You might already know Sammy — he’s one of the founders and the voice behind the podcast Le Triplex, dedicated to short-term rentals. But that’s only part of his story.

Sammy is also an entrepreneur with several marketing ventures built around vacation rentals. Since 2018, he’s been managing five properties using Smoobu — a solution that’s become essential to his day-to-day operations.

Today, we’re meeting Sammy to learn about his journey, including the challenges he’s faced and overcome, his unique vision of hospitality, and his advice for anyone thinking of starting in vacation rentals.

Let’s dive in and discover how passion, perseverance, and the right tools can make hosting a rewarding experience!

From Real Estate Training to a First Studio

Fresh out of university, Sammy quickly developed an interest in real estate together with his partner. During a property investment course, they discovered short-term rentals through a conversation with a guest speaker who was already hosting in their region.

Inspired by the insights from their training — and while searching for their own home — Sammy and his partner bought their first studio near the Futuroscope. That’s where their vacation rental journey began, back in 2016.

The studio, located just steps from the Futuroscope, felt like a natural choice. It met the growing demand for alternatives to hotels, offering everything guests needed for a comfortable stay. With a small kitchen area, a warm atmosphere, and a personal touch, it quickly stood out for its simplicity and thoughtful service.

Manual Management Has Its Limits

Initially, managing their first studio was a completely manual process. Sammy and his partner handled everything themselves — from cleaning during their lunch breaks to managing bookings directly on the platforms. It worked for a while, but they soon reached the limits of this approach, mainly when guests stayed only one or two nights or when they started thinking about growing their property portfolio.

Their first experience with vacation rentals was a success, and it didn’t take long before they wanted to invest in a second property. Before buying their next apartment in 2017, it became clear that they needed a more structured approach. Managing multiple listings across several platforms without the risk of double bookings — and coordinating cleanings through dedicated teams — required better organization and automation.

Automation with Smoobu: A Catalyst for Growth

In 2017, Sammy turned to YouTube to find ways to make his vacation rental business more professional — and that’s where he discovered the concept of a Channel Manager. After trying another software that caused multiple technical issues, he came across Smoobu. It quickly proved to be a reliable and easy-to-use solution, helping him automatically sync bookings across several platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and direct reservations.

Today, Sammy manages all five of his properties through Smoobu, saving valuable time while keeping his operations organized and efficient.

Key Smoobu Features Sammy Relies On Most

Among Smoobu’s many tools, Sammy highlights a few that have made the most significant difference in managing his vacation rentals efficiently and professionally:

• Automatic calendar synchronization — to avoid double bookings and keep all platforms updated without any manual effort.
• Online Guest Guide — a simple way to share all the essential details guests need before arrival, helping create a smoother and more personalized experience.
• Automated and personalized guest communication — from booking confirmations to thank-you messages, ensuring guests stay informed at every stage of their stay.
• Smoobu Booking Engine connects directly to its own website, making it easy to manage direct bookings.

He also makes the most of Smoobu’s integrations with:

• PriceLabs for dynamic pricing management.
• SMSFactor to send automated text messages, including links to the Guest Guide.
• Stripe for secure online payments.

These Smoobu features have helped Sammy save valuable time, enhance the guest experience in an increasingly competitive market, and optimize the day-to-day management of his bookings.

But that’s not all! Sammy also shared that he uses Smoobu’s native mobile app every single day. As he puts it, “Smoobu is the most used app on my phone.”

Hours Saved Every Week with Smoobu

Using Smoobu has allowed Sammy to free himself from repetitive, time-consuming tasks through the automation of booking synchronization, guest communication, and price management.

In short, Smoobu has added real value to his business by making property management simpler, smoother, and far more efficient.

Smoobu Empowers Seamless Collaboration

Smoobu makes teamwork effortless. Sammy can provide his cleaning staff with tailored access to booking calendars, ensuring they only see the information necessary for their tasks.

With the Smoobu mobile app on their phones, his team always knows about upcoming check-ins and check-outs, allowing them to work independently and stay organized. This gives Sammy peace of mind, knowing that everything runs smoothly and efficiently behind the scenes.

Responsiveness and a Personalized Experience That Stand Out

For Sammy, responsiveness is key. He takes pride in replying to his guests quickly, whether by text message or phone call, which consistently leads to positive feedback and memorable stays.

Even though Sammy offers self-check-in for his guests, he never forgets the human side of hospitality. He stays in touch by text message or phone call to make sure arrivals go smoothly, and whenever guests need him, he’s never far away.

The Guest at the Heart of the Experience

Sammy's embrace of creativity has helped him strengthen the guest experience over time. His apartments have gradually become unique experiences in themselves, from a playful Lego or Pac-Man universe that delights children and adults alike, to a cozy space inspired by the four seasons, designed to bring calm and comfort.

These themed properties are not only more profitable because they can be offered at a higher rate, but they also create a “wow” effect that guests remember.

As Sammy shares: “People often tell me, ‘The kids will love it, what a great surprise.’” When emotion and memorable moments come together, price becomes secondary. Guests are willing to pay more if every detail feels just right. For Sammy, standing out means always adding value to every stay.

The Little Touches That Make a Big Difference

Sammy’s secret touch? Whenever he receives an important booking, he prepares a small welcome basket with snacks and little gifts for the children. “It always makes people happy,” says Sammy.

Sammy’s attention to detail also shines through in his platform ratings. On Booking.com, he holds an impressive score of 9.2. On Airbnb, his Pac-Man apartment has earned both Superhost status and the “Guest Favorite” badge, with an outstanding 4.79 out of 5 rating.

Marketing That Supports His Hosting Business

With a background in Communication, Sammy understands how Marketing works and how to make the most of it.

To begin with, he created a simple brand identity for his vacation rentals: FUTUROSTUDIO. “Futuro” highlights the proximity to the Futuroscope Park, while “Studio” refers directly to his rental spaces. On his Airbnb and Booking.com listings, the two leading platforms where his properties are featured, he showcases his brand name.“People see a brand name, sometimes search for it on Google, and find my direct booking website,” explains Sammy.

In addition to his listings on the major platforms, Sammy also runs his own direct booking website, offering guests an alternative way to book and reducing reliance on third-party sites. His website integrates the Smoobu Booking Engine to handle direct reservations seamlessly.

To further optimize his site, Sammy occasionally updates his pages with keywords related to his region and his hosting activity. This approach helps him strengthen his SEO and attract new guests through organic search.

Sammy’s Advice for Beginners: Get Professional from the Start

With nearly ten years of experience in vacation rentals, Sammy encourages new hosts to take a professional approach from day one. His main advice is to invest in the right tools, such as Smoobu, to avoid the stress and mistakes that come with manual management.

For Sammy, task automation is essential. It helps hosts stand out from the competition, respond quickly to guests, and maintain a high-quality experience every time.

"My mantra is the same as in our podcast Le Triplex: ‘Get professional or get left behind’.

Today, you must adopt a professional approach to stand out from the competition. Otherwise, this activity can quickly become time-consuming and take over your

The Final Word

With five vacation rentals already in his portfolio and a business that continues to grow, Sammy is now planning to add another property, one we are already eager to discover. His ongoing focus on improving his processes with Smoobu, combined with his commitment to creating memorable guest experiences, is the key to his long-term success.