{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"351. What a Direct-Booking Website Builder Wishes Every Host Knew","description":"We sit down with Gil Chan, founder of CraftedStays, about what it&amp;nbsp;takes to build a direct booking website for a STR. We cover the gap between a generic template and an expensive agency build, the new AI tool Aria, and why owning a few direct bookings changes a host's leverage across platforms:  What a direct booking site actually replaces for an Airbnb-only host? The&amp;nbsp;2 options hosts&amp;nbsp;face for a website, and why neither&amp;nbsp;worked? How Aria reads a portfolio and reviews before writing a single word? What OTA fees really add up to over a year of bookings? Why this isn't about leaving Airbnb, and what it's really about?  Gil's story is a good reminder that owning your guest relationship matters as much as owning your listing. Subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with another host who is tired of renting shelf space on someone's platform. Check out our videos on YouTube: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@ShortTermRentalRiches Grab your free management eBook: https:\/\/strriches.com\/#tools-resources Looking to earn more with your property (without the headaches)? Chat with our expert management team: https:\/\/strriches.com\/management-services\/ &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"Short Term Rental Riches","author_url":"http:\/\/www.restmethods.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/42298730\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/ffffff\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/204727310"}