The STR Event Problem Nobody's Talking About

Are short-term rental events actually helping hosts… or missing the mark?

In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast – powered by Hostfully – James Varley is joined by Heidie Henriksen from VRNation to discuss:

- Why many high-ticket STR events feel out of touch

- The rise of boutique, regional events for hosts

- Why most hosts feel disconnected from the industry

- How events can help you grow your Airbnb business

- Why the industry must better communicate with policymakers and the public

1:29 High-ticket events are out of touch with the reality of short-term rental hosting

2:30 Boutique, regional events in the locations where hosts need them most

4:06 Nobody really likes a sales pitch – but we need to shine a light on the many great vendors in the industry

6:22 The feedback from VRNation attendees – hosts appreciated the event coming to them

7:33 The critical importance of talking up our industry to policymakers, the media, and public

9:17 Most hosts have one or two rentals and self-manage – and they need our help

10:56 Many hosts feel disconnected from the industry – roadshow events are vital

12:07 Attending events is one way you can elevate your business

13:16 The value of speaking directly with your competitors

14:03 How VRNation is going to grow

16:36 What Heidie learned from a six-stop roadshow event

17:38 The most effective ways of getting the word out about events

18:27 The long-term vision for VRNation: professionalism with a side of fun

19:35 What a healthy, well-supported short-term rental industry looks like

21:22 Favourite brand: yhangry

22:43 Individual shout-out: Tera Lorimer from Luxury Getaways

23:46 Biggest lesson learned: be prepared for anything, including snow in Florida

Looking for a great property management software or digital guidebook? You need Hostfully!

Check out these special offers:

Property Management Software: Get $500 off onboarding by using the code PLANET500.

Digital Guidebooks: Get 30% off for life by using the code HOSTPLANETGB.

Click here to sign up for Hostfully: https://www.hostfully.com/host_planet

Keen to book a Hostfully demo? Click here to connect with Frank Bosi: https://tinyurl.com/Hostfully-Demo

Email Frank: [e-mail]

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

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Heidie Henriksen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidieh/

VRNation: https://www.vrnation.com/

Host Planet Roadshow: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-roadshow

Episode to check next:

Your Airbnb Guests Are Leaving Bad Reviews Because of This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA-MyeJpm-k

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 the show: [e-mail]