Are you struggling to fill your short-term rental calendar? The secret to more bookings might not be what you think. In this episode, we explore why understanding your ideal guest is the key to transforming your marketing, increasing conversion rates, and creating seamless stays.

Join me as I chat with Gil Chan, a short-term rental host and founder of Crafted Stays, a hospitality tech company. Gil shares his journey from tech executive to passionate host, and how his experiences led him to create a game-changing platform for direct bookings.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify your ideal guest avatar using review analysis
• Tailor your marketing efforts to resonate with your target audience
• Design your property and amenities with your ideal guest in mind
• Create a website that converts visitors into bookings

About Gil Chan

Gil Chan is a short-term rental host with several properties in the Great Smoky Mountains and Branson market. He owns and manages these properties with his wife. He’s a father of two young kids. He was born and raised in Silicon Valley (California). He has been in technology for 15 years and has been part of 6 other startups before starting his own hospitality tech company, CraftedStays. Prior to CraftedStays, Gil was working in eCommerce and working closely with Shopify. He realized that in the eCommerce industry if you had an idea and wanted to sell directly to customers, you had platforms like Shopify to help you launch your business; however, in the short-term industry, you’re limited to the PMS standard sites or had to hire an agency to build your custom site. Gil is set out on a mission to enable all short-term rental hosts to be successful in direct bookings.

Connect with Gil and Crafted Stays:

Website: https://craftedstays.co

Instagram: https://instagram.com/craftedstays

*GET AN EXCLUSIVE $35 OFF MONTHLY FOR THE 12-MONTHS IN CRAFTED STAYS ONLY FOR DBS PODCAST LISTENERS*

SIGN UP THROUGH THIS LINK: https://app.craftedstays.com/getstarted/dbs

Whether you're just starting out or looking to increase your direct bookings, this episode provides valuable insights to help your short-term rental business thrive. Don't miss out on these strategies to connect with your ideal guests and boost your bookings.

The key moments on this episode are:

00:00:00 The Secret to More Bookings: Understanding Your Ideal Guest

00:00:57 From Tech to Short-Term Rentals: Gil Chan's Journey

00:03:55 The Shift to Direct Bookings: Taking Control of Your Business

00:05:31 Building a Direct Booking Website: Challenges and Opportunities

00:07:31 Crafted Stays: Creating the Shopify for Short-Term Rentals

00:09:54 The Importance of Understanding Your Ideal Guest

00:13:30 Tailoring Marketing to Your Ideal Guest

00:18:29 Beyond Traffic: Optimizing Your Website for Conversions

00:21:18 Crafted Stays: A Purpose-Built Platform for Short-Term Rentals

00:24:46 Continuous Improvement and Special Offer

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Show notes are available at: https://directbookingsuccess.com/podcast/

Work with Jenn to maintain consistency in your marketing and boost your direct bookings without spending so much money on it: https://directbookingsuccess.com/apply/

The ULTIMATE all-in-one marketing platform for short term rental is finally here! Check it out: https://bookdirectpro.com/

FREE GUIDE: 10 Ways to Drive Guests to your Website instead of Airbnb: https://directbookingsuccess.com/10-ways-to-drive-guests-to-your-website-instead-of-airbnb/

Follow Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directbookingsuccess

Join Jenn’s free Facebook group – the Marketing Hub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strmarketinghub