In this solo episode, Heather Bayer returns to the mic for an approachable explanation of the transformative power of AI in short-term rental operations. With over 600 episodes under her belt, Heather has seen just about every trend in this space - but few as game-changing as this.

Whether you're a solo host or run a multi-property management company, you’ve likely heard about ChatGPT, Claude, and AI tools - but how do you actually put them to work?

This episode delivers five actionable ways to get started with AI right now, even if you're not a techie. It’s practical, encouraging, and rooted in real use cases with everything from guest messaging to building your internal SOPs, and even creating your own AI team member.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to begin, this is your moment to step confidently into the future of STR operations.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Why “AI First” is a Game-Changer Mindset
Heather shares how simply asking “How could AI help with this?” before starting any task rewires your workflow, lightens your load, and boosts creativity. Learn how she trains herself (literally with sticky notes!) to start tasks by prompting ChatGPT - even for something as basic as an email.

2. Five AI Use Cases You Can Implement Today
No coding, no complex setup. Just easy wins that can save you hours each week:

• Guest Messaging Assistant: Create templated, on-brand replies for FAQs and mid-stay communication.
  
  
• Review Response Helper: Analyze past reviews and draft kind, professional responses.
  
  
• Owner Outreach Assistant: Draft persuasive pitch emails, outreach copy, and onboarding flows.
  
  
• Social Media Content Creator: Repurpose your existing content (like podcast transcripts!) into fresh post ideas.
  
  
• Listing Optimization Coach: Improve your Airbnb or VRBO descriptions with more engaging headlines and calls to action.
  
  

3. Building Your AI-Ready Knowledge Base
Before AI can truly work for you, it needs to understand your business. Heather walks through how to create a business knowledge base - even using voice dictation on your phone. She shares examples of what to include: SOPs, guest messaging styles, brand tone, audience details, and more.

4. Custom GPTs vs. Claude Projects—What’s the Difference?
Heather breaks down how she uses:

• Custom GPTs in ChatGPT Plus to create role-based assistants (like “Christine,” her guest communication bot)
  
  
• Claude Projects to handle large documents, SOP libraries, and brand voice guides
  
  

5. Why Paying for AI Tools is Worth It
Free AI accounts are great for testing, but real impact comes when you commit. Heather explains the return on investment for upgrading to paid versions of ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity - and why $20–$100/month is often worth far more than hiring another VA.

💡 Big Takeaways

“AI doesn’t replace you. It multiplies you.”
Heather encourages listeners to embrace AI as a partner, not a threat. By offloading repeatable tasks to AI, you free up time for the deeply human work of hosting: building relationships, solving problems, and growing your brand.

“Start with your voice.”
Using ChatGPT's voice feature (formerly “Advanced Voice”), Heather records SOPs, brainstorms content, and even outlines podcast episodes - all while walking her dog. It’s a low-barrier way to begin documenting systems without needing to type a thing.

“You can't outsource hospitality.”
AI is here to support your business - but human connection, empathy, and hospitality remain at the heart of guest experience. Use the tech to amplify your strengths, not replace them.
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🧰 Tools & Resources Mentioned

                                   Tool                                                    Use Case                                                                               Link

ChatGPT Plus                                     Guest messaging, SOP building, custom GPTs                    chat.openai.com

Claude by Anthropic                       Document-heavy work, project folders                                claude.ai

Perplexity AI                                       Fast research and summarization                                         perplexity.ai                          

ClickUp / Notion                               Knowledge base storage                                                       clickup.com / notion.so

AI Voice (ChatGPT mobile)         Dictate SOPs and brainstorm aloud                                      Mobile App (iOS/Android)

Straight Chat AI Community      Heather’s private community for AI-curious STR pros        vacationrentalformula.com/ai
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🧪 Want to Go Deeper?

• Join the Straight Chat AI Community
  A private space for hosts and managers experimenting with AI. Learn together, share tools, and get inspired for just $9/month (for founding members).
  👉 Join here
  
  
• Apply for the AI Ambassador Program
  An 8-week training program for short-term rental pros who want to lead AI adoption inside their business. Become your team’s AI champion with real-world templates and guidance.
  👉 Get more info or email heather@vacationrentalformula.com
  

📣 Heather Recommends

• Podcasts & Newsletters to Stay Sharp
  
  
  
  • AI Explored – Use cases for marketing and systems
    
    
  • Everyday AI – Daily updates on tools and trends
    
    
  • Superhuman Newsletter – Curated AI updates
  • Visit vacationrentalformula.com/ai for links to everything mentioned in this episode
    
    
  • Email Heather directly: heather@vacationrentalformula.com

‍💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Have questions or want to share your AI wins?
Head to the comments on the Show Notes page or send Heather a message on LinkedIn. She’d love to hear from you!

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