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
Beyond Key Cards: GCSTIMES Custom Wooden & In-Room Hospitality Amenities
GCSTIMES, a hotel key card supplier, now offers customization services for in-room hospitality essentials including wooden hangers, wooden-handled umbrellas, and branded laundry bags.
Ted Horner: Navigating hotel tech ROI, AI, and the future of hotel profitability
Ted Horner argues hotels underinvest in technology due to weak vendor ROI cases, while OTA commissions squeeze owner margins and major brands increasingly resemble marketing companies.
Strong Turnout of Caribbean Tourism Ministers for Caribbean Week in New York
Against a backdrop of rapid geopolitical change and shifting international markets, a historic post-pandemic turnout of tourism ministers and commissioners from across the Caribbean will converge
Breaking Travel News explores: Tortello, London
The name Tortello, a single tortelloni, reflects everything this restaurant stands for - care in the smallest details, respect for tradition and the belief that real flavour comes from real craft
A Season of Culture, Celebration and Connection at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla
As summer arrives in Anguilla, the island comes into its most vibrant season; when culture, celebration, and community take centre stage. At Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla, this dynamic e
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh Unveils a Kingdom Centre-Inspired High Tea Experience at Obaya Lounge
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre has introduced an elevated High Tea experience at Obaya Lounge, featuring a bespoke stand inspired by the iconic silhouette of the Kingdom Centre tower. Pay
AI and Content Reshape Attractions & Tours at Trip.com Group’s Global Partner Forum
Trip.com Group, a leading global travel service provider, explored the future of the Attractions & Tours (A&T) sector at the Attractions & Tours Global Partners Forum, part of the Group
Why the Hotel Business Is Entering an Owner-First Era
The asset-light model has been good for operators and their shareholders. The pressure it creates for the owners who carry the assets is only now being openly discussed — and the operators best placed
Saudi Tourism Chief Hamidaddin to Leave Role as Kingdom Rewrites Its Tourism Ambitions
Saudi Arabia's tourism chief is out and the giga-projects are being scaled back. The Kingdom’s tourism mission may be "unchanged," but is being unmistakably revised.
Travel Industry Warns Against DHS Threat to Halt Customs at ‘Sanctuary Cities’
Halting customs at Newark — one of the busiest international hubs in the U.S. — would be a logistical nightmare for airlines.
Amadeus Redefines Travel Advertising to Help Brands Capture Demand Earlier
Amadeus launched its Travel Advertising Platform at its Nice summit, using AI and an Accenture-built agentic framework to shift hotel and airline ad spend from reactive optimization to forward-looking
Luxury Retail’s Hospitality Problem Isn’t a Training Problem
Saying luxury retail should be more hospitable ignores how most of the industry works.
Jamie Dimon Says Moats in Banking Are Temporary. Sounds Like Travel.
In travel, as in banking, the moat you're defending today is probably shallower than you think. And it's likely someone is already digging around it.
Google Charges for Placement Not Commission, AI Ranks 4th in Travel Planning, Technification Risks Commoditization
Friday closed a week dominated by Google's distribution moves and a growing unease about what technology is doing to hospitality's core product. Google's Universal Cart turns out to be
Lead Well, Work Well: The Holistic Approach to Focused Hotel Leadership
The article explores how hotel leaders can improve their effectiveness through intentional self-care practices and structured morning routines to combat decision fatigue.