When media veteran James Varley stepped away from a decade-long career working on the FIFA World Cup, he had no idea that a single Airbnb stay would spark his next chapter: empowering short-term rental hosts through education.
In this episode, James joins us to share how that experience and the glaring lack of accessible resources for new hosts led to the creation of Host Planet, one of the UK’s fastest-growing media platforms for STR professionals.
This conversation hits close to home for Alex & Annie, who started their podcast with the same mission: to bridge the information gap in the vacation rental industry. Together, they dive into why so many hosts still struggle to find trusted guidance and how platforms like Host Planet and the Alex & Annie Podcast, among others, are helping change that by delivering clear, practical content that hosts can truly put to use.
Key Topics Discussed:
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:04 From global media to local hosting: James’ unexpected pivot
00:09:46 Podcasting as a tool for connection and collaboration
00:14:31 The blind spots new hosts face and why dynamic pricing was his wake-up call
00:18:43 Shared values with Alex & Annie: education, accessibility, and transparency
00:20:40 The rise of Host Planet and its mission to offer free, valuable content
00:26:27 Behind the scenes of UK-based STR events and future expansion
00:36:16 The challenges and opportunities of growing media platforms in STR
Connect with James:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/
Website: https://www.hostplanet.club/
Go live with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy by August 4, 2025, and receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Status for one year, 36000 bonus points, and a marketing feature on a Homes & Villas marketing channel after you launch:
https://partners.homes-and-villas.marriott.com/s/event-property-managers-contact-us?ev=AApod25
Get a free Growth Hack Review and P&L Evaluation when you mention “Alex & Annie” during your discovery call with the Grand Welcome team:
https://calendly.com/jessica-singer-grandwelcome/intro
#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #propertymanagement
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