The Boostly Podcast: Episode Summary Episode: The Airbnb Secret No One Talks About – Boost Your Profits 4X! Release Date: March 17, 2025 Host: Mark Simpson Guest: Mike Sebastian, Founder of Hideaways

Introduction

In this episode of The Boostly Podcast, host Mark Simpson welcomes Mike Sebastian, the founder of Hideaways, a pioneering company in the short-term rental (STR) industry. Transitioning from a successful marketing career, Mike has leveraged his expertise to revolutionize vacation experiences, focusing on creating unique and unforgettable stays. The conversation delves into Mike’s journey, strategies for maximizing direct bookings, and insights into standing out in a saturated market.

Key Takeaways

• Value of Uniqueness: Mike emphasizes the importance of differentiating your property to target specific markets, which can significantly enhance profits.
• Marketing Expertise in STR: Bringing advanced marketing strategies into the STR space can place hosts years ahead of competitors who rely solely on OTAs like Airbnb.
• Ground-Up Development: Building properties from scratch allows for implementing unique features tailored to target audiences, leading to higher occupancy and revenue.

Detailed Discussion

1. The Importance of Standing Out

Mike opens the discussion by highlighting the necessity of making a property unique to attract a specific target market. He states:

“I think everybody has the fear that they're gonna… want to appeal to everybody because if they don't, they exclude people. But in reality… if you focus on one target market, you will double, triple, quadruple the profits that you make rental 100%.” (01:03)

By concentrating on a defined audience, Hideaways has successfully increased its profits by creating tailored experiences that resonate deeply with their guests.

2. Transition from Marketing to Short-Term Rentals

Mike shares his transition from a decade-long marketing career to the STR industry, emphasizing the challenges and lessons learned:

“As I was growing that company… I would try and build out these systems and processes… as soon as an algorithm would change… everything I had built was essentially null and void.” (04:18)

This experience taught him the importance of adaptable systems and the value of staying ahead in marketing trends, which he now applies to his STR business to attract direct bookings effectively.

3. Target Market Identification and Property Transformation

Mike discusses the meticulous process of identifying target markets and transforming properties to meet their specific needs:

“We pick subsets of target audiences for each house that we build in there. And then we find unique aspects for the audience.” (02:18)

An example he provides is the installation of a hot tub on a boulder, which transformed a modest two-bedroom property into a premium destination, boosting the average daily rate (ADR) from $215 to $620 and occupancy from 50% to 70%.

4. Building vs. Transforming Properties

The conversation shifts to the advantages of building properties from the ground up versus renovating existing ones. Mike explains:

“Building is significantly easier than finding properties that actually have those features in them. You can transform any property.” (09:19)

By constructing properties from scratch, Hideaways ensures that each home embodies their unique vision, tailored to the target market's preferences, leading to higher revenue and market differentiation.

5. Coaching and Consulting for Hosts

Mike touches on the coaching aspect of his business, offering guidance to existing hosts on how to enhance their properties:

“If you have an existing rental, export your reviews, put them into Chat GPT and then start asking questions about your market.” (16:25)

He advises hosts to analyze their reviews to understand their audience better and implement incremental upgrades—termed "unique stacking"—to elevate their property's appeal and profitability.

6. Team Building and Challenges

Mike highlights the significance of having a strong team and shares his experiences with both successes and obstacles:

“The biggest win… was that one hot tub mount that… increased our revenue by 100%.” (19:38)

Conversely, securing a $2.1 million loan for building unique silo houses posed a significant challenge, requiring persistence and resilience over 11 months and interactions with 47 lenders before succeeding.

7. Future Goals and Strategies

Looking ahead, Mike outlines Hideaways' plans to expand through unique builds and comprehensive workshops for aspiring hosts:

“We are building partnerships to design 29 different unique builds… and launching three full-day workshops to guide hosts from concept to execution.” (22:32)

These initiatives aim to foster innovation and support within the STR community, encouraging hosts to create distinctive and profitable properties.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Sebastian on Uniqueness:

  “If you focus on one target market, you will double, triple, quadruple the profits that you make rental 100%.” (01:03)

• Mike on Marketing Transition:

  “I have brought the marketing knowledge into the short term rental space, which puts me 10 years ahead of everyone.” (05:50)

• Mike on Team Dynamics:

  “My team is my business. Without having good people, we can't do what we need to do.” (18:38)

• Mike on Capturing Attention:

  “In 2025, it's never been harder to capture attention, but also never been easier because there's so many things vying for it.” (29:30)

Conclusion

This episode provides invaluable insights into transforming STR businesses by emphasizing uniqueness, leveraging advanced marketing strategies, and building properties tailored to specific target markets. Mike Sebastian's journey from marketing to founding Hideaways serves as an inspiring blueprint for hosts aiming to elevate their bookings and profitability. By focusing on creating distinctive guest experiences and implementing data-driven strategies, hosts can significantly outperform competitors relying solely on traditional OTA listings.

Listeners are encouraged to visit buildyourhideaway.com for more information on Hideaways' consulting and coaching services, and to follow Mike Sebastian's journey in revolutionizing the short-term rental landscape.

Timestamp Reference:

• 01:03 – Mike’s key takeaway on uniqueness
• 02:18 – Overview of Hideaways and target market strategy
• 04:18 – Transition from marketing to STR
• 05:50 – Marketing expertise in STR
• 09:19 – Property selection and transformation
• 16:25 – Advice for existing hosts
• 18:38 – Team building and dynamics
• 19:38 – Biggest win and challenge
• 22:32 – Future goals and strategies
• 29:30 – Final thoughts on capturing attention

This summary encapsulates the core discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.