In this power-packed episode, Heather Bayer is joined once again by vacation rental marketing guru Mark Simpson of Boostly. Mark returns for his fifth appearance on the podcast - and this time, he's bringing an urgent message for vacation rental professionals across North America: The FIFA World Cup 2026 doesn’t start in June... it starts on December 5, 2025.

That’s the date the match draws are announced, and it’s also when the first wave of global bookings will begin.

If you're located in or near any of the 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, this episode is your 48-hour warning to update your pricing, minimum stays, and booking policies before fans (and corporates!) snatch up your nights at undervalued rates.

🧠 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why December 5, 2025 is a make-or-break date for revenue management
  
  
• How the World Cup compares to Taylor Swift on steroids (yes, really!)
  
  
• Specific cities and dates to prioritize in your dynamic pricing strategy
  
  
• Why the corporate market - broadcasters, sponsors, logistics teams - is an untapped goldmine
  
  
• The power of one proactive phone call to fully book your portfolio
  
  
• Tips for navigating new inventory flooding the market (student dorms, pop-ups, and more)
  
  
• How much to raise your rates: Mark shares back-of-napkin pricing guidance from industry experts
  
  

🛠️ Action Steps You Can Take Today:

1. Audit your listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, and your PMS for the June-July 2026 window.
   
   
2. Use pricing tools like PriceLabs or Beyond to increase your rates by 300-700%.
   
   
3. Adjust your minimum stay rules to align with game days and travel patterns.
   
   
4. Check email domains of current bookings for corporate opportunities (e.g., look out for emails from the BBC or ESPN).
   
   
5. Reach out to corporate guests proactively - if they’re coming for the World Cup, ask if their team needs more accommodations.
   
   
6. Visit FIFA’s website and the AirDNA World Cup dashboard to get match dates and city breakdowns.
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🌎 Cities Hosting FIFA 2026:

Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey.

If you're within a 1–3 hour drive of any of these cities, this episode is especially important for you.
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🧩 Not Just for Hosts in Host Cities

Even if you're not in a World Cup city, Mark explains how nearby regions will benefit from overflow, especially from traveling fans, support staff, and tourists who decide to explore beyond the stadiums, as well as city residents looking to escape the crowds.
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💬 Memorable Quote:

"Taylor Swift boosted local economies wherever she went. The World Cup is Taylor Swift times ten." – Mark Simpson
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📣 Connect with Mark Simpson:

• Website: boostly.co.uk
  
  
• Podcast: The Boostly Podcast
  
  
• Instagram: @boostlyuk
  
  
• LinkedIn: Mark Simpson
  
  

📢 Call to Action:

Loved this episode? Don’t forget to share it with your network, especially if you know someone in a FIFA 2026 host city. And make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the follow-up episodes on World Cup revenue strategies and other timely topics.

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‍📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program

This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community - an exclusive space for short-term rental pros who want deeper conversations, smarter systems, and more collaborative learning.

And if you're curious about using AI in your business - whether it's for guest communication, operations, or even marketing - check out our AI Ambassador Program. It's designed to help you learn, lead, and get hands-on with the tools shaping the future of hospitality.

🌐 Learn more and join us at VacationRentalFormula.com/AI

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