The Power of Hospitality and Community in Short-Term Rentals

Meet the Experts

In this episode of the STR Data Lab podcast, Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA, sits down with Jody Odell, founder of Hospitable Host and recent winner of the Rentalpreneur Award at the 2024 Shorties. Together, they explore how hospitality is transforming the short-term rental industry in 2025 and what hosts need to know to stay competitive.

The Hospitable Host Movement: Building Community and Sharing Stories

The Hospitable Host trilogy has evolved beyond a collection of books into a movement that's reshaping how hosts think about hospitality in 2025. With three volumes featuring 40 authors each, the series has created an unprecedented network of knowledge-sharing within the industry.

"What's happened from the book is that it's formed an amazing community of 146 authors, each with their own communities," Jody explains. The impact has been tangible: hosts who read the first book have been inspired to start their own businesses, with some even contributing to later volumes.

The growth hasn't stopped at books. In 2025, the Hospitable Host network has expanded to include summits, online platforms, and collaborative initiatives that bring hosts together from around the world. Their recent Colorado summit exemplified this approach—attendees didn't just listen to presentations but actively participated in workshops, community service projects, and hospitality-focused learning experiences.

This community-driven approach represents a significant shift in how the short-term rental industry operates in 2025, moving from isolated operators to a connected network of hosts sharing best practices and elevating standards together.

Defining Hospitality in Short-Term Rentals for 2025

The Shift from Property Investment to Guest Experience

The short-term rental landscape in 2025 looks vastly different from its early days. While many operators still enter the industry through property investment, there's a growing recognition that success requires more than just owning real estate.

"Many people come into this industry through property investment... but no one was really focusing on hospitality," Jody observes. This gap in the market led her to create Hospitable Host, addressing what she saw as a critical missing component in industry conversations.

In 2025's competitive market, where guests have more choices than ever, hospitality has become the key differentiator. Properties that prioritize guest experience consistently outperform those that treat short-term rentals as passive investments. This shift reflects broader changes in consumer expectations. Today's travelers aren't just looking for a place to sleep; they're seeking memorable experiences and personal connections.

What Hospitality Means to Today's Hosts

For successful hosts in 2025, hospitality is much more than clean sheets and working Wi-Fi. It's about creating an environment where guests feel genuinely cared for from the moment they book until long after they've checked out.

Jody's approach exemplifies this philosophy. Despite managing properties from the other side of the world, she maintains personal connections with every guest. "I contact all my guests every Monday—I call them personally from the other side of the world," she shares. "Just to say, 'Hey, you're coming in this week, I'm going to look after you, everything's going to be okay.'"

These personal touches—handwritten notes, local partnerships, and thoughtful communication—create the foundation for exceptional guest experiences. In 2025, hosts who understand this are seeing the results in their reviews, repeat bookings, and bottom lines.

Scaling Hospitality: Maintaining Personalization with Growth

Managing multiple properties while maintaining high hospitality standards presents unique challenges. Jody's success with 15 properties offers valuable lessons for hosts looking to grow without sacrificing quality in 2025.

Geographic concentration plays a crucial role in her strategy. "My properties are in a small country village in the Cotswolds, UK," she explains. "I can walk from one property to another; I don't have to employ anyone to drive around." This approach allows for efficient operations while maintaining the personal touch that defines great hospitality.

Building the right team is equally critical. Despite living in Australia, Jody relies on local staff who understand and embody her hospitality philosophy. Systems and processes ensure consistency across all properties, but the human element remains central to the operation.

The key insight for 2025: successful scaling in short-term rentals isn't about rapid expansion—it's about thoughtful growth that preserves what makes each property special.

Leveraging AI and Technology in 2025

One of the most significant developments in short-term rental hospitality for 2025 is the integration of AI tools that enhance rather than replace human interaction. Jody's experience with hostbuddy.ai demonstrates how technology can support hospitality goals when used thoughtfully.

"With the help of AI, I've been able to level up my customer service," she explains. Her AI assistant, trained on eight years of communication data, handles routine inquiries while maintaining her personal communication style. This allows her to sleep through the night in Australia while guests in the UK receive immediate, personalized responses.

The concern that "AI might be the death of hospitality" hasn't materialized. Instead, hosts in 2025 are discovering that AI tools free them to focus on what matters most—creating meaningful connections with guests. As Jody notes, "If you use it correctly, as a tool in your business—not just to take over—it creates a great balance."

Creating Memorable Guest Experiences in 2025

Personalization Beyond Amenities

The data is clear: in 2025, guests prioritize experiences over amenities. This shift has profound implications for how hosts approach personalization. Rather than competing on who has the fanciest hot tub or the largest TV, successful hosts are focusing on creating unique, locally-rooted experiences.

Jody's "have coffee on me" voucher program exemplifies this approach. Instead of generic welcome baskets that often go to waste, she partners with local businesses to offer experiences that benefit both guests and the community. "It gets people into the local coffee shop, where they might buy breakfast or a piece of cake," she explains. "The community loves it and supports me."

This strategy addresses multiple challenges facing hosts in 2025: dietary restrictions make traditional welcome baskets problematic, cost pressures require creative solutions, and guests increasingly value authentic local experiences. By thinking beyond the property itself, hosts can create memorable stays without breaking the budget.

Handling Guest Expectations and Challenges

Even with the best hospitality practices, challenges are inevitable. Jody's mouse story perfectly illustrates this reality. Two different groups of guests had completely opposite reactions to finding a field mouse in a countryside cottage—one demanded a full refund while the other thought it added charm to their stay.

"You can't always get it right because you don't know what's going on in your guest's life," Jody reflects. This wisdom is particularly relevant in 2025, as guest expectations continue to diversify. The key is maintaining consistent standards while remaining flexible and empathetic in addressing individual situations.

Successful hosts in 2025 understand that hospitality isn't about perfection—it's about genuine care, clear communication, and doing your best to create positive experiences, even when things don't go as planned.

Hospitality Education, Standards, and Accreditation in 2025

The Push for Industry Standards

As the short-term rental industry matures in 2025, the need for consistent hospitality standards has become increasingly apparent. "At conferences around the world, I keep hearing, 'We need standards,'" Jody notes. "So I decided to do something about it."

This push for standards isn't about homogenization—it's about establishing baseline expectations that benefit both hosts and guests. In 2025, travelers expect a certain level of professionalism and consistency, regardless of whether they're booking a luxury villa or a modest apartment.

The development of industry standards also supports advocacy efforts with local governments. By demonstrating professionalism and commitment to quality, the short-term rental industry can better position itself in regulatory discussions. As Jody explains, "We're going to be able to show people in local governments that we are a professional body—not just individuals with a spare property."

Training and Community-Led Learning

The Hospitable Host education platform launching in 2025 represents a significant step forward in professionalizing the industry. Unlike generic hospitality courses designed for hotels, this program specifically addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of short-term rentals.

With 22 expert hosts facilitating different modules, the course combines practical experience with structured learning. Participants who complete the program become accredited hospitality experts, a designation that carries real weight in 2025's competitive market.

The platform goes beyond individual learning. A new website will allow guests to book stays with accredited hosts, ensuring consistent standards while preserving each property's unique character. This creates a virtuous cycle: hosts invest in education to attract more bookings, guests enjoy better experiences, and the entire industry benefits from elevated standards.

Advocacy and the Future of Short-Term Rental Hospitality

Looking ahead, the vision for short-term rental hospitality in 2025 extends far beyond individual properties or even local markets. The goal is creating a global network of hospitality-accredited hosts who demonstrate the industry's professionalism and positive impact on communities.

This isn't just about avoiding regulations—it's about showing what the industry can be at its best. When hosts prioritize hospitality, invest in education, and engage with their communities, they create value that extends far beyond nightly rates and occupancy percentages.

As 2025 progresses, the hosts who embrace these principles will find themselves not just surviving but thriving. They'll build sustainable businesses, create memorable experiences for guests, and contribute to an industry that's finally coming into its own as a legitimate, professional sector of the hospitality world.

The message is clear: hospitality isn't just a nice-to-have in short-term rentals—it's the foundation of success. Whether you're managing one property or one hundred, the principles remain the same: care for your guests, invest in your education, engage with your community, and never stop learning. That's the path forward for short-term rental hospitality in 2025 and beyond.