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Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian

Get actionable advice and the essential fundamentals of running a profitable 5-star Airbnb side-hustle or full on business. Annette’s extensive background in business operations and Sarah’s experience in high-end hospitality management and interior design make them a powerhouse duo that will deliver high impact content. With almost a decade of combined hosting experience they will not only share their own stories welcoming thousands of guests from around the world but also those of other Superhosts to deliver you a wide array of stories, insights, and profitable and creative ideas to make your listing rise to the top. Whether you’re experienced, new, or nervous to start your own Airbnb this podcast promises to be informative, fun, and from the heart.

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Avg 26 min
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#556
June 18 · 20 min
556. 4 Hotel Upsells Airbnb Hosts Are Giving Away for Free
Most Airbnb hosts are leaving money on the table without realizing it. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down four common guest requests that hotels routinely charge for but short-term rental hosts often provide for free. From early check-in and late checkout to pool heat, grocery stocking, and celebration setups, these services take time, coordination, and operational effort. The hosts share real examples from clients who turned these requests into meaningful revenue streams, including one host who added thousands of dollars per month simply by charging for services guests were already expecting to pay for. If you've ever felt guilty charging for extras, this episode will help you rethink the difference between hospitality and uncompensated labor. In this episode, you'll learn: Why early check-in and late checkout should be treated as premium services How to price pool heat without creating guest confusion What hotels charge for concierge-style amenity setups How to structure grocery stocking and fridge-fill services The mindset shift every host needs to stop giving away valuable services Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#555
June 11 · 22 min
555. Never Turn On These Airbnb Settings (They're Costing You Bookings)
Think your bookings are down because of the algorithm, seasonality, or increased competition? The real problem might be hiding inside your Airbnb settings. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the Airbnb features that could be creating friction for potential guests and limiting your visibility in search. They share three settings they recommend turning off immediately and five settings every host should review and enable to improve conversions, increase booking velocity, and create a smoother guest experience. You'll learn why required booking messages can hurt conversion rates, the hidden downside of extra person fees, why Airbnb Smart Pricing may not be serving your revenue goals, and how tools like Instant Book and Professional Hosting Tools can help you attract more bookings. Whether you're managing one property or a growing portfolio, this episode is a reminder that your settings aren't "set it and forget it." Small adjustments can have a significant impact on your bottom line. Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#554
June 4 · 29 min
554. 6 Silent Mistakes Destroying Your Airbnb Reviews (And Costing You Bookings)
If your Airbnb rating is sitting at 4.6, 4.7, or even 4.8 and you're wondering why bookings aren't growing, this episode is for you. The truth is that most review-damaging mistakes aren't obvious. In fact, experienced hosts often make them because they're too close to their own properties to see the gaps. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down six silent mistakes that can cost you five-star reviews, lower your search ranking, and ultimately impact your revenue. From misleading listing descriptions and AI-generated photos to poor check-in experiences and inventory shortages, these are the issues that create friction for guests long before they leave a review. You'll learn how to spot these mistakes in your own business and what to do instead so guests arrive with the right expectations, enjoy a smoother stay, and leave glowing feedback. In This Episode We Cover: Why honesty in your listing leads to better reviews The risks of misleading photos and AI-generated imagery How understocked amenities frustrate guests Creating foolproof check-in instructions The ideal guest messaging cadence What to do when things go wrong during a stay Why guest impact matters more than your intentions Whether you're managing one property or an entire portfolio, these six adjustments can help protect your ratings and improve the guest experience. Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#553
May 28 · 14 min
553. How to Make Your Airbnb Look Expensive Without Overspending
You don’t need to spend more money to make your Airbnb look expensive. You need to spend in the right places. In this episode, we’re breaking down what actually makes a property feel elevated to guests and more importantly, what gets them to click, book, and leave better reviews. We’re sharing where hosts should invest, where they tend to overspend, and how to design with performance in mind so your property not only looks better, but earns more. If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to “upgrade” your space without blowing your budget, this episode will give you a clear roadmap. Resources mentioned: Download our essentials checklist! Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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#552
May 21 · 15 min
552. The New Rules for Getting More Airbnb Bookings in 2026
If it feels harder to get bookings right now, you’re not imagining it. The Airbnb landscape has changed and the hosts who are still operating the same way they did a year ago are starting to feel it. In this episode, we’re breaking down the new rules for 2026 and what it actually takes to compete in today’s market. From mindset shifts to pricing strategy to understanding your numbers, we’re sharing what the top-performing hosts are doing differently and how you can start applying it right now. Because bookings aren’t gone. They’re just going to the hosts who are running their properties like real businesses. What you'll learn: Why hosting is no longer passive and what that means for your strategy What winning listings are doing differently right now Why Superhost status isn’t enough anymore The key metrics every host needs to understand How to stop panic pricing and make data-driven decisions Why pricing tools aren’t a strategy on their own The difference between revenue and actual profit How to use your Airbnb funnel to diagnose performance issues Resources Mentioned: Download our Know Your Numbers Worksheet! Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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#551
May 14 · 54 min
551. How Laura Wegner Built a High-Performing STR Brand in Whistler
Laura Wegner didn’t get into short-term rentals because it was trendy. She got into it because her business disappeared overnight during COVID. What started as a way to survive turned into a highly strategic hospitality business in Whistler, British Columbia. Today, Laura owns and manages premium ski-in/ski-out rentals and is preparing to expand into boutique property management with a very specific vision. In this episode, Laura breaks down: Why she stopped treating her STR like a side investment How understanding RevPAR changed her business The mistake she made with minimum stay requirements What finally clicked with PriceLabs How design, cleanliness, and hospitality justify premium pricing The exact mindset shift that helped her outperform competitors in the same building She also shares the real numbers behind her growth and how Strategic Host helped her increase RevPAR dramatically year over year. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by pricing strategy, or unsure how to compete in a crowded market, this episode is a masterclass in using data with intention. Resources Mentioned: Join the Priced & Profitable Bootcamp Waitlist Price Labs Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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#550
May 7 · 40 min
550. From Weekend Side Hustle to 35% Growth: How One Host Optimized Before Scaling
Josh Peterson didn’t start in short-term rentals by chasing deals. He started by solving a problem. After too many mediocre hotel stays visiting his daughter at UNC, he bought a home near campus. What started as a second home quickly turned into a high-performing short-term rental—and then a full-on business. But here’s where it gets interesting. Instead of rushing to scale, Josh hit pause. He went back, optimized his first property, and unlocked a 35% revenue increase and a major jump in occupancy. In this episode, we break down: Why optimizing one property can outperform adding more The exact pricing shifts that increased weekday bookings How data, not instinct, changed his strategy What “champagne taste” looks like in a profitable rental Why niche markets (like college towns) can be a long-term advantage How to think about scaling without overextending If you’re thinking about your next property, this episode might change how you approach it. Resources mentioned: Check out Josh's STR at: https://phdstays.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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#549
April 30 · 48 min
549. From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Amy Ruocco Scaled Her Airbnb Business Without Losing Herself
What does it actually take to scale a short-term rental business without burning out? In this episode, we sit down with Amy Ruocco, founder of Hosted Guest, who went from running herself ragged in her business to building a more profitable, sustainable, and scalable operation. Amy shares how she transitioned from instinct-based decisions to data-driven strategy, what finally helped her let go of day-to-day tasks, and how hiring the right team member changed everything. We also dive into her journey from weddings to short-term rentals, the mindset shifts that unlocked major revenue growth, and how she’s on track to hit $1.4M this year without adding more properties. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to grow, this episode will show you what’s possible. What you'll learn: How Amy scaled her business to nearly $1M and beyond Why instinct alone won’t grow your Airbnb business How to stop panic pricing and trust your data What finally helped her hire and let go of control How to train a team member to match your voice and standards Why your role as a host needs to evolve as you grow The importance of investing in yourself and your business How time blocking can reduce overwhelm and create balance Resources mentioned: Join our Strategic Host Coaching Program! Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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#548
April 23 · 19 min
548. Airbnb Changed the Fees Again… Here’s What Actually Matters
Airbnb changed the fee structure again… and most hosts are asking the wrong question. Everyone is debating which option to choose, but almost no one is looking at what actually happened to their numbers after the last change. In this episode, we break down what Airbnb quietly updated, the biggest mistakes hosts are about to repeat, and the four audits you need to run before touching a single setting. Because this isn’t about opinions, it’s about your profit. What You’ll Learn: What Airbnb actually changed with fee structures Why the “recommended” label matters more than you think The biggest mistake hosts made during the last fee switch Why copying someone else’s markup strategy doesn’t work The four key audits you must run before making changes How to evaluate your performance vs your market Why pricing is only one part of the equation How to make decisions based on data instead of panic Resources mentioned: Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com Join our Priced and Profitable Bootcamp! Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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#547
April 16 · 15 min
547. Steal Our Airbnb Title Formula to Get More Clicks and Bookings
If your Airbnb listing is getting views but not bookings, your title might be the problem. In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the fastest and most overlooked ways to improve your listing performance: your Airbnb title. Because your title isn’t there to describe your space, it’s there to win the click. We’re sharing the exact prompts we use (and teach our students) to create high-converting titles using AI, plus the strategy behind why they work. From understanding the click-through funnel to aligning your title with real-time demand, this episode will help you stop guessing and start optimizing. If you want more clicks, more visibility, and ultimately more bookings, this is where to start. Resources Mentioned: Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp - Join the Waitlist! Strategic Host Coaching Program - Sign up! Download our Airbnb Photo Shoot Shot List Mentioned in this episode: Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.
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