Love/Hate Your Tech Stack? Enhancing Guest Experience in Short-Term Rentals

In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast, we explore the intersection of technology and guest experience in short-term rentals with Jessica Gillingham, Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide.

Jessica unpacks the core themes of her enlightening book, Tech Enabled Hospitality, which sheds light on how hospitality tech – from PMS to guest apps – evolves to enhance human experiences. Dive into her insights from numerous industry interviews, the common pitfalls operators encounter, and emerging trends in revenue management and vacation rentals.

Plus, discover how storytelling and brand reputation are vital for business growth in the STR landscape, and learn what distinguishes successful brands from the rest. Key takeaways include the importance of focusing on guest experience over just technology, avoiding common operational mistakes, and preparing for the future of STR with clarity and credibility.

0:59 Tech Enabled Hospitality 

3:30 How tech has developed in the hospitality industry

5:14 Key takeaways from the experience – the human experience is at the core of hospitality 

10:04 The most enlightening interviews 

14:20 The biggest tech mistakes STR operators are making

16:46 2025 trends in the STR space 

19:40 What separates the brands that cut through and those that don’t 

24:24 The importance of PR and earned media for any business

25:40 Another book is in the pipeline

26:38 Grab a copy of the book: https://shorturl.at/nGbmN

27:28 Favourite brand: Disloyalty 

28:28 Individual shout-out: Humphrey Bowles

30:23 Advice to anyone who wants to write a book

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

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

Jessica Gillingham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/

Abode Worldwide: https://abodeworldwide.com/

Episode to check next: Stop Building on Someone Else’s Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbADM2DROtM

Host Planet Podcast 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: info@hostplanet.club

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