As we enter a new year, my reflections on the last are less about performance metrics and more about people. The people we work with, the people we welcome, and the values that quietly shape the way Unique Homestays operates day to day.
There wasn’t radical reinvention in 2025, but a deepening of intent. Many of the shifts we’ve experienced have been gradual, organic responses to how our team and our guests are choosing to live and work – and how hospitality, at its best, remains a deeply human exchange.
Giving together
photo credit: Banung Ou for lendwithcare
Supporting charitable causes has always been part of our DNA. Rather than charity being something decided at the top, the Unique Homestays team play an active role – from selecting our organisation for 2025, Children's Hospice South West, to taking part in fundraising initiatives throughout the year. That shared sense of purpose has been incredibly powerful.
We also introduced the option for guests to contribute at the point of booking to Lendwithcare, a programme created by CARE International that provides small, sustainable microloans to entrepreneurs in low-income countries. I was a mother to three young children when I founded Unique Homestays, and a £500 loan from my mother had a profound impact.
It’s a small addition, but one that allows our community to feel part of something broader than a single stay. The uplift in both engagement and impact has been tangible, and it’s something we’ll continue to build on. Since our activations this summer, we’ve raised over £7,000 for our causes.
A practical balance
The conversation around hybrid working continues to evolve, and so has our approach. There’s undeniable value in being together in the office. Shared context, spontaneous conversations, an awareness of the Unique Homestays brand and an understanding of the big picture – these things don’t always translate when teams are entirely remote.
At the same time, our priority has always been employing the right people for the role. If that means flexibility in location or working patterns, we’ve learned that adaptability enables us to retain great talent.
Reflecting how guests live
Lantern House, Oxfordshire
One of the most noticeable shifts in guest behaviour over the last few years has been flexibility. Historically (and still commonplace for short-term rentals), arrival and departure days have been rigid: mostly Fridays and Mondays. In 2025, many of our homes moved to any-day arrivals, meaning guests can opt for a private home when they may have traditionally stayed in a boutique hotel for a shorter break.
We’ve seen a rise in Monday-to-Friday stays, where guests enjoy four nights for the equivalent tariff of a three-night weekend. We’ve also seen an increase in last-minute bookings – often driven by spontaneous decisions around unexpected good weather.
We now actively prompt guests to extend their stay while they’re with us, and the uptake has been encouraging. It speaks to something simple but important: when people feel comfortable, unhurried and well looked after, they want to stay longer.
The human touch
While online bookings remain strong, one of the most rewarding developments this year has been the growth of Live Chat on our website and phone enquiries.
Being able to talk to our customers online, in real time, has made a significant difference – particularly outside standard office hours. Guests value the reassurance of human interaction, even when booking online. In fact, almost a quarter of our guests have spoken with our team using Live Chat this year. It’s personal and responsive, and it also feels aligned with the experience they expect from us.
Our bookings team has also reported spending more time on each phone enquiry, reflecting a shift toward a more concierge-style service. Discerning guests want to talk through not just the property, but how they’ll experience it – the locality, the rhythm of their stay, what might make it truly special.
It’s a full-circle moment; when I started the business enquiries were fewer, conversations deeper. We knew our guests, their intentions, their celebrations. As online booking grew, the details we could provide about our homes on our website gave guests enough confidence to book independently.
As more large, high-value homes have joined our collection, guests quite rightly want to dig deeper before committing. Reintroducing that level of personal connection feels like a return to our roots.
Being there
Nightjar, Gloucestershire
Team visits to properties have always been important. Put simply, there’s no substitute for experiencing a home firsthand: walking the rooms, meeting the owners, understanding how they use the space, who it’s best suited for, what truly makes it unique. This year we have expanded our visits across even more departments.
These visits enable the whole team, from marketing to property consultants and homestay specialists, to speak with confidence and authenticity. Being able to describe the view of the coastline, a sense of light or the way bespoke, handcrafted textiles and wallpapers make you feel – because you’ve stood there yourself – is invaluable.
We’ve also leaned into capturing informal, in-property photography and video, taken by the team. This perspective offers a different kind of honesty, helping guests to imagine themselves there rather than presenting a polished ideal.
Unique Homestays has always been about people: our team, our homeowners, our guests. In 2025, that human approach strengthened.
As we transition into 2026, I’m confident not because we’re chasing change, but because we’re grounded in who we are.
Feeling inspired? Explore our collection of escapes designed to connect you to the people and things that matter most.
