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
They Love You — But Not Coming Back: What Destinations Get Wrong About Repeat Travelers
Repeat visitation must be actively earned, not assumed as a result of satisfaction.
Abu Dhabi’s Sphere Has a Home: Yas Island
The location was the easy part. Whether Abu Dhabi can fill a $1.7 billion venue with its own original content is the harder question.
Six layers, one hub — the minimum stack for the new PMS era
The article outlines a six-layer technology architecture with PMS as the central hub for 100-room independent hotels, featuring AI-ready integrations and real-time data flows.
Travel Forward launches global community to unite destinations and tourism businesses around shared challenges
The new membership community addresses climate risk, visitor pressure, and economic leakage through collaborative action between destinations and global travel businesses.
ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES UNVEILS 2028-2029 INAUGURAL SEASON OF ATLAS ADVENTURER
Atlas Ocean Voyages today announced the inaugural season of Atlas Adventurer, the newest addition to its fleet of luxury expedition yachts. Marking a significant milestone for the brand, the season in
Oceania Cruises® Unveils Holiday and New Year Voyages for 2026-27 and 2027-28 Seasons
Celebrate the holiday season at sea with Oceania Cruises® aboard its luxurious ships across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Allegiant Completes Acquisition of Sun Country Airlines
Allegiant Travel Company today announced it has successfully completed its acquisition of Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc.bringing together two complementary carriers focused on affordable leisure
30,000 Hospitality Professionals Joined Paathz Before a Single Role Was Posted. Here’s What That Reveals.
The platform attracted 30,000 hospitality professionals before launching any job postings, highlighting demand for industry-specific recruitment tools.
Wizz Air confirms the return of all operations to Tel Aviv from 28th May
Wizz Air announces it will resume operations to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, from Thursday, 28th May, marking an important step in reconnecting Israel with key European destinations.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection & Ginori 1735 Unveil the First-Ever Ginori Terrace Concept at Sea
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection launches a new collaboration with Ginori 1735, debuting Ginori Terrace at sea aboard Evrima. Ginori Terrace celebrates the art of viaggio, the Italian word for tr
Leading UK school group to establish Phuket campus as international school demand grows beyond Bangkok
VLC Group, owner of multiple Phuket hotels including Marriott properties, will develop NLCS Phuket as a premium boarding school for Thai and international families.
Hotel Brand vs. Hotel Franchise: A Distinction That Could Save You Millions
The author argues that owners focus too much on brand selection while overlooking franchise agreement economics that determine profitability over 10-20 years.
What Actually Happens After You Win a Skift IDEA Award
The value of a Skift IDEA Award shows up in faster trust, internal momentum, stronger commercial conversations, and industry positioning that competitors notice immediately.
U.S. Waives $15,000 Visa Bond for World Cup Ticket Holders
Waiving the visa bond is a relief for World Cup fans — assuming they can afford the ticket prices.
GMH Hotels: Is Hospitality More Fragile Than It Looks?
On this week’s Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast: Hotels Edition, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down a growing debate across the hotel industry: are brands mistaking temporary stre