Vacation Rental Marketing in 2025: Trends & Tips from Alex Husner
In this episode of the Host Planet Podcast, we're joined by Alex Husner, seasoned marketing expert and co-host of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.
Alex shares a wealth of insights on why so many short-term rental businesses fall short when it comes to marketing – and what they can do to fix it. From the challenges of over-reliance on OTAs to the true cost of direct bookings, Alex unpacks actionable strategies that property managers and hosts of all sizes can start using today.
Whether you're trying to build a trustworthy brand, boost your credibility online, or simply stay ahead of 2025 marketing trends, this episode is a masterclass in vacation rental growth strategy. Alex also opens up about her recent career move, lessons learned from the industry, and why relationships are the ultimate game-changer.
Key takeaways:
* Direct bookings are powerful, but they aren’t free – investing in marketing and trust-building is essential.
* Brand identity is a major growth driver and helps smaller operators compete with big players.
* Success in this industry still comes down to people – your team, your network, and your guests.
1:02 Why companies don’t prioritise marketing
2:40 Too easy with the OTAs
4:40 Airbnb policy changes
7:07 Common mistakes when building a direct booking channel
8:52 Direct bookings are not free
9:23 Direct booking tips
11:16 The role brand identity plays in growing a vacation rental business
13:05 How to gain trust when people visit your website
16:27 Advice to smaller operators who want to look more credible
18:30 Trends in 2025
21:24 Key marketing messages
23:33 Alex’s career move
26:58 Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals
29:35 Favourite brand: Boom
31:06 Individual shout-out: Simon Lehmann
32:11 No. 1 lesson learned: it’s all about people
Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/
James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Alex Husner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-o-husner-1844306/
Episode to check next: The Smart Way to Price Your Vacation Rental: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsHYwAUreLs&t=2s
The Host Planet Podcast is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Contact the show: [email protected]
#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #AlexHusner #Alex&Annie #RealWomenVacationRentals
Host Planet
Welcome to Host Planet – the go-to podcast for short-term rental hosts, property managers, and industry professionals. Each episode, we dive deep into the latest trends, expert insights, and real-world strategies shaping the short-term rental market. Join James Varley and leading voices from across the industry as they share game-changing advice on revenue management, guest experience, direct bookings, tech innovations, and more. Whether you're a seasoned operator or just starting out, Host Planet is your ultimate resource for short-term rental knowledge.
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