<p>In this episode, we sit down with Gil, the founder and CEO of CraftedStays, as he shares his inspiring journey from a tech career to the short-term rental industry. Gil talks about his transition from a secure W2 job to building a thriving hospitality business with properties in The Great Smoky Mountains and Branson. He dives into the importance of diversifying beyond Airbnb, the creation of his direct booking platform, and how CraftedStays empowers hosts to succeed with direct bookings. </p><p> </p><p>Gil also discusses key strategies for effective email marketing, choosing the right property management system, and the partnerships that have propelled CraftedStays forward, including collaborations with Hospitable, Guesty, Hostaway, OwnerRez, and Hostfully. He opens up about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, emphasizing work-life balance and the continuous learning that has shaped his success. Plus, don’t miss his insights from his own podcast, Direct Booking Simplified , where he explores the world of short-term rentals and direct booking tactics with industry experts.</p><p><br /> New episode every Wednesday!<br /> <br />Connect with Gil Chan!<br /> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegilbertchan/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@thegilbertchan</a><br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/craftedstays/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@craftedstays </a></p><p><a href="https://craftedstays.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://craftedstays.co/</a></p><p> </p><p><b><em>#TheBigBreakShow #GilChan<br /></em></b><br />  For Audio Podcast, Subscribe and Listen to The Big Break Show HERE:</p><ul><li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2keReffJfZp0YnBwQ0lHXz?si=2364748d9fcc4adb" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Spotify</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-break-show/id1598241366" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Apple</a></li></ul><p>Connect with Rafa Loza on Social Media:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsrafaloza/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram </a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/itsrafaloza" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Facebook</a></li></ul><p>If you’re interested in Rafa’s Course, check the link to his STR Academy Application: </p><ul><li><a href="https://cursedholdings.clickfunnels.com/strideacademy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Stride Academy</a></li></ul><p> </p><p>Connect with Dan Tollens!</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dan_tollens/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@coastalchronicles8302/featured" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Youtube</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cassieanddantollens" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Facebook</a></li><li><a href="https://www.danandcassietollens.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">danandcassietollens.com</a></li></ul>