Overnight stays and interior design advice

BEN Murphy is the owner of Hosting Holidays in Bell Street, Henley, which celebrates its seventh anniversary in October. He lives in the town centre and, outside of work, he enjoys cooking, staying active and hiking in the Chilterns.

Describe your business

We manage high-quality overnight stays on behalf of property owners and businesses. Over the years, we’ve managed everything from large houses and apartments to wedding accommodation, hotels, shepherds’ huts, cabins and boats. We often assist our clients with interior design, furnishing and full maintenance fit-outs.

How many people does it employ?

Three full-time staff, three full-time contractors, 12 cleaning contractors and one office dog.

What did you do before starting this business?

I had a career in B2B construction sales but became a landlord and began hosting on Airbnb myself. It was at that point I saw the potential, loved the process and decided to turn it into a business. That hands-on experience, including full fit-out and furnishing, led me to create my own agency.

When did you start your business?

October 2018 officially but I have been managing stays for more than 10 years.

What was your objective?

To create my own destiny. Building something of my own while helping property owners maximise their income and delivering fantastic, unique experiences to guests. Being able to later work alongside my mum on a daily basis was an added bonus.

Who influenced you to set up your own business?

My childhood friend Christian, who now has a global agency, was a big inspiration for me to get into the exciting world of overnight stays and we still work closely today.

Do you have a mentor or role model?

Due to the nature of the business, I’ve had the chance to spend time with a high number of successful individuals, several of whom have become role models or informal mentors over the years. I’ve also learned a great deal from the people we work with.

What would you do differently if starting again?

I’d spend more time early on building out systems and processes — not just focusing on the fun, creative parts. It’s the behind-the-scenes systems and numbers work that really sets you up for long-term success.

How is your business doing?

We are on target to have our best year to date, which is encouraging as last year was challenging.

Do you compare on a regular basis?

We track and compare all of our key numbers weekly — looking at how the current month and year are performing compared to last year and the wider market. Our pricing, however, is managed and adjusted daily to stay competitive and maximise returns.

How do you market your business?

We market our properties/listings across multiple channels — including Airbnb, other major online travel agencies and our own direct booking website. We also focus heavily on pricing strategy, photography and guest experience to ensure each listing performs at its best.

What’s the best thing about running your own business?

The people I meet, working with my fantastic team every day and seeing projects through from concept to happy guests. And being my own boss.

What’s the most challenging aspect?

We’re effectively working with two sets of clients — property owners and guests — both with naturally high expectations. Balancing the needs of both can be challenging, especially when unexpected issues arise.

Where is your business headed?

Internationally — with a bit of luck.

How important are online sales?

Online bookings are absolutely vital. They’re the backbone of the business. Equally important is signing new property owners, which is why we focus on daily outreach to grow both sides. It’s all about keeping a steady flow of bookings while expanding our portfolio.

Are you using generative AI to shape your business?

We’re not using it for outreach just yet but we are definitely making use of its benefits to support admin tasks and streamline day-to-day operations. It’s helping us work smarter behind the scenes.

Do you have a five-year plan?

Absolutely, I’m currently working on a number of several large and exciting projects.

How do you have a work-life balance?

Work-life balance isn’t easily won when you’re running a small business in today’s economy, especially in hospitality. But I do make time for the gym regularly and sometimes I even make it to the pub.

Do you set any goals at the start of a new financial year?

Yes, I set goals at the start of each financial year but I don’t just leave them there. I review them daily and weekly and often revise or refine them at key checkpoints like the six-month and three-month marks. Staying flexible is key to staying on track.

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned?

It’s all about the numbers.

What advice would you offer to anybody starting a business?

It’s all about the numbers! Be prepared to work weekends.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made?

Giving my time away for free — a mistake I now try to avoid. In the early days, I underestimated the value of my time and expertise. Setting clear boundaries is essential.

How organised are you?

I would say I am very organised, I live by my calendar.

How are you planning for retirement?

Slowly, but surely.

What’s the secret of your success?

Attention to detail and a relentless willingness to keep going.

What three qualities do you think are most important?

A willingness to adapt, being happy to go the extra mile and strong sales and communication skills.

How do you dress for work each day?

I’m usually either dressed smartly or ready for the gym — not much in between.

What can’t you do without every day?

Coffee, exercise and music.

Do you continue to study?

Yes, absolutely. I’ve taken part in several mentorship courses this year, and reading to learn is one of my daily non-negotiables.

What do you read?

A bit of everything. I often find myself going back to the original Ian Fleming James Bond novels but, outside of fiction, I read a lot of self-improvement and history — anything that teaches me something or gives a new perspective.

Interview by Will Hamilton, intermediary and global marketing consultant, Hamilton Associates