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In the fast-evolving vacation rental market, technology isn’t just a helpful tool—it’s the foundation of sustainable growth, streamlined operations, and superior guest experiences. For Host Wise, one of Portugal’s leading short-term rental operators, embracing a tech-centric approach was crucial in evolving from a small startup to a nationwide leader.
At Hostify, we’re proud to empower ambitious companies like Host Wise with the automation, flexibility, and integrations they need to scale efficiently. This case study highlights how our platform enabled Host Wise to optimize their business, increase direct bookings, and unlock long-term profitability.
The Beginnings: Turning a Market Trend into a Scalable Business
Host Wise was founded in 2016 by Renato and Felipe—two friends who identified an opportunity in the rising wave of tourism in Porto, Portugal, and the increasing popularity of Airbnb. What began with a few sublet apartments soon evolved into a full-fledged vacation rental management company.
Today, Host Wise:
- Manages 500+ properties across 30+ cities in Portugal
- Operates primarily in Porto (85%) and the Algarve (10%)
- Has a team of 50 employees
- Closed 2024 with nearly €10 million in revenue
- Grows consistently at 50% year-over-year
Despite this rapid expansion, their mission has remained unchanged: helping property owners maximize ROI and ensuring guests enjoy memorable, well-managed stays.
But as the company grew, so did the complexity of their operations—and with it, the need for a Property Management System that could keep up.
The Challenge: Outgrowing Legacy Tools
Host Wise had outgrown its previous PMS solutions. While functional early on, these systems began to create operational bottlenecks as the business matured.
Some key pain points included:
- Limited API functionality that hindered automation and integrations
- No flexible booking engine for direct reservations
- Manual workflows for tasks like SEF reporting and tourist tax submission
- Clunky interfaces that slowed down cross-department collaboration
- Slow support response times that affected daily operations
With a strong internal IT team and a culture rooted in experimentation, Host Wise needed more than just a software provider—they needed a true tech partner.
Why Host Wise Chose Hostify
What set Hostify apart was not just the feature set—it was the openness to customization, API-first architecture, and a hands-on approach to customer success.
“We’re a technology-driven company. We needed a partner that would let us build, test, and customize on top of their platform. Hostify was the only one willing—and capable—of doing that.” Diogo Cardoso, Chief Revenue Officer at Host Wise.
When evaluating Hostify, Host Wise was particularly drawn to:
- Customizable direct booking website that increased brand control
- Built-in automation for critical tasks like SEF data collection
- A clean, user-friendly interface that teams could adopt quickly
- Personalized onboarding and real-time IT support
- Full integration capabilities across their tool stack
Onboarding Experience: Migrating 450+ Properties in 24 Hours
A common pain point in switching PMS solutions is the onboarding process—but for Host Wise, it was unexpectedly smooth.
Hostify provided a dedicated account manager and direct access to its IT team, assigning 5–6 resources to assist with the migration. The result? A complete transition of over 450 properties in less than 24 hours.
This hands-on support ensured that Host Wise’s operations continued uninterrupted—and immediately began benefiting from new features and integrations.
Hostify in Action: Features That Delivered Real Results
After migrating to Hostify, Host Wise began leveraging features that not only simplified operations, but also generated measurable business impact.
A Branded Direct Booking Engine
Host Wise launched a fully branded direct booking website, tailored to their unique needs and portfolio. The result? Increased guest trust, higher conversion rates, and a growing share of direct reservations.
“We finally had full control of the guest journey—from discovery to checkout.”
Smart Property Clustering
Host Wise took advantage of Hostify’s property clustering feature, which groups similar units under a unified listing or strategy. This innovation helped them increase the Average Daily Rate (ADR) by 5%, as clusters offered guests more flexible options while allowing revenue managers to apply optimized pricing logic across grouped properties. This approach reduced availability gaps, improved calendar efficiency, and ultimately maximized revenue potential.
“Clustering turned out to be a powerful pricing tool. It gave us scale in how we manage rates, and at the same time, improved the visibility of high-performing units.”
SEF Data Automation and Marketing Enablement
Hostify’s automation of SEF data collection not only ensured compliance but eliminated manual entry and reduced errors. The structured data also became a valuable asset for targeted email campaigns and guest re-engagement efforts.
“What started as a compliance solution became a marketing enabler.”
Multi-Channel Distribution with Streamlined OTA Integrations
Expanding to new booking channels often means more complexity—but with Hostify’s integrated channel manager, Host Wise easily connects to additional OTAs without increasing operational workload. The seamless, real-time sync between calendars, rates, and availability across platforms allowed them to diversify their sales channels and reduce the risk of overbooking or miscommunication.
“Adding more OTAs used to mean more work. With Hostify, it’s the opposite—every new channel is a growth lever, not a burden.”
Full Zendesk Integration via Unlimited API Access
Communication is the heartbeat of guest experience. Thanks to Hostify’s open, fast, and unlimited API, Host Wise fully integrated their guest messaging system into Zendesk, their existing ticketing and customer support platform. This integration enabled instant access to guest data, streamlined responses, and ensured nothing fell through the cracks—leading to faster support resolution and more personalized guest care.
“Having unrestricted API access means we’re never limited by the system. We connect what we need, when we need it—and it works.”
Results & Business Impact
Since adopting Hostify, Host Wise has achieved:
- A significant increase in direct bookings, reducing OTA dependency
- A 5% rise in ADR, driven by property clustering and smarter pricing
- Full integration of guest support into Zendesk, improving resolution time
- Automated processes across operations, freeing up internal resources for growth initiatives
“Knowing everything connects and flows properly means we can focus on growth—not system limitations.”
Looking Ahead: Building the Future of Property Management
Host Wise is now building the future of property management through AI and full-stack automation. With Hostify as their central data hub, they’re already developing:
- AI-powered guest assistants and itinerary planners
- Predictive maintenance and issue reporting
- Real-time property performance analytics
- End-to-end automation of operational workflows
“Hostify is the engine that connects our entire tech stack. It’s what lets us scale with confidence and speed.”
Advice for Other Property Managers
“Don’t fear the switch. We moved hundreds of properties in a single day, and haven’t looked back. Hostify gives you the flexibility and tools to grow—without the usual headaches.”
At Hostify, we’re committed to supporting ambitious rental managers at every stage of growth. Whether you manage 5 properties or 500, we provide the automation, integrations, and human support to take your business to the next level.
If you’re ready to streamline your operations, increase your bookings, and take your short-term rental business to the next level, Hostify is built to grow with you.👉 Book a Free Demo and let us show you how Hostify can power your next stage of growth. No pressure—just a conversation with someone who understands your business.
