Podcast Episodes

Steve Trover is a 25-year vacation rental industry veteran whose career took off in the 1990's when he founded All Star Vacation Homes (ASVH), a property management company in Orlando that he expanded to include several different business models in 4 total markets. Steve designed, developed, and/or built hundreds of vacation homes during this time, and served as President and Vice President of the Vacation Rental Manager Association (VRMA) over a 5-year period. Steve's deep understanding of the ...

On this first episode of 2022 we dive into the most pressing issues facing the vacation rental industry with Amy Hinote, Founder/CEO of VRM Intel and one of the most recognized and respected thought leaders of the past decade. This is a fireside chat you don't want to miss! Topics we cover: How the unique format of the Vacation Rental Women's Summit was a major benefit for attendees AND vendors How branding has changed for vacation rentals – is the industry giving up on the #bookdirect movemen...

We have so many exciting interviews and topics lined up for 2022 that we had to share a few highlights! Today's episode is a preview of just a few of the amazing guests that will be joining us on the show as we launch Season 2. We also share our predictions for the vacation rental industry in the New Year. Tune in to hear a few highlights from from Amy Hinote, Jim Devos, Greg Fisher, Steve Trover and Julie George. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of us in this journey. Do you h...

20 years at one company is a big milestone for anyone, but for Julie Byrd it's been a labor of love and legacy. Julie recalls the early days of selling newspaper ads to CaboVillas.com founder, Don Hirschaut, which led to a full time position with the company and the beginning of Julie’s inspiring career under his mentorship. When Don tragically passed away in 2019, he left behind a passion for excellence and innovation that remains at the heart of the business and can be easily seen in the effor...

On today's episode we share highlights of an amazing week at the Vacation Rental Women's Summit (VRWS) at The Ritz Carlton in New Orleans. This event was top-notch on every level, and the collaborative atmosphere among attendees was truly remarkable. We had the opportunity to go to dinner with keynote speaker Amber Hurdle, who was also our very first guest on the podcast (Episode 2) and has affectionately become our "spirit woman". More on that in the episode! We share highlights from our very ...

Simon Lehmann is one of the most respected thought leaders and operational experts in the world of vacation rentals. Simon has been our mentor and friend for several years, but it wasn't until a couple months ago at VRMA International that we got to sit down with him and learn more about his personal and professional life prior to entering the industry. This is Simon Lehmann like you've never heard before! His story is one of inspiration, innovation and putting real life experience to work for h...

Join us as we take a behind the scenes look at startup OTA, Got2Go. Built for hosts by hosts, we had the opportunity to speak with Got2Go's founders about the upcoming launch of this game changing new platform. From onion and lettuce farming at the family business in New York, to national leadership roles with timeshare and pharmaceutical companies, to public service and solving major crimes, these founders bring an impressive track record of success across multiple verticals to tackle the chal...

Join us for our 1st live guest interview , Amber “the Velvet Machete” Hurdle to dive into finding your personal power and how being outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens. From her days with Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Attractions to her award-winning talent optimization firm, we uncover the strategies and moments that gave Amber the voice to be a powerhouse businesswoman and helped her to create the Velvet Machete Brand Strategy. This engaging chat is a sneak peek into her upcomin...

In this inaugural episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we explore the spark that started our journey to making this podcast. We provide a high-level overview of our industry background, and highlight two AHA moments that defined the future of our careers. Topics we cover: Who are Alex & Annie? The importance of having a good mentor Two AHA moments that defined our careers Where will this journey take us? Vacation Rental Women’s Summit Thank you for jo...

SUCCESS IN THE VACATION RENTAL SPACE ISN’T ALWAYS INTENTIONAL and Arthur Colker is proof of that. Arthur is the CEO and founder of StayFi, and in this episode, discusses how he accidentally fell into the short-term rental and vacation rental space. He talks about how he helped a friend develop an independent brand, and how he saw the value in controlling and owning guests’ data. Arthur built a solution that helps managers and operators capture guest data and then monetize it through tools like ...