For property managers juggling multiple listings across different time zones, maintaining responsive guest communication can feel like an impossible challenge. Just ask Jodie Odlin, the owner of Tetbury Escapes, who manages 15 properties in the UK’s picturesque Cotswolds — all while living in Sydney, Australia.
With an extensive background in hospitality management and experience working in 5-star hotels around the world, Jodie brings professional-level service standards to her short-term rental business. Beyond Tetbury Escapes, she’s the founder of Hospitable Hosts, a movement that began as a book collaboration and has since expanded to include three #1 bestselling books, a podcast, educational courses, and a charity supporting industry-related causes.
“I’m what you may call an extreme remote host,” explains Jodie. “When my guests are checking in, it’s 4am for me here where I should be sleeping.”
This case study explores how Jodie’s integration of HostBuddy AI with her Guesty platform has revolutionized her business operations, guest satisfaction, and personal well-being—offering valuable insights for property managers facing similar challenges.
The challenge: Managing the unmanageable
With eight years of hosting experience, Jodie had built efficient systems for her short-term rental business. Yet the 9–10 hour time difference between Australia and the UK created unavoidable friction. Late-night guest inquiries required immediate attention, routine questions interrupted her personal time, maintenance issues demanded instant troubleshooting, and she had staff dedicated solely to managing guest messages.
“Everyone talks about dynamic pricing and how you have to have it as a host. Well, I think everyone should be talking about HostBuddy the same way because honestly, it has changed my business and my life,” Jodie noted.
The solution: 24/7 AI-powered guest communications
Six months ago, Jodie integrated HostBuddy AI with her Guesty account for automated messaging for short-term rentals. Initially planning to test with just one property, the seamless onboarding process convinced her to implement it across all 15 properties — a decision she describes as transformative.
“I was a little bit reluctant at first,” Jodie admits. “But as we were going through the onboarding process, it was so simple and easy. I just thought, right, let’s do all 15 properties. And honestly, I have not looked back.”
Key benefits realized
1. Enhanced guest experience with faster response times
While Jodie already utilized Guesty’s messaging capabilities, HostBuddy’s AI guest communication system now handles the supplementary questions that standard templates can’t address.
“HostBuddy deals with all those little questions that guests ask, like: Where’s the WiFi code? Where’s the iron? Where can I park?” Jodie explains. “They’re all time-consuming questions. People don’t read the information provided. They like to ask questions, and that’s where HostBuddy has come into play.”
Jodie has customized the AI to respond within 3-5 minutes, creating a responsive experience that feels personalized to guests.
2. Higher review scores through consistent communication
One of the most tangible benefits has been the improvement in Jodie’s property reviews.
“My reviews have gone right up in communications,” she notes. “Because we’re not limited by the time zone difference or having people on the ground not answering the phone within a certain timeframe, it’s been incredible for reviews.”
3. Intelligent problem-solving capabilities
Beyond answering simple questions, HostBuddy has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in troubleshooting common issues by learning from previous guest interactions.
“The boiler had gone down, so the heating had gone off, and HostBuddy actually troubleshot with the guest to get the heating back up and running,” Jodie shares. “It had gone through and read all the communications from my previous experiences with guests when this had happened before. While I was sleeping, the guests felt attended to, they got their heating back, and everyone was happy.”
4. Team reallocation for growth initiatives
With HostBuddy handling routine communications, Jodie has repurposed her staff’s time toward business development rather than maintaining status quo operations.
“It’s freed up my VAs to do other things in my business like looking at direct bookings, email marketing, and how we can improve our whole guest experience,” she explains.
Preserving the personal touch
For hosts concerned about losing the human element, Jodie’s experience offers reassurance. HostBuddy’s AI, which she affectionately named “Haley,” has seamlessly adopted her communication style.
“A lot of people have a fear of AI and how it’s going to take away the personalized service from our guests,” Jodie acknowledges. “But I believe my guests, because HostBuddy talks like me and has read all my communications, are still getting a very personal service.”
The proof? “I’ve only actually had one guest say, ‘Am I talking to a human?’ And that’s out of dozens and dozens of guests.”
HostBuddy even remembers personal details shared by guests months before their stay:
“Somebody will say in their introduction, ‘We’re coming for my father’s birthday and the cousins are all coming,'” Jodie explains. “HostBuddy will say, ‘Happy birthday to your father, I hope everyone has a great time.’ That’s personalized service right there.”
The power of integration: Guesty + HostBuddy
The seamless integration between Guesty’s comprehensive property management platform and HostBuddy’s AI-powered communication system creates a powerful operational advantage:
- Complete property data synchronization between systems
- Streamlined task management when physical assistance is needed
- Intelligent escalation protocol for issues requiring human intervention
- Consistent brand voice across all guest touchpoints
- 24/7 coverage without the cost of round-the-clock staffing
Looking forward
While some property managers might view AI tools as stepping stones to expansion, Jodie has a different perspective. For her, intelligent AI messaging for short-term rentals through HostBuddy enables better quality management of her existing portfolio.
“I’m happy with what I have. I have a nice share of the market in one little village in the UK, and I just want to do that well,” she says. “I do other things on the side of my hosting business, so I’m happy with 15 properties. I want to focus on them and do them very, very well.”
Key takeaways for property managers
Jodie’s experience highlights several valuable insights for property managers considering AI-powered communication tools:
- Time zone challenges become manageable with 24/7 AI assistance
- Improved guest satisfaction translates to better reviews and repeat bookings
- Staff resources can be redirected to growth initiatives instead of routine communications
- Personalization remains strong when AI learns from your existing communication style
- Problem-solving capabilities improve over time as the AI learns from each interaction
Getting started
Property managers using Guesty can integrate HostBuddy AI with minimal setup time. The system automatically syncs property data, allowing for immediate implementation across an entire portfolio.For property managers interested in exploring how automated messaging for short-term rentals through the Guesty-HostBuddy integration can transform their business, visit hostbuddy.ai to learn more about this powerful AI solution for vacation rental hosts.
Note: Jodie Odlin is the owner of Tetbury Escapes, managing 15 properties in the Cotswolds region of the UK. She is also the founder of Hospitable Hosts, a movement dedicated to elevating standards in the short-term rental industry through bestselling books, podcasts, and educational resources.
A B2B marketing professional with deep familiarity in the short-term rental industry, translating complex ideas into clear, engaging content. Writes blogs, web copy, and industry reports that inform and inspire. Uncompromising on the Oxford comma.
