Your Guide to the Vacation Rental Revolution
The Leading Podcast for Vacation Rental Professionals
Join Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe as they delve into the real stories behind the vacation rental industry's success. With over 35 years of combined experience, they uncover the strategies and insights that drive transformative A-HA moments for listeners.
New to the podcast?
Here are some great episodes to start with.
Recent Episodes
300
Sept. 2, 2026
300th Episode Special: What’s Changed in Vacation Rentals and What Comes Next with Terry Whyte
Welcome to Episode 300 of the Alex & Annie Podcast! 🎉 Three hundred conversations, countless aha moments, plenty of industry debates, and a front-row seat to some of the biggest shifts vacation rentals have seen over the last several years. This is such a huge milestone for us ⭐ To celebrate, we knew we wanted to bring back someone who has been part of the Alex & Annie journey since the early days. We’re fortunate to have several people who have supported us along the way, and for this
299
Sept. 1, 2026
Revenue Reality Check: Your Biggest Revenue Risk Isn’t Pricing, It’s Owner Churn with Julie Brinkman of Beyond
In this episode of Revenue Reality Check, presented by Beyond, Alex & Annie are joined again by Julie Brinkman, CEO of Beyond, to talk about why owner retention deserves the same level of attention as pricing, pacing, and acquisition. Julie breaks down the metrics property managers should be watching, how unrealistic revenue expectations can create problems later in the relationship, and why adding new properties does not always tell the full story of business growth. She also answers real op
298
Aug. 26, 2026
Why the Future of Vacation Rentals Starts with Better Operations with Jeremy Gall of Breezeway
In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Jeremy Gall, Founder and CEO of Breezeway, to explore how the continued professionalization of vacation rentals is raising the bar for operations. Jeremy shares what led him to tackle one of the industry's most complex challenges: coordinating the people, properties, and workflows behind great hospitality. The conversation explores how rising guest expectations, greater owner scrutiny, and advances in technology are changing what it takes to operate
297
Aug. 19, 2026
Special Reshare: Alex & Annie on Powering Travel Podcast with Tim Rosolio of Expedia Group
The vacation rental industry has changed dramatically over the years. The technology is smarter, distribution is broader, competition is stronger, and AI is reshaping how operators work. But some of the most important parts of the business have not changed at all. In this special reshare, Alex & Annie step into the guest seats with Tim Rosolio of Expedia Group’s Powering Travel Podcast for a conversation about what thoughtful growth looks like as the vacation rental industry continues to m
296
Aug. 15, 2026
Pour Decisions: What Owners Really Need When Stays Go Sideways, with Amanda Martins & Rachel Alday
When an owner asks for more detail, questions why something was handled differently, or wonders why they were not told about an incident sooner, the question is usually about more than the immediate issue. They want to know their property is in good hands. In Episode 3 of Pour Decisions: When Stays Go Sideways, presented by Safely, Alex and Annie are joined by Amanda Martins and Rachel Alday for a candid conversation about the moments that put owner trust, guest relationships, and an opera
295
Aug. 12, 2026
SEO Isn’t Dead: How AI Is Changing Vacation Rental Search with Vanessa Humes and Jill McGee of ICND
Vacation rental search is changing fast. Organic traffic is declining, AI Overviews are taking up more space in Google, and travelers are increasingly using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to research where to stay. For property managers, that creates a new challenge: how do you stay visible when the way people search is no longer as straightforward as ranking on page one of Google? In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by Vanessa Humes, VP of Sales and Marketing at ICND, and
About the Hosts
Annie Holcombe
Annie Holcombe has spent over three decades inside the hospitality and vacation rental industry; long enough to have worked nearly every seat at the table.
She started at the front desk in 1992 and worked her way up to VP-level leadership, with stops at Expedia Group and Marriott Bonvoy and several Channel Managers along the way. That trajectory means she's seen the industry from the property level up through the platforms and brands that shape it, operations, distribution, partnerships, and the politics in between. Few consultants in this space have sat on that many sides of the table.
In mid 2026, she took that experience and built Annie & Co., a consultancy for property managers and technology companies who are past the point of generic advice and ready for strategies built on how the industry actually works, not how it's supposed to work on paper.
What sets her apart isn't just the years, it's the pattern recognition that comes from them. She's watched the same growth bottlenecks, the same partnership pitfalls, and the same missed opportunities play out across dozens of companies and market cycles.
And then there's the network. Three decades of relationships across OTAs, brands, property management companies, and technology platforms means Annie isn't just offering advice, she's offering access. The rooms her clients are trying to get into, she's often already standing in.
She's not here to recycle conventional wisdom. She's here to open doors.
She started at the front desk in 1992 and worked her way up to VP-level leadership, with stops at Expedia Group and Marriott Bonvoy and several Channel Managers along the way. That trajectory means she's seen the industry from the property level up through the platforms and brands that shape it, operations, distribution, partnerships, and the politics in between. Few consultants in this space have sat on that many sides of the table.
In mid 2026, she took that experience and built Annie & Co., a consultancy for property managers and technology companies who are past the point of generic advice and ready for strategies built on how the industry actually works, not how it's supposed to work on paper.
What sets her apart isn't just the years, it's the pattern recognition that comes from them. She's watched the same growth bottlenecks, the same partnership pitfalls, and the same missed opportunities play out across dozens of companies and market cycles.
And then there's the network. Three decades of relationships across OTAs, brands, property management companies, and technology platforms means Annie isn't just offering advice, she's offering access. The rooms her clients are trying to get into, she's often already standing in.
She's not here to recycle conventional wisdom. She's here to open doors.
Alex O. Husner
A seasoned vacation rental marketing expert with over 15 years of industry experience, Alex has played a key role as CMO in two enterprise vacation rental management companies in the United States, Condo-World and Casago.
In early 2024, Alex left the corporate world to pursue her own initiatives as CEO/Founder of Directly Alex, a consultancy firm specializing in marketing and business growth strategies for vacation rental management companies and technology providers.
Alex previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB and is a past Board Member of VRMA (Vacation Rental Managers Association).
In early 2024, Alex left the corporate world to pursue her own initiatives as CEO/Founder of Directly Alex, a consultancy firm specializing in marketing and business growth strategies for vacation rental management companies and technology providers.
Alex previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB and is a past Board Member of VRMA (Vacation Rental Managers Association).
Recent Blog Posts
July 28, 2026
How to Avoid Get-Rich-Quick Vacation Rental Masterminds and Find Real Education
Navigating the world of short-term rentals can feel overwhelming when self-proclaimed gurus promise instant wealth through flashy social media ads. To find true success, property managers and hosts must learn how to spot predatory masterminds, bypas…
July 28, 2026
Scaling Vacation Rentals: Preserving Hospitality Culture Through Empowered Local Teams
As vacation rental businesses scale, maintaining authentic hospitality can be a challenge. Bob Milne, a seasoned industry veteran, shares invaluable insights on how to proactively safeguard your company's culture by empowering local teams and nurtur…
July 8, 2026
Beyond Lower Fees: How Property Managers Can Build Trust for Direct Bookings
Learn how vacation rental property managers can shift focus from just offering lower fees to building genuine trust with travelers. This post explores actionable strategies for fostering credibility, encouraging repeat business, and overcoming the p…