From on-site to online: How BetterStays achieves 10%+ revenue gains

BetterStays is a remote-first property management company that handles bookings and guest communications for approximately 180 rooms across the Netherlands. Founded by Duco Taylor, a seasoned property management entrepreneur with extensive industry experience, BetterStays takes a streamlined approach to property management: they handle all digital aspects while property owners manage the physical elements.

Operating with a lean team that provides 12-hour shift coverage plus 24-hour emergency backup, BetterStays delivers a compelling value proposition: “more revenue, less work” for property owners. Their remote-first model focuses on excellent communication, pricing optimization, and seamless booking management, all while charging just 8% commission and typically generating more than 10% extra revenue for their clients.

BetterStays’ approach to property management centers on thorough documentation and efficient digital systems. For every property, they maintain comprehensive records in their CRM system: videos demonstrating how to operate blinds, detailed WiFi instructions, and visual guides for any feature guests might need help with.

This documentation powers their remote guest support system. When guests have questions via WhatsApp or booking platforms, the BetterStays team can instantly access these resources through Guesty’s unified inbox and provide solutions without anyone visiting the property.

Many properties in their portfolio are cozy bed and breakfasts with just 1-2 rooms, where owners already have reliable cleaning staff in place. This allows BetterStays to focus on what they do best — optimizing listings, managing bookings, and handling all guest communications — without the operational complexity of coordinating large cleaning teams.

As a longtime Guesty user, BetterStays has built their entire business model around the platform’s capabilities. Guesty serves as the central nervous system for BetterStays’ operations, enabling their small team to manage 180+ properties with remarkable efficiency. The team particularly values Guesty’s AI features for guest communications and its robust accounting tools, which provide clear financial visibility for both BetterStays and property owners, building essential trust while eliminating hours of manual work. Perhaps most importantly, Guesty’s pricing optimization capabilities have been instrumental in delivering the 10%+ revenue increases that BetterStays promises to property owners, a key selling point in their value proposition. “Each year it’s less manual work for us and easier to onboard clients,” notes Taylor, highlighting how Guesty’s evolution has supported his company’s growth.

BetterStays’ remote-first approach, powered by Guesty, delivers measurable benefits:

With a successful remote management model firmly established, BetterStays is now focusing on growth through improved SEO and backlinks. The company leverages AI extensively for enhanced online visibility and operational efficiency.

As BetterStays continues to expand, Guesty remains the cornerstone of their operations, providing the comprehensive tools they need to manage more properties while maintaining their promise of “more revenue, less work” for property owners.