Alex & Annie Vacation Rental Podcast

With more than 35 years of combined experience in vacation rentals, Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe have teamed up to connect the dots between inspiration and opportunity, seeking to find the one story, idea, strategy or decision that led to their guests big A-HA moment. 

Join them, as they highlight the REAL stories behind the people and brands that have built vacation rentals into the 100 BILLION dollar industry it is today.

Recent Shows

April 17, 2024

Adapting to Regulatory Changes and Exploring Growth Strategies in Vacation Rentals with Erin Booth of Summit Mountain Rentals

Join Alex & Annie as they delve into the dynamic world of vacation rentals with Erin Booth, COO of Summit Mountain Rentals in Colorado. Erin's extensive background in the industry, from managing a single unit in Brooklyn Hei…
April 10, 2024

Tech Innovations in Vacation Rentals with Direct Software CEO, Wes Smithe

In this episode of "Alex & Annie: the Real Women of Vacation Rentals," hosts Alex and Annie dive into the world of vacation and RV rental software with special guest Wes Smithe, the co-founder, CEO, and chairman of Direct So…
April 3, 2024

The Future of Staffing in Vacation Rentals: An Interview with Rich Sippos of Extenteam

In this episode, Alex & Annie welcome Rich Sippos, Head of Sales at Extenteam, to discuss how their dedicated remote staffing solutions can streamline vacation rental business. Rich shares valuable insights into Extenteam's …
April 1, 2024

1st of the Month Bonus Episode: Annie’s Next Big Leap, plus Spring Happenings & Updates

Welcome to our 1st of the month bonus episode. In this episode, Alex & Annie are not fooling around with April Fools' jokes; instead, they have significant announcements to share! Annie's New Role at NextPax Annie unveils he…
March 27, 2024

Finding Courage in Adversity, with Lynell Gordon of Inhabit

In this episode, we welcome Lynell Gordon – vacation rental expert, partner at Inhabit, and host of "How We Grow: the vacation rental show." Lynell shares her powerful personal journey and how the practice of writing down g…
March 20, 2024

Our 1st Celebrity Interview with World Renowned Speaker, Entrepreneur & Author David Meltzer

Welcome to "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals"! In this insightful episode, we sit down with powerhouse celebrity entrepreneur and personal development leader, David Meltzer. David reveals his profound journey…
March 13, 2024

The Battleground Baddies: CJ Stam, Travis Wilburn & Julie Byrd Weigh in on New Innovations in VR Technology

Get the inside scoop on the latest vacation rental technology trends! Alex & Annie are joined by DARM Battleground Baddies: Travis Wilburn, CJ Stam, and Julie Byrd to break down the groundbreaking innovations from this year'…
March 6, 2024

The OG’s of the Panhandle: Lino Maldonado, Jim Olin, Paul Wohlford, and Steve Caron

In this episode of "Alex and Annie, The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," we embark on a fascinating journey into the vacation rental industry with a panel of seasoned experts known as the OGs of the Panhandle. Our guests, in…
March 1, 2024

1st of the Month Bonus Episode: Spring News, Updates & Insights from the Desks of Alex & Annie

Join Alex & Annie with a cute participation of Chloe, newest furry member of the family, as they delve into the current vacation rental market trends. They share their insights on the fluctuating booking rates and the explos…
Feb. 28, 2024

3 Points for Hospitality Marketing: Alex & Jonathan Ruggles of Flip.to

In this episode, Alex had the opportunity to sit down with Jonathan Ruggles, the Director of Partnerships at Flip.to. They discuss three key points in hospitality marketing: building your digital presence on your own land, l…
Feb. 21, 2024

From Vision to Triumph: Unpacking Hostfully's Growth Story with CEO, Margot Schmorak

Join Alex, Annie, and special guest Margot Schmorak in this episode of "Alex & Annie, the real women of Vacation Rentals," as they explore the captivating journey of Hostfully over the past year and the crucial aspects of bu…
Feb. 14, 2024

Real Women Talk Real Growth: A Conversation with Vered Schwarz, COO of Guesty

In this episode of "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," we sit down with Vered Schwarz, the President and COO of Guesty, to not only delve into Guesty's new offerings but also shine a spotlight on the vital ro…

Recent Blog Posts

Real Women Talk Real Growth: A Conversation with Vered Schwarz, COO of Guesty

Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," where hosts Alex & Annie sit down with Vered Schwarz, the President and COO of Guesty, to discuss the vacation rental industry, the growth of Guesty, and the future o…

Jen Ford's Journey to Work-Life Balance and Meaningful Work

This week, we're delighted to welcome back Jen Ford, a seasoned expert in the industry, for a candid conversation about her transformative journey over the past two years. Join us as we explore the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the m…

Embracing Change and Seizing Opportunities: The Journey of Alex & Annie

Welcome to our LinkedIn newsletter, where we delve into the latest episode of "Alex & Annie, The Real Women of Vacation Rentals." In this special February 1st bonus episode, we explore the transformative decisions and insightful experiences that…

About the Hosts

Annie HolcombeProfile Photo

Annie Holcombe

Director Business Development- US & Canada

Annie has 30 years experience in hospitality and tourism holding positions from Front Desk, Sales & Marketing, owner relations and worked for leading OTA, Expedia. At Expedia she oversaw one of the largest Vacation Rental markets, Florida Panhandle leading to a position as Senior Key Account manager specializing in vacation and non traditional lodging accounts and on the channel management side with Lexicon Travel helping managers optimize and grow reach and revenues. She is currently Director of Business Development -US & Canada for Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy . This diverse background makes Annie one of the industries most empathetic and thoughtful new leaders. She was previously a member of the STR Professionals Thought Leaders on Clubhouse, hosting monthly chat rooms and served as a strategic advisor for up Travel OTA- Whimstay in 2021-2022.

Alex O. HusnerProfile Photo

Alex O. Husner

CMO, Casago

Alex Husner is CMO for Casago, one of the largest professionally managed vacation rental companies in the US and Mexico. Casago’s vacation rental franchise model provides operators with the tools to grow their business with the support, software, systems and purchasing power of a national organization. Alex previously served as CMO for Condo-World for 13 years, a vacation rental business based in North Myrtle Beach, SC that managed over 500 properties and led sales and marketing efforts for an additional 5,000 partner properties in the Southeast. She has a passion for developing strategies that drive sales overnight and brand over time, connecting all aspects of digital, social and traditional marketing. Alex serves on the Board of Directors for the VRMA (Vacation Rental Managers Association) and is Past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB.