How CasaVoya Builds Trust with Hosts Through Comprehensive Protection

“It removes a top source of hesitation, makes our value proposition crystal clear, and signals that we’ve invested in protecting our hosts’ livelihoods. For many, it’s the deciding factor in choosing to list with CasaVoya.”

When CasaVoya set out to build a vacation rental platform that prioritizes host autonomy over corporate control, they faced a critical challenge: convincing property owners to open their homes to strangers.

Founded by a partnership of New York City-area hosts, initially as ManhattanBNB, CasaVoya connects travelers with authentic local experiences while giving hosts full control over their properties. But potential hosts kept hitting the same wall.

“One of the biggest barriers to growth we faced was host hesitation around trust and property protection,” explains Board Member Sasha Ramani. 

“Many potential hosts feared the financial impact of guest damage. We saw great homes remain offline because owners were reluctant to list, while others imposed restrictive rules that diminished guest experience.”

The problem isn’t unique to CasaVoya. Across the vacation rental industry, hosts are cobbling together inadequate solutions — requiring large security deposits that discourage bookings, purchasing homeowner’s insurance that excludes short-term rentals, or simply hoping nothing will go wrong.

For a platform built on empowering independent hosts, this trust gap threatened to limit growth before it started.

Protection as a platform differentiator

CasaVoya partnered with Truvi to provide every host with up to $50,000 in damage protection — turning their biggest onboarding obstacle into a competitive advantage.

“Before Truvi, conversations with hosts often hit a wall at the question, ‘What happens if a guest causes damage?’ Many platforms offered vague or complicated assurances, but hosts wanted something tangible,” says Sasha. “Now, being able to confidently say, ‘Every booking through CasaVoya includes up to $50,000 in damage protection,’ instantly changes the tone of those discussions.”

The impact was immediate. Hosts who had been sitting on the fence suddenly had the confidence to list. Property owners who would never have considered vacation rentals started exploring the opportunity.

“Honestly, without this damage protection, I wouldn’t have listed my property at all,” explains one New York City host. “I live here full-time, and I was hesitant about opening my home to travelers — it felt too risky. Knowing that CasaVoya and Truvi provide $50,000 in damage protection gave me the peace of mind I needed to finally take the leap.”

Eliminating deposits and friction

For hosts who were already in the market, the Truvi partnership solved a different problem: the administrative burden and guest friction of managing security deposits.

“As the owner of a premium property in a prime part of New York City, I used to rely heavily on security deposits to protect my unit,” says another CasaVoya host. “But deposits were always a pain to manage — time-consuming to administer and sometimes awkward with guests.”

With comprehensive protection built into every booking, this host eliminated nearly all deposits. “Guests really appreciate not having to tie up extra money, and it keeps things simple for me. The protection not only saves me administrative headaches, it also makes guests happier — and I think that’s helped boost my bookings as well.”

Competing on trust, not just features

The partnership strengthened CasaVoya’s positioning against larger platforms that compete primarily on reach and visibility.

“The Truvi partnership has become a key differentiator for CasaVoya,” says Sasha. “Hosts today want security, trust, and support. By offering built-in protection, we show that we are not just another listing platform, but a true partner in host success. It strengthens our credibility, helps us attract higher-quality inventory, and aligns perfectly with our brand promise of autonomy and flexibility with confidence.”

For a platform competing against established players with massive marketing budgets, being able to lead with comprehensive protection proved invaluable. CasaVoya could now compete not just on commission rates or features, but on something more fundamental: peace of mind.

The value of protection you never use

What surprised CasaVoya was how hosts valued the protection even when they never filed a claim.

“I’d actually tell them that I’ve never had to make a claim — and I hope I never do,” explains one host. “That’s really the point of the protection: it’s there if you need it, but the real value is the confidence it gives you to host in the first place. Because of that, I’ve been able to welcome guests and earn thousands of dollars that I might have missed out on if I’d let fear hold me back.”

By removing the biggest psychological barrier to hosting, CasaVoya and Truvi created a safety net that allows hosts to focus on what they do best: providing authentic local experiences for travelers seeking alternatives to expensive hotel chains.

Ready to make protection your competitive advantage? See pricing and get started today.