Former FIFA World Cup executive from leeds launches news platform for short-term rentals industry

A property investor and media executive from Leeds has launched a new platform dedicated to sharing valuable free education for investors, hosts, and property managers in the short-term rentals industry.
Michael Crossland
By Michael Crossland
Published 11th Sep 2023, 16:45 BST

Holiday Cottage Handbook (HCH) has been set up by James Varley, 38, who runs a portfolio of short-term lets in Yorkshire. Mr Varley has worked across the media spectrum during his career and spent the last decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

The HCH platform includes an e-book, website, podcast, newsletter, and social media channels. It offers free education to investors, hosts, and property managers, and is designed to be a central hub for people and businesses with a vested interest in the short-term lettings sector. HCH also offers consultancy services for investors and those who wish to grow their portfolios.

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Mr Varley, who recently moved from Doha to South Milford, midway between Leeds and York, said: “Our goal is to build a community for everyone interested in the short-term rentals sector – from investors to property managers, listing platforms to lenders, and mortgage brokers to tech platforms, plus all the other businesses dedicated to the industry.

James Varley has spent the last decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.James Varley has spent the last decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.
James Varley has spent the last decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 organising committee.

“We will build the community by sharing valuable free education, starting with our e-book. In addition, we will share information, tips, and trends from our website, weekly newsletter, podcast series, and social media channels.”

Father-of-two Mr Varley launched HCH after his own experience of investing in holiday rentals.

He saidL “When I started investing in property, I found copious amounts of information about buy to let investing but nothing very structured about the short-term rentals sector. The growth of the industry – not to mention the amount of interest in our platform – suggests there is a gap in the market for education, tips, analysis, and insight. It’s a gap we hope to fill as we aim to grow in tandem with the industry itself.”

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The short-term lettings industry contributed £27.7 billion to UK GDP in 2021, sustained more than 500,000 jobs. Over recent years, the sector has exploded thanks to a range of factors, including government legislation, the rise in popularity of online travel agencies like Airbnb and Booking.com, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which encouraged many people to take staycations.

Related topics:YorkshireYorkGDPAirbnbCovid-19