About HostWise: Data-Driven Intelligence for the Modern Host

We Are Not "Gurus." We Are Operators.

The internet is full of "Airbnb Experts" who managed one property for six months in 2019 and now sell a $2,000 course.

That is not us.

HostWise was built for one reason: To replace "gut feeling" with data.

I'm Alex, the founder. I bought my first investment property in 2018. I made every mistake in the book. I underpriced it. I hired a cheap cleaner who ghosted me. I manually messaged guests at 2 AM.

Today, I manage a portfolio of 12 properties generating over $850,000 in annual revenue. I work less than 4 hours a week on operations.

How? By building a Tech Stack that does the heavy lifting.

HostWise is my open-source playbook. I test the tools, run the numbers, and share exactly what works (and what is a scam).

The HostWise Philosophy: The "3-Pillar" System

We believe successful hosting comes down to three non-negotiable pillars. If you master these, you win.

Pillar 1: Dynamic Revenue (Not Just "Pricing")

Most hosts set a price and hope. We use algorithms.

• We don't just "lower prices" to get bookings.
• We use tools like PriceLabs to predict demand spikes 6 months out.
• We optimize for RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room), not just Occupancy.

Pillar 2: Automated Hospitality

Guests want instant answers, not a pen-pal.

• We believe in the "Zero-Touch" guest journey (from booking to checkout).
• We use Automated Messaging to answer questions before they are asked.
• We use Channel Managers to sync calendars instantly.

Pillar 3: Asset Protection

Your property is an asset, not a dorm room.

• We advocate for strict screening, noise monitoring, and proper insurance.
• We believe in "prevention over cure."

Our Story: From Spare Room to Portfolio

• 2018: Bought "The Bungalow" (Austin, TX). Managed manually. Stress level: 10/10.
• 2019: Bought Property #2. Discovered Hostaway. Realized software could replace a property manager.
• 2020: The Pandemic Hit. Pivoted to "Mid-Term Rentals" (30+ days). Survived while others folded.
• 2021: Scaled to 6 properties. Hired first VA (Virtual Assistant).
• 2022: Launched HostWise.top to document the systems.
• 2023: Reached 10 properties. $500k Revenue milestone.
• 2026: Currently managing 12 units. Focus is now on "Luxury Experiences" and Direct Bookings.

Our Real Results: Verified Portfolio Performance

We believe in transparency. Here are our actual, verifiable metrics from 2024:

Portfolio Summary (2024)

Revenue Growth Timeline

All revenue figures are gross revenue before expenses. Data verified by our CPA firm annual tax filings.

Professional Credentials & Affiliations

Our team maintains professional credentials and industry affiliations to ensure we provide accurate, current information:

Certifications & Memberships

• Airbnb Superhost (Maintained since Q2 2019 - 23 consecutive quarters)
• VRMA Member (Vacation Rental Management Association)
• NAREE Member (National Association of Real Estate Editors)
• BiggerPockets Pro Member (Real Estate Investing Community)

Professional Reviewers

• Sarah Jenkins, CPA - All tax and finance content reviewed by licensed CPA
• Legal Disclaimer Review - Compliance verified by licensed attorney

Industry Recognition

• Featured Guest: BiggerPockets Podcast #452
• Contributor: Hostaway Blog, AirDNA Research
• Speaker: VRMA Annual Conference 2023

Featured In

We've shared our hosting strategies and data insights with leading industry publications:

• Business Insider: "How this Millennial built a $850k/year Airbnb portfolio"
• BiggerPockets Podcast: Episode #452 - "Systemizing Short-Term Rentals"
• The Real Estate CPA: "Tax Strategies for Active Real Estate Investors"
• Hostaway Blog: "The Future of Direct Bookings in 2026"

What We Review (And How)

There are 500+ tools for Airbnb hosts. 90% of them are useless.

We focus on the "Core Stack":

1. Pricing Engines: (PriceLabs, Beyond, Wheelhouse)
2. Channel Managers: (Hostaway, Guesty, Hospitable)
3. Guest Experience: (Touch Stay, Minoan, Boarding Pass)
4. Operations: (Turno, Breezeway)

Our Testing Standard:

• We do not write "reaction" reviews.
• We connect the tool to a live property for at least 30 days.
• We measure the "Before vs. After" metrics (Revenue, Time Saved, Guest Rating).
• If a tool breaks or sucks, we say so. (See our review of Smart Pricing—spoiler: we hate it).

Meet The Team

While I (Alex) write the core strategy, HostWise has grown into a small team of operators.

Alex | Founder & Lead Editor

• Specialty: Revenue Management & Tech Stack.
• Favorite Tool: PriceLabs.
• Pet Peeve: Hosts who charge a cleaning fee but ask guests to strip the beds.

Sarah | Content & Research

• Specialty: Interior Design & Guest Experience.
• Role: Sarah tests the "soft skills"—welcome baskets, guidebooks, and amenity kits.
• Favorite Tool: Canva (for guidebooks).

Mike | Data Analyst

• Specialty: Market Trends.
• Role: Mike scrapes data to find emerging markets and pricing trends for our Market Reports.

Editorial Guidelines & Fact-Checking Process

Our Commitment to Accuracy

HostWise publishes content about finance, taxation, and legal matters that directly impact your income and compliance (YMYL - Your Money Your Life content). Because of this, we hold ourselves to the highest editorial standards.

Professional Review Standards

All finance, tax, and insurance articles are professionally reviewed by licensed experts:

Sarah Jenkins, CPA | Real Estate Tax Specialist

• Licensed Certified Public Accountant
• Master of Science in Taxation (MST)
• 15+ years experience in real estate taxation
• Member, AICPA (American Institute of CPAs)
• Specializes in short-term rental tax strategies and compliance

Review Scope: Sarah reviews all content related to taxation, financial planning, and IRS compliance to ensure accuracy and currency with 2026 regulations.

Fact-Checking Process

Every article on HostWise follows our multi-step verification process:

1. Primary Research: All data claims are sourced from authoritative industry reports, government agencies, or peer-reviewed research.
2. Citation Requirement: Every statistical claim includes a citation to its original source with publication date.
3. Expert Review: YMYL content (finance, tax, insurance, legal) is reviewed by licensed professionals in the relevant field.
4. Annual Updates: We review and update all content annually. Articles more than 12 months old display a timeliness warning.
5. Correction Policy: If we discover an error, we correct it immediately and note the correction at the top of the article.

Citation Standards

We prioritize sources in this order:

1. Primary Sources: Government data (IRS, Census), platform official documentation (Airbnb Help Center), industry research (AirDNA, STR)
2. Expert Analysis: Licensed professionals (CPAs, attorneys), academic research, peer-reviewed studies
3. Industry Publications: Established media (Forbes, Business Insider), trade publications

We never cite:

• Anonymous blogs or forums
• Unverified social media claims
• Marketing materials disguised as research
• Sources more than 3 years old (unless historical context)

Disclosure Policy

Transparency is core to our mission:

• Affiliate Relationships: We disclose all affiliate relationships and never let compensation influence our reviews.
• Testing Standards: We test all reviewed tools on live properties for at least 30 days.
• Personal Experience: Data labeled "based on my experience" comes from managing our actual 12-property portfolio (2018-2026).
• Professional Disclaimers: Our tax and legal content is educational. We always recommend consulting licensed professionals for your specific situation.

Update Frequency

• Annual Review: All content reviewed every 12 months
• Regulatory Updates: Tax and legal content updated within 30 days of regulation changes
• Tool Reviews: Updated when major features change or pricing shifts
• Timeliness Warnings: Articles >365 days since last update display a warning banner

Questions about our editorial process? Contact editorial@hostwise.top.

Our Tech Stack (What We Actually Use)

We get asked this every day. "What do YOU use?"

Here is the current stack for our 12-property portfolio (as of late 2026):

• PMS / Channel Manager: Hostaway (The brain of the operation).
• Pricing: PriceLabs (The revenue engine).
• Cleaning: Turno (formerly TurnoverBnB).
• Guidebooks: Touch Stay.
• Insurance: Proper Insurance.
• Locks: Schlage Encode (Wi-Fi).
• Noise Monitoring: Minut.

Contact & Connect

We are real people. We love talking shop.

• Have a question? Contact Us.
• Want a specific review? Email reviews@hostwise.top.
• Press/Media: press@hostwise.top.
• Editorial Questions: editorial@hostwise.top.

Disclaimer: We are investors, not financial advisors. Hosting involves risk. Do your own due diligence.

🌿 Our Green Initiative

We believe sustainable hosting is profitable hosting. By 2026, we aim to have 100% of our portfolio running on renewable energy credits.

Current Impact:

• Smart thermostats in all units saved 12,000 kWh in 2024.
• Bulk-refill amenity dispensers eliminated 5,000+ plastic bottles.
• Local coffee partnerships support sustainable farming.

🤝 Community Impact

HostWise donates 1% of all gross revenue to local housing charities in the cities where we operate. We believe in being good neighbors, not just good investors.

2024 Partners:

• Austin Housing Fund: Supporting affordable housing initiatives.
• Community First! Village: Providing permanent housing for the chronically homeless.
• Denver Rescue Mission: Supporting emergency shelter operations.

🛡️ Operating Principles

1. Transparency First: We share the numbers, even when they are ugly.
2. Guest Obsession: We view every decision through the lens of the guest experience.
3. Community Respect: We enforce strict noise and occupancy rules to protect our neighborhoods.
4. Continuous Improvement: We A/B test everything, from headlines to pillow brands.