Gloucester, MA – Fri, April 27, 2025— Cape Ann residents have a new tool to simplify—and dramatically reduce the cost of—vacation-rental bookings. Kate Swanson, long-time software engineer and Gloucester resident has announced the public launch of Haven (www.bookwithhaven.com), a platform that lets rental owners create a fully featured, custom booking website in minutes—no tech skills required and no hefty marketplace fees.
“So many Gloucester hosts rely on repeat guests—families who come every summer, visiting sailors, festivalgoers. Paying 15-20 percent to a big OTA every single year just doesn’t make sense,” said Swanson. “Haven gives owners a direct, professional way to say, ‘Book right here next year, same place, lower price.’”
Key Features
- 10 Minute Site Builder – Enter your address, details, photos, rates; Haven generates a mobile-friendly booking site instantly.
- Secure Payments – Deposits directly to your bank of choice, no more checks in the mail or awkward Venmo requests
- Compatible with Airbnb – Hosts with or without an Airbnb account can use Haven. Calendars keep bookings in sync between platforms.
- Local Support – Gloucester-based onboarding help for owners who’d like hands-on set-up.
Keeping Dollars on Cape Ann
According to Massachusetts DOR data, Gloucester hosts paid well over a million dollars in OTA fees last year. “If even half of that stayed with small property owners, it would be reinvested right here—on local contractors, restaurants, and shops,” Swanson noted.
About Haven
Founded in 2025, Haven combines user-first design with PCI-compliant payment rails to put booking control back in the hands of independent hosts. The company’s mission is to help communities retain vacation-rental revenue, foster repeat visitation, and reduce reliance on high-fee marketplaces by making direct booking a possibility for every rental owner.
Good Morning Gloucester 