In this episode, we sit down with Moriya Rockman, founder of Smiling House Luxury, to explore how a single personal vacation home in the Swiss Alps became the starting point for a global luxury vacation rental portfolio.

Moriya shares her journey from accidental host to global founder, including why she and her husband chose to stay hands-on operators while scaling internationally. She explains how staying close to hospitality standards shaped every stage of growth, from property management to technology.

The conversation also explores Villa Tracker, a B2B-to-C platform she founded that connects luxury homes with travel designers, concierges, and advisors booking on behalf of clients. Moriya breaks down why this channel matters, how it opens untapped demand beyond OTAs, and what it means for hosts and property managers looking to reach a different tier of traveler.

We also dive into global luxury travel trends, emerging destinations, and why private homes continue to outperform hotels for group travel, longer stays, and experience-driven trips.

This episode offers a grounded look at scaling thoughtfully, building through relationships, and creating long-term opportunity in luxury vacation rentals without losing sight of hospitality.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome to Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals
00:43 – Meet Moriya Rockman of Smiling House Luxury
01:25 – From a 400-Year-Old Swiss Chalet to a Vacation Rental Business
03:32 – How to Scale a Luxury Vacation Rental Portfolio
04:09 – Staying a Hands-On Host While Scaling Globally
06:50 – Building a Business While Raising a Family
07:03 – What Is Villa Tracker? (B2B Travel for Vacation Rentals)
09:56 – Villa Tracker as a GDS for Luxury Homes
12:00 – Why Luxury Travel Demand Exists Outside Airbnb
13:37 – How Travel Agents Book Luxury Vacation Rentals
14:40 – Conferences, ILTM, and Reaching Travel Advisors
19:04 – Working With Property Managers and Individual Hosts
22:59 – Expanding Distribution Through Technology Partnerships
25:41 – Is Luxury Travel Slowing Down?
26:04 – Why Groups and Multi-Generational Travel Choose Villas
30:40 – Emerging Luxury Travel Destinations to Watch
34:05 – Experiencing Luxury Properties Firsthand

Connect with Moriya:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moriya-rockman-a3467a13a/
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smiling-house/

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