The Boostly Podcast: Is This the Easiest PMS for STR Hosts? Let’s Find Out!

Episode Overview

In the May 5, 2025 episode of The Boostly Podcast, host Mark Simpson, alongside Liam Carolan, delves into the world of Property Management Systems (PMS) tailored for Short-Term Rental (STR) hosts. This episode features Harrow, the owner of The Hive at 52 Bed and Breakfast in Cheshire, who shares his firsthand experience with the PMS platform, Free to Book. Listeners gain valuable insights into the functionalities, benefits, and potential improvements of Free to Book, all through the lens of a seasoned hospitality professional.

1. Introduction to the Episode

Liam Carolan opens the episode by introducing a unique segment titled "Behind The PMS," aimed at addressing listeners' frequent inquiries about selecting the right PMS. Recognizing the diversity of needs among hospitality providers, the episode focuses on providing an unbiased exploration of various PMS options through user experiences.

Liam:
"We're doing something slightly different on this episode and I'm going to call this behind the PMS."
(00:00)

2. Guest Introduction: Harrow from The Hive at 52

Harrow, the guest, is the proprietor of The Hive at 52, a well-established bed and breakfast in Cheshire celebrating its tenth year. With over two decades of experience in the hotel industry, Harrow brings a wealth of knowledge in operations, revenue management, and customer service.

Harrow:
"Prior to that I've been in the hotel business for 20 odd years and I've did all of everything from chef to reception, revenue manager…"
(02:33)

3. Understanding The Hive at 52

Harrow provides an in-depth look into his business model, highlighting the traditional aspects of running a bed and breakfast. He emphasizes the hands-on role he plays, from marketing and social media management to guest services and housekeeping.

Harrow:
"We're just me doing the whole dinner breakfast. I do get help from my wife and when my eldest daughter is back from university, she will help as well."
(04:06)

4. Clientele and Booking Dynamics

The discussion shifts to the nature of Harrow’s clientele, which predominantly consists of leisure travelers, with a significant portion of corporate guests over the past year. Harrow explains the seasonal variations in bookings and the balance between leisure and corporate guests.

Harrow:
"I would say 80%. Usually it's 80% leisure and 20% corporate."
(04:18)

5. Selecting Free to Book PMS

Harrow explains his decision to adopt Free to Book, influenced by a recommendation from a fellow B&B owner dissatisfied with their previous PMS. The emphasis was on finding an affordable, user-friendly system that could streamline operations and reduce the risk of double bookings.

Harrow:
"It was relatively cheap to set up and then with all the add-ons you can make it more expensive. So I just like the simplicity of it really."
(05:54)

6. Key Features of Free to Book

Harrow highlights several standout features of Free to Book that have significantly benefited his operations:

• User-Friendly Interface: The calendar view provides a clear overview of bookings, simplifying management.

  Harrow:
  "The calendar view gives you an easy overview of what you've got in house."
  (07:52)

• Customer Communication: Efficient support through a help desk, allowing Harrow to handle non-urgent queries effectively.

  Harrow:
  "When you submit it through their help desk, it actually you get quite a very good response on that."
  (07:52)

• Customization and Flexibility: The ability to choose and pay for only the necessary features, keeping costs manageable.

  Harrow:
  "You can make it as cheap or expensive as possible."
  (10:54)

• Integrated Booking Engine (Bloom): Enhanced user experience by ensuring the booking engine aligns with the B&B’s website aesthetics.

  Harrow:
  "Now when you go from my website on the book now button, it actually almost looks like I'm still on my website."
  (07:52)

• Dynamic Pricing Tool (Room Price Genie): An affordable tool that helped increase room rates modestly, contributing to revenue growth.

  Harrow:
  "It has actually grown my rate not by a huge amount, but three pounds fifty in 2023, 2024 compared to the year before."
  (16:05)

7. Desired Enhancements for Free to Book

While Harrow is largely satisfied with Free to Book, he suggests potential improvements:

• API Integration: Better linkage with his website to streamline operations.

  Harrow:
  "It'd be handy if it links in with my website. So is it the API?"
  (13:55)

• Enhanced Reporting Features: More comprehensive insights into competitor pricing to inform his dynamic pricing strategy.

  Harrow:
  "I quite like to know where they get my competitors rate from."
  (14:30)

8. Impact on Business Operations

Harrow shares how Free to Book has transformed his business by automating booking processes, reducing errors, and expanding his reach through integrated channels like Booking.com and Airbnb. This automation has alleviated stress and allowed him to focus more on guest services.

Harrow:
"It alleviates a lot of stress, I think, and a lot of work."
(16:05)

9. Support and Reliability

When discussing support, Harrow commends the responsiveness of Free to Book’s team, noting timely assistance even though 24-hour support may not be available.

Harrow:
"I've had responses within 10 minutes and probably the longest response I waited for is probably a couple hours."
(15:13)

10. Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Harrow encourages other hospitality providers to consider Free to Book, highlighting its affordability and flexibility. He underscores the importance of evaluating different PMS options to find the best fit for individual business needs.

Harrow:
"Sometimes Free to Book falls a little bit on the wayside because they don't advertise or they, you know, they shout about themselves. But it's not a very well known PMS, although I know a lot of people using it."
(16:05)

11. How to Learn More

Listeners interested in Free to Book or The Hive at 52 can reach out through various channels:

• Free to Book: Visit FreetoBook.com to schedule a demo.
• The Hive at 52:
  • Instagram: @Hive@52bnb
  • Email: harrowthehive@52.com
  • Boostly Group: Engage via the Boostly Facebook hospitality group.

Conclusion

This episode of The Boostly Podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of Free to Book PMS through Harrow’s practical experiences. By sharing real-world applications and benefits, the discussion equips hospitality providers with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their property management systems. Whether you're running a cozy bed and breakfast or managing multiple STRs, insights from this episode can help streamline operations and enhance booking efficiency.

Additional Resources

• Listen to Harrow’s "Behind The Host" Episode: Gain deeper insights into Harrow’s hospitality journey and learn valuable lessons from his decade-long experience. Available on the Boostly Podcast and YouTube channel.
• Join the Boostly Hospitality Community: Connect with fellow hosts, ask questions, and seek advice by joining the Boostly Facebook hospitality group.

Notable Quotes

• Liam on Episode Structure:
  "If there’s a PMS you'd like me to get more information on and find somebody who is using that PMS so we can do an episode exactly like this."
  (18:11)

• Harrow on the Simplicity of Free to Book:
  "So I just like the simplicity of it really."
  (05:54)

• Harrow on Business Impact:
  "It has made the process easier... there's less stress as well."
  (16:05)

Join us in the next episode of The Boostly Podcast for more insights and strategies to maximize your direct bookings and elevate your hospitality business.