Here's how we'll increase our direct bookings in 2024

[@sergiuluca3714]

I’m learning a lot from you. Amazing content every time. Please make a video of integrating uplisting with your website if there is enough demand for it. Thank you!

[@JRspeaking]

The rating system at Airbnb is so incredibly flawed. As Hosts, you have to jump through hoops the get a 5 star review, yet as soon as you get a couple 4 stars, you'll see your bookings plummet.

[@julieshaw1452]

Would love to see a more technical video about setting up your website!

[@jeffjones8357]

I would love more info on yalls website!!!!

[@leannemellon529]

We’ve been Airbnb Hosts for 10 years now and have earned super host rating throughout the entire time. Airbnb does allow you the option to allow guests with excellent ratings book your place. That’s what we have done; and has it has worked excellent for us. We’re booked almost all year and some in 2025.

[@tylergassman]

We have been really struggling to figure out a way to have a customized booking website (not one of the channel manager's auto-bootstrapped ones that usually don't look that great) that also integrates with the channel manager and google vacation rentals. I'd love to see that more technical description of how you guys plan to tighten the integration between your wordpress site and uplisting's backend. It sounds like you guys have a hybrid approach right now where you just send them to uplisting's direct booking page that you can't customize as much once they're ready to book, which is kinda what we have at this point, but I'd love to know more. We're also considering building some tooling to solve this exact problem, but I don't know what solutions are already out there.

[@tylergassman]

I played around with your site and see what you mean. For what it's worth, a bunch of the dates on rockaway north that are selectable and seem like they're available in the site result in "This property is not available" when you click the book now button. I had to try like 5 date ranges before I actually got it to redirect me to the booking engine, which could be a little frustrating UX for someone with less patience.

[@tylergassman]

I just realized the same issue is present in the uplisting engine if you manually navigate to that url and use it to select the dates, so it doesn't seem like an issue with your web devs integration, but with uplisting itself. I'm curious if you guys have had this issue with them often. We were considering moving from Guesty to Uplisting.

[@kyleeandsteven]

@@tylergassman This was a thing with that particular property. During the dates you were searching, there was a 30 night minimum. Uplisting wouldn't take your request for a booking that was shorter than that and threw the error you saw. Not explaining to the user why that is the case, could be improved. This is a limitation of the wordpress front end connected to uplisting's booking engine. We remain extremely happy with Uplisting.

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

What app on shopify should I use for rentals?

[@bitterleaf5752]

I have learn so much from you guys and I really appreciate it. You guys are amazing❤❤❤❤. Most people would charge for the information you provide. ❤❤❤❤ THANK YOU!!!!! I have a listing and working on the 2nd one, by God’s s grace 🤲🤲🤲.

[@RanchoBellaVista503]

¡Gracias! Your videos have helped me so much. I'm in the same position as you are, Airbnb is where most of our bookings come from, and we're not ready to take off our listing. I've had some success with Instagram. Let's see what 2024 brings! Wishing you a prosperous new year ❤

[@kyleeandsteven]

Same to you!

[@twisssmithproductions5263]

You said 40 plus management clients. How did you get started or get those clients?

[@VershimaAjo]

Would love to see the technical video on integrating the property management system

[@JessRosa-r5q]

My husband and I run an airbnb in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 and have learned SO much from you guys, thank you thank you thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@Kfig22]

I have several in PR also 🇵🇷 😊

[@mariellewegener7601]

This video was incredibly helpful! I would love to see a deeper dive video on the more technical side on how you built your website, what does your current tech stack look like and how you integrated Uplisting to your current website. Thanks in advance!

[@JessRosa-r5q]

Yes please let us know how your direct booking site works 😀

[@itstinymc]

Hi out of topic but you guysare so wholesome, super transparent and I’ve been watching you two since I’ve started my process for Airbnb. I have a question what software would you recommend for automated pricing? I see a few but feel overwhelmed. And I would really want your guys opinion 😊

[@Lpmeff]

What a team enjoy learning you all really won

[@Daniqueinstyle]

Hey, I absolutely love everything you guys do! This year I’m focused on direct bookings also and one of the things that I started to do is anytime I get a booking on Airbnb I will call the guest the next day and introduce myself and ask them the purpose of their trip, and if they enjoy their stay, would they like to be added to my email list for future direct bookings and then they always say yes! Let me know if that’s something that works for you guys, it’s a great personal touch and they always never expect that phone call but they sure do appreciate that touch 😉

[@SaraDonnyEasterbrook]

I would like an indept training

[@Ramanhere468]

One Guest claimed to book for herself, actually booked her husband (drug addict) and her husband brought in his unclaimed mistress. Husband would run in and run out all night without shoes, then he brings in a couple as he leaves at 5 AM. The couple smoke pot, blast loud music and as I tried to kick them out, the woman cusses me out. Meanwhile they trespassed and trashed my rental. 😂

[@TruthSeeker-z1t]

Are your direct booking rates lower than through airBNB ? If so, sounds like a win/win . Also, as a guest I don't consider 4 stars a bad rating. One minor inconvenience and I probably still give it 5 stars but multiple inconveniences and the stars quickly go down.

[@kyleeandsteven]

Yes people will save 10-15% (mostly in fees) by booking through our website. And we agree from a guest perspective that 4 stars doesn’t seem bad but it does affect our rankings 😤

[@annswallow2247]

To be a Superhost, you need a 4.84 rating or higher. Plus, to keep your listing high on their list of properties that they show the potential guest, you need that rating.

[@TruthSeeker-z1t]

@@socalstr thanks for the wonderful advice sir! (btw, I do message hosts in advance to make sure everything is working properly and to gauge how responsive they are to any issues that may arise. This usually prevents not only the need to give someone a bad rating but more importantly it helps prevent bad experiences. But again thanks for taking the time to provide such useful advice! Just a heads up -- don't be surprised if you get a 1 star rating from your guests if this is your typical communication style ⭐❌❌❌❌

[@leerodriguez9564]

As someone who only does partial homes and shared rooms, I'm kinda shackled to airbnb at the moment, tho I share a lot of the same frustrations, this would be perfect tho for when we plan to expand and start buying property in the Caribbean! Thank you!

[@bexbeccy]

Hi What about Smoobu? any advice about Smoobu? Thanks

[@liveurfabexistence]

Thank you for all your hard work keeping us knowledgeable! Would you mind sharing which other OTA integrate to google vacations?

[@kyleeandsteven]

Lodgify does. Many of the other big ones OwnerRez, Guesty, Hostaway do not (currently)

[@ifyourehappyandyouknowit2235]

What WP Theme do you use for Arrivals?

[@safewaytravel6540]

I want to hear more about uplisting.

[@shannonbroughton5620]

Also, how do you have coverage as large as Airbnb with your own booking system? Does Uplisting have the coverage?

[@shannonbroughton5620]

Who makes your website? And manages it?

[@danman311]

Thanks for the great videos. I’m wondering how do you collect from guests via a direct website when they break or steal something?

[@kyleeandsteven]

We collect a security deposit for each booking

[@wadecollier4757]

Great content. I have a website but have a deep question about SEO. I'd like to ask your web developer a question. Not sure if i should get off squarespace or not. I'm not techy at all.

[@lakitahead9136]

I am interested seeing a more detailed video about the technical aspects of your website.

[@successwithstacee9290]

Thanks for the content. Could you do another video going more in depth on how to do a blog and the easiest way to collect and use emails? How do you get content for the blog? Do you just set up a Pinterest and have your VA choose content from the blogs? I’m going to look into adding to Google. I would like to see a more technical video about your website.

[@wildernesscapes]

I take about 30% direct bookings on my own website, 10% vrbo, 60% airbnb

[@kyleeandsteven]

That’s great! Any tips to share to the group? 😊

[@safewaytravel6540]

What to do when my beach front apartment will only rent 4 months out of the year…any ideas? I was thinking renting it as a short term office? Any thoughts?

[@Boostly]

2:07 1% better each day

[@raymonewhite4892]

I love this idea, but how would you address guest that stay beyond their reservation? It's nice to have Airbnb assistance in those situations. Espcially long term stays.

[@oliveknaus]

You escort them out by armed security that you hire to oversee guests trespassing.

[@proppo4924]

Found out the hard way, VRBO is no better, they want nothing to do with anything except collecting the fees. Read the Terms of Service.

[@dannyboy5665]

Hi guys. Still loving your vids. I had asked you a while ago about conferences and I believe you suggested STR Wealth and that Bill alone was worth going to. Are you two going to the one in Nashville, do you have a suggestion on which access to buy and do you know of any discount opportunities? These level can escalate in price pretty quickly.

[@ericabecka1711]

Would love a more technical video!!

[@robroman7407]

You had me at wanting to '...give Airbnb the finger and walking away...'

[@nathanhaniger5763]

Have you ever required an email address for access to the Wi-Fi like some hotels do? I’m considering this but have a little hesitation about it as it feels a little invasive. What are your thoughts on this?

[@zamskycrane]

Do you have a rental in Palm Springs? We are going there in April and we are having a difficult time finding something.

[@kyleeandsteven]

Yes, we have a few! We haven’t opened April everywhere yet, though. www.arrivls.com

[@FeritNecib]

Uplisting link is not working

[@kyleeandsteven]

Fixed! TY 😊

[@FeritNecib]

You are welcome thank you too!

[@gratitude2880]

Its about time Airbnb is exposed for their mistreatment of host. We have 5 Listings and the guest always wins. They pay lip service to hosts and don't deliver. They are the ones that should be learning from you guys! Its getting ridiculous how one sided it is😡

[@shannonbroughton5620]

Not to be a tough audience, but perhaps Airbnb realizes your long term goals and how you actually feel about them and that’s why they’re giving you so much grief in regard to reimbursements. Probably not really possible but a thought.

[@Ramanhere468]

One Guest peed all over my towels, folded them perfectly and laid them on the shower rod. Then had the audacity to leave ME a 3 overall rating. She didn’t communicate or answer my messages and left me a 3 in communication as well. 😂😂😂

[@proppo4924]

The problem with 5 star system is abuse by hosts who manipulate and beg for 5 star reviews they don't really deserve. Cheapens to whole system. We never mention stars to guests and now market our 4.8 ranking as "honest". I think guests appreciate that.

[@Boostly]

🍿 This is the type of content I’m here for

[@Ramanhere468]

As a Host, I am leaving this airbnb nonsense in the past. Terrible string of Guests lie and purposely ruin your ratings because they retaliate for damage claims, breaking the NO smoking house rule or sneak in extra people. IF a Host leaves a negative rating or a negative review, the Guest’s overall score is still 5. It’s a losing game. Airbnb will delete honest negative reviews left by Hosts, so they can keep making more revenue at the cost of our property, safety and privacy. I’m out. My house is mine. No entitled piece of work gets to tell me what to do in my house.

[@tammyrussell-rice5508]

I feel your pain. It wasn't always like this. However, Airbnb has turned our homes into commodities. And, Guests now act accordingly.

[@spicynomad]

rent out your property to visiting professionals. nurses, social workers etc.

[@MounjarojourneywithPam]

Omg what did he take crazy

[@kyleeandsteven]

Bath towels, pool towels, bedding, cordless vacuum cleaner 😤

[@MounjarojourneywithPam]

I hate when ppl do this