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.
Ready for your own website?
A professional website for your apartment in 5 minutes. No technical skills, no commissions, no contracts.
Start freeFree 14-day trial · No credit card · Cancel anytime
Tourism news
The AI information gap and the CIO’s mandate for transparency
B2B buyers now prioritize AI transparency and governance over flashy features, requiring CIOs to coordinate company-wide messaging to build customer trust.
AHLA Statement on the passing of Kirk Kinsell
Former Loews Hotels CEO and IHG Americas President remembered for his leadership at AHLA and commitment to developing young hospitality professionals.
IHIF EMEA 2026 - Leisure leads as hospitality shifts toward scale and scarcity
Analysis from IHIF EMEA reveals leisure properties driving investment while urban markets face uncertainty, with Southern Europe emerging as the core geographic focus.
War, Shutdowns, Fuel Shocks: Travel’s Most Brutal Month in Years
From Dubai to Delhi to several U.S. cities, March revealed how quickly the whole system can break down.
Marketbeat CEE - H2 2025
Investment volumes in Central and Eastern Europe rose 170% in 2025, with Prague, Budapest, and Warsaw leading RevPAR growth.
Europe Market Spotlight - FY 25
European hotels achieved €69.3 GOP PAR in 2025, up 2.1% year-over-year, with London leading at €155 PAR while Milan and Warsaw showed strongest growth.
Trump’s AI Framework Aims to Shift States’ Authority — But Misses Travel’s Biggest Pressure Point
The new framework could give travel a win on AI development. It does nothing for the pricing fight that's already at their door.
Jill Chalmers, Glenapp Castle MD, Honoured with Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
Jill Chalmers, Managing Director of the five-star Glenapp Castle on the Scottish southwest coast, and one of Scotland’s most respected figures in luxury hospitality, has been honoured with the Lif
India’s Travel Boom Is Real. The Payoff Hasn’t Come — Yet
India's travel stakeholders need to start converting cultural depth into bookable, premium products.
Saudi Arabia’s Business Hotel Gap Gets a $1 Billion Fix
U.S.-Saudi partnership to develop 50 hotels across the Kingdom by 2029, targeting corporate travelers and MICE demand.
THE RITZ-CARLTON ORLANDO, GRANDE LAKES DEBUTS SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES
Grande Lakes Orlando, the 500-acre luxury resort destination and home to The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, is pleased to announce the launch of the exclusive Ritz-Carlton Signature E
The Iconic Extreme 19th Returns
One of the world’s most extraordinary golfing experiences is back. The legendary Extreme 19th, located at the renowned Legend Golf & Safari Resort, is officially re-opening on the 7th of May,
3-Hour Airport Lines and a System Under Pressure
Sarah Kopit and Lex Haris break down a week where multiple pressures hit U.S. travel at once — and what it reveals about the system’s ability to handle stress.
SriLankan Airlines Records Revenue Increase with AI and ML-Powered Revenue Management System
SriLankan Airlines has recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of a next-generation, AI and Machine-Learning (ML) powered Origin and Destination (O&D) revenue management p
Hotel Sacher Vienna celebrates its 150th anniversary - with sculptures by Erwin Wurm
The Hotel Sacher Vienna opened its doors in 1876 and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026. The anniversary year begins with the presentation of the sculptures “Step Big” and “Dan