We received 79 reviews over the past two months, and every single one is 5 stars. This is the longest streak we’ve ever had. Especially impressive given the winter market and the blizzards we’ve been dealing with. I’ve been letting AI handle most guest interactions, and honestly, it seems to be doing a better job than I was. Hopefully, this trend continues!
I'm old school. I have 1 property. I call every booking, thank them and answer their questions.
We’ve had a similar experience. We use the AI messaging within Hospitable for most of our guest communication, and it’s been surprisingly solid. It seems like the consistency is what really makes the difference — fast responses, clear instructions, and no missed details.
Great to hear about the winning streak! @Laura Winters are you using chatgpt or what AI are you using?
Great to hear about the winning streak! @Laura Winters are you using chatgpt or what AI are you using?
Great to hear about the winning streak! @Laura Winters are you using chatgpt or what AI are you using?
Cool. Good to hear.
Great to hear about the winning streak! @Laura Winters are you using chatgpt or what AI are you using?
Cool. Good to hear.
I rarely get any messages outside the normal stuff.
I have detailed information in my listing along with specific pictures that answers stuff like what kind of coffee maker do you have?
Vrbo and Airbnb send the routine stuff like check in and out tines as well as door codes.
I've got nothing but 5 star reviews for years with minimal guest interaction. I have instant booking turned on.
I often wake up to find a new instant booking with no other interaction required by me.
Cool! Are there setting to kick it to you if it is beyond its scope?
Cool! Are there setting to kick it to you if it is beyond its scope?
It is all about how you design it. AI can be anything.
We’ve mostly been using AI to help polish our responses to guest inquiries and messages rather than fully automate everything. I believe hospitable does have the option to automate messaging, and we’ll probably start using that soon, but for now we still like having a bit of oversight. We’ve noticed that our overall guest messages have actually dropped quite a bit since we started using a better guidebook.
We’ve mostly been using AI to help polish our responses to guest inquiries and messages rather than fully automate everything. I believe hospitable does have the option to automate messaging, and we’ll probably start using that soon, but for now we still like having a bit of oversight. We’ve noticed that our overall guest messages have actually dropped quite a bit since we started using a better guidebook.
Yeah that is the starting point. You will learn that AI Can and Will do so much more if you extend the use
We’ve mostly been using AI to help polish our responses to guest inquiries and messages rather than fully automate everything. I believe hospitable does have the option to automate messaging, and we’ll probably start using that soon, but for now we still like having a bit of oversight. We’ve noticed that our overall guest messages have actually dropped quite a bit since we started using a better guidebook.
Yeah that is the starting point. You will learn that AI Can and Will do so much more if you extend the use
That’s interesting. When you say extend the use, what areas have you found it most useful beyond messaging?
We’ve mostly been using AI to help polish our responses to guest inquiries and messages rather than fully automate everything. I believe hospitable does have the option to automate messaging, and we’ll probably start using that soon, but for now we still like having a bit of oversight. We’ve noticed that our overall guest messages have actually dropped quite a bit since we started using a better guidebook.
Yeah that is the starting point. You will learn that AI Can and Will do so much more if you extend the use
That’s interesting. When you say extend the use, what areas have you found it most useful beyond messaging?
We’ve mostly been using AI to help polish our responses to guest inquiries and messages rather than fully automate everything. I believe hospitable does have the option to automate messaging, and we’ll probably start using that soon, but for now we still like having a bit of oversight. We’ve noticed that our overall guest messages have actually dropped quite a bit since we started using a better guidebook.
Yeah that is the starting point. You will learn that AI Can and Will do so much more if you extend the use
That’s interesting. When you say extend the use, what areas have you found it most useful beyond messaging?
Well! Try it by yourself! AI can teach you how to run a business better than MBA class. It can be your designer, marketer, photographer, lawyer, project manager… you name it!
I'm old school. I have 1 property. I call every booking, thank them and answer their questions.
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
@Laura Winters Yes I had this for 6 months then removed it all. Airbnb doesn't have an AI message that auto responds to a guest message saying "im locked out" they actually have to call airbnb, then airbnb calls me. Even though airbnb has the backup lock details. Which defeats the purpose of providing the backup lock info.. I still have to have my phone on in the middle of the night to get airbnbs call.
The auto change of door codes drain the locks batteries. So we were changing batteries on 20 cabins about once per month. Which doesn't seem like a lot but certainly is inefficient.
I was thinking you had a way of auto responding to a specific message?
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
@Laura Winters Yes I had this for 6 months then removed it all. Airbnb doesn't have an AI message that auto responds to a guest message saying "im locked out" they actually have to call airbnb, then airbnb calls me. Even though airbnb has the backup lock details. Which defeats the purpose of providing the backup lock info.. I still have to have my phone on in the middle of the night to get airbnbs call.
The auto change of door codes drain the locks batteries. So we were changing batteries on 20 cabins about once per month. Which doesn't seem like a lot but certainly is inefficient.
I was thinking you had a way of auto responding to a specific message?
They go way beyond that. Airbnb automatically generate 4 backup access codes if an issue is detected with the lock before a guest’s arrival, and share the backup code with the guest. So technically hosts don’t need to do anything about it after setting it properly.
A lot of people assume AI is mainly useful for reactive tasks like answering questions, but it’s actually far more powerful when used proactively—preventing problems before they happen.
If a guest is unable to access the property due to user error, many smart lock systems can track incorrect code entries and share that data with Airbnb, helping clarify the situation and streamline the conflict resolution process.
This smart lock update was one of Airbnb's biggest push in 2025. I see they are relying more and more on this feature. AI and smart features are not an option. Real estate has been historically lagging industry in tech but STR is at the front line tech industry. You can't run STR with the real estate mindset. The gap will only get bigger.
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
@Laura Winters Yes I had this for 6 months then removed it all. Airbnb doesn't have an AI message that auto responds to a guest message saying "im locked out" they actually have to call airbnb, then airbnb calls me. Even though airbnb has the backup lock details. Which defeats the purpose of providing the backup lock info.. I still have to have my phone on in the middle of the night to get airbnbs call.
The auto change of door codes drain the locks batteries. So we were changing batteries on 20 cabins about once per month. Which doesn't seem like a lot but certainly is inefficient.
I was thinking you had a way of auto responding to a specific message?
They go way beyond that. Airbnb automatically generate 4 backup access codes if an issue is detected with the lock before a guest’s arrival, and share the backup code with the guest. So technically hosts don’t need to do anything about it after setting it properly.
A lot of people assume AI is mainly useful for reactive tasks like answering questions, but it’s actually far more powerful when used proactively—preventing problems before they happen.
If a guest is unable to access the property due to user error, many smart lock systems can track incorrect code entries and share that data with Airbnb, helping clarify the situation and streamline the conflict resolution process.
This smart lock update was one of Airbnb's biggest push in 2025. I see they are relying more and more on this feature. AI and smart features are not an option. Real estate has been historically lagging industry in tech but STR is at the front line tech industry. You can't run STR with the real estate mindset. The gap will only get bigger.
Interesting! The one time a guest was locked out due to the smart lock, airbnb had the backup entry details to a lockbox and they had to call me at 1 am in order to get permission to provide them with the code. Even though it was set up correctly in airbnb.
Do you have a problem with this system draining your lock batteries? We were having to constantly change ours out after we connected them to airbnb.
To your original post -- what AI system are you using to handle most guest interactions?
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
@Laura Winters Yes I had this for 6 months then removed it all. Airbnb doesn't have an AI message that auto responds to a guest message saying "im locked out" they actually have to call airbnb, then airbnb calls me. Even though airbnb has the backup lock details. Which defeats the purpose of providing the backup lock info.. I still have to have my phone on in the middle of the night to get airbnbs call.
The auto change of door codes drain the locks batteries. So we were changing batteries on 20 cabins about once per month. Which doesn't seem like a lot but certainly is inefficient.
I was thinking you had a way of auto responding to a specific message?
They go way beyond that. Airbnb automatically generate 4 backup access codes if an issue is detected with the lock before a guest’s arrival, and share the backup code with the guest. So technically hosts don’t need to do anything about it after setting it properly.
A lot of people assume AI is mainly useful for reactive tasks like answering questions, but it’s actually far more powerful when used proactively—preventing problems before they happen.
If a guest is unable to access the property due to user error, many smart lock systems can track incorrect code entries and share that data with Airbnb, helping clarify the situation and streamline the conflict resolution process.
This smart lock update was one of Airbnb's biggest push in 2025. I see they are relying more and more on this feature. AI and smart features are not an option. Real estate has been historically lagging industry in tech but STR is at the front line tech industry. You can't run STR with the real estate mindset. The gap will only get bigger.
Interesting! The one time a guest was locked out due to the smart lock, airbnb had the backup entry details to a lockbox and they had to call me at 1 am in order to get permission to provide them with the code. Even though it was set up correctly in airbnb.
Do you have a problem with this system draining your lock batteries? We were having to constantly change ours out after we connected them to airbnb.
To your original post -- what AI system are you using to handle most guest interactions?
Battery drain is usually caused by cold weather or Chinese low-quality batteries. Batteries naturally lose power in cold temperatures, so that’s often the main factor if you don’t have a storm door. The amount of power used for updating door codes is comparable to tapping a button on your phone. Your battery doesn’t drain from it.
I also use AI to filter messages before sending them and writing review responses, which saves a significant amount of time. It also give me suggestions for handling different situations.
Also if Airbnb is calling you at 1 AM, you can ask them to add a note to your account requesting no late-night calls and to communicate only through email or messages instead. Hope this helps 😄
Does this AI feature you speak of answer question questions in an instant message? For example if they're locked out in the middle of the night will it send the back up entry details? @Laura Winters
@Laura Winters Yes I had this for 6 months then removed it all. Airbnb doesn't have an AI message that auto responds to a guest message saying "im locked out" they actually have to call airbnb, then airbnb calls me. Even though airbnb has the backup lock details. Which defeats the purpose of providing the backup lock info.. I still have to have my phone on in the middle of the night to get airbnbs call.
The auto change of door codes drain the locks batteries. So we were changing batteries on 20 cabins about once per month. Which doesn't seem like a lot but certainly is inefficient.
I was thinking you had a way of auto responding to a specific message?
They go way beyond that. Airbnb automatically generate 4 backup access codes if an issue is detected with the lock before a guest’s arrival, and share the backup code with the guest. So technically hosts don’t need to do anything about it after setting it properly.
A lot of people assume AI is mainly useful for reactive tasks like answering questions, but it’s actually far more powerful when used proactively—preventing problems before they happen.
If a guest is unable to access the property due to user error, many smart lock systems can track incorrect code entries and share that data with Airbnb, helping clarify the situation and streamline the conflict resolution process.
This smart lock update was one of Airbnb's biggest push in 2025. I see they are relying more and more on this feature. AI and smart features are not an option. Real estate has been historically lagging industry in tech but STR is at the front line tech industry. You can't run STR with the real estate mindset. The gap will only get bigger.
Interesting! The one time a guest was locked out due to the smart lock, airbnb had the backup entry details to a lockbox and they had to call me at 1 am in order to get permission to provide them with the code. Even though it was set up correctly in airbnb.
Do you have a problem with this system draining your lock batteries? We were having to constantly change ours out after we connected them to airbnb.
To your original post -- what AI system are you using to handle most guest interactions?
Battery drain is usually caused by cold weather or Chinese low-quality batteries. Batteries naturally lose power in cold temperatures, so that’s often the main factor if you don’t have a storm door. The amount of power used for updating door codes is comparable to tapping a button on your phone. Your battery doesn’t drain from it.
I also use AI to filter messages before sending them and writing review responses, which saves a significant amount of time. It also give me suggestions for handling different situations.
Also if Airbnb is calling you at 1 AM, you can ask them to add a note to your account requesting no late-night calls and to communicate only through email or messages instead. Hope this helps 😄
Yes I know cold weather does it too. But it's beyond that. We went from changing batteries once every 6 months to once every month or so using premium batteries after connecting to airbnb since it's constantly checking the connection between the lock. My experience, maybe not yours.
You still haven't stated what AI program you're using?
Interesting and I'm sure extremely helpful but unless host wasn't responding in a timely or accurate fashion I'm not sure how causation vs correlation for improved ratings could be discerned. Impressive occupancy and ratings regardless!
Interesting and I'm sure extremely helpful but unless host wasn't responding in a timely or accurate fashion I'm not sure how causation vs correlation for improved ratings could be discerned. Impressive occupancy and ratings regardless!
AI is extremely effective at understanding guest emotions and solving problems. You can simply ask, “This is what the guest is requesting. Can you give me three ways to handle this like a five star hotel would, while still protecting my margins?” No emotion or ego. Only solutions and better than 90% of property managers.
That is good news to hear for you!! Has the messaging been spot on with regard to it feeling smooth and normal or does some it feel "canned"? Just curious. IME - Everything you are doing by touching clients will help your reviews and esp. return renters. I am finding that if we give some of these AI tools a shot they are not only good but they learn and pivot to improve their offering.
You can’t really tell anymore whether something was written by a human or AI. If it feels too formal or sounds overly AI-generated, just ask it to make it more friendly or to focus on what matters most to you. It can easily give you dozens of variations until it feels just right.
For example, everything I’ve written here, both the post and the replies, has actually been polished by AI to share with you all. 😉