World Cup Hosting Crash Course lands in Kansas City – and Host Planet will be there

Kansas City is bracing for a once-in-a-generation visitor surge during the FIFA World Cup 2026 – and the city wants short-term rentals to help carry the load. Local leaders estimate 650,000 visitors next summer – and are looking for roughly 500 short-term rentals to plug the gap which hotels can't fill. This is why Tyann Marcink Hammond is convening a hands-on World Cup Hosting Crash Course to get new and existing hosts truly match-ready.

Host Planet will be attending the event, contributing sessions and field notes from major events. In addition, we’re teaming up with Hostfully and Tyann to produce a free e-book: Six Steps to ’26 – a practical guide that hosts can use to prepare their properties for major events.

Tyann recently joined the Host Planet Podcast to detail the event – catch the full episode on YouTube, our website, Spotify, or Apple.

Why Kansas City – and why now?

City officials asked the Kansas City Short Term Rental Alliance for help after modelling the estimated shortfall in accommodation for World Cup fans. Tyann responded with the idea of a two-day event to help hosts deliver safe, neighbour-friendly, and guest-delighting stays during the tournament, which will run from 11 June to 19 July in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The Crash Course will be foundations-focused – providing the essential skills any host needs to operate confidently and responsibly when demand spikes and expectations rise.

World Cup Hosting Crash Course

• Date: 14-15 November.

• Where: Robert J. Mohart Multi-Purpose Center.

• Tickets: From $79 for Missouri Vacation Home Alliance members ($149 for non-members). Click here for details.

• Partners: Headline support from Airbnb and Booking.com, plus major STR brands like Host Planet, Hostfully, PriceLabs, Turno, and others.

  
  

What to expect from the course

On day one, there will be sessions on pricing tips, fan expectations, local regulation, health and safety, and insurance. Day two will cover cleaning, FIFA World Cup hosting (featuring Host Planet Founder and CEO, James Varley), how to be a good neighbour, listing essentials, guest communication, linen care, amenities, and more. There will also be plenty of time for networking.

Who should attend?

• First-time or occasional hosts planning to open their home for the tournament window.

• Active STR operators who want an event-ready playbook (safety, comms, pricing, cleaning).

• Service providers (cleaning, laundry, maintenance) looking to connect with hosts and lift standards before next summer.

  
  

Free e-book from Host Planet and Hostfully

To help people further, the event organisers, in collaboration with Host Planet and Hostfully, will be creating a free e-book: Six Steps to '26. This will contain actionable tips to help hosts prepare for next year's World Cup. There will be information on why you need property management software, a digital guidebook, cleaning, automation, and taxes.

Why this matters beyond the World Cup

High-stakes events expose weak links – and reward disciplined operators. The systems you put in place for 2026 compound into higher ratings, stronger owner relationships, and more repeat guests for years to come. The World Cup Hosting Crash Course is your chance to build that foundation in a single weekend.

Heading to Kansas City? We’d love to meet you there. If you can’t travel, grab the video pass and e-book to get tournament-ready from home.