The Boostly Podcast

Mark Simpson
  • 4.9 (88)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Ready to reclaim control of your bookings and break free from the unpredictability of OTAs like Airbnb? Craving the stability of building your business on your terms? Dive into the Boostly Podcast, where Mark Simpson and Liam Carolan unveil the secrets to unlocking a flood of direct bookings. With a rich mix of insights, Mark and Liam equip you with the tools and strategies needed to secure your independence in the hospitality industry. Liam Carolan shines in the "Behind The Host" mini-series, offering a peek into the journeys of successful hosts. Mark Simpson, the driving force behind the Boostly Podcast, shares actionable advice and the latest trends to help you stay ahead. Join us for a journey over 700 episodes deep – all designed to empower you with knowledge and tactics for boosting your bookings. Catch our engaging video content on the Boostly YouTube channel at boostly.co.uk/youtube. Your path to direct booking mastery starts here!

  1. 2d ago

    How Short Term Rental Hosts Should Actually Use AI in 2026

    In this episode of the Boostly Podcast, I joined the Stay Direct monthly meet-up to talk about where AI is really heading in the short-term rental industry, and what hosts, property managers and direct booking businesses should be paying attention to right now. Skool Group - https://www.skool.com/drive-direct-bookings-for-strs-5526 This was a thorough deep dive into AI, WordPress, PMS platforms, direct-booking websites, guest communication, content, search, community, and the future of hospitality tech. Big shoutout to Stay Direct for inviting me into their monthly session and for leading such a strong conversation around what is changing in the industry. We also mentioned and discussed: Graeme from Forge, and the work they are doing with AI agents Neely Khan, and the importance of storytelling and being chosen, not just discovered Richard Vaughton Boris from Onseason Gil from Crafted Stays Gareth, who joined the discussion around AI search and discovery Gareth's Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABnNNhwBMQ1NDdjPM8JO3TjGvDSe0NZB50c?skipRedirect=true Guesty, and how PMS platforms are moving into AI Hospitable, including an example of a host using AI to find booking opportunities Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, OpenClaw, Lovable, Replit, HubSpot and other AI tools are changing how operators work The main message from the session is simple: AI is not here to replace your story, your brand, or your relationships. But it can help you remove boring work, spot missed revenue, follow up with guests, review costs, research leads, and make better decisions faster. We talked about: Whether WordPress is still the best option for direct booking websites Why AI website builders are exciting but not always ready for proper booking flows How PMS companies are adapting to AI How hosts can connect PMS data to AI tools How one host generated $7,000 in bookings within 72 hours using AI Why AI generated content is often weak Why community and brand are becoming more important How ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity are changing online discovery Why niche brands will be easier for AI tools to recommend What short-term rental hosts should focus on over the next 12 months This session was part of the Stay Direct monthly meet-up. You can join the Stay Direct school group using the link in the description below. Watch this if you are a host, property manager, website builder, PMS user, or short-term rental business owner trying to understand how AI fits into your direct booking strategy. Alistair's Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairmalins/

    50 min

  2. May 21

    Arqdia's AI Platform Solves the Biggest Problem in Property Management

    Aqrdia is preparing to officially launch its groundbreaking AI-powered “chief of staff” for short-term rental operators at VRMA International in Nashville this October. In this video, we break down how Arqdia's new “decision brain” helps vacation rental companies turn overwhelming amounts of data into clear, prioritised action. Instead of replacing existing tools like Guesty, Hostaway, or PriceLabs, Arcadia sits on top of the tech stack as a decision operating system designed to help operators make faster, smarter decisions across revenue, operations, maintenance, and guest experience. We cover:• How Aqrdia prioritises urgent operational tasks• Why STR operators struggle with data overload• How the AI resolves conflicts between departments• The company’s vision for preserving institutional knowledge• What the 8–12 week AI learning process looks like• Arqdia's roadmap leading up to the October VRMA launch• The “Backstage Nashville” event happening during VRMA• Workshops, networking, parties, and industry meetups at the Maddox Hotel Arqdia is already working with global design partners across London, Miami, Finland, Australia, and the Caribbean as it refines the platform ahead of its full production release. If you’re in vacation rentals, hospitality tech, AI, or property management, this is one of the most important emerging platforms to watch in 2026.

    23 min

  3. May 19

    AI Search Is Rewriting SEO: What STR & MTR Operators Need to Know

    👋 Welcome to Boostly, where we give STR and MTR owners and managers the tools, strategies, and support to win more direct bookings. In this episode, Gil Chan of Crafted Stays and I explore how SEO is changing in the age of AI search. We break down the rise of AEO and GEO, why guests are asking tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for recommendations, and what accommodation businesses need to do to stay visible. You’ll learn why deep, niche content matters more than generic landing pages, how schema and crawlability affect AI discovery, why Bing Webmaster Tools should not be ignored, and how AI is becoming the new “influencer” in the booking journey.

    35 min

  4. May 18

    How Data-Driven Marketing Turns Travelers Into Direct Bookings

    In this episode, we’re joined by Amber Knight from Bookings Cloud to discuss how vacation rental managers can move beyond reactive marketing and start building a stronger, more profitable direct booking strategy. Amber shares her experience across the short-term rental industry and explains why guest acquisition can no longer be treated as an afterthought. We dive into the difference between boosting posts and running effective Meta ad campaigns, how clean property data can improve ad performance, and why your website and property detail pages are critical assets for converting qualified traffic. Amber also breaks down the data points that many operators overlook, including booking pace, booking-source dynamics, OTA fee impact, revenue per property, and profit per property. She shares a real example of how a North Carolina client increased RevPAR by $60 while the wider market declined by 17%. Whether you manage one property or a large portfolio, this episode offers practical advice on preparing your listings, improving website trust, and using marketing to drive higher-quality bookings instead of simply filling last-minute gaps. Learn more about Bookings Cloud at http://bookingscloud.com/ or connect with Amber Knight on LinkedIn.

    19 min

  5. May 14

    The Direct Booking Secret Hosts Are Using to Bypass Airbnb

    👋 Welcome to Boostly, where we give STR and MTR owners and managers the tools, strategies, and support to win more direct bookings Check out Stayfinder here https://www.stayfinder.com/ Stayfi is https://stayfi.com/💡 This video is part of our free training series to help you grow your short-term rental business and take control away from OTAs.🎟️ Save Your Spot: Boostly’s Free 90-Minute WorkshopMaster the systems top hosts use to hit 65%+ direct bookings:👉 https://boostlybootcamp.com/workshop/📊 Try the Bookings Booster Score Card15 questions. Instant insights. Personalized plan.👉 https://www.bookingsbooster.ai/📞 Ready to scale your direct bookings? Let’s talk.Book a free strategy call with our team:👉 https://boostly.co.uk/call🤖 Ask the Boostly AI, anytime.Your 24/7 hospitality chatbot:👉 https://boostly.co.uk/bot📢 No gatekeeping. No ads. Just the tools to help you build the hospitality brand you deserve.DISCLOSURE Information shared here is for educational purposes only. Individuals and business owners should evaluate their own business strategies, and identify any potential risks. The information shared here is not a guarantee of success. Your results may vary.Copyright © 2026

    18 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    2026 STR Predictions: What Smart Hosts Need to Prepare for Now

    In this episode of the Boostly Podcast, I’m joined by voices from across the industry to break down what’s coming next and what hosts and property managers need to prepare for now. Drawing on insights from operators, tech leaders, consultants, and founders, we cover the biggest shifts already happening beneath the surface, including: • AI moving from hype to table stakes • Direct bookings becoming a survival strategy, not a nice-to-have • Automation reshaping guest communication, marketing, and operations • Rising guest expectations and the return of high-touch experiences • Consolidation across software and management companies • Regulation, tourist taxes, and what they could mean for supply • Longer stays, digital nomads, and stronger shoulder seasons • Why revenue management and marketing are finally merging I also share my own prediction for 2026 and why I believe this is the year the industry fully crosses into a new operating model. If you’re a host or property manager who wants to stay profitable, future-proof your business, and reduce reliance on OTAs like Airbnb and Booking.com, this episode will help you see what’s coming before it hits. Listen now and decide which side of the change you want to be on.

    22 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    Most hosts hire wrong. Here’s how to fix it.

    Hiring is the single biggest decision that either scales your STR business or silently destroys it. Most hosts wait too long, hire too cheap, or onboard the wrong way. In today’s episode I sit down with Matt Metros of CS Outsource, who works with more than 500 property management companies worldwide, to break down exactly how to hire properly, avoid the common traps, and build a team that actually frees you up. You’ll learn: • When to hire your first assistant • Why cheap VAs cost you more • The real onboarding process hosts never do • The traits of great operators • How to stop micromanaging and actually lead • Why your SOPs are simpler than you think • What agencies like CS Outsource really offer behind the scenes If you’re managing 5 to 10 properties and feeling stretched, this video is the one that will save you months of headaches. Work with the team I trust for all my hiring: https://boostly.co.uk/hiring

    26 min

  8. 11/01/2025

    The Boostly Spotlight: Garrett Brown from BiggerPockets

    Welcome back to the Episode 801 of Boostly Podcast! 🎙👋 Welcome to the Boostly Spotlight, where we give STR and MTR owners and managers the tools, strategies, and support to win more direct bookings — no fluff, no ads. In this Boostly Spotlight episode, we shine the spotlight on Garrett Brown from BiggerPockets — diving into his insights on real estate investing, short-term rental growth, and how community-driven education empowers everyday investors to build wealth through property. Let's jump in. https://www.biggerpockets.com/ 💡 This video is part of our free training series to help you grow your short-term rental business and take control away from OTAs. Connect with Boostly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Boostly.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Boostly.co.uk/5steps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/boostlyuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Boostly.co.uk/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    44 min
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4.9
out of 5
88 Ratings

About

Ready to reclaim control of your bookings and break free from the unpredictability of OTAs like Airbnb? Craving the stability of building your business on your terms? Dive into the Boostly Podcast, where Mark Simpson and Liam Carolan unveil the secrets to unlocking a flood of direct bookings. With a rich mix of insights, Mark and Liam equip you with the tools and strategies needed to secure your independence in the hospitality industry. Liam Carolan shines in the "Behind The Host" mini-series, offering a peek into the journeys of successful hosts. Mark Simpson, the driving force behind the Boostly Podcast, shares actionable advice and the latest trends to help you stay ahead. Join us for a journey over 700 episodes deep – all designed to empower you with knowledge and tactics for boosting your bookings. Catch our engaging video content on the Boostly YouTube channel at boostly.co.uk/youtube. Your path to direct booking mastery starts here!

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Simpson
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    769
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark Simpson
  • Show Website
    The Boostly Podcast

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