Host Planet was born out of one simple idea: short-term rental hosts deserve better resources.

 

Founder James Varley spent two decades in the media before stumbling into the world of short-term rentals. His journey began in San Francisco, where a lack of affordable hotel rooms led him to book an Airbnb – which turned out to be a beautifully converted basement near Golden Gate Park, hosted by someone who went above and beyond with recommendations. Inspired by the experience, James decided to set up his own vacation rental in the UK and initially muddling through the process like so many first-time hosts.

​

It didn’t take long to realise that many hosts and property managers were in the same boat – struggling with the same challenges, often turning to Facebook groups for guidance. James saw hosts repeatedly asking the same basic questions, highlighting a huge gap in quality education.

​

After spending 10 years leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, James was ready for a new challenge. He launched Holiday Cottage Handbook in 2023, first as an e-book, then as a multimedia platform featuring a website, podcast, newsletter, and events. The idea? Make valuable, high-quality content free for hosts at every stage of their journey – whether they manage a single property or an entire portfolio. 

​

What started as a passion project quickly gained momentum. Within 12 months, 20 major sponsors came on board, including Hosthub, Hostfully, Hospitable, Beyond, and Sykes Holiday Cottages. Host Planet has since partnered with industry leaders like Guesty, Turno, Breezeway, and more to deliver game-changing insights to STR hosts worldwide.

​

Now, Holiday Cottage Handbook has evolved into Host Planet – the fastest-growing multimedia platform in the short-term rental space. Through expert interviews, in-depth guides, cutting-edge insights, and live events, Host Planet is dedicated to helping hosts, advocating for the industry, and shaping the future of short-term rentals.

​

Host Planet: the best resource for short-term rental success in the universe.