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The Airbnb Superhost

The Airbnb Superhost

By: Neil Harvey
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 Welcome to The Airbnb Superhost, your ultimate guide to mastering the art of hosting on Airbnb. In each concise 15-minute episode, Neil will reveal the secrets to creating unforgettable guest experiences and maximizing the potential of your property, drawing on over 9 consecutive years as a qualifying Airbnb Superhost. With a focus on 3 specific aspects of running an Airbnb business; the host, the property, and Airbnb itself, Neil provides step-by-step guidance on everything from ambiance creation to effective communication. In each episode, a Superhost Secret will help you elevate your hosting game and keep guests coming back for more. Whether you're a seasoned host or just starting out, Neil’s actionable tips and tricks will help you become a hospitality superstar. Disclaimer: The Airbnb Superhost is in no way affiliated with Airbnb. All ideas, thoughts, concepts and data presented in this podcast are entirely Neil’s own and do not represent the views of Airbnb. Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • #091 Show That You Care

    #091 Show That You Care
    Nov 26 2025
    In this enlightening episode, Neil Harvey, your personal Superhost, shares a profound insight gained from preparing for his 'Superhost Saturdays': the secret to his successful, high-repeat business is unknowingly rooted in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Neil explains the five levels of the pyramid and reveals how a simple, spontaneous act of kindness, a cooking lesson for a withdrawn 19-year-old guest, fulfilled all five needs in a single evening. KEY TAKEAWAYS Maslow's Hierarchy for Hosts: The five levels are Physiological, Safety, Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self-Actualization. Hosts must meet the basic needs at the bottom of the pyramid before guests can focus on higher-level goals. The Power of Showing You Care: Demonstrating genuine care for a guest's well-being beyond just providing a room can move them from merely having their basic needs met to fulfilling their need for Love and Belonging. Food as a Bonding Tool: Sharing a meal is a powerful, ancient, and universal human behavior that inherently signals trust, creates a sense of Safety and Belonging, and makes moments more memorable. Transforming Criticism into Encouragement: By first demonstrating care and helping a guest achieve a small success (like cooking a meal), any future necessary challenges regarding household habits will be viewed from a position of caring, not just raw criticism, which can support their Esteem needs. Catalyzing Community: When one guest's higher-level needs are met, it can catalyze harmony among all the guests, as the secure and comfortable individual is then better equipped to welcome and bond with newcomers, reinforcing Belonging for everyone. BEST MOMENTS "His key idea was that people must meet their more basic needs at the bottom end of the pyramid before they can fully focus on moving up the pyramid to the higher-level goals like creativity, purpose, and personal growth." "He believed that humans are naturally driven to improve themselves, and he wanted to understand the conditions that allowed them to thrive." "By offering to give up my time to show him how to cook, I demonstrated to him that someone cared about his well-being." "Now that he has seen me demonstrate that I care, should I ever challenge any of his futures when moving forward, he will know that it comes from a position of caring, not just raw criticism." "Use food as a method to bring people together and create a home of harmony." CONTACT DETAILS Register your interest in spending a day with Superhost Neil here; https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil-OpenDay Visit Neil's Airbnb https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superhostneil/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperhostNeil TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@superhostneil Email: SuperhostNeil@gmail.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil has led a fulfilled and unconventional life, navigating an extraordinary journey from the Royal Navy to prop-making in London's West End theatres. Born into a military family, it was a twist of fate which led him to the theatre, where he contributed to iconic productions such as Phantom of the Opera. Eventually, Neil transitioned to Corporate Event Team Building, eventually founding his own venture in 1999. Financial challenges in 2017 are what prompted a strategic shift to Airbnb hosting, proving a reliable backup income. By 2021, Neil and his business partner triumphed over significant debt, fuelled by their resilience and the success of Neil's Airbnb venture. Now, Neil has left the corporate world behind, thriving solely through his flourishing Airbnb endeavours. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    17 mins
  • #090 Know Your Script - How To Keep Out of Trouble

    #090 Know Your Script - How To Keep Out of Trouble
    Nov 19 2025
    Watch the full interview on YouTube here - https://youtu.be/Pm41ITiCvbc In this episode, Neil tackles one of the biggest unspoken fears of being a live-in Airbnb host: unwanted advances from guests. To explore this delicate topic, Neil welcomes Kate Lush, a professional intimacy coordinator for the entertainment industry. Kate shares her expertise on how actors create convincing scenes of intimacy while maintaining professional boundaries, and how hosts can apply this same concept to their hosting business. For more on Kate's work at SafeSets, go to her webstie here - https://www.ssintimacycoordinators.com/ Safesets Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/safesetsic/ KEY TAKEAWAYS Knowing and sticking to a predetermined "script" - a clear set of actions, words, and intentions - is essential for avoiding trouble and keeping communications unambiguous. Hosts should approach their interactions by playing the professional role of "host" to maintain a clear, non-intimate boundary, similar to how an intimacy coordinator advises actors and directors to view scenes technically rather than emotionally. Being equipped to recognise and deal with potentially awkward situations in a proper and prepared manner drastically diminishes the fear of being subjected to unwanted advances. BEST MOMENTS "I am afraid of people coming onto me and I don't know how to handle it." "If we can be proactive in our behaviour to avoid trouble because we're equipped to recognise and deal with situations in the proper manner, should they occur, then the fear of being subjected to amorous advances should dramatically diminish." "I have given both guests permission to like each other." CONTACT DETAILS Register your interest in spending a day with Superhost Neil here; https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil-OpenDay Visit Neil's Airbnb https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superhostneil/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperhostNeil TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@superhostneil Email: SuperhostNeil@gmail.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil has led a fulfilled and unconventional life, navigating an extraordinary journey from the Royal Navy to prop-making in London's West End theatres. Born into a military family, it was a twist of fate which led him to the theatre, where he contributed to iconic productions such as Phantom of the Opera. Eventually, Neil transitioned to Corporate Event Team Building, eventually founding his own venture in 1999. Financial challenges in 2017 are what prompted a strategic shift to Airbnb hosting, proving a reliable backup income. By 2021, Neil and his business partner triumphed over significant debt, fuelled by their resilience and the success of Neil's Airbnb venture. Now, Neil has left the corporate world behind, thriving solely through his flourishing Airbnb endeavours. ABOUT THE SHOW Welcome to "The Airbnb Superhost," your ultimate guide to mastering the art of hosting on Airbnb. In each concise 15-minute episode, Neil will reveal the secrets to creating unforgettable guest experiences and maximizing the potential of your property, drawing on over 9 consecutive years as a qualifying Airbnb Superhost. With a focus on 3 specific aspects of running an Airbnb business; the host, the property, and Airbnb itself, Neil provides step-by-step guidance on everything from ambience creation to effective communication. In each episode, a Superhost Secret will help you elevate your hosting game and keep guests coming back for more. Whether you're a seasoned host or just starting out, Neil’s actionable tips and tricks will help you become a hospitality superstar. Disclaimer: The Airbnb Superhost is in no way affiliated with Airbnb. All ideas, thoughts, concepts and data presented in this podcast are entirely Neil’s own and do not represent the views of Airbnb. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    22 mins
  • #089 The Dangers of Researching with AI

    #089 The Dangers of Researching with AI
    Nov 12 2025
    In this episode, Neil chats with property expert Julie Ford to discuss the intricacies of live-in hosting and the importance of understanding local regulations. With over a decade of experience in Airbnb hosting, Neil and Julie delve into the pitfalls of relying on AI for legal research, emphasising the need for expert advice to avoid costly mistakes. The full interview with Julie Ford can be watched on YouTube. Click here; https://bit.ly/JulieFordTV-Podcast KEY TAKEAWAYS AI tools may provide inaccurate or outdated information, especially regarding specific regulations and case law. It's crucial to consult human experts for reliable advice. While local council websites are essential for finding regulations, they can be difficult to navigate. It's often more effective to reach out to local businesses or agents familiar with the area for guidance on hosting regulations. Live-in hosting generally does not require planning permission unless it crosses a commercial threshold, such as offering exclusive use of rooms or employing staff. Each council may have different rules, so local knowledge is vital. BEST MOMENTS "AI isn't clever enough. It's only as good as the information you put in, and it hallucinates a lot of the time." "Our unique selling point is that we have human advisors and not AI bots, because there's so much more out there." "If you're not changing that threshold, then planning doesn't come into it." "What have I told you that live-in hosting sidesteps almost all the regulations imposed on traditional landlords completely legally?" CONTACT DETAILS Register your interest in spending a day with Superhost Neil here; https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil-OpenDay Visit Neil's Airbnb https://bit.ly/SuperhostNeil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superhostneil/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperhostNeil TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@superhostneil Email: SuperhostNeil@gmail.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil has led a fulfilled and unconventional life, navigating an extraordinary journey from the Royal Navy to prop-making in London's West End theatres. Born into a military family, it was a twist of fate which led him to the theatre, where he contributed to iconic productions such as Phantom of the Opera. Eventually, Neil transitioned to Corporate Event Team Building, eventually founding his own venture in 1999. Financial challenges in 2017 are what prompted a strategic shift to Airbnb hosting, proving a reliable backup income. By 2021, Neil and his business partner triumphed over significant debt, fuelled by their resilience and the success of Neil's Airbnb venture. Now, Neil has left the corporate world behind, thriving solely through his flourishing Airbnb endeavours. ABOUT THE SHOW Welcome to "The Airbnb Superhost," your ultimate guide to mastering the art of hosting on Airbnb. In each concise 15-minute episode, Neil will reveal the secrets to creating unforgettable guest experiences and maximizing the potential of your property, drawing on over 9 consecutive years as a qualifying Airbnb Superhost. With a focus on 3 specific aspects of running an Airbnb business; the host, the property, and Airbnb itself, Neil provides step-by-step guidance on everything from ambience creation to effective communication. In each episode, a Superhost Secret will help you elevate your hosting game and keep guests coming back for more. Whether you're a seasoned host or just starting out, Neil’s actionable tips and tricks will help you become a hospitality superstar. Disclaimer: The Airbnb Superhost is in no way affiliated with Airbnb. All ideas, thoughts, concepts and data presented in this podcast are entirely Neil’s own and do not represent the views of Airbnb. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    20 mins
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