Maggie Mitchell is the owner of Chasing the Moon and Elysium on the beautiful Isle of Skye. She explains how she built confidence in attracting direct bookings and used SuperControl to stay in control as her business has grown.
Maggie didn’t plan to run a holiday let. She stumbled upon her first self-catering property on the Isle of Skye almost by accident and learned the ropes as she went. Initially, most bookings came through online travel agencies (OTAs), but Maggie soon realised she preferred a more hands-on, independent approach to managing the business.
“I really threw myself into researching how to market the property. I knew I wanted to manage things myself and have full visibility of what was going on.”
Instead of handing everything over to a third-party agent, Maggie took a more involved approach. She had a website built, joined online groups, and connected with the wider self-catering community for support. That’s when she was first introduced to SuperControl.
“SuperControl was a turning point. It let me take control of bookings, set up emails, sync calendars, and stay on top of everything.”
Choosing the right tools
When it came to payments, Maggie says choosing to use HolidayRentPayment (HRP) through SuperControl felt like a natural step.
“I just assumed I’d need a payment processor and HRP worked smoothly with SuperControl. It’s been almost five years and I’ve had no major issues.”
Any time she has had a question, the HRP support team has been helpful and responsive. She appreciates how straightforward it is to manage payments and reconcile accounts.
“You get notified when payments come through. It’s all automated and reliable. It gives me peace of mind and saves so much time.”
A balanced approach to channels
While direct bookings now make up the majority of Maggie’s income, she continues to list on Airbnb to maintain visibility and attract new guests.
“I still use Airbnb strategically. It gives great exposure and SuperControl allows me to add an uplift to offset commission fees. Over time I’ve seen more guests rebook directly with me which is ideal.”
With SuperControl’s features, Maggie can offer voucher codes for promotions or special occasions and track exactly where each booking comes from—whether it’s her website, an OTA, or a specific campaign. That level of visibility helps her make informed decisions about her marketing strategy and pricing.
Staying organised and compliant
Running a holiday let on the remote Isle of Skye isn’t without its challenges. Staffing is limited, and cancellations can have a real financial impact. Maggie puts a great deal of care into keeping operations smooth and ensuring her properties comply with all current regulations.
“I’m a member of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers and they’re brilliant. They provide pro forma documents for everything you need to stay on top of compliance.”
Maggie also works closely with her accountant, providing secure access to reports through SuperControl. Paired with HolidayRentPayment’s clear transaction records, this helps her stay compliant and qualify for support such as the Small Business Bonus.
“The reports are detailed and easy to pull. It just takes so much stress out of managing the financial side.”
Running a business that works
Maggie has built a business that reflects her values: doing things properly, staying organised, and maintaining control over how her properties are run. From compliance to guest experience, she takes pride in getting the details right.
“It’s not just about filling dates. It’s about running things properly. I care about the people who stay here, and I care about doing things right.”
For Maggie, it’s not about chasing scale. It’s about running a reliable, well-managed business that works for her and delivers a great experience for her guests. With the right support in place, she’s able to do exactly that.
Want to take control of your holiday let?
Whether you’re starting out or looking to simplify how you manage bookings, payments, and guests, SuperControl gives you the tools to run things your way.
