June 11, 2025

From FIFA to Host Planet: James Varley’s Journey to Empowering STR Hosts

From FIFA to Host Planet: James Varley’s Journey to Empowering STR Hosts

After a 10-year career at the  FIFA World Cup in Qatar, James Varley found himself stepping into a very different world of short-term rentals. What started as a personal decision to invest in a holiday let quickly revealed something much bigger: a massive gap in education and support for new hosts like him.

In the latest episode of Alex & Annie, James shares how that realization led to the creation of Host Planet, one of the UK’s fastest-growing media platforms for STR professionals.

A Familiar Feeling for Many New Hosts

James didn’t plan to enter the vacation rental industry. While traveling, he booked an Airbnb out of necessity and the experience changed everything. It was more comfortable, more local, and more affordable than a hotel. That single stay sparked his interest in becoming a host himself.

But once he got started, James realized what many hosts still face today: a complete lack of accessible, trustworthy education. Most advice came from scattered Facebook groups, where recommendations often lacked context or credibility.

“If you’d asked me what a PMS or OTA was, I wouldn’t have had a clue,” James admitted on the show.

It was only after discovering tools like dynamic pricing, and realizing how underpriced his listing had been for years, that James fully grasped how much information new hosts weren’t getting.

The Mission Behind Host Planet

Rather than keep those lessons to himself, James decided to build what he wished had existed when he started out. He launched Host Planet to provide practical, expert-led content designed to help hosts and property managers build better businesses with more confidence.

What started as a free eBook has evolved into a full-scale media platform that includes:

  • A podcast featuring founders, operators, and tech leaders
  • Free events and roadshows for hosts and property managers across the UK
  • Content that focuses on clarity

James built the platform with the goal of creating content so useful and well-made that people would be surprised it was free.

Why This Matters to the Industry

This episode resonates strongly with Alex and Annie, who launched their podcast with a similar goal—to bridge the information gap in an industry that can feel overwhelming and exclusive to newcomers.

Together, they dig into:

  • The misconceptions new hosts still have when starting out
  • Why better education is the foundation for long-term success
  • How content, podcasting, and community events can uplift the entire STR ecosystem

As the conversation continues, it becomes clear that tools alone are not enough. Hosts need the knowledge and context to use them in ways that actually move their business forward.

The Bottom Line

Whether you manage one unit or a hundred, this episode is a powerful reminder that clear education, thoughtful conversations, and accessible content are what truly empower STR professionals. Host Planet is helping to fill that gap and helping operators feel less alone in the process.

Watch the episode here: