We recently joined Hospitable on their Hospitable Hosts Podcast to share our journey of growing Host My Nest from managing a single property into a professional short-term rental management company overseeing 20+ listings.
In this episode, we unpacked the lessons, challenges, and strategies that helped us scale while keeping guest experience and owner returns at the heart of our business.
From One Room to a Portfolio
Every host starts somewhere — for us, it was a single room listed on Airbnb. By focusing on 5-star guest experiences, strong communication, and consistent reinvestment, we were able to expand into managing multiple properties across London.
Scaling wasn’t just about adding more listings. It meant:
- Building reliable cleaning and maintenance systems.
- Leveraging technology like Hospitable to automate guest communication.
- Creating strong relationships with property owners who wanted professional support.
The Challenges of Scaling
Growth always comes with growing pains. We talked openly about:
- Time management – balancing guest support with expansion.
- Owner expectations – ensuring transparency and clear reporting.
- Compliance – keeping up with rules like the London 90-day cap.
- Cashflow – managing income while investing back into operations.
Overcoming these challenges required processes, partnerships, and the right tools.
The Role of Technology
We highlighted how tools like Hospitable and our own platform StayScript (for listing optimisation) have been critical in scaling efficiently.
Tech allows us to:
- Keep response times low.
- Ensure calendars and pricing are always up to date.
- Analyse listings to boost visibility and conversion.
Without these, managing 20+ properties while maintaining quality would be nearly impossible.
Building the Right Team
Scaling isn’t just about systems and software — it’s about people. On the podcast, we shared how vital it has been to create a trusted network of:
- Reliable cleaners and contractors who deliver consistency.
- Dedicated co-hosts and managers who understand hospitality.
- Back-office support for accounting, compliance, and guest communication.
A strong team allows growth without compromising on guest experience, ensuring that each property feels as cared-for as the very first one we managed.
The Bottom Line
Scaling from one room to 20+ properties takes more than ambition — it takes systems, people, and the right partnerships. For us at Host My Nest, the journey has been about blending hospitality with innovation, and building a team that supports both.
We’re grateful to Hospitable for having us on their podcast to share our story, and we’re excited to continue helping property owners grow with us.