Winner of The Shortyz 2026 Best Travel Influencers of the Year

Branding Episodes

210
March 19, 2025

Stop, Collaborate, and Listen: How Jason Gann of Beyond Pricing Used Humor & Authenticity to Build his Personal Brand

Send us a message! In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Jason Gann, a well-established figure in vacation rentals who has carved out a unique path as both a sales executive and an emerging comedic talent. Jason takes us through his fascinating career journey - from selling hair-cutting shears to stepping into the world of vacation rental technology, navigating the fast-changing landscape of property management software, and now leading conversations around revenue management at Beyond Pri...
Guest: Jason Gann
Dec. 18, 2024

For the Love of Gatlinburg: How Tom Goodwin Uses Storytelling to Preserve a Destination’s Heart and Soul

In this week’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets and host of "For the Love of Gatlinburg" Podcast. Tom shares insights into his family-run vacation rental business in Gatlinburg, which has been a beloved destination for over 50 years. We dive into his journey of preserving the essence of Gatlinburg through his podcast and discuss how it celebrates the community's rich heritage and unique stories. Tom also gives an update on Mountain Laurel ...
Guest: Tom Goodwin
Dec. 11, 2024

From the Vault: Get Out of Your Own Way and Step into Your Power, with Amber Hurdle, CEO of Employer Brand Central

In this special throwback episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Amber Hurdle, CEO and founder of Employer Brand Central. Originally aired around this time last year, this episode marks a pivotal moment for Alex & Annie as they navigated career transitions and personal growth. Amber’s wisdom, energy, and insights set the tone for what was to come, not just for the hosts, but for countless listeners. Amber reflects on the importance of building strong personal and employer brands, ov...
183
Oct. 23, 2024

Throwback to Our Most Listened Episode of 2024 – Building a Hospitality Legacy with Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets

In this special re-air of one of our most popular episodes, Alex & Annie revisit our insightful conversation with Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets. Tom’s remarkable journey in the vacation rental industry, from unexpected beginnings to building a brand rooted in community, continues to inspire. Tom's Journey: Discover how Tom's unexpected entry into the vacation rental world, through his wife's family-run business in Gatlinburg, evolved into a thriving venture. His initial 18-month...
Guest: Tom Goodwin
172
Aug. 21, 2024

Turning LinkedIn Connections into Career Opportunities with Alexis Scott

In this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we sit down with Alexis Rivera Scott, the dynamic founder of Fairy Job Mom. Alexis shares her journey from a career in hospitality sales to becoming a powerhouse on LinkedIn with over 81,000 followers. She opens up about her transition from traditional employment to entrepreneurship, the challenges she faced along the way, and the importance of building a personal brand. Key Topics Discussed: 🔁 The Evolution of Alexis' Ca...
Guest: Alexis Scott
171
Aug. 14, 2024

The Role of PR in Building Your Vacation Rental Brand with Jessica Gillingham

Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this episode, we dive deep into the world of public relations with industry expert Jessica Gillingham, CEO and founder of Abode Worldwide. Jessica shares her unique journey into the vacation rental space, from her early days in Canadian tourism to launching her own booking platform, and eventually founding Abode Worldwide. She off...
170
Aug. 7, 2024

Spontaneous Stays: How Staywatch is Revolutionizing Last-Minute Bookings with CEO, Zach Busekrus

Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: ⁠http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this episode, we sit down with Zach Busekrus, Founder/CEO of StayWatch and host of the "Behind the Stays" podcast. Zach shares his unique journey into the short-term rental industry, from living exclusively in Airbnbs during the pandemic to founding a company that's revolutionizing how travelers find and book vacation rentals. ...
Guest: Zach Busekrus
168
July 31, 2024

Understanding How The Enneagram and Personality Assessments Can Help Transform Company Culture, with Linny & Kyle Jones

Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by Linny and Kyle Jones, the dynamic duo behind Dwell Luxury Rentals. Tune in to hear how they have transformed the vacation rental landscape in their small mountain town, Flagstaff, by bringing big-city luxury standards to the area. Linny and Kyle share their journey from working in five-s...
167
July 24, 2024

The Amenities Arms Race: Maximizing ROI through Data Driven Design with Mark Lumpkin

Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: ⁠http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this insightful episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we are thrilled to welcome Mark Lumpkin, Director of Sales for STR Cribs. Mark shares his journey from a Florida local with a passion for real estate to leading a company that transforms vacant properties into stunning, resort-style short-term rentals ac...
Guest: Mark Lumpkin
165
July 10, 2024

We’re Going to Italy! Meet the Team from Scale Italia

Get your Scale Italia 2024 tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/scalerentalsitalia/1074426 Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this week’s episode, Alex & Annie welcome the team behind the Scale Italia - Gianpaolo Vairo, Damian Sheridan, and Cristiana Carpini - to discuss their rapidly growing conference series for professional vacation rental manage...
164
July 3, 2024

Nocturne Villas: Raising the Bar in the Multi-Market Luxury Segment, with Scott Wiseman

In this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we're joined by Scott Wiseman, CEO of Nocturne Luxury Villas. Scott brings a wealth of experience from his journey through the hospitality industry, from hotels to luxury tour operators, and now leading the charge in high-end vacation rentals. Scott's journey in hospitality began at 15 after a transformative family vacation to Acapulco. His career has spanned from hotels to luxury tour operators, including leadership roles a...
162
June 19, 2024

Is it Time to Sell Your Vacation Rental Business? With Jacobie Olin and Jason Sprenkle

Exclusive offer for Alex & Annie listeners: Get $400 off your onboarding fee when you partner with Hostaway using this link: http://get.hostaway.com/alexandannie In this week’s episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we're joined by two powerhouse guests in the vacation rental space - Jason Sprenkle, CEO of Keydata, and Jacobie Olin, President of C2G Advisors. Jason has over 20 years of experience in vacation rentals, previously running 360 Blue in the Panhandle area. ...
158
May 29, 2024

Vacation Rentals vs Hotels: Coexisting in the Evolving Hospitality Landscape - with Susan Barry of Hive Marketing

In this episode of "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," hosts Alex and Annie are joined by Susan Barry, the president + “queen bee” of Hive Marketing and the podcast host of the “Top Floor” Podcast. Susan shares her journey in the hospitality industry, her experiences with Hive Marketing, and her insights on the evolving landscape of hospitality marketing and management. Susan's Background and Journey: Susan Barry, originally from Panama City, shares her background and how she ...
Guest: Susan Barry
156
May 15, 2024

Balancing Tech and Human Touch: The Future of Guest Communication in the Hospitality Industry with SendSquared CEO, Nicolas Wegener

In this episode of "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," hosts Alex & Annie explore the delicate balance between leveraging technology and preserving the irreplaceable human touch in guest communication for the hospitality industry with special guest Nicolas Wegener. Nicolas brings invaluable insights as the visionary leader behind Sendsquared, a pioneering communication platform tailored for the vacation rental industry. With a deep understanding of fostering meaningful connect...
154
May 1, 2024

Winning Hospitality Strategies: Aligning Guest Values, Loyalty Programs, and Marketing Efforts with TravelBoom CEO, Pete DiMaio

In this episode of "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals” podcast, hosts Alex and Annie are joined by Pete DiMaio, CEO of Travel Boom Marketing. Together, they dive into the latest trends and strategies shaping the hospitality industry, leveraging insights from Travel Boom's recent hotelier sentiment study. Aligning with Guest Preferences Drawing from Travel Boom's recent hotelier sentiment study, they unpack the misalignment between guest preferences and hotelier perceptions, emp...
Guests: Pete Dimaio , pete
153
April 24, 2024

Building an STR Empire in Non-Traditional Markets with Homehop founders, Nate Klatt and Dan Mitchen

In this episode of "Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," hosts Alex & Annie dive into the world of short-term rentals (STRs) with Nate Klatt and Dan Mitchen, the innovative minds behind HomeHop. Together, they explore the journey of HomeHop from house flipping to scaling a successful business in the Midwest's STR market. Guests Introduction: Nate Klatt, a seasoned CPA specializing in real estate investments, brings strategic financial acumen to HomeHop. Dan Mitchen, with a backg...
137
Jan. 24, 2024

Building a Legacy of Hospitality: The Story of Mountain Laurel Chalets with CEO, Tom Goodwin

In this captivating episode of “Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we sit down with Tom Goodwin, a seasoned professional in the vacation rental industry, to explore his remarkable journey and the transformative power of community and branding in business. Tom's Journey: Discover how Tom's unexpected entry into the vacation rental world, through his wife's family-run business in Gatlinburg, evolved into a thriving venture. His initial 18-month commitment turned into an 11-year...
Guest: Tom Goodwin
131
Dec. 20, 2023

Holiday Bonus - Our Top Episode of 2023: How to Explain Changes in Revenue and Bookings to Your Homeowners

Join us for an exclusive throwback to our most viewed episode of the year with Ben Coleman - Founder of Rev & Research, Vanessa Humes - Director of Sales & Marketing at InterCoastal Net Designs and Lance Stitcher - Broker/Owner at Seaside Vacations and Sales. In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by a panel of experts to help guide you on a pressing topic - How to Explain Changes in Revenue and Bookings to Your Homeowners. 2023 is not turning out to be as profitable as expected for vacation...
128
Dec. 1, 2023

1st of the Month Bonus Episode: Mark Simpson of Boostly Announces New Documentary

In this captivating episode of "Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," we are thrilled to have Mark Simpson, the visionary founder of Boostly. Boostly is a game-changer for vacation rental hosts and managers, providing a unique blend of tools, tactics, and a supportive community. Boostly's Mission: Mark dives deep into how Boostly empowers short-term rental owners. The company focuses on securing more direct bookings, reaching the ideal guests, and giving hosts valuable time bac...
Guest: Mark Simpson
125
Nov. 15, 2023

Riding the Waves of Change with Valerie Gangas, CEO of Juniper Holiday & Home and Author of "In Deep Shift"

In this engaging episode of Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we sit down with Valerie Gangas, a powerhouse in Transformational Life Coaching, an accomplished Author, and the visionary CEO behind Juniper Holiday & Home. As Valerie shares her fascinating journey, we explore how her roots in the restaurant and bar industry grew into a passion for hospitality, ultimately guiding her towards the dynamic world of vacation rentals. During the challenges of the COVID era, Valerie's e...
119
Oct. 11, 2023

Embark On Your Marketing Journey with Marketing Guru, Veronica Romney

On this episode of Alex & Annie : The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, Alex is joined by Veronica Romney, Founder of Rainmaker Residency™ and VeronicaRomney.com. Veronica is a coach of all things marketing and leadership with over 15 years of experience. She puts her marketing skills on display with the two long term rental properties and one short term rental property she owns, and her marketing efforts as a solo contributor have outperformed both agencies and management companies with her holis...
91
May 10, 2023

Special Episode: How to Build a Sustainable Brand, Live from RR Summit 2023 with Stuart Butler and Pete DiMaio

Today's episode is a very special one, as we bring you a recent panel discussion we hosted at Rent Responsibly's 2023 Sustainability Summit. What does sustainability have to do with branding and company culture, and why is it more important than ever to focus on this way of thinking? Tune in to find out! Tune in as we dive into this topic with two of the smartest minds in hospitality marketing, Stuart Butler and Pete DiMaio. You do NOT want to miss this one! Stuart Butler After 20 years in th...
Guest: Pete DiMaio