Zapier automations for STR: my top 10 workflows

Category: Tech & Automation

By: Nolan Peters

Posted: 2026-01-11T17:56:22.808Z

I just discovered Zapier and I'm blown away by the possibilities for STR automation. But there are SO many possible automations that I don't know where to start. What are the highest-impact Zapier automations you use for your STR business?

Reply by David Okafor:

Here are my 10 most impactful Zapier automations, ranked by time saved: **1. New booking → Google Sheets log** ⏱️ 30 min/week saved Logs every booking with guest name, dates, platform, revenue, and property. Automatic bookkeeping without manual data entry. **2. Checkout → Turno cleaning auto-schedule** ⏱️ 20 min/week When a booking ends, automatically schedule a cleaning in Turno (https://turno.com) with the right time window and property details. **3. New review → Slack/SMS notification** ⏱️ 5 min saved, priceless for response time Instant alert when a new review is posted so I can respond quickly. **4. Booking confirmed → guest welcome email** ⏱️ 15 min/week Auto-sends a branded welcome email with property guide link and local recommendations. More professional than Airbnb's built-in messaging. **5. Low inventory alert → Slack notification** ⏱️ Supply run optimization When a Google Form (filled by cleaner after turnover) indicates supplies below minimum, sends me an alert to reorder. **6. New booking → Airtable CRM entry** ⏱️ 20 min/week Creates a guest record in Airtable with booking history, preferences, and notes for personalized future marketing. **7. 3-star review → emergency Slack alert** ⏱️ Damage control Filters for reviews below 4 stars and sends an immediate alert so I can respond publicly ASAP. **8. Monthly → revenue summary email** ⏱️ 1 hour/month Auto-compiles monthly revenue, occupancy, and review data from Google Sheets and emails a summary to me (and my accountant). **9. Guest check-in → smart thermostat adjust** ⏱️ Energy savings ~$50/month Through Ecobee API integration: when a booking starts, set thermostat to "Guest Mode" (comfortable temp). When booking ends, set to "Away Mode" (energy-saving). **10. End of month → tax calculation** ⏱️ 2 hours/month at tax time Auto-calculates occupancy tax owed based on booking data and generates a summary. **Total time saved:** ~15-20 hours/month **Zapier cost:** $29/month (Starter plan handles all 10 automations) If you want to get started, #1 (booking → spreadsheet) and #2 (checkout → cleaning) are the highest-impact with the least setup time.

Reply by Tyler Jackson:

For hosts who find Zapier too complex, check out Make (formerly Integromat). It has a visual workflow builder that's easier to understand for non-technical people, and it's significantly cheaper than Zapier for the same functionality. I run all my automations on Make for $16/month vs what would be $49/month on Zapier. Same integrations, same reliability, friendlier interface.