Tips for successful vacation hosts
Everything you need to know for a successful tourist season — from apartment preparation, legal obligations, to commission-free direct bookings.
How to prepare your apartment for the 2026 season — complete guide
Every tourist season starts with preparation. The difference between an average and excellent host is how ready you are before the first guest arrives.
How much Booking.com really costs you — commission calculator
Booking.com charges 15-25% commission on every reservation. For an average apartment, that means €2,000 to €8,000 per year.
10 things guests notice in the first 5 minutes
The review is written in the first 5 minutes. Everything after just confirms the first impression.
How to respond to a negative review — 5 examples
Every host gets a negative review. The question is not whether it will happen, but how you react.
Flat-rate rental business in Croatia — everything you need to know in 2026
If you rent out an apartment in Croatia, a flat-rate business is the simplest legal path.
How to photograph your apartment for Booking — 10 tips
A guest decides in 3 seconds — click or scroll past. That decision depends on the first photo.
Why you need your own website alongside Booking.com
Booking.com is great for new guests. But if Booking is your only channel — you have a problem.
The ultimate pre-season apartment checklist — 25 items you can't skip
Experienced hosts don't memorise — they use a checklist. These 25 items cover every corner of your apartment, from kitchen drawers to WiFi passwords.
A welcome pack that makes an impression — what to include and what it costs
For €2-3 per guest, you can dramatically improve the first impression. A welcome pack isn't a cost — it's an investment in reviews.
Google Business profile for your apartment — a free channel for direct bookings
Google Business is free and takes 30 minutes to set up. Every guest who searches for you on Google should find your page — not Booking.
How to get a 5-star review — 7 rules the best hosts follow
The difference between 4 and 5 stars isn't luxury — it's the details. Learn the 7 rules hosts with an average above 4.8 follow.
Smart lock for your apartment — self check-in guests love
The guest arrives at 11 PM, you're 200 km away. With a key — problem. With a smart lock — "Your code is 4729, enter whenever you arrive." Review: 5 stars.
How to turn a guest into a repeat guest — 5 strategies for repeat bookings
A repeat guest is gold. No Booking commission, they already know your apartment, no surprises, and better reviews. The only question is — how to win them over.
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Tourism news
The Mapmaker's Paradox
A narrative essay argues that AI-driven recommendations are becoming the internet's new organizing principle, shifting value from clicks and search to trusted, curated guidance.
Who Owns Your Passport Expiry Date?
The travel industry has owners for issuance, verification, and conversion. The missing layer is readiness, and the traveler owns the failure.
HSMAI Europe to Co-Locate Commercial Strategy Forum Paris with EquipHotel Paris
HSMAI Europe's first Commercial Strategy Forum in Paris will be co-located with EquipHotel Paris on 5 November 2026, with HFTP also joining the event at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Hotels Fail the Guest's Real AI Search Question, Infor Names Google and Anthropic as True PMS Rivals, Meyer Jabara's 24% Turnover Proves Culture Pays
Tuesday brought a pointed argument that hotels optimize for AI name searches while failing the category queries guests actually use to build shortlists, an Infor HITEC interview predicting hotels will
Mews Cuts 15% of Staff, Points to AI in Broad Restructuring — Exclusive
Mews says AI can remove the handoffs that once slowed work and hurt margins. Now it has to prove a leaner structure can bring hotels closer, not leave them with less.
Beyond Installation: Why Remote Management and Field Services Are Critical to Self-Service Success in Hospitality
Kiosk.eu makes the case that remote management platforms and field services are as critical as hardware selection for keeping hotel self-check-in kiosks operational and guest-ready.
How Hotels Can Use Reviews to Book More Direct Group Business
Opinion piece argues hotels neglect review-gathering for group/MICE business, and outlines a practical SOP for capturing testimonials at peak emotional moments to win direct bookings.
China’s Tongcheng Travel Bids for Dida to Bring Ride-Sharing In-House
Chinese OTAs have long offered airport transfers and chauffeur services through third-party partnerships. If completed, Tongcheng's Dida acquisition would make it one of the first to own the ride
Hilton Opens Direct Line to Navan, Cutting Out Corporate Travel Middlemen
Hilton and Navan have launched a direct booking connection that skips distribution middlemen, giving the hotel group more control over retailing. It's an early step in a broader corporate travel
Announcing the Skift Live Tourism Summit 2026: The Business of the Live Economy
Concerts, festivals, sports and cultural moments are changing where and how the world travels, and the shift is proving durable. Most operators still treat it as a calendar event. The Skift Live Touri
The Alpina Gstaad Welcomes New Executive Chef Francesco De Bartolomeis
The Alpina Gstaad is delighted to announce the appointment of Francesco De Bartolomeis as the hotel’s new Executive Chef, set to join the team during the summer of 2026. He succeeds Martin Göschel, wh
Vietnam Claims Asia’s No. 1 Position in Branded Residences as Luxury Supply Surges
Vietnam branded residence star has soared in the past year, becoming the largest market in Asia’s USD 40 billion branded residence sector, in terms of value, according to the findings in the recently
HolidayMakers Warned to Brace for Higher Costs, Delays and new EU border system
With just under two weeks till the school holidays, sector experts are warning families and other passengers alike to expect increased uncertainty around international air travel this summer as global
BEING 2026 Returns as Global Wellness Boom Transforms Asia’s Travel Sector
Wellness has become one of the most consequential forces shaping the travel and hospitality industry. Globally, this sector is predicted to be worth USD 1.35 trillion by 2028* – more than double its v
Avianca Offers More Than 71,000 Flights and 12.5 Million Seats for Peak Travel Season
Avianca, part of Abra Group, reaffirms its commitment to strengthening connectivity and expanding access to air travel during the midyear peak travel season from June to August, offering more than 71,