Host Interview: How to Triple Your Vacation Home Bookings
Meet host Tommaso, one of our 2020 Plum Award winners.
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Plum Guide host Tommaso works in the film industry and splits his time between London, Los Angeles and hometown, Milan. Together with his brother he manages several properties in the UK, two of which won our coveted gold award in 2020. Here, he tells us what winning the award and listing with Plum has unlocked for him, and how his experience with us compares to other rental platforms.
Do you know of an amazing home that belongs in our collection of the world's best stays? Nominate a home here.
Tommaso and Italo, hosts of Plum Guide home Sense & Sensibility
Plum Guide: Hi Tommaso, how did you first hear about us?
Tommaso: To be completely honest, I hadn't heard of Plum Guide before one of your team –a guy called Augustin– sent me a message on LinkedIn. He said my home had been nominated for one of your awards...I was excited.
PG: If you hadn't heard of Plum, what convinced you to message back?
Tommaso: I'm pretty sure I Googled 'Plum Guide' right away. The first thing I clicked on was a New York Times article, it was an impressive review. Then I visited your site. I could see the calibre of the properties...top end. I loved the curated, hand-picked feel.
The library in Sense & Sensibility
PG: And did you have any reservations?
Tommaso: I thought you might be less effective in terms of reservations. I hadn't heard of you so I assumed you weren't very well known. It didn't put me off.
PG: Where else do you list your properties?
Tommaso: Airbnb and Booking.com. I've listed with Airbnb since November 2016 and it's been effective. Booking for just over a year now and not as effective...it's too mass market for my properties.
Flora & Fauna, Plum Guide home in Suffolk
PG: And how has the Plum experience compared?
Tommaso: Plum has been spectacular. The guests have been high-end, they're looking for high-end properties so it really works. I've had five bookings out of six requests since I listed with Plum three months ago. My conversion rate from request to reservation is probably 20% on Airbnb to give you some idea.
PG: Any other benefits?
Tommaso: I've wasted absolutely no time with reservations. Your concierge team saves us so much time...I'd say 70% of my time is freed up compared to other platforms. They also really put me at ease because I know there's always a human at the end of the phone to help me, any time.
'Flora & Fauna', Suffolk
PG: Would you recommend other hosts to try Plum? If so, why?
Tommaso: 200%. Plum is easily the most exciting platform I've listed with. I love that you guys come up with the names and descriptions and give me feedback on how to improve...and the newsletters. Honestly every person has been fantastic, really...and as a guest I don't book through anything else now, only Plum.
Do you know of an exceptional home that deserves the Plum Award? You can nominate a home here.
