What Separates a Good Host From a Great One: 5 Habits That Change Everything

Dec 11

Great hosts aren’t great by accident.
They’re great because they make intentional choices that move their business forward every single week.

Today, we’re studying the five habits that consistently show up in high-performing STR operators, the ones who scale with ease, increase their revenue year after year, and maintain their sanity along the way.

Let’s get into it.

1. Great Hosts Know Their Numbers

A good host knows their monthly payout.
A great host knows:

profit margins
average nightly rate
RevPAR
occupancy trends
market comparables
cleaning cost efficiency
supply burn rate

Data is how you steer the ship.

The hosts who grow the fastest are the ones who look at their business objectively and adjust quickly.

2. Great Hosts Invest in Design, Not Decor

There’s a difference.

Decor fills a room.
Design fills a revenue gap.

Design-forward listings consistently:
✔ photograph better
✔ command higher ADRs
✔ convert more browsers into bookers
✔ generate stronger reviews
✔ stand out in saturated markets

No one understands this better than our summit’s premiere sponsor, Wayfair Professional, whose trade-exclusive selections shape thousands of top-performing STRs.

This is why our 2026 Summit theme (and workshops) lean heavily into design as a revenue strategy, not just an aesthetic choice.

3. Great Hosts Systemize Guest Experience

Consistency wins.

Guests expect smooth, seamless communication every step of the way:

check-in
parking
wifi
amenities
troubleshooting
checkout

Templates, automation, and checklists don’t make things robotic; they make them reliable.

And reliability equals revenue.

4. Great Hosts Build a Real Team

You cannot scale alone.
Even if you only own one listing, having:

a dedicated cleaner
a reliable handyman
a backup contact
a tax professional
a bookkeeper

…will keep your business stable, protected, and ready for growth.

Great hosts think like leaders, not task-doers.

5. Great Hosts Learn From People Who’ve Already Done It

The fastest shortcut in this business? Proximity.

Every year at LUYL, hosts walk away saying the same thing:

“This is the room where my business finally made sense.”

Education + connection is the formula.

And in 2026, the VIP Power Brunch takes that to a whole new level with hands-on clarity sessions, strategy deep dives, and intimate, mastermind-like tables.

Final Thought:

If you want to be a great host, start adopting the habits of the people whose results you want.

Small shifts → big outcomes.

Alisha Germany