Host Planet Roadshow: STR leaders gather in Portsmouth

The Host Planet Roadshow continued its UK tour with a successful second event at the historic National Museum of the Royal Navy, bringing together short-term rental (STR) hosts, property managers, and industry suppliers for a day of insights, collaboration, and networking.

Following a strong opening event in Cornwall, the Portsmouth leg of the Roadshow attracted operators from across the south coast of England, including hosts and property managers working in destinations such as Portsmouth, Southampton, the Isle of Wight, and the wider Hampshire region.

The event focused on some of the most important topics shaping the STR industry, including regulation, property management strategy, revenue management,

taxation, and guest experience.

The Event Partners for the day were The Island Holiday Company and Just For You Holiday Homes. The Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) is the Strategic Partner for the Roadshow, while PriceLabs is the Title Sponsor. The Women in Short Term Rentals Community is a Delivery Partner. Hostaway, Beyond, SuperControl, and Zeal Tax were represented in Portsmouth, along with Avantio, My Holiday Guide, and Guesty.

STR regulation, tourism taxes, and industry representation

The event opened with a fireside chat between Host Planet Founder, James Varley, and Andy Fenner, Chief Executive of the STAA.

Andy shared an update on several regulatory developments affecting the STR sector, including:

• The potential introduction of a tourism tax.

• Progress towards a statutory registration scheme for STR properties.

• The implications of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for holiday let owners and property managers.

With governments across Europe increasingly scrutinising the STR sector, Andy emphasised the importance of industry representation and collaboration. He also highlighted the upcoming Short Stay Summit – one of the leading events for STR professionals in the UK – which will be held in London on 22 April.

Andy encouraged hosts, property managers, and industry suppliers to join the STAA, explaining that membership ensures the sector has a strong and unified voice when engaging with policymakers.

Why holiday let owners work with property management companies

One of the most popular sessions of the day was a panel discussion hosted by Lisa Roads, featuring Emma Kelman, Founder of The Island Holiday Company, and Justine Ireland, Founder of Just For You Holiday Homes.

The panel explored the growing role of professional property management companies in the holiday let and Airbnb sectors.

Emma and Justine explained that many property owners initially attempt to self-manage their properties. However, as guest expectations rise and regulatory requirements increase, professional management can offer significant advantages, including:

• Revenue optimisation through dynamic pricing strategies.

• Compliance with evolving regulations and safety requirements.

• Consistent guest experience across multiple properties.

• Operational support for owners who live far from their rental property.

The session highlighted how the professionalisation of the STR industry is creating opportunities for property management companies to support owners while maintaining high hospitality standards.

Portsmouth short-term rental market insights

Local market trends were presented by Punit Vadgama from PriceLabs.

Punit shared data-driven insights into the Portsmouth STR market, including booking patterns, seasonality, and pricing trends.

With Portsmouth attracting visitors for its maritime heritage, university population, and ferry connections to the Isle of Wight, the city continues to see growing demand for STR accommodation.

Punit explained how hosts can use dynamic pricing tools and market data to optimise nightly rates and maximise revenue while maintaining strong occupancy.

Ask the Experts: practical advice for STR operators

The Portsmouth event also featured an Ask the Experts session, where attendees were able to put questions directly to experienced professionals from across the STR ecosystem.

Topics discussed included:

• AI

• Property management

• Guest experience

• Automation

• Tax strategy for holiday let owners

• Revenue management

• Regulatory compliance

These interactive discussions provided practical insights for both new hosts and established property managers looking to improve their operations.

Knowledge bursts from STR industry specialists

Another highlight of the event was a series of rapid-fire knowledge burst sessions, where industry experts delivered short presentations packed with actionable insights. The speakers included:

• Christopher Dillon, Guesty

• Matt Jeffery, Zeal Tax

• Phil Jackson, My Holiday Guide

• Chris Henly, Hostaway

• Punit Vadgama, PriceLabs

• Luke Faulkner, SuperControl

• Finlay Nesbitt, Avantio

• Ian Thompson, Beyond

These sessions covered topics ranging from upselling to tax planning, photography, the cost of tech, dynamic pricing, reviews, automation, and AI-powered revenue management.

Roundtable discussions encourage collaboration

Roundtable discussions were a feature of the day and designed to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing among attendees.

Unlike traditional conferences, the roundtable format allowed hosts, property managers, and industry suppliers to engage directly with one other and discuss real-world challenges.

The morning session focused on challenges and opportunities, while the afternoon roundtable asked attendees to develop a PR campaign to encourage tourism to the Isle of Wight, with the winners receiving a swag bag courtesy of PriceLabs.

The format reinforced Host Planet’s mission to create a collaborative community for STR professionals.

The growing importance of STR industry events

As the STR sector continues to evolve, events such as the Host Planet Roadshow play an important role in helping operators stay informed and connected.

Speaking after the event, Host Planet Founder, James Varley, said the goal of the Roadshow is to create opportunities for hosts and property managers to learn from each other.

"The STR industry is changing very quickly and events like the Host Planet Roadshow help operators stay ahead of regulation, understand new technology, and build relationships that strengthen the industry."

The Host Planet Roadshow heads to London in April

With strong attendance and positive feedback from participants, the Host Planet Roadshow is continuing to build momentum as a key event series for the UK STR and holiday let industry.

Future events will continue to focus on topics such as:

• Regulation and compliance.

• AI and technology in short-term rentals.

• Revenue management strategies.

• Professional property management.

• Guest experience and hospitality standards.

For hosts, property managers, and STR professionals across the UK, the message from Portsmouth was clear: collaboration, education, and professional standards will define the next stage of growth for the STR industry.

The third leg of the Host Planet Roadshow will be held in London on Thursday 23 April. A limited number of tickets are still available, priced just £40 each.

After London, four more events will be held in 2026:

• Nottingham: 14 September

• Bath: 7 October

• Chester: 10 November

• Edinburgh: 3 December

Click here for further details about the Host Planet Roadshow.