Turnover Tactics – how to prepare your STR for major events

Major events can be a golden opportunity for short-term rental hosts – or a fast-track to operational chaos.

With global events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 heading to host cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico, demand will surge, bookings will stack back-to-back, and margins will be tested.

In the first episode of Turnover Tactics – powered by Turno – Host Planet Founder James Varley is joined by Chris Rule and Katelyn Almeda to break down how hosts can prepare operationally, commercially, and experientially for high-demand periods. Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

Below are the key lessons every host should take away.

1. Major events expose weak systems – fast

High-demand events create:

• Same-day turnovers

• Reduced margin for error

• Increased guest expectations

Chris makes it clear: hosts can’t rely on ad-hoc processes during peak demand.

Cleaners need real-time information, checklists need to be followed precisely, and back-up plans must already be in place before the first guest arrives .

This is where professional turnover software becomes non-negotiable – providing visibility, accountability, and support when things change last minute.

2. Your cleaner is your most important partner

One of the strongest themes of the episode is simple but critical: your cleaner is the VIP of your short-term rental business.

A missed clean or sub-standard turnover during a major event can lead to:

• One-star reviews

• Platform penalties

• Long-term damage to listing performance

  
  

Turno’s marketplace helps hosts access vetted cleaners and maintenance professionals, complete with reviews and accountability – removing the guesswork that comes with sourcing help through informal channels.

Just as importantly, it allows hosts to build back-up capacity, so operations don’t collapse if one cleaner is unavailable.

3. Optimise your listing for event-driven demand

When demand spikes, simply doubling your price isn’t enough.

Katelyn outlines several high-impact listing optimisation strategies, including:

• Updating titles and descriptions to reference the event (“Walk to Stadium”, “Perfect for FIFA World Cup Fans”)

• Targeting a clear guest avatar (groups, families, fans)

• Optimising the first 32 characters of your title for mobile users

• Refreshing photos weekly to signal activity to Airbnb’s algorithm

  
  

Professional photography, especially your hero image, remains one of the biggest conversion drivers – and one of the most common weaknesses among hosts.

4. Price strategically – not emotionally

Major events reward hosts who price early, strategically, and with data.

Rather than guessing, Katelyn recommends using dynamic pricing tools to:

• Analyse comparable listings across Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com

• Apply tiered pricing for peak, shoulder, and surrounding nights

• Encourage longer stays to reduce turnover pressure

• Avoid same-day event check-ins where possible

  
  

The key principle is simple: price high early, then adjust – not the other way around.

5. Five-star reviews are won before guests arrive

Reviews during major events are not about perfection – they’re about expectation management.

Chris emphasises that five-star stays come from:

• Clear pre-arrival communication

• Reliable cleaning standards

• Rapid issue resolution when something goes wrong

Operational tools that allow cleaners to report issues in real time, document progress, and flag maintenance concerns help hosts stay proactive rather than reactive.

6. Small “surprise and delight” touches create big impact

During major events, guests remember how you made them feel.

Katelyn shares examples of low-cost but high-impact touches:

• Event-specific welcome baskets

• Local snack partnerships

• Printed match schedules or themed décor

• QR codes linking to video guides and house instructions

These details consistently show up in reviews – and help listings stand out when competition is fierce .

Final thought: prepare early, profit calmly (and keep listening to Turnover Tactics)

Major events are not the time to “wing it”.

Hosts who:

• Invest in systems

• Build back-up capacity

• Optimise listings intentionally

• Set clear guest expectations

  
  

…are the ones who turn peak demand into profit, not panic.

Turnover Tactics is powered by Turno – the all-in-one cleaning and turnover management platform built specifically for short-term rental hosts. Click here to get started. And catch the next episode of Turnover Tactics soon!