Superhosts Down Under with Silvia and Ray

Ray Yee Consulting
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Hosted by Ray & Silvia Superhosts Down Under is a podcast that guides and inspires aspiring Airbnb hosts on how to successfully set up and run an Airbnb in Australia. Each episode features engaging stories, lessons, and insights from different guests — from seasoned hosts to industry experts — sharing their unique experiences in short-term rental hosting. Join Ray and Silvia as they explore Australia’s most remarkable Airbnbs and uncover the stories of the owners who make them possible.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 60: Farmhouse Hosting, Pet Policies, and Pro Styling on a Budget with Lis

    Welcome to Superhost Down Under! In this week's episode, Silvia and Ray tackle the great pet debate: to host or not to host furry friends? We are then joined by Lis, a former magazine decorating editor turned successful farmhouse Airbnb host. Lis shares her origin story of turning an investment property into a highly sought-after rural retreat, the power of professional photography, and her top cleaning hacks for managing large properties. Are you a creator looking to dramatically reduce your marketing workflow? This episode is brought to you by Riverside. Riverside's AI suite handles post-production effortlessly, offering perfectly vertical shorts with dynamic captions, and one-click studio-grade audio. ​Special Offer: Try Riverside for free and get 15% off any paid plan using the code REY15.Silvia and Ray discuss their differing views and personal experiences regarding pet-friendly short-term rentals: ​The City Apartment (Silvia): Does not allow pets due to space and building constraints. Silvia shares a cautionary tale from a fellow host involving a dog and a hallway wall.​The Traveling Pet Owner (Ray): Traveling with a large Greyhound is tough. While Ray seeks pet-friendly spots on the road, his studio apartment isn't durable or large enough to host pets.​The Farmhouse Approach (Lis): Welcomes pets with a sliding doggy door. She mitigates risks by checking for flea treatments, ensuring current vaccinations, and charging an extra cleaning fee.From Magazine Editor to Host Lis turned an investment property in Wairala into a thriving retreat known as the Big Sunny Farmhouse. After dealing with a nightmare long-term tenant, she pivoted to short-term rentals, outfitting the large space with spare furniture to attract families and working teams. Styling & Photography Insights Drawing from her career as a decorating editor, Lis emphasizes that styling for the camera is everything. ​Ditch the iPhone: Professional lighting and photography are non-negotiable for making your listing stand out.​Budget-Friendly Upgrades: Paint old pine furniture white and incorporate cotton tablecloths with distinct accent colors.​Unique Touches: To help rural guests find the driveway, Lis creates custom, arty letterboxes through Letterbox Art.Pricing and Technology ​Manual Pricing: Lis found that dynamic pricing tools didn't work for her rural market. She prefers firm cancellation policies and manual pricing.​Direct Websites: Instead of relying entirely on OTAs, Lis built a custom direct booking website to host local maps and provide added value to guests.Cleaning a massive farmhouse is time-consuming. Here is how Lis streamlines the process: ​Ditch the Long Checklist: Lis created a hidden page on her website with photos showing cleaners exactly how to arrange towels and set up rooms.​Furniture Sliders: Put sliders under heavy furniture so cleaners can easily push them back to vacuum underneath.​Robo-Vac: Invest in a robot vacuum to clean under beds while human cleaners tackle other tasks.​Color-Coded Linens: Keep three sets of sheets on hand, color-coded by bed size.​BBQ Fees: Leave a polite note with cleaning tips for the BBQ, including a warning that a small fee applies if left excessively dirty.Connect with Lis: ​Direct Booking Website: Big Sunny Farmhouse​Airbnb Listing: Lis's Farmhouse Retreat​Custom Letterboxes: Letterbox Art​Instagram: @bigsunnyfarmhouse Other Resources: ​Ray's Direct Booking Sites: raymondyee.com.au & lanestay.com.au​Silvia's Airbnb⁠

    41 min

  2. May 31

    Ep 59 - 18 Years of Hosting, 5-Star Standards, and the Ultra-Personal Model with Geoff Gedge

    In this episode of Superhosts Down Under, hosts Ray Yee and Silvia are joined by short-term rental industry veteran Geoff Gedge. Geoff shares his incredible 18-year hosting journey and the secrets behind maintaining a near-perfect 5.0-star track record. We dive deep into his properties—Bluegums Retreat and Kurrajong Retreat in beautiful Hepburn Springs, Victoria—and discuss how he navigates multi-platform listings across Airbnb, Stayz, and Booking.com. Geoff also opens up about his innovative, "ultra-personal" hosting concept where he lives alongside guests to act as a local guide, finishing the experience with a community-first dinner finale. Finally, as an Airbnb Ambassador and Host Advisory Board member, Geoff shares his perspective on advocacy and the future of true hospitality in Australia. In This Episode, We Cover: ​​The 18-Year Origin Story & Portfolio: Geoff discusses starting out on Stayz back in 2008 and joining Airbnb in 2013, highlighting how the regional short-term rental landscape has evolved over nearly two decades.​​The Multi-Platform Juggle: Practical insights into seamlessly managing calendars and guest experiences across Airbnb, Booking.com, and Stayz without double bookings.​​The Ultra-Personal Model: Geoff breaks down his fascinating pivot to staying with guests at Bluegums Retreat, acting as a professional guide, and navigating the social dynamics and boundaries involved.​​A Community-First Dinner Finale: How hosting a farewell dinner at a local restaurant fundamentally changes a guest's connection to the local region.​​The Secret to a 5.0-Star Rating: The operational non-negotiables of running a top-tier listing in a competitive wellness destination like Hepburn Springs, plus tips on balancing hands-on prep with outsourcing.​​Leadership & Host Advocacy: Insights from Geoff's work on the Airbnb Host Advisory Board and his role as an official Ambassador advocating for Australian hosts.​​Evolving the Hosted Experience: Looking ahead to the next stage of Geoff's hosting career and the enduring legacy of hospitality.​ About the Guest: Geoff Gedge is an Airbnb Ambassador, Host Advisory Board member, and long-time hospitality host operating in Hepburn Springs, Victoria. Explore Geoff's Listings: ​​Bluegums Retreat — Airbnb Listing 1​​Kurrajong Retreat — Airbnb Listing 2​​Hepburn Springs Property — Airbnb Listing 3 ​@geoff.gedge Where to stay — hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team: ​​Ray's South Yarra Airbnb​​Silvia's Airbnb​

    46 min

  3. May 17

    Ep 58 - Leaving Airbnb Behind: David Speirs on Booking.com, Family Hosting, and Haven Retreats in Adelaide

    In this episode, Ray and Silvia are joined by David Speirs, an Adelaide-based property investor and former Airbnb superhost who now runs two short-term rentals as a family business under the Haven Retreats brand. The episode opens with Ray's candid update on joining the Guesty multi-channel platform and the unexpected cash flow trade-offs. David then shares why he walked away from Airbnb entirely in favour of Booking.com and direct bookings, and the lessons he's learned along the way. In This Episode, We Cover: Ray's experience with Guesty: more channels, more exposure, but a slower monthly payout cycle Why David chose Lodgify for direct bookings across Booking.com, Airbnb and VRBO Designing a family home with a self-contained downstairs apartment as a revenue stream Running short-term rentals as a true family operation, with cleaning, hosting and admin shared between siblings and mum Why David left Airbnb despite a 4.9 superhost rating — including the water leak and bar-of-soap reviews that pushed him over the edge How Booking.com compares: fewer reviews, less guest chat, and 90%+ occupancy on his Brighton property The Middleton Shack story: a retro 1960s surf shack, 2,500 Instagram followers, and 20% direct bookings Why David sold the shack along with its website, Instagram and contact database Social media tips: professional photography, rotating image libraries, and targeted paid ads Giving back: $5 from every stay split between Still Aware and Friends of Osprey, the sea eagle conservation charity David chairs Local partnerships, including welcome coffees from Dozy café on Jetty Road, Brighton Future plans for a rural Fleurieu Peninsula property near McLaren Vale — farm stay or wedding venue David's role as an advocate for the Short Term Accommodation Association of Australia The one piece of advice every host should follow: stay in your own property at different times of yearInterview with STRA business owner: David SpeirsDavid Speirs is an Adelaide-based property investor and short-term rental host with a background in politics, law and conservation. After building a family home with a purpose-designed guest apartment and purchasing a property on Jetty Road, Brighton, David became an Airbnb superhost before transitioning entirely to Booking.com and direct bookings under the Haven Retreats brand. He previously co-owned the Middleton Shack on the Fleurieu Peninsula, chairs Friends of Osprey, and is a volunteer advocate for the Short Term Accommodation Association of Australia. Website: havenretreats.com.auInstagram: @havenretreats.adl Where to stay, hosted by the Superhosts Down Under teamRay's Airbnbs: raymondyee.com.au/airbnbSilvia's Airbnb: airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X

    39 min

  4. May 3

    Ep 57 - From Five-Star Hotels to Global Publishing: Jodie Odlin's Hosting Empire

    In this episode, Ray and Silvia are joined by Jodie Odlin, a 10-year Airbnb host, creator of the Hospitable Hosts book series, founder of a publishing company, and the driving force behind the Global Hospitality Collective. The episode opens with a discussion on co-host responsibility for property damages, including a tricky real-world scenario involving a mystery carpet stain, AirCover limitations, and why documenting property condition from day one is so important. Jodie then shares her remarkable journey from hotel management school in Australia to running 15 short-term rental properties in the UK, all managed remotely from Australia. In This Episode, We Cover: Weekly topic: who's responsible when damage can't be pinned to a specific guest or stay, and why clear documentation protects everyone Why AirCover only applies when damage is linked to a specific booking Jodie's tip for a small per-booking management fee as a slush fund for unclaimable damages How Jodie became an accidental host in the Cotswolds, with her children as her first cleaning team The arbitrage model explained, and how Jodie scaled to 15 UK properties managed remotely from Australia When to screen out difficult property owners, and why some opportunities are really just distractions How the Hospitable Hosts book series was born out of conference conversations and Clubhouse connections Why Jodie opened her own publishing company for the second book onward The Couples Edition and STR Sisterhood, the newest books in the series The Global Hospitality Collective, a certification body Jodie is launching to raise standards across the short-term rental industry Jodie winning the Shorty Award for Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 The one thing Jodie says every host should do right now: invest in their own educationInterview with Author and STR Business Owner: Jodie OdlinJodie Odlin is a 10-year Airbnb host and serial entrepreneur based in Australia, with a portfolio of 15 properties in the UK running on the rental arbitrage model. With a background in hotel management and extensive experience traveling and hosting around the world, Jodie is the creator of the Hospitable Hosts multi-author book series, now spanning five volumes including a Couples Edition and the STR Sisterhood. She is also the founder of a boutique publishing company, and the Global Hospitality Collective, a soon-to-launch certification and community platform designed to raise hospitality standards across the short-term rental industry. In 2025, Jodie was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at the Shorty Awards in London. Website: www.hospitablehosts.com Instagram: @hospitablehosts Tetbury Escapes: tetburyescapes.co.uk Instagram: @tetburyescapes Where to stay, hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team Ray's Airbnbs: raymondyee.com.au/airbnb Silvia's Airbnb: airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X

    57 min

  5. Apr 19

    Ep 56 - From Separation to Superhost: Jenny’s Airbnb Journey

    Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Ray and Silvia are joined by Jenny, a San Francisco-based Superhost who shares a deeply personal journey into Airbnb hosting. What began as a way to navigate a major life transition turned into a sustainable lifestyle, allowing Jenny to keep her family home while welcoming guests from around the world. The episode opens with a discussion on guest expectations, particularly around air conditioning, and how hosts can manage situations where amenities are misunderstood. Jenny then shares how she transformed her property into a high-performing Airbnb, her approach to creating a warm, community-driven experience, and the systems she’s built to maintain a near-perfect rating over eight years. In This Episode, We Cover: Guest expectations vs listing transparency, especially around air conditioning Why guests need to check listings carefully before booking Jenny’s journey into Airbnb after separating from her partner How she restructured her home to live downstairs and rent out the full upstairs Creating a “home, not a rental” experience that guests immediately feel Building a strong neighbourhood and community vibe for guests Maintaining a 4.99 rating across 250+ stays The pressure of chasing a perfect 5.0 rating and why letting go matters Jenny’s cleaning systems, including monthly deep cleans and walkthrough checks Using Instant Book strategically to attract the right guests Hosting families, repeat guests, and musicians using her piano How Airbnb allows her to cover all property expenses and keep her homeInterview with Guest: JennyJenny is a San Francisco-based Superhost with over eight years of hosting experience. After a major life transition, she turned to Airbnb as a way to keep her family home and generate income. By redesigning her space and focusing on warmth, detail, and consistency, she has built a highly rated listing with a 4.99 average rating. Her approach combines strong operational systems with a genuine passion for making guests feel at home. Stay at Jenny’s property:https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/30129780?unique_share_id=86857236-e02b-43ba-a77a-fee29c31f732&viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76 Where to stay - hosted by the Superhosts Down Under teamRay’s Airbnbs:https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb Silvia’s Airbnb:https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X

    57 min

  6. Mar 22

    Ep 55 - The Arbitrage Edge: Building a Multi-Property Portfolio with Siblings Eloi & Emiie

    In this episode, Ray and Silvia dive into the "behind-the-scenes" of property management when things go wrong—from cold showers in Sydney to power outages in Melbourne. We are then joined by Eloi and Emiie, the sibling duo behind Sable and Stone Stays, who share how they built a thriving Airbnb arbitrage business in Melbourne in less than a year. In This Episode, We Cover: Host Horror Stories: Ray’s "humid" Sydney stay and the importance of proactive hosting over sending manuals.What is Airbnb Arbitrage? A breakdown of the model where you lease a property long-term to sublet for short-term stays.The Sibling Dynamic: How an 11-year age gap and "Sable vs. Stone" personalities (the "Butterfly" and the "Grandpa") create a balanced business partnership.Pitching to Agents: How to build credibility with real estate agents to get them to say "yes" to subleasing.Automation at Scale: Using PMS and dynamic pricing to manage a portfolio while working full-time 9-to-5 jobs.Interview with Guests: Eloi and Emiie Eloi and Emiie are the founders of Sable and Stone Stays, a boutique short-term rental company based in Melbourne. With backgrounds in sales and insurance, they’ve combined their eye for design and technical systems to create a professional, high-standard hosting brand. Website: Sable and Stone Stays Where to stay — hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team Ray's Property⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb⁠⁠⁠⁠ Silvia's Property ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X⁠⁠⁠

    45 min

  7. Mar 8

    Ep 54 - Scaling with a Personal Touch with Elena Stepanova

    In this episode of Superhost Down Under, hosts Ray Yee and Silvia interview Elena Stepanova, founder of My Perfect Host. Elena discusses her transition from a corporate career to managing a portfolio of over 20 properties[cite: 122, 123, 140]. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The "Brick" Solution: Silvia shares how a host sourced bricks from a building site on New Year's Eve to raise a bed for a guest with a disability[cite: 13, 14]. Hosting in the Suburbs: Elena explains how her Forestville listing succeeded by catering to visiting family and corporate travelers[cite: 133, 134, 135]. Business Evolution: Starting with a family guest room 13 years ago, Elena grew her business through word-of-mouth and professional co-hosting[cite: 89, 104, 146]. Professional Standards: Why high-quality photography is a non-negotiable requirement for any successful listing[cite: 168, 169]. Automation & Systems: A look at the "tech stack" Elena uses, including channel managers, dynamic pricing, and automated cleaning schedules[cite: 174, 175, 176]. Direct Booking Strategies: Using software like Truvy (formerly Super Hog) to screen guests and manage security for off-platform bookings[cite: 227, 229].Resources Mentioned: My Perfect Host: www.myperfecthost.com.au [cite: 125] Hospitable Hosts (Vol. 3): A book co-authored by Elena featuring global hosting stories[cite: 254, 267]. Truvy: Guest screening and identity verification software[cite: 228, 229].Key Takeaways: Acts of Service: Successful hosts often view hospitality as a "love language" and find joy in helping others[cite: 41, 49]. Owner Partnerships: Elena "interviews" owners to ensure they will be supportive partners when maintenance issues arise[cite: 157, 160]. Concise Communication: While automation is key, it's vital to keep messages short to avoid guest annoyance[cite: 184, 185].Where to stay — hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team Ray's Property ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb⁠⁠⁠⁠ Silvia's Property ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X⁠⁠⁠ Sponsorship This episode is brought to you by Riverside. Use code Ray15 for 15% off your first subscription. ⁠Learn more⁠

    44 min

  8. Feb 22

    Ep 53 - Lifestyle Hosting: Funding Travel From a One-Bedroom in Melbourne

    Ray and Silvia are joined by Carmel O’Beirne, a lifestyle host from Clifton Hill, Melbourne, who uses her one-bedroom apartment to fund travel and supplement her income as she transitions toward retirement. The episode opens with Ray sharing a challenging guest situation involving a dropped wallet, refusal to check out, and police intervention — a reminder that hosting can sometimes take unexpected turns. Inspired by her daughter’s success paying off a mortgage through Airbnb, Carmel began hosting her “cosy nest” — an earthy, plant-filled apartment with a green urban jungle balcony in a vibrant Melbourne neighbourhood. Her approach is what she calls “lifestyle hosting”: using Airbnb income to support extended travel, including a month in India, while keeping her home active and secure. Carmel relies on trusted neighbour friends when she travels, meeting guests in person for key handover to reinforce respect and care for her home. She is selective with bookings to maintain strong relationships in her owner-occupied building. Rather than scaling, she plans to continue hosting sustainably, avoiding “empty house syndrome” while balancing income, community harmony, and flexibility. What you’ll learn in this episode How to handle difficult guest situations, including when police become involved. Why guest preparedness and clear house rules are essential. Pricing strategies: Smart Pricing vs manual or third-party tools. The power of clear instructions to prevent misunderstandings and bad reviews. Preparing a personal home for guests while protecting privacy. Building a reliable local support network for remote management. Managing neighbour relationships in owner-occupied buildings. How lifestyle hosting can fund travel and supplement retirement income. Guest Name: Carmel O’Beirne Airbnb: View Carmel’s Listing Where to stay — hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team Ray's Property ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.raymondyee.com.au/airbnb⁠⁠⁠⁠ Silvia's Property ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airbnb.com/slink/Kpse4K4X⁠⁠⁠ Sponsorship This episode is brought to you by Riverside. Use code Ray15 for 15% off your first subscription. Learn more

    43 min
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Hosted by Ray & Silvia Superhosts Down Under is a podcast that guides and inspires aspiring Airbnb hosts on how to successfully set up and run an Airbnb in Australia. Each episode features engaging stories, lessons, and insights from different guests — from seasoned hosts to industry experts — sharing their unique experiences in short-term rental hosting. Join Ray and Silvia as they explore Australia’s most remarkable Airbnbs and uncover the stories of the owners who make them possible.

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