WelcomeHost's Strategic Leap with Hostaway: From Humble Beginnings to Athenian Leaders

Six years ago, with ambition and a set of apartment keys, Nasos Apostolopoulos saw an opportunity in Athens' vacation rental market and founded WelcomeHost. "I founded WelcomeHost in 2018, seeing it as a promising new venture in Athens. Being unemployed then, I decided to just dive in," he reflects on the company's inception, born of innovation and a nuanced understanding of the complex rental market.

Expanding WelcomeHost in Athens' competitive landscape brought significant challenges, including operational hurdles and system limitations. However, Nasos's pivotal decision to employ Hostaway's software was a game-changer, driving substantial growth.

He highlights, "The commitment and strategic use of Hostaway's software were pivotal for WelcomeHost, spurring significant growth." This strategic move underscored WelcomeHost's standout role in the rental market, with Nasos crediting Hostaway's software as the driving force behind the company's success.

WelcomeHost Bio

• Founded: 2018

• Headquarters: Athens, Greece

• Listings: 106+

• Locations: Primarily Athens and expanded to Kea in 2023

• Employees: 18 full-time team members, including cleaners

• Started with Hostaway: January 2021

Taking WelcomeHost to New Heights

Today, WelcomeHost is a testament to ambition and hard work. What started as an innovative approach to hospitality in a city known for its rich history has flourished into a prominent name in the vacation rental market. 

The company has made significant strides with a robust team and impressive portfolio. Nasos proudly states, "Today, our team has grown to include 18 members, and we manage 106 listings." This expansion is reflected not only in the numbers but in the broad spectrum of services offered, including personalized local tips and comprehensive management services for homeowners. 

Challenges Before Hostaway

The period before integrating Hostaway was marked by direct guest interactions and the limitations of their previous property management system (PMS). Nasos recalls, "Before Hostaway, we were hustling around Athens, personally meeting and greeting our guests. Everything was managed through Guesty For Hosts but as we grew, we quickly found its limitations."

Discovering Hostaway as the Perfect PMS

Realizing the need for a more scalable solution, WelcomeHost embarked on a quest that led them to Hostaway. The transition was driven by the need for a system that could grow with their expanding operations. Nasos explains, "As we started outgrowing our old PMS, we realized we needed something more scalable that could grow with our company and help streamline our processes."

The Transformative Revolution with Hostaway

The decision to switch to Hostaway marked the beginning of a new chapter. Nasos and Panos were drawn to Hostaway's customization and scalability, which promised to revolutionize their operations. 

Panos shares, "Nasos and I are always on the lookout for products that can be tailored to our needs. Hostaway offered such a high level of customization that we were more than happy to make the switch."

Hostaway's Impact on Operations and Guest Satisfaction

Since integrating Hostaway, WelcomeHost has not only seen remarkable growth but also improved efficiency and guest satisfaction. 

As Panos enthusiastically remarks, "We absolutely love the custom fields and automated messages.” 

“We also love the vast Marketplace of Integrations. We are already integrated with PriceLabs for Dynamic Pricing, Tourmie for Digital Guest Guides, and most recently, Besty.AI.

WelcomeHost's Blueprint for Expansion

Aiming for 130 listings by 2024, WelcomeHost is poised for even further expansion. Panos offers advice to others in the industry, stating, "Hostaway is a great tool and you can get lost in the many options it offers initially, but that's the beauty of it. Eventually, you'll be able to make Hostaway do anything you need without any limitations."

The Thriving Alliance between Hostaway and WelcomeHost

Since embracing Hostaway's software in January 2021, WelcomeHost has revolutionized its operations, dramatically enhancing guest experiences and sparking impressive growth. This transformative partnership has catapulted WelcomeHost from its humble beginnings to become a beacon of hospitality in Athens, marking a shift toward services that are not only scalable and efficient but deeply personalized. 

Under the guidance of Nasos Apostolopoulos and Panagiotis "Panos" Garmpis, WelcomeHost has navigated through challenges with grace, charting a course towards a bright future and redefining what excellence looks like in the bustling vacation rental market.