asking me any questions. Jennifer: Right. And that’s what you want, right? You want the credibility and the authority and trustworthiness that people get from booking on an Airbnb or on Airbnb or VRBO. That’s why they’re working there, right? So if you can instill that confidence in your own site, then that’s when you’ll have a lot of success with direct bookings. Gil: Hey folks. Welcome back to direct booking simplified. We break down the strategies and tactics to win and direct bookings on today’s show. I have Jennifer Spencer, Jennifer. Welcome to the show. Jennifer: Thank you. So great to be here. Thanks for having me. Gil: Yeah. Where are you calling in from right Jennifer: Uh, I am in Calgary, Canada. Um, it’s a little bit chilly here right now. Um, so yeah, I’m, I’m located in, in, uh, Canada. Gil: Yeah. And you’re also, you have properties also in the States, not the, not the major islands, Jennifer: Yeah, Gil: but the minor islands. Jennifer: yes, well, I have exactly. Yes, that’s true. So, yeah, I own 2 vacation rental properties. 1 is in the Canadian Rockies here close to my house. It’s still 4 hour drive and the other 1 we have in Maui, we just bought in 2021 so and I have owned my Canadian property for 10 years and actually just celebrated 10 years. Jennifer: So, like, 10 years, about 3 days ago, we got the keys to that property and it’s, uh. Totally changed my life. Gil: Wow, what was the story behind getting that first Canadian Rockies property there? Jennifer: Yeah. So, I mean, I’ve always been into real estate and I bought my first place when I was like, 24. It’s always been my thing. Um, but the reason we actually bought this particular property is that we are a ski family and all three of my kids were ski racing and we were coming back and forth from the mountains a lot. Jennifer: And so we decided, okay, let’s, you know, get a, Home base in the mountains and so we bought this property and really with not the intention of having it

“I didn’t know there was a thing called direct bookings. I just knew I needed to do what I had to do—build my own brand and go after my own bookings.”   In our latest episode of Direct Bookings Simplified, we sat down with Jenn Boyles, a trailblazer in the world of direct bookings and marketing strategies for short-term rentals. Jenn has a wealth of experience as a host, marketer, and coach, and her journey from hosting an apartment in France to launching her marketing platform, BookDirectPro, is nothing short of inspiring. Jenn’s insights into building a successful direct booking strategy are invaluable. Here’s a snapshot of what we discussed—be sure to listen to the full episode for more tips on Simplifying your Direct Bookings Summary & Highlights Meet Jenn BoylesJenn Boyles is the founder and CEO of Direct Booking Success – the podcast | the summit | the program. Her mission is to help vacation/short-term rental property managers, owners and hosts increase their revenue and control with the power of direct bookings. She started as a property manager and owner herself, managing her own award-winning properties from 2013 to 2024. Finding herself with a property in an over-saturated area was what initially led her down the path of building her own direct booking business. She is the host of the weekly Direct Booking Success Podcast which is produced with a mix of educational solo episodes and interviews with Hospitality and Accommodation professionals along with fellow property managers and owners.  Jenn is also the founder of the annual Direct Booking Success Summit. This event is a FREE marketing and hospitality educational online summit for vacation/short-term rental property managers and owners who want to increase their revenue and control in their own business with direct bookings. Her latest venture is founding Book Direct Pro, the all-in-one marketing platform built for vacation rental pros by a vacation rental pro. With Book Direct Pro, Jenn aims to simplify and streamline the entire marketing process, giving hosts more control over their bookings and profits. It’s designed to cut out the middleman, empower property managers, and make direct bookings a breeze. 1. The Power of Storytelling in Marketing Jenn’s success in the UK stemmed from building a strong brand before launching her property. By documenting the construction and branding of her unique canal boat in Liverpool, she created a buzz and established trust with potential guests. “People followed the journey and joined a waitlist, so when we launched, they were ready to book.” Tip for Hosts: Share the story behind your property—whether it’s a renovation project, local attractions, or memorable guest experiences. Use social media, email newsletters, and even simple videos to bring your journey to life. 2. Start with One Property (and One Strategy) Contrary to popular belief, direct bookings aren’t just for large portfolios. Jenn emphasized how smaller hosts can leverage their personal touch and storytelling to compete with big players. “You don’t need 50 properties to make this worthwhile. Even with one or two, you can create a personal connection that larger operators can’t match.”  Actionable Idea: If you’re a remote host, batch-create content during visits. Showcase your property’s personality, local attractions, and unique amenities. 3. Focus on Guest Data Collection Jenn highlighted the importance of owning your guest relationships through email marketing. Platforms like Airbnb won’t share guest data, so hosts need to find ways to capture it independently. “Once you have their email, you can connect directly, nurture relationships, and bring them back for future stays.”  Practical Advice: Use tools like Wi-Fi sign-ups, digital registration forms, or automated guest surveys to collect guest emails. 4. Leverage Automation and Tools For busy hosts balancing multiple responsibilities, Jenn stressed the value of automation. Her platform, BookDirectPro, simplifies marketing by combining email marketing, social media scheduling, landing pages, and more into one tool. “Marketing doesn’t have to take over your life. Set up systems, automate what you can, and focus on what matters.” Pro Tip: Use automation to schedule social media posts and email campaigns. Dedicate time monthly to batch-create content, then let technology do the heavy lifting. 5. Build Trust Through Personalization Jenn shared how personalization drives direct booking conversions. Adding an “About Us” section, featuring reviews, and showcasing local attractions on your website can make all the difference. “People want to know who’s behind the brand. Share your story—it builds trust and encourages bookings.”  Quick Win: Update your website with a personalized bio and real photos of your team or family to foster trust with potential guests. Start Building Your Direct Booking Strategy TodayJenn’s journey is a testament to the power of storytelling, relationship-building, and leveraging the right tools to grow your direct bookings. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale, her advice is clear: take one step at a time and focus on strategies that align with your goals and resources. If you’re ready to take control of your bookings, don’t miss the chance to try Jenn’s all-in-one marketing platform, BookDirectPro. Use code DIRECTSUCCESS for 50% off your first month, and schedule a free onboarding call to get started. Follow Jenn Here ⤵️ Transcription Gil: Welcome back to direct booking. Simplify where you break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings on today’s show, I have Jenn Boyles, Jenn, welcome to the show. Jenn: Aw, thanks Gil. Thanks for having me. Gil: Yeah, it’s, it’s such a familiar voice. I’ve listened to your podcast on my car drives a lot. Um, so it’s really good to have you on, on this show as well. Jenn: Aw, thanks so much. I hope I haven’t caused any accidents. Gil: No, no, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a very calming conversation. So if anything, it helped me focus. Yeah, there’s not many shows in the direct booking space, um, that talks about direct booking. So I think there’s like the R2 shows and maybe a two or three others. And that’s pretty much it about direct bookings. Um, there’s a lot of more general, um, short term rental ones, but not

When you think of hostels, the image of a small, budget-friendly, often outdated lodging comes to mind. Nathan and Michael, the co-founders of Howzit Hostels, are flipping that narrative. In our latest podcast episode of Direct Booking Simplified, these two entrepreneurs shared how they leveraged their backgrounds in real estate and luxury short-term rentals to redefine what a hostel can be—and how their direct booking strategy is a game-changer Summary and Highlights Meet the Founders Nathan and Michael are the driving forces behind Howzit Hostels, a brand synonymous with upscale, community-driven hostel experiences in Hawaii. With $10 million in assets, $2.5 million in annual revenue, and awards like “Best Hostel in North America,” their journey is as much about bold decisions as it is about smart strategies. Their story began in the midst of the pandemic when most were pulling back. They took a leap of faith and acquired their first hostel in Maui. By listening to guests, implementing airtight systems, and building a values-aligned team, they’ve turned a once-average property into a high-performing hospitality business. The Secret Sauce: Direct Bookings One of the most valuable insights Nathan and Michael shared was their approach to direct bookings. By increasing their direct bookings by 12%, they’ve not only saved $59,000 annually in OTA commissions but have also increased the valuation of their business by $630,000. As Nathan explained, “Direct bookings are not just about revenue; they directly impact net income, which drives valuation. For a commercial hospitality business like ours, that’s everything.” Direct Booking Tactics That Work Mindset and Tactical Advice Nathan’s mindset advice was simple but profound: “Reframe your relationship with fear and failure.” Michael’s tactical advice? Don’t hesitate to seek help, whether it’s through your network or professionals. Why It Matters For hosts navigating the ever-competitive hospitality market, Nathan and Michael’s story is a reminder that bold decisions, meticulous planning, and leveraging the right strategies can lead to remarkable results. If you want to hear more about how they’ve built their business, tackled challenges, and created a sustainable direct booking strategy, listen to the full episode of Direct Booking Simplified. Join the CommunityWe’re passionate about empowering hosts with tools and strategies to succeed. Join our CraftedStays community to connect with like-minded professionals, learn proven tactics, and discover how our platform can help you build a direct booking powerhouse. Follow Michael and Russell Here ⤵️ Transcription Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to Direct Booking Simplified, where we break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings. On today’s show, I have Howzit Hostiles, Nathan, and Michael. Welcome to the show. Nathan: Yeah, it’s great to be on. Thanks for having us, Gil. Gil: this is pretty cool. I’ll admit to both of you that this is our first pairing. We’re like 40, almost 50 episodes deep and we have not yet had a duel on the show. So I’m very interested in how this is going to be and how we can bounce ideas off each other. It’s always been a one on one. I haven’t even done a single show, uh, to be quite honest, but I’m very interested in kind of like having you guys both here and, uh, having you guys talk about just how you guys, Divide and conquer both sides of your business. Gil: Um, but before we get too deep into it, uh, Nathan, Michael, do you mind kind of sharing a little bit about your property management, what you guys have done and kind of how you guys work together? Nathan: Yeah, absolutely. So I’ll kind of kick us off here. Um, so Mike Russell and myself were the, the co founders, uh, of Howzit Hostiles. Um, if you, we each have our own story, obviously that, uh, from a, from an origin story that led to a moment. But, um, I think what people are most interested in with us, there’s, there’s two sides of our story that, that we share. Nathan: That people are drawn to, um, and, and want to hear about. And one side of it is the, kind of the investment in the real estate side where, you know, we, we basically. Took a 400, 000, uh, down payment and investment and, uh, forced about 4 million of equity in under two years. And that has now led to us owning from that 400, 000 down payment, 10 million worth of assets, uh, where we’re driving. Nathan: You know, 2. 5 million worth of revenue, uh, 800, 000 worth of NOI and 500, 000 worth of net income. And so from the investment side, I think that that part of the story is like, wow, you guys really compressed time and utilized your entire life’s work to recognize an opportunity and then jumped on it and, and, and took advantage. Nathan: From the hospitality side. I think that the part that people really go, Whoa, wait a minute, what hostile, what is a hostile? You know, like, aren’t these all dirty dingy things that like, and, um, again, we, we recognized opportunity and when they go, Whoa, they go look at our website, they go look at what we’re doing. Nathan: Um, there’s these two, these two guys. knew nothing about hostels and in the midst of a pandemic when everybody else was, you know, you know, really wait, you know, sitting back going, what’s going to happen to the world. We decided to take massive action and go all in on our vision and uh, purchased an, an existing hostel. Nathan: And in two and a half years, uh, we were awarded as the best hostel in the North America. And so people from the hospitality side are like, wait a minute, you had no experience and you went in and created the best hostel in North America. What the heck? And, um, and so when we look at the hospitality side of what we’ve done, we really attribute that to these three, three major components. Nathan: And