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February 18, 2025 33 mins

Can AI Handle Guest Communication Better Than You?

In this episode of The Smart Stay Show, we sit down with Jay Ulrich, CEO and co-founder of HostBuddy.ai, to explore how AI is revolutionizing short-term rental management.

Jay, a former civil engineer turned short-term rental host, shares his journey from scaling Select Stays to 40 units to developing an AI-powered platform that learns your style, responds like you (yes, even with emojis! 😎), and frees up your time.

Hosts with 1-10 listings get affordable, 24/7 automated guest communication, while larger operators save thousands by replacing virtual assistants. But how does Host Buddy handle tricky guest questions? What’s the future of AI in STRs?

Join Me and Rory as we dive into the impact of AI on hosting and the future of guest communication..



Things we discussed in this episode:


  • Introduction to Host Buddy and its potential to transform host operations
  • Jay Ulrich's background as a short-term rental host and the development of Host Buddy
  • The need for automated guest communications that led to the creation of Host Buddy
  • Host Buddy's evolution from an external chatbot to a full-blown software platform
  • Benefits of Host Buddy for smaller hosts with 1-10 properties and larger hosts with 50-70 units
  • How Host Buddy frees up virtual assistants to focus on revenue-generating activities
  • The importance of AI learning from past conversations to sound like the host
  • Challenges of handling situational questions and decision-making with AI
  • Host Buddy's ability to detect guest sentiment and generate action items
  • The predicted widespread adoption of AI-powered guest communication in the short-term rental industry


Get in touch with Jay:


Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hostbuddy_ai/#

Website - https://www.hostbuddy.ai/


#SmartStayShow #realestate #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #RealEstateInvesting #ShortTermRentals #ArtificialIntelligence #GuestCommunication #AutomationInSTR #HostBuddy #STROperations #VirtualAssistants #GuestExperience #IndustryTrends #FutureOfSTR


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SmartStay Show is part of Hospitality.FM, a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry, from Food + Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, Real Estate Law, and so much more!

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