This week on the Hosting Hotline, listener Julia calls in with a timely question: should you host influencers in exchange for a free or discounted stay—especially when your property is new and you’re trying to build buzz?

Julia runs a fully immersive Star Wars-themed short-term rental in Kissimmee, Florida, and recently experimented with a creator collaboration through the platform Stayamo. While she didn’t see immediate bookings, the exposure raised awareness and boosted her Instagram following. But is that worth the cleaning fee—or more?

In this episode, we dig into:

– How to evaluate whether an influencer is truly a good fit

– What red flags to watch for when receiving creator collaboration requests

– How to define success from influencer content

– Smart ways to protect your time, energy, and budget

– Why a holistic influencer marketing plan beats saying yes ad hoc

– And how to communicate “no” without burning bridges

We also share our favorite tips for setting expectations, building contracts, and using influencer content intentionally—so you’re not left wondering if the trade was worth it.

Resources:

– YouTube: The Right Way to Use Influencers to Promote Your Airbnb

– Stayamo (influencer collaboration platform)