We are beyond excited to tell you about our October 20th meetup event! Our Hosted Home Tour will allow you to check out some of Portland’s best short-term rentals. You’ll get an insider’s peek at some of the best the city has to offer. Ooh and ahh over the decor and even better, ask the host exactly where they bought that really cool accent piece.  If you have an eye-catching rental that you’d like to showcase, have featured in our marketing materials and advertised to the broader community, submit your details here and join the Hosted Home Tour!

Advocacy is one of the pillars of Host2Host. We strongly support responsible hosting and want to hear from Portland’s city council and mayoral candidates about their positions on ongoing short-term rental operations in the city.  On September 12th, we’ll be inviting all mayoral candidates and any city council candidates who have received matching election funds to attend our special Advocacy-focused event. Hosted by Past Board President and one of the founding members of Host2Host, Dabney Tompkins, this evening is sure to be special.  We hope you’ll save the date and register now to keep up-to-date on how it takes shape. If you’d like to help us out with the event, send us a quick email to get involved.

A Brief History In an act of forward-thinking, Portland government officials established the protected natural area known as Hoyt Arboretum in 1928. This park is a living museum dedicated to conserving endangered species and educating the public. Spanning 190 acres of forested land, it hosts 12 miles of trails and an extensive collection of over 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from as far away as six different continents. Visitor Activities Hoyt Arboretum offers a plethora of activities for local residents and visiting guests including: Hiking: Enjoy 12 miles of trails through varied landscapes with walks offered at every difficulty level from paved, level and short paths to more challenging, longer trails - all of which are clearly marked and easy-to-follow. Picnicking: Designated picnic areas provide serene spots for relaxation. Some of them require a reservation in advance but many allow you to drop in and enjoy time amongst the beautiful surroundings at your leisure. Educational Programs: Deepen your knowledge of nature by participating in guided tours, workshops, and casual self-guided tours. Pick up a map at the Visitor’s Center or download a map to carry on your phone. Family-Friendly: Engage in family-oriented programs and seasonal activities throughout the year. Program are designed for kids of all ages adventuring alone with their families or in larger school or organizational groups. Download the children’s adventure map here. Get Involved Maintaining the park for years to come requires all of us to contribute in whatever way we can. Financial donations are gratefully accepted. Volunteer opportunities are abundant with a variety of options that fit your lifestyle and your skillset. Hoyt Arboretum volunteers play a crucial role in maintaining the arboretum through trail maintenance, public education, and community science initiatives. For more information, visit the Hoyt Arboretum website.

Hosts in Hoyt Arboretum - Register Now!

This July 18th, we’re excited to offer an opportunity for you to do more than scratch the surface of the Arboretum with a fun, guided tour conducted by Host2Host’s Education Committee contributor and former Board Member, David Boe. We’ll meet at Steven’s Pavilion just below the Visitor's Parking area at 4pm for a leisurely walk and learn for all fitness levels. Kids and dogs on a leash are welcome to join in the fun! Register now to secure your spot!

U.S. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) surpassed $100 billion in revenue for the first time. This financial achievement is not just a number—it signals a maturing market. As the industry evolves, understanding the implications of this maturity becomes crucial for stakeholders.

What are the Characteristics of Maturing Industries?

An industry is said to mature when its growth rate starts to align with the overall economy's growth, following a period of rapid expansion. Characteristics of such a phase include increased market consolidation, heightened competition leading to price stabilization, and significant shifts towards improving operational efficiency and customer service. Innovation remains a key factor but shifts from market disruption to incremental improvements and diversification of existing products and services.

Recent Acquisitions of Software and Service Providers in the Short-term Rental Market

The short-term rental industry has entered a maturing phase. This supposition is supported by recent strategic acquisitions:

Touchstay Digital Guidebooks Acquired by itrinity

This acquisition by the Czech SAAS company highlights a trend towards consolidating guest experience enhancements under larger, established tech umbrellas. Touchstay, known for enhancing guest experiences through digital guidebooks, represents a move by larger firms to integrate comprehensive solutions that streamline operations and enhance guest interactions.

Guesty Acquires Rentals United

Guesty, a significant player in short-term rental software, recently expanded its capabilities by acquiring Rentals United, a platform that specializes in marketing and distribution automation. This merger indicates the industry's push towards creating more robust, all-encompassing tools that cater to the complex needs of rental hosts and management companies.

Urban Rest Acquires The Urban Butler

In a move emphasizing the importance of localized services, Urban Rest's acquisition of The Urban Butler in New Zealand reflects the industry’s trend towards enhancing regional service offerings and refining the guest experience.

These acquisitions signify a shift from aggressive expansion to strategic enhancement, focusing on quality service delivery and operational efficiency—a hallmark of industry maturation.

Fully Matured and Declining Industries

As industries reach full maturity, they often experience a plateau in growth, which can lead to decline if innovation stalls. In fully matured stages, consolidation continues as companies seek to maintain profitability by merging with or acquiring competitors to reduce costs and expand market share. Customer loyalty, as does the ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences, becomes paramount.

What Can Hosts Do?

Hosts can help stem this tide and stand apart from the others by continually innovating in guest services, sustainable practices, and integrating technology that responds to evolving consumer expectations.
For instance, hosts can focus on offering unique, personalized experiences that differentiate them from the growing competition. Additionally, adopting green practices can appeal to environmentally conscious travelers, tapping into new customer segments.

By recognizing the signs of industry maturity—such as market consolidation—hosts can strategically position themselves to thrive in a maturing market. To stay competitive, leverage technology, prioritize sustainable practices, and focus on delivering exceptional, localized guest experiences.

Stay informed with the help of your friends at Host2Host.

An essay from Alan Colley, one of Host2Host's founding members, former H2H President, and co-host of Summit Prairie in Tiller, OR

I have been reminded again and again of what it means to be a neighbor. So often when we begin to host we come to realize that we have neighbors who quite naturally will be impacted by our decision. How do we navigate being a good neighbor as we begin this journey?

That’s What Neighbors Do

When the new lookout tower on our land in Southern Oregon had just been finished, Dabney and I invited anyone who had helped build it to come up for a celebratory potluck picnic. Several folks came up we hadn’t met, but who we learned were neighbors from down the road.

Sometime during our visit our neighbor, Vern Edgeley, told us this: “I don’t care what your beliefs, your politics, or your orientation. If you need us for anything, just call and I will come. That’s what neighbors do.” What a gesture from someone we did not know!

Returning the Favor

Neighbors. Neighbors with whom we may not always see eye-to-eye, but who come running to help when we need them. How can we return that favor?

Why is it important to remember this just now? I think that with the social upheavals constantly pressing on us, our normal routines of seeing each other, sharing meals and gossip, seems to create more than social distance. It’s easy to see only the extremes and to find ourselves tainting our aloneness with a hint of disdain. I’m guilty, too.

But we are all neighbors. Neighbors help each other. Some of our neighbors are struggling. Some are trying to help. New neighbors may need our care even more.

Collaborators Not Competitors
We, as hosts, have already learned that we are a community of collaborators, not competitors. We have demonstrated time and again how sharing our experiences lifts us all. We also live in communities filled with neighbors. 

I hope you and I will choose to set aside our differences and reach across our boundaries to support each other even more these days. 

We are a small community of neighbors after all.

Join Alan, on June 12th for an insightful conversation that hopes to go beyond the surface to explore the Soul of Hosting. Register now!

In May, Host2Host was offered an insightful event on technology trends in the short-term rental industry, sponsored by Breezeway. Madison Romeli with Breezeway, which is known for its robust vacation rental operations solutions, shared valuable insights into how technology can streamline operations and enhance the guest experience. Here’s a detailed recap of the key takeaways from the event.

Overview of Breezeway's Platform

Breezeway’s platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to optimize and automate vacation rental operations. These tools include operations management, guest communication features, and 24/7 guest support, which collectively help rental hosts manage their properties more efficiently. 

Key Features:

• Operations Management: Breezeway’s operations management tool allows hosts to schedule cleanings, inspections, and maintenance tasks. This ensures that all operational aspects of property management are handled efficiently and timely.
• Guest Communication Tools: The platform provides automated messaging capabilities and a centralized two-way inbox, making it easy for hosts to communicate with guests and staff. Additionally, Breezeway offers a digital guidebook for guests, containing reservation details and other essential information.
• 24/7 Guest Support: With Breezeway Assist, hosts can offer around-the-clock support to their guests, ensuring a smooth and responsive guest experience.

Automating the Guest Experience

One of the standout topics of the event was the automation of the guest experience, a critical component in enhancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. Breezeway’s automation features include:

• Automated Cleanings: Once a guest checks out, the system automatically schedules a cleaning and notifies guests if an early check-in becomes available. This helps turn over properties quickly and efficiently.
• Automated Checkout Reminders: The platform sends checkout reminders to guests and notifies cleaning staff for early access, ensuring a smooth transition between bookings.
• Gap Night Messages: Breezeway sends automated messages to guests offering them the option to book vacant nights, potentially filling gaps between reservations and increasing occupancy rates and revenue.

Integrations

Breezeway boasts impressive integration capabilities, connecting with approximately 50 different PMS systems. For hosts who manage their properties through Airbnb, Breezeway provides direct integration, making it accessible and easy to use without additional software.

Enhanced Communication and Customization

Effective communication is critical in the vacation rental industry. Breezeway addresses this need by offering a centralized two-way inbox for all guest and staff communications. This feature simplifies communication, ensuring no messages are missed and that responses are timely. The platform also allows for customizable message templates and guidebook content, enabling hosts to tailor communications to their specific needs and branding.

Special Offers

Check out the video on our Youtube channel when you have a chance. Host2Host members can also take advantage of a very special discount only accessible on our Resources page.

In mid-May, a generous group of Host2Host members gathered to give back to our community. Led by Board Member, Kristy Olsen, they met at the Transition Projects Sellwood shelter to create a delicious taco meal for residents. Together, they financially contributed towards the ingredients and more than that, offered their helping hands to create a delicious and generous meal.

As they learned during the event, Host2Host was only the second group to cook a warm meal for shelter residents so far this year. So, if your family, friends, or community group (5-10 people) would like to contribute to the overall goodness in our community by cooking a home-cooked meal for people who are in need, Transition Projects would be very happy to have the help. It's a fun and easy way to make our local community just a little bit brighter!

Thanks to all the volunteers who contributed time, money for ingredients, and your skillful helping hands and most especially, for all the love and positive intentions that went into creating the meal. We hope to be able to offer another volunteer opportunity like this in the future and hope you'll join us then!

In today’s increasingly competitive short-term rental market, hosts are looking for innovative ways to distinguish their properties and improve guest experiences. With more listings than ever before, the challenge to stand out is real, but technology offers powerful solutions. Here’s how embracing tech tools can not only enhance your hosting capabilities but also drive higher guest ratings and increase occupancy rates. Automated Guest Communication One of the hallmarks of a great host is excellent communication. Technology tools like automated messaging apps can ensure guests receive timely, informative, and personalized communications. From booking confirmations to check-in instructions and local tips, automated systems can help maintain high levels of guest satisfaction without requiring hosts to be glued to their devices. This constant communication stream not only elevates the guest experience but also encourages positive reviews. Smart Home Devices Smart home technology can significantly enhance guest convenience and safety—key factors that guests consider when rating their stay. Smart locks eliminate the hassle of key exchanges and provide secure, controlled access. Smart thermostats can ensure that your property is always at a comfortable temperature, while smart lighting can be programmed to welcome guests with warm, inviting light. These features not only impress guests but also streamline property management. Including one or some of these tools is just, well, smart!  Dynamic Pricing Tools Pricing competitively is crucial in a crowded market. Dynamic pricing tools analyze data such as market demand, local events, and seasonal trends to recommend optimal pricing strategies. Hosts can maximize their earnings by adjusting prices based on real-time market conditions and ensure their listings remain competitive. This responsiveness to the market can lead to higher occupancy rates and more consistent income. Online Booking and Management Platforms Utilizing platforms that streamline the booking, payment, and management processes can significantly reduce the administrative burden on hosts. Features like online booking calendars, payment processing, and guest vetting help manage operations efficiently. These platforms also often provide analytics that can help hosts understand guest behavior and preferences, leading to better-tailored services and improved guest experiences. Review Management Software Actively managing your online reputation is crucial. Review management software can help hosts track guest feedback, respond to reviews, and maintain positive engagement with past guests. This ongoing interaction not only helps in improving service quality based on feedback but also enhances online visibility and attractiveness to potential guests. Technology provides a significant advantage in a market crowded with lots of options. By adopting these tools, hosts can improve operational efficiency, enhance guest satisfaction, and ultimately increase occupancy and profitability. Join Host2Host business affiliate, Madison Romeli with Breezeway, on May 16th at 10am to learn all about how their technology tools can help you be a better host, save time, increase revenue, and improve the guest experience. Not only will registrants receive a very special offer, even better than the one they extend to members ... but there will be a giveaway at the meetup of one $100 Amazon Gift Card! Easy money!!

Speaking of easy money, jump into the Host2Host 50/50 raffle and you could win 50% of what is raised. The lucky winner will be drawn on Memorial Day, so there’s lots of time to participate. The remaining 50% of funds raised will go towards Host2Host’s awesome monthly events and host support activities. Join in the fun - you could be a winner!

Board Member, Kristy Olsen is the ringleader for May’s volunteer opportunity. Taking place the evening of May 15th, this is sure to be a fun way to connect with your friends at Host2Host while doing something meaningful for our community. Volunteers will be cooking dinner onsite at a shelter in Sellwood beginning at 5pm.

Attendees will contribute towards the cost of the meal, divided amongst 5-10 other people, by buying ingredients in advance, bringing them with you, and preparing food onsite in the shelter's well-stocked kitchen. Register Now!