It is easy to look at a lower management fee as a way to stay competitive. But for vacation rental operators, the real question is not just whether the fee helps win the property. It is whether that fee can support the level of service the owner and guest expect…
Growth is exciting, but in luxury vacation rentals, more does not always mean stronger. The real test is whether the business can keep delivering the level of service promised to owners and guests. In this episode, James Smith, CEO of Invited Home, joins Alex & Annie to talk about why…
In this episode, we are joined by James Smith, CEO of InvitedHome, for a conversation about focused growth, luxury vacation rental operations, and what it takes to build a more sustainable business in high-end destinations. James shares how InvitedHome evolved from a broader multi-market vacation rental company into a luxury…
Scaling guest support takes more than adding more people to the phone. The team representing your business needs to understand your standards, your properties, your guests, and the situations they may need to solve in real time. In this clip, Amanda Szubert shares how Call Center Solutions approaches that process,…
AI has a place in guest communication, but the goal should be better hospitality, not less of it. In this episode, Paul Wohlford of Call Center Solutions shares why the future of guest support will likely be a hybrid model. AI can help teams move faster. It can answer common…
Guest support is often treated as a back-office function, but every missed call, slow response, or poorly handled question can become a missed booking opportunity. In this episode, Paul Wohlford and Amanda Szubert of Call Center Solutions join Alex & Annie to talk about what vacation rental operators need to…
In this episode, we are joined by Paul Wohlford and Amanda Szubert of Call Center Solutions to talk about staffing, guest services, AI, and the growing need for reliable support in vacation rental operations. Paul and Amanda share how Call Center Solutions grew out of a real hospitality staffing challenge…
AI is becoming a practical advantage for vacation rental revenue teams. Property managers are working through shifting demand, owner expectations, pricing decisions, market data, and portfolio performance every day. The real challenge is turning all of that information into clear, confident action. In this clip from our first Revenue Reality…
Getting guests to your website is only half the job. The bigger question is whether your website gives them enough clarity and confidence to take action. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Walker, Owner of Luxury Homes of Hilton Head and CEO of Direct Booking Tools, to talk…
Many vacation rental operators are working to grow direct bookings, but the real opportunity is not just driving more traffic to their website. It is understanding what happens once guests get there. In this episode, we are joined by Chris Walker, Owner of Luxury Homes of Hilton Head and CEO…
AI is changing the way travelers search, and hospitality brands are having to rethink what visibility really means. In this clip, Mike Flaskey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, shares why traditional digital marketing is being disrupted by AI, from SEO and keyword search to the way…
Property management software is often seen as something operators adopt later, once the business is bigger or more established. In this clip, Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder and CEO of Hospitable, explains why the right tools should help operators get there sooner. For many smaller operators, the hesitation is understandable. Software can…
Loyalty is not built through one booking. It is built through every touchpoint that gives guests and owners a reason to stay connected. In this episode, we welcome back Mike Flaskey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, for a conversation on how one of the biggest names…
In this episode, we welcome back Mike Flaskey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Marriott Vacations Worldwide. Mike shares what brought him back to the industry, what his new role looks like, and how Marriott Vacations Worldwide is approaching loyalty, customer experience, owner engagement, and long-term value. The conversation looks…
Revenue management comes with a lot of moving pieces. Events shift demand, acing changes quickly, owner questions need clear answers, and sometimes, getting to that answer means digging through more dashboards than anyone would like to admit. In this clip from our first Revenue Reality Check episode presented by Beyond,…
Why are so many vacation rental operators still managing without software? In this episode, Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder and CEO of Hospitable, shares why software adoption in the short-term rental industry still has a long way to go. Tools like CRMs, payroll systems, and accounting platforms are widely used by small…
Revenue strategy does not happen on autopilot. Markets shift, booking windows move, owners ask harder questions, and guests become more price sensitive. For vacation rental managers, the strategy that worked last month may need a second look today. That is the focus of Revenue Reality Check, a 6-part bimonthly series…
Does vacation rental software still have room to grow? In this episode, we’re joined by Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder and CEO of Hospitable, to talk about why many hosts and operators still hesitate to adopt property management software and how Hospitable is working to make these tools more accessible to operators…
In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder and CEO of Hospitable, to talk about the evolution of vacation rental software and why adoption across the industry still has so much room to grow. Pierre-Camille shares how his own experience as an Airbnb host in Brussels…
Pets? Always welcome. 🐾 Hot tubs? Proceed with caution. High-tech homes? Great, until someone needs a manual. Alex & Annie share their take on what enhances the guest experience and what might add more friction than value. Where do you land? Drop your take in the comments. #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #strindustry…
STR Hot Takes, cold weather edition 🔥❄️ What makes a guest trust a host before they book? What should operators think about when designing a vacation rental? And what are travelers really anxious about when choosing a stay? Alex & Annie share their take on the small details that can…
Vrbo’s 2026 Vacation Rentals of the Year are out, and in this episode, Tim Rosolio shares what goes into selecting the homes that earn that recognition. Tim explains how the program highlights properties that consistently deliver a high-quality guest experience, whether they are run by an individual host or a…
What makes a vacation rental stand out? In this episode, we sit down (by the fire) with Tim Rosolio, Vice President of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group, for a true fireside chat about Vrbo’s Vacation Rentals of the Year and the standards behind the recognition. Recorded at Lakefront Escape…
In this special episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Tim Rosolio, Vice President of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Vrbo, for a behind-the-scenes look at Vrbo’s Vacation Rentals of the Year program and what it takes to earn that recognition. Recorded on location at Lakefront Escape on Squam Lake, New…
