Daniel Rusteen

Airbnb Entrepreneur

Daniel Rusteen is an Airbnb Entrepreneur and Author based in the United States. He got started in the short-term rental space in 2013, when he worked for Airbnb. Afterwards, he started Optimize My BNB, a website that helps Airbnb hosts around the world implement useful strategies to perform better on the platform and increase profits. He specializes in listing optimization to keep his clients’ occupancy and nightly rates high year-round, with 100% of optimized listings appearing on page 1 of associated Airbnb searches. He also authored "Optimize YOUR Airbnb: The Definitive Guide to Ranking #1 in Airbnb Search" in 2018, which sold more than 50,000 copies upon release via word-of-mouth sales only. His newest book is titled "Profitable Properties: Airbnb Insider Secrets to Find, Optimize, Price, & Book Direct any Short-Term Rental Investment for Year-Round Occupancy". In addition to educating Airbnb hosts, Daniel is an Airbnb Superhost himself.

Education

BA, Business–Economics and Accounting, UC Santa Barbara

Professional Achievements

Recognized authority in the short-term rental industry, with a career that spans hosting, property management, and consulting
Worked as a CPA in Airbnb’s finance department, where he gained firsthand insight into the platform’s operations
Founded OptimizeMyBnb.com in 2016, a company dedicated to helping Airbnb hosts maximize their success through listing optimization and strategic guidance
Authored two influential books: "Optimize YOUR Bnb" (2018), a best-seller for Airbnb hosts, and "Profitable Properties" (2023), which provides a comprehensive guide to identifying and managing lucrative short-term rental investments

Certifications & Organizations

Certified Public Accountant (California Department of Consumer Affairs)

Favorite Piece of Advice

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Forum Comments (1)

Tips for getting cheap AirBnBs or discounts?

Here's a good tip. When you ask for a discount, ask for a discount in the local currency. If the property you're looking at is priced at $2000.00 USD, but you're going to India, whatever discount you're hoping to get, convert it to their currency and say something like, “Hey, I'm on a budget. Can you give me these dates for X price Indian rupees?” And concretely stating the number you're looking for is also better than just saying, “Hey, can you give me a discount?” State a number. And then the host will come back and they might say no, or they might say "here's 20% off"!

However, I will say that I've stopped asking for discounts as a guest because the only times I've gotten a discount have been times I've also had negative experiences. In my experience, the hosts who are giving the discounts are the people who already know that they have a bad Airbnb.

Co-authored Articles (2)

How to

Run a Small Hotel or Guesthouse

Opening a small hotel is a dream for many who enjoy interacting with people and want to run their own business. Unfortunately, you can't just open your doors and expect your hotel to be successful automatically. It takes...

A Beginner’s Guide to Making Money on Airbnb

Make passive income as an Airbnb host, freelancer, or other role You do not need to own real estate to make money on Airbnb. Each rental unit creates its own ecosystem of cleaners, listing agents, photographers, and the ...

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Daniel Rusteen

Forum Comments (1)

Co-authored Articles (2)

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