Live From The Hive 🐝

Join host Katie Bessant as she sits down with Sonia Aucott of Aucott Interior Design to explore how farms, vineyards, country estates, and rural businesses can successfully diversify into hospitality. In this episode, we unpack: 🌿 The key questions to ask before starting a hospitality project on your land 🏡 How to decide between cottages, glamping, event barns, or other accommodation types 📋 Wh...

Join me as I chat through the pros and cons of running your holiday cottage yourself and some top tips on your first steps to going it alone! In this episode, we dive into the benefits of taking control of your holiday rental business, and I share my top 5 tips for setting up and taking your own bookings.🐝 CONNECT WITH KATIE 🐝 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theholidayhive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ww...

Join host Katie Bessant as she sits down with Leo Walton, co-founder of Truvi (formerly Superhog), for a straight-talking, insight-packed episode every holiday let owner needs to hear! In this episode, we dive into: 💡 Why direct bookings matter more than ever and how to start taking them confidently 🔐 How to protect your property and guests without relying on OTAs ⚙️ The tools and tech that make...

Join host Katie Bessant as she chats with Renate, the inspiring owner of Bonawe House Holiday Cottages on the stunning west coast of Scotland. In this episode, we dive into: 🏔 Renate’s journey from the Netherlands to running 9 holiday cottages in rural Scotland 🔧 How she transformed and modernised a dated property with energy-efficient upgrades ♻️ Smart sustainability tips that benefit guests and...

Join host Katie Bessant as she sits down with Kay Gibbs, expert holiday let coach, for a value-packed conversation every Airbnb host needs to hear! In this episode, we dive into: 💡 Kay’s top 5 tips for boosting your Airbnb bookings 📸 The game-changing impact of great photography on your listing 🙅‍♀️ The most common mistakes hosts make (and how to avoid them) ⛔️ The truth behind those persisten...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Joanne from Our Place in Portland – a story of transformation, resilience, and coastal charm. During the episode we chat about: 🔨 From Wreck to Retreat – How Joanne and her husband lovingly restored a crumbling Victorian cottage into a beautiful holiday let on the Jurassic Coast. 📱 Marketing That Works – How Joanne uses Instagram, Facebook, and her own w...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Sharon & Dee, The Holiday Home Girls. During the episode we chat about:🎨 Styling for Guests, Not Yourself – Why styling your holiday home with the guest in mind (not personal taste) is crucial for bookings and creating a memorable experience.📸 Photography & First Impressions – The role of professional photos in making your property stand out onli...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Suzy Greenwood from Seaflowers, Devon. During the episode we chat about: - How Suzy renovated her family's B&B into a luxury guest house - The renovation process and how she curated unique, themed rooms - Marketing strategies to generate bookings, including press opportunities - The daily challenges of managing a rental and the importance of a support...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Charlotte Hughes from The Scarlet Hen. During the episode we chat about: - How The Scarlet Hen started - Why Charlotte has chosen to let her own home out to hen parties - The challenges Charlotte has overcome to get the property up and running as a holiday let - The secret to getting bookings 18+ months in advance - How social media generates Charlotte boo...

During this episode, I share my five top tips for generating more bookings for your holiday rental and what marketing you should be investing in. During the episode I chat about: Why you need to know in detail, who your target guest is The importance of professional photography and staging to promote your property How to use social media to generate more bookings The power of email when trying to...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Stefan Hoffelner from Your AirHost. In this episode, Stefan shares expert strategies on how to optimise your holiday rental listings, enhance guest experience, and boost profits through effective marketing, professional photos, guest reviews, and leveraging property management tools. During the episode we chat about: - The market trends and how the industr...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Paul Honeywell, owner of Oran na Mara on the Isle of Harris. In this episode, Paul shares the rewards and challenges of running a remote holiday rental, from marketing strategies that helped him attract guests to building relationships with the local community. Discover how Paul transformed his unique property into a sought-after destination and the key le...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Dragon's Den star, Derry Green from The Secret Garden Glamping about how to set up your glamping business for success and successful marketing strategies to generate bookings year-round. During the episode we chat about: What inspired Derry to start The Secret Garden Glamping What sets The Secret Garden Glamping apart from other glamping sites What marketi...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Laura Delage-Pandeli from Olive & Wilde Interiors about how to use interior design to boost your holiday cottage bookings. During the episode we chat about: - Interior design trends in the industry - Simple design tips to elevate your property and make it stand out - How to balance aesthetics with durability, especially in high-traffic areas - The role...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Jemima Stones about how to use social media to boost your holiday cottage bookings. During the episode we chat about: How CoolStays approaches its social media strategy to engage with its target guests. Which social media platforms have proven most effective for CoolStays for generating bookings. How to encourage user-generated content and engage with your...

Join host Katie Bessant as she interviews Jane Mack about her experience in the holiday letting industry. During the episode we chat about: Jane's journey in the holiday let industry Some of the biggest challenges owners and agency owners face when managing holiday lets What's changing within the holiday let industry and guest expectations Tips for new holiday let owners to set up their pr...