Guest contributors

The Host Report publishes reporting and analysis from people who run, build and advise short-term rental businesses: operators, property managers, software founders, market analysts and attorneys. Every guest piece is edited to the same standard as our own coverage and carries the author's name, bio and LinkedIn profile so you can judge the source. This page lists every story written by an outside contributor, newest first.

The Booking Window Is Not Shrinking. It Depends Where You Host.

We tracked the same 1,056 US listings for five years. City stays collapsed by a quarter. Cabin stays got longer.

Jeff Brown
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August 31, 2026

Old dogs, new tricks: Why even 30-year veterans need to keep learning

The industry keeps changing. Good operators change with it.

Jodi Refosco
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August 27, 2026

Why destination knowledge is becoming a property manager's competitive advantage

Five ways to differentiate on the experience around your listing, not just the amenities inside it.

Ben Levy
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August 14, 2026

Going Direct? Here's What You Take on When You Become The Merchant of Record

Taxes, fraud, chargebacks, and payment risks don't disappear when you leave the OTAs, they just become your responsibility.

Abby Grous
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August 10, 2026

What a 200-Night Rental Cap Actually Does to Revenue

We modeled a year of Salt Lake City listing data against a 200-night cap. Nearly half of active rentals would have run out of nights, and the smallest properties were hit hardest.

Quinn Monescalchi
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August 5, 2026

Guests Grade You on Six Things. Only Some of Them Pay

We looked at 40,087 listings. The score most hosts obsess over is not the one that tracks with revenue

Jeff Brown
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July 27, 2026

Your Airbnb Clicks Are a Pricing Signal. Here’s How to Read Them

Airbnb already shows you the demand for every future night. Most hosts price without ever opening it.

Jeff Brown
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July 13, 2026

Technology Plus People: The Guide to Successful Software Integration for Vacation Rentals

Delivering exceptional guest experiences for property managers begins with selecting the right software provider, one that places people at the forefront of their work.

Tim Rosolio
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July 2, 2026

The property managers getting the most from AI are the ones staying in control

AI can now read your bookings, maintenance log, guest history, and financials in real time. The operators who work that out will have a meaningful edge over those who don't.

Nik Logachev
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June 30, 2026

The Free Pricing Lever Most Airbnb Hosts Are Ignoring

Among U.S. listings that already have a sauna, the ones that mention it in the title earn 28% more per night than the ones that don't — and four out of five don't. The same goes for your pool and your hot tub.

Jeff Brown
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June 10, 2026

Fixing the Broken Guest Journey: Why Fragmented Systems Are Holding STRs Back

Five questions every operator should ask before adding another tool to the stack

Ari Eryorulmaz
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May 5, 2026

What the Highest-Performing Hosts Do Differently

Five lessons from PriceLabs’ 2026 Host Stories winners on pricing, operations, amenities, guest communication, and scaling smarter

Sharon Biggar
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April 22, 2026

Trusting the Algorithm: Business Strategy Changes and How to Handle Them

As AI-powered tools become more common in property management strategy, many operators are finding it difficult to balance human expertise and algorithmic speed

Marcus Räder
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March 17, 2026

Discounting for Visibility? What STR Operators Should Really Be Thinking About

As platforms experiment with discount-driven visibility, STR operators face a deeper question: are you pricing to fill nights, or paying for placement in someone else’s marketplace?

Amber Knight
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March 12, 2026

Concert Demand Isn’t Seasonal: Why Emotion Is the Missing Variable in STR Pricing

Understanding how fixed-date, emotion-driven travel reshapes pricing, pace, and stay patterns

Quinn Monescalchi
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March 4, 2026

Why So Many STR Owner-Property Manager Relationships Fall Apart

Misaligned expectations, unclear operating models, and weak onboarding are quietly driving owner churn across STRs

Emily Tunggala
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February 16, 2026

How Depreciation Recapture Works and 3 Strategies to Help You Mitigate It

A high-level guide for real estate investors planning to exit a rental property

Gabriel Virdaru, CPA
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July 24, 2025

Case Study: How the Short-Term Rental Strategy Can Save You Thousands in Taxes While Building Long Term Wealth

A high-income W-2 employee’s guide to unlocking massive tax savings through STR ownership

Gabriel Virdaru, CPA
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July 18, 2025

What the Big Beautiful Bill Means for Short-Term Rental Owners

How the reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation opens up major tax planning opportunities for STR acquisitions

Gabriel Virdaru, CPA
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July 12, 2025

Speculating on Tax Reform’s Impact on STRs

A closer look at the “No Tax on Tips” Act, wage ethics, and how it could apply to STR property management

Alex Kim
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June 12, 2025

AI at Airbnb: Customer Service Today, Travel Concierge Tomorrow

Airbnb is rolling out AI in stages—starting with support, aiming for a full-on travel concierge.

Alex Kim
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May 21, 2025

Write for The Host Report

Operators, founders and analysts with a first-hand view of the short-term rental industry can pitch a story. Read the publishing guidelines first.

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