Behind the Stays: Recent Episodes
Zach Busekrus
Hi! My name is Zach, and I like building things.
No, not cool things like entertainment centers or custom floating shelves — in fact putting together IKEA furniture gives me anxiety.
I like building brands. By day, I lead growth at DD Agency, Enrollify, Novus, and DD Studio — brands that serve the education and nonprofit sectors. By night, you’ll often find me brainstorming new product and service ideas with my amazing wife. who loves poking all sorts of holes in my go-to-market strategies...
When COVID hit, we decided to break out of our 750-square foot apartment in Washington, DC, and beta test the digital nomad lifestyle by hopping around to new Airbnbs every 2-4 weeks. If you care to follow our personal journey and watch us pretend to be Instagram influencers, you can do so at AirGnZ.
We‘ve spent hours on Airbnb and have learned a thing or ten about how to discern the wheat from the chaff, when to book (and when not to), and how to find the best deals and steals…
And that’s what led us to found Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated weekly newsletter featuring the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. Each week, we sort through 3,000+ listings and bring you our top 60 finds.
You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com...and yeah, it’s a bit of a mouthful...but I’ll bet you $100 you think of us the next time someone says “spontaneous.”
But enough about us...it’s time to talk about Behind the Stays.
After our first couple of Airbnbs, we found ourselves talking most nights about the character of the bungalow, apartment, or lake house we were staying in. Our hosts were all fantastic communicators, but there’s only so much you can learn via the guest book and the occasional “check-in” texts.
We were hungry to learn more about the story behind the place. Was this their first home? What’s up with the mural in the bathroom? Was the dining table custom made? Did they build the home from the ground up specifically to rent out on Airbnb?
And that’s when the idea of hosting a podcast that featured the stories of the hosts behind the stays was born.
Our goal is to use this space to bring you the stories behind your favorite Airbnbs and the hosts who’ve made them memorable.
If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to me at zach@sponstayneous.com and I’d be happy to talk with them.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week we're joined by Sarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief of Skift — the publication that fuels basically every episode of this show — and she came ready.
We open on the story all of hospitality shared this week: Aman's brand-new, $6,000-a-night Amanvari turning away independent reviewer Ryan Walker at the gate on night two, then calling the cops on his driver. Scott and Sarah are inclined to give Aman the benefit of the doubt. Ben isn't — he thinks it might be the canary in the coal mine for a brand scaling faster than it ever has.
From there we get into The Squeeze, Sarah's reporting on the crisis crushing America's small and mid-scale hotel owners. Record brand profits, owners barely cash-flowing, and a franchise model showing real cracks. We dig into why owners are revolting, what deflagging really costs, the financing fears keeping them locked to their flags, and the gut-punch of learning the Google reviews you spent eighteen years building don't belong to you — they belong to the brand.
Then Marriott's new rebate: a real concession, or breadcrumbs tossed to the good boys who hit their guest-satisfaction scores? Sarah makes the case that the credit card companies are now the biggest force in travel, and that Amex and Capital One are building their own soft brands in plain sight.
We close with a game — the hotel accounts winning on social, and the 99% still getting it wrong.
This one's loaded. Come hang.
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This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey. Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary. If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
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Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
09:49 — Story #1: The Great Hotel Owner Squeeze
33:05 — Story #2: Aman’s YouTuber Fiasco
44:41 — Story #3: Marriott’s Owner Concession
55:01 — Hotel Social Media Game
01:06:23 — Spice of the Week
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Special Guest:
Sarah Kopit — Editor-in-Chief of Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkopit
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-rosolio-434b2a98/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
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Vrbo just did three things most operators haven't connected yet: it purged 100,000 homes, surveyed 2,000 guests across seven countries, and started rolling out sponsored listings. Put them together and you get the clearest signal yet on where vacation rentals are headed.
Tim Rosolio is VP of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group, where he leads the supply and host side of Vrbo. He's also a Vrbo host himself. In his return to Behind the Stays, Tim and Zach get into what that survey actually revealed — and it wasn't what the industry has been selling.
Quality isn't luxury. It isn't the private chef or the infinity pool. It's accurate photos, verified reviews, a fully stocked shelf, and linens and silverware worth touching. 81% of guests said they'd pay more for a stay they can trust to be consistent.
Then there are the sponsored listings landing this summer — a pay-only-if-you-book model that lets hosts buy visibility without gaming the algorithm. Tim explains how it works, why bad operators won't be allowed in, and where it goes across Expedia next.
The conversation also covers the "coach up or coach out" program behind the purge, why the future of discovery is personalization instead of a star-rating system nobody trusts, expanded distribution across Expedia's 70,000-business B2B network, and the one fear keeping every VRM up at night: owner retention in a market where 2022 numbers aren't coming back.
Reach out to Tim on LinkedIn — he's an open book.
— Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of Growth at Journey. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Sonder is back — sort of. Eight months after going bankrupt and stranding guests mid-stay, the brand name has been bought by a Vancouver affiliate firm that paid for one thing: search equity. The buildings are gone. The trademarks and 70+ domains remain. And because large language models still route travelers to Sonder’s optimized pages, that name is now targeting $100M in gross booking value over the next year. We get into what it means when a dead brand outlives the company that built it.
Then: Fora’s $1B valuation. The travel advisor platform keeps scaling the human-agent model — but the team digs into the product it hasn’t built yet, and why the “ShopMy for travel” affiliate layer is still wide open for creators who aren’t full-time advisors.
We also break down Google’s AI travel play. Fresh off its Q2 earnings call, Google is using travel to sell Wall Street its AI ad story — Direct Offers, IHG partnerships, AI Mode crossing a billion users, and checkout infrastructure that could let travelers book without ever leaving the search box. The question for operators: is Google becoming rented land, and a direct-booking competitor, at the same time?
Plus, The Odyssey effect. From Petra to the “White Lotus Four Seasons” to Bangkok’s Hangover Hotel, we get into how films turn destinations into demand — and what hoteliers should actually do about it.
Hosted by Zach Busekrus with Ben Wolff, Scott Eddy, and Edwin Kramer.
Like, subscribe, and let us know which story you’d unpack further.
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This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey. Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary. If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
—
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
06:02 — Story #1: Sonder's Brand Gets a Second Life Through AI Search
17:51 — Story #2: Google Wants to Own the Entire Hotel Booking Journey
32:16 — Story #3: The Odyssey Is Creating the Next Travel Boom
45:11 — Story #4: Is Fora Really Worth $1 Billion?
59:22 — Spice of the Week
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Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Connect with Glenn: linkedin.com/in/glennhaussman
Explore "No Vacancy": https://novacancynews.com/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
—
Meet Glenn Haussman — thirty years in hospitality media, a decade helming No Vacancy News, and one of the most recognized voices this industry has ever produced. He's been in the rooms, on the stages, and behind the microphone longer than most people in this industry have known what a podcast was. He's not just a journalist. He's a mirror for this industry, and he's seen enough cycles to call out the patterns most people are still too caught up in to notice.
We sat down together with no real agenda and covered a lot of ground. How to make Virgin Hotels cool again. Why Disney wins at hospitality but can't seem to crack the hotel business. The biggest opportunities sitting right in front of independent hoteliers today. Why the casino industry and the hotel industry keep operating in separate silos when they have everything to learn from each other. The future of creator-led businesses in hospitality. And why Glenn Haussman has seen Phish perform hundreds of times — which, once he explains it, makes complete sense.
We also got into the craft. What it actually means to listen in an interview. Why the magic lives in the moment you didn't plan for. And what it took to go independent in 2016, when convincing a hospitality executive to sit in front of a microphone without a notepad was still a genuinely hard sell. Thirty years in and Glenn is still going places this industry isn't ready for yet. This one hit different. Stay with us.
— Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of Growth at Journey. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta went on record defending the brand's 28-property portfolio — and the panel has thoughts. Is the multi-brand arms race really about guests, or is it just an elaborate play for developers and distribution?
Edwin makes the case that independent hotels have a competitive advantage no loyalty algorithm can replicate. Scott drops the hottest take of the episode: loyalty points have become hush money for operational failures. And Ben shares a story about a boutique hotel that turned a jackhammer nightmare into a lifelong brand loyalist — no points required.
Then the World Cup post-mortem. Bank of America's final numbers are in — $20 billion pumped into the U.S. economy, RevPAR up 90% in Kansas City, 55% in San Francisco. Miami crushed it. But three separate properties reached out to Scott after the final whistle with the same question: now what? No social strategy. No post-event plan. No follow-through. The panel unpacks what hotels actually got right, what they blew, and why this should be a wake-up call for independent operators ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
And to close it out — a game. It's Route 66's 100th anniversary, and CoStar toured the surviving motels still operating along the highway. The panel plays Keep, Kill, or Reimagine across six properties. Clark Gable's old room, a freshly rehabbed motor court with a paint can still in the bathtub, and a pink-walled Santa Monica hotel sitting on land worth more than the building. Scott wants to build a diner on everything. Edwin wants to preserve the soul. Ben's doing the math.
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This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey. Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary. If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
—
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
12:07 — Story #1: Hilton’s 28-Brand Defense and AI’s Loyalty Shift
33:15 — Story #2: Did the 2026 World Cup Actually Deliver for Hotels?
43:23 — 100 Years of Route 66: Motel Draft (Keep, Reimagine, Kill)
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Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
This week, the squad breaks down Norwegian Air's World Cup Instagram stunt that cost next to nothing and generated more brand equity than campaigns with budgets a hundred times the size. Eivind Hammer Myhre, who leads comms and marketing at Norwegian, joins us live to walk through exactly how it happened — the 25-minute brainstorm, the one phone call to get sign-off, and what came after when the whole thing blew up overnight.
Then we get into the Ennismore story. Skift's Rafat Ali floated a thought experiment this week that reads less like an op-ed and more like a deal memo left on the wrong desk — a potential distribution and loyalty partnership between Airbnb and Accor's lifestyle hotel subsidiary ahead of a $3.7 billion IPO. Ben, Edwin, and Scott dig into whether the math actually works for owners, who benefits more, and why Wall Street keeps struggling to put a number on cool.
And finally — Vrbo is launching sponsored listings. The beta is live. The full rollout is coming. And if you've been around long enough to remember what happened when organic reach died on Meta, you already know where this is going. Scott's spice of the week ties it all together: four stories that seem unrelated until you realize they're all asking the same question. How do you earn trust at scale? And what happens to the brands — and the platforms — that can't figure that out?
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This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey. Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary. If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
—
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
03:18 — Interview: Norwegian Air's Viral Women's Euro Campaign
26:53 — Story #1: Airbnb and Ennismore Hook Up
33:47 — Story #2: The Slow Death of Organic Discovery on Vrbo
39:52 — Story #3: South Korea Could Strip Hotels of Stars for Price Gouging
1:04:47 — Spice of the Week
—
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
James McBride, Co-Founder & CEO of NIHI Hotels, joins the core four for a wide-ranging conversation on what it actually takes to build a legendary independent hospitality brand — from the jungles of Sumba to the halls of the Ritz-Carlton.
James traces his career across some of the most storied names in luxury hospitality — Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, the Carlisle, YTL — before partnering with Chris Burch to build NIHI Sumba, now widely regarded as one of the world's most exceptional and emotionally resonant hotel experiences. He breaks down the difference between operating inside a behemoth brand versus building something from scratch, and what it really costs — personally and professionally — to go independent.
The conversation covers demand creation in the pre-algorithm era (think hot cookies at Malaysian airports and a chef moonlighting as a "technology butler"), how a yoga teacher ran NIHI's Instagram for its first five years, and why NIHI's most viral post — horses casting shadows on a beach at sunset — gets mistaken for AI-generated content daily. James also shares his philosophy on guerrilla marketing, the power of generosity as a brand strategy, and why scarcity may be the most underutilized asset in luxury hospitality today.
On the business side, James gets candid about partner selection, equity, the emotional toll of betting on yourself, and what independent operators consistently get wrong: great product, poor storytelling. He argues that the GM running a flagged property matters more than the flag itself — that soul can't be systemized, only lived.
A masterclass in brand building, emotional hospitality, and the courage it takes to build something the world hasn't seen yet.
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Connect with Colin: linkedin.com/in/colinjamesnagy/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
—
The luxury hotel boom of the last decade produced more five-star rooms, more high-end brands, and more capital chasing premium travelers than any period in modern hospitality history.
It also produced a lot of hotels that feel exactly the same.
Colin Nagy has spent nearly a decade covering the business of luxury travel for Skift while leading global brand strategy for Instagram and Threads at Meta. He sits at a rare intersection — deeply inside the world of brand, culture, and consumer behavior, and deeply inside an industry he genuinely loves. That combination makes him one of the most clear-eyed observers working in hospitality today.
In this episode, Colin and I dig into why luxury has optimized itself into sameness — and more importantly, what the brands getting it right are actually doing differently. We get into the role hospitality plays in a world where AI is accelerating isolation and people are hungry for real human connection. We talk members' clubs — the ones worth betting on and the ones burning through capital without a clue. We get into the macro disruption question most operators aren't asking loudly enough. And we talk about what world building actually requires — and why so few brands are willing to do the work.
Colin isn't cynical about any of this. He's demanding. There's a difference. And if you care about where this industry is headed, this conversation will sharpen how you see it.
— Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of Growth at Journey. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What if the technology helping independent hotels compete with the biggest brands in the world shouldn’t feel like technology at all?
Cloudbeds serves tens of thousands of properties across more than 150 countries — giving its team a uniquely expansive view into how independent hotels are performing, what operators are struggling with, and how the way travelers discover and book stays is rapidly changing.
In this episode, Zach sits down in person with Rafael Blanes, Chief Growth Officer at Cloudbeds, and Sébastien Leitner, VP of Partnerships, to unpack why they believe this is one of the most exciting moments yet to be an independent hotelier.
Rafael and Sébastien explain why the traditional PMS is evolving into something much bigger, how fragmented hotel data prevents operators from making confident decisions, and why the industry’s obsession with “AI” may be getting in the way of solving the problems hoteliers actually care about.
They also share a look at Ask Signals, a conversational tool that could allow operators to ask questions of their property data, generate reports in seconds, receive explainable pricing recommendations, and eventually get a proactive daily briefing before arriving at the hotel.
The conversation also explores why OTAs can actually help hotels generate more direct bookings, what independent properties must do to compete with the marketing machines of major flags, and why operators should never treat an OTA guest differently from someone who booked direct.
Finally, Rafael and Sébastien share the story behind the Cloudbeds Collection — a portfolio of 100 distinctive independent properties around the world — and why Cloudbeds selected Journey as its loyalty partner to help those hotels share guests, strengthen direct relationships, and offer the benefits of a global loyalty ecosystem without sacrificing what makes each property different.
You’ll also hear why the next hotel Rafael builds will almost certainly have a marina, how Sébastien prepares a five-day roast chicken, and the remarkable story of the technology partner who worked through the night to help former Sonder properties keep their doors open.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Rafael and Sébastien.
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Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks at boutique hotels, private residences, landscape hotels, glamping retreats, and so much more.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur with a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join the Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Zach, Scott, and Edwin dig into three stories reshaping the industry this holiday week. First: Skift's The Big Squeeze Part 2, which spotlights a family in Iowa who let their Wyndham franchise expire, renovated their Super Eight, and beat their old revenue numbers — no flag required. With 1,200+ economy agreements hitting end-of-term by 2030, the off-ramp is more viable than ever. Then: Bass Pro Shops quietly acquiring Cheeca Lodge in the Florida Keys for a reported $300M — a masterclass in brand ecosystem building that's staying firmly in its lane. Finally: Brian Chesky's reported shadow AI lab, what it says about the limits of building inside a public company, and why the chat interface might be the wrong bet entirely. Spice of the week: Edwin on why budget season is the moment to rethink your AI staffing strategy, Scott on hospitality's leadership crisis (not labor crisis), and Zach on why the World Cup turned out to be anything but a non-event.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
07:11 — The Economy Hotel Franchise Revolt
24:36 — Bass Pro’s $300M Resort Bet
35:56 — Airbnb Founder’s Secret AI Lab
45:03 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Sean O'Neill of Skift joins the roundtable this week for a conversation that cuts straight to the fault lines running through the hotel industry right now — distribution versus identity, brand proliferation versus brand meaning, and the wellness promise versus wellness delivery.
The panel leads with Pali Society's decision to bring its 16-property California portfolio into Marriott's Design Hotels ecosystem — the single largest addition in the program's history. Edwin draws the line everyone in the independent space is afraid to say out loud: using Marriott as a marketing channel is smart; slowly operating for Marriott guests instead of your own is how you lose the thing that made you worth joining in the first place. Scott is blunter: "Every owner in the world loves independence until they have empty rooms."
From there, Sean's own Hilton story lands on the table. Hilton's new CDO is signaling five or six organic brands are coming — and a trademark filing, locked domain, and placeholder social accounts are already pointing toward a lifestyle concept called "Tortoise." The group debates whether the major brand groups, Hilton included, are actually delivering on their supposed superpower. Sean's take: in an AI-discovery world, the question isn't how many brands you have — it's whether any of them mean anything.
The conversation gets sharper on wellness — a category where nearly everyone claims the space and very few actually own it. Ben makes the obvious argument: if Oura can sync with fitness apps, why can't Canyon Ranch pull your health data? Edwin adds the counterweight — the freedom to do nothing is the next frontier that nobody's building for.
Plus: Soho House gets called out for failing to remember Edwin's green tea order after ten years, Scott's Venice discovery about a pool built in feet instead of meters, and Zach's verdict on San Antonio as the most underrated hotel market in America. This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
38:13 — Story #1: Palisociety Joins Marriott’s Design Hotels
49:52 — Story #2: Hilton’s New Brand Factory
01:01:51 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week opens in full TWIH chaos: Zach and Scott are somehow a mile apart in San Antonio and still not together, Ben is on the Connecticut shore debuting smarter-looking glasses, and Edwin is back in Barcelona sweating through a muted AC situation.
Then the guys get into the real stories moving hospitality. CoStar and Tourism Economics upgrade 2026 RevPAR forecasts, but the panel is skeptical. Luxury keeps pulling away, select service is stuck below inflation, and Ben argues the real problem is product-market fit: too many boring midscale hotels charging more without giving guests a reason to care. Edwin warns that the rush into luxury could create a wave of copy-paste properties that look expensive but mean nothing. Scott lands the bigger question: are we measuring industry health while ignoring the health of the guest experience?
From there, Marriott hits 10,000 properties with the JW Marriott Ranthambore in India — and the milestone becomes a debate about scale, owner trust, Bonvoy economics, and whether loyalty programs are quietly becoming financial institutions. Edwin points to owners pushing for a bigger slice of Marriott’s credit-card and loyalty revenue, while Ben argues younger hoteliers may not see the same value in flags that previous generations did. The crew digs into whether AI, better data, and a more independent-minded generation of owners could start cracking the big-brand moat.
In What’s in Your DMs, Ben is seeing a wave of narrative-driven independent hotel projects, Scott hears from a travel advisor whose clients are bringing AI-generated itineraries for human validation, Edwin is getting flooded by designers looking for work, and Zach admits he built a Claude agent to help find better podcast guests.
Finally, Edwin breaks down Amsterdam’s tourist-tax fight, where the city is pushing toward a 20% tax by 2030 and hotel leaders are moving from dialogue to lawsuits. The group debates overtourism, whether cities want visitor revenue without visitor relationships, and why Europe is starting to feel materially more expensive for travelers.
Spice of the Week closes with World Cup infrastructure chaos in Miami, six-hour stadium commutes, and Ben’s Messi doppelgänger moment.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
06:51 — Story #1: CoStar’s Hotel Forecast Reversal
24:00 — Story #2: Marriott Hits 10,000 Hotels
46:50 — What’s In Your DMs: AI Travel Planning & Independent Hotel Momentum
1:00:13 — Story #3: Amsterdam’s Tourist Tax Revolt
1:11:22 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Two of the biggest casino operators in the world became takeover targets in the same week — and the squad has thoughts.
Barry Diller's People Inc. just offered $18 billion to take MGM Resorts private, days after Fertitta agreed to buy Caesars. MGM's own CFO didn't argue the company was fairly valued — he argued investors aren't doing the work. Ben, Scott, and Edwin debate whether public markets are simply too lazy to underwrite experience-driven hospitality, and what the next-generation casino actually looks like.
Then: the deal that almost rewrote the industry. On a recent podcast, Airbnb's former Chief Strategy Officer Chip Conley revealed that Marriott and Airbnb spent six months negotiating a major partnership in 2016 — including talk of earning and burning Bonvoy points on Airbnb stays — before Marriott's owners killed it. Was it the most expensive "no" in hospitality history?
Plus: Zach got access to Odesia, the AI travel search platform from Sonder's co-founder that just landed $6M from Sequoia — and it's the best AI trip-planning experience he's seen, full stop. And a new survey of 2,000 travelers reveals what premium guests will actually pay more for: quiet rooms, verified sustainability, and tech that connects rather than dazzles. Spoiler — it's a home-field advantage for independents.
Spice of the Week covers a sandwich shop that turned away revenue over a tiny dog, why full hotels fool owners into thinking their marketing works, the OTA-fee budget shell game, and Zach's big announcement: Journey's new strategic partnership with Cloudbeds.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
05:08 — Story #1: MGM’s Take-Private Bid and the Value of Live Experience
16:31 — Story #2: Marriott and Airbnb’s Partnership That Never Happened
33:43 — Story #3: Travelers Will Pay More for Quiet, Calm, and Credibility
44:54 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week opens at LE Miami — which Scott describes less like a travel conference and more like Coachella for hotel nerds — before the guys dive into the real industry tension underneath the party.
Hyatt tells investors to stop counting rooms and start counting fees, arguing that “empty calorie” growth is the wrong metric. But the panel digs into the contradiction: the premium story is Park Hyatt, Andaz, Thompson, and Alila — while the actual growth engine may be Essentials, all-inclusives, and credit card economics. Translation: hotel companies are increasingly distribution platforms, loyalty machines, and maybe even banks.
Then Hilton’s Undergraduate by Hilton gets a second look. The name still gets roasted, but the strategy starts to make sense: college towns are wildly underserved, Graduate doesn’t pencil everywhere, and tired select-service boxes are begging for conversion. The question is whether this is lifestyle innovation — or just another brand solving an owner pipeline problem.
The guys also react to Sonder co-founder Francis Davidson’s new AI travel startup, Odessia, and debate whether dedicated AI travel agents can win when ChatGPT and Claude already own so much user context. That leads into a bigger conversation about trust, human travel advisors, preference passports, and why overwhelmed travelers may want fewer options — not more.
Finally, Minor Hotels makes the case for “asset-right” hospitality, arguing that brands need more skin in the game if they want owner trust. The crew closes with DMs, celebrity hotel speculation, World Cup demand anxiety, and Ben teasing a possible conversion-brand play of his own.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro & L.E/Miami Recap
05:52 — Hyatt’s New Growth Strategy
16:35 — Hilton’s Undergraduate Brand Bet
24:25 — Sonder’s Founder Is Back: Odessia and AI Travel Planning
33:35 — The Human Concierge Is Making a Comeback
50:00 — What’s In Your DMs?
59:25 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Mews embeds Uber directly into its PMS, promising seamless guest transportation and a cut of ancillary revenue hotels have long been leaving on the table. The guys are skeptical — cool concept, questionable adoption, and the real winner might just be Uber’s data team.
Then Expedia announces B2A — a marketing function built not for humans, but for AI agents. Scott doesn’t mince words: AI is about to expose how hollow most hotel marketing actually is. Ben connects the dots to the accelerating rise of independent, story-driven properties that LLMs will increasingly favor over generic flag brands.
Americans aren’t canceling travel — they’re shortening trips, going domestic, and scrutinizing every dollar. Scott just did seven hotel site visits in Tuscany. Not one was at capacity. The Smoky Mountains are not having the same problem.
Finally, a sharp op-ed on the structural dysfunction between hotel owners and operators sparks a broader debate about why the aligned owner-operator model is the decade’s single biggest competitive advantage — and why capital still hasn’t caught up.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
02:28 — Story #1: Mews embeds Uber into the PMS
15:28 — Story #2: Expedia’s B2A strategy for AI agents
37:17 — Story #3: Travelers trade down, not out
50:04 — Story #4: The owner-operator information gap
56:36 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Explore Epicurate: https://epicurate.vip/
Connect with Max: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-porterkhamsy/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
—
Every once in a while on this show, I get to share news that I'm personally invested in — and this is one of those episodes.
A few weeks ago, Journey acquired Epicurate, a private chef and experiences platform that has become one of the most beloved platforms in the luxury segment of the short-term rental world. If you operate in the high-end residence rental space, there's a good chance you've either used Epicurate yourself or you've stayed somewhere that does. The platform powers private dining, in-home wellness, gear rental, grocery delivery, and a growing list of curated services for some of the most respected vacation rental brands in the country — AvantStay, Abode Luxury Rentals, and Red Cottage just to name a few.
The man behind it is Max Porterkhamsy, and his story is one of my favorite kinds. A would-be patent lawyer who walked away from mechanical engineering to go to culinary school. He went on to work at a storied michelin star restaurant in New York, then designed and executed a 7-course tasting menu for a tasting room in Sonoma, to cooking private dinners and running concierge for vacation rental guests staying at some of the most coveted homes in wine country. And then, Max started noticing something the rest of us in this industry had been drowning in for years — concierge is broken. The relationships are there. The talent is there. But the tooling underneath it all is a tangle of spreadsheets, email chains, and tribal knowledge that doesn't scale.
So Max built the platform he wished he'd had as a chef. And six years later, it's become the connective tissue between operators who want to deliver hotel-grade hospitality and the local providers who actually make that magic happen.
In this conversation, we get into all of it — Max's path from growing up in farm in New Hampshire to how covid rocked the hospitality industry but accelerated Epicurate’s growth, what hotels can learn from the private external concierge model, and why Journey acquired Epicurate.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Max.
— Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of Growth at Journey. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
The hospitality industry was supposed to print money during the 2026 World Cup. Instead, nearly 80% of hotels across the eleven US host cities are pacing significantly below forecasts, with Kansas City operators calling it a non-event and Boston, Philly, and San Francisco not far behind. On this week's episode, Zach is joined by Edwin Kramer, Scott Eddy, and Ben Wolff to unpack what went wrong — visa friction, FIFA's extortionate ticket pricing, geopolitical headwinds, and a hospitality industry that mistook the World Cup logo for a marketing strategy. Edwin offers a sharp European perspective on why the math was always going to be brutal for international travelers, while Scott levels a familiar critique: hotels keep believing their own projections instead of doing the basic work of telling guests how to actually get to the match.
From there, the conversation moves to Priceline's surprisingly sharp William Shatner TikTok play (and what booking's parent strategy says about the OTA wars), Under Canvas's CEO transition and the missing middle in outdoor hospitality, and the slow death of Spirit Airlines — a story that opens up a wider debate about whether the ultra-low-cost carrier model can survive in the US the way it has in Europe. Ben, calling in from Onera Fredericksburg, makes the case that commodity businesses can't run on razor-thin margins forever, and Edwin walks through the European low-cost graveyard nobody's talking about.
The episode closes on Aman's reported move into the Texas Hill Country — a development Ben sees as the ultimate validation of a market he bet on years ago, and a signal that ultra-luxury is now defining itself by space rather than density. Plus spice of the week: Instagram's new metrics hierarchy, why most brands still can't do basic marketing, and Edwin's pitch to the next generation of hoteliers.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
09:10 — Story #1: World Cup Hotel Demand Falls Short
24:13 — Story #2: Priceline Revives the Negotiator
31:47 — Story #3: Under Canvas’ Next Chapter
40:10 — Story #4: Spirit’s Collapse and the Low-Cost Airline Model
50:13 — Story #5: Aman Bets on Texas Hill Country
54:44 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week’s conversation pulls apart a reality the industry has been circling for months—but is now impossible to ignore: travel demand is no longer being created, shaped, or captured by the companies that actually deliver the experience.
It’s happening upstream.
What starts as a discussion around TikTok and AI quickly evolves into something bigger—a structural shift in how travelers decide. Discovery is no longer destination-first. It’s scroll-first. A piece of content sparks interest, AI compresses consideration, and by the time a traveler reaches a booking interface, most of the decision has already been made.
That shift leaves hotels, airlines, and even OTAs reacting instead of leading.
The episode unpacks what that means in practice. Why a digitally ambitious airline like Riyadh Air still defaults to legacy distribution before launch. Why Uber entering hotel bookings isn’t about inventory—it’s about embedding travel into habit. And why every major brand—from Airbnb to Minor Hotels—is racing to become more than just a single touchpoint in the journey.
Underneath all of it is a more uncomfortable truth: the industry has over-rotated on storytelling without solving distribution. And storytelling alone doesn’t close the transaction.
There’s also tension between strategy and reality. Independent operators are told to “create demand,” but many are still constrained by ownership structures focused on 30- to 90-day performance windows. Attribution remains murky. Investment decisions follow what can be measured—not necessarily what drives long-term growth.
The result is a fragmented ecosystem where inspiration, validation, and booking live in entirely different places—most of which operators don’t control.
The question isn’t whether this shift is happening. It’s who adapts to it—and who becomes invisible within it.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
05:15 — Story #1: TikTok, AI, and the Hijacked Travel Funnel
28:50 — Story #2: Uber Enters Hotel Booking Through Expedia
38:35 — Story #3: Riyadh Air’s Direct-Booking Reality Check
47:28 — Story #4: Minor Hotels Bets on Private Jet Luxury
57:32 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Explore Raina Music: https://rainamusic.com/
Connect with Vikas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikassapranyc/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
—
In just a moment, you’ll meet Vikas Sapra—DJ, tech founder, and the guy who’s quietly rewiring how the world’s best hotels and restaurants think about sound. Vikas has played for A-list celebrities like Jay-Z and Kanye, just to name a few. He’s collaborated with Mark Ronson and Questlove. He’s the rare DJ who can play a rock set on Friday, an R&B crowd on Saturday, and a Brooklyn warehouse the weekend after that. And at every venue he’s played, the GM said the same thing: “Dude, take over our music. What does it take to get you full-time here?”
Well, after the hundredth time of being asked, he did. And that’s how Raina was born.
Today, Raina powers the sound in over 600 hospitality spaces—from Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, to The Moxy in the East Village, to José Andrés’ restaurants, Tao Group’s rooftops, Auberge properties, and so much more. They’re a preferred vendor for Hyatt, and they’re doing something no one else is doing. They’re combining a DJ’s ear, an operator’s mindset, and a tech founder’s instinct for what to build.
Vikas’s thesis is sharp: music isn’t decoration—it’s a behavioral lever. The right tempo changes dwell time. The right familiarity changes the average check. And most operators, even the great ones, still treat it as an afterthought.
This conversation is about how he’s changing that.
Here’s my conversation with Vikas Sapra, founder of Raina.
— Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of Growth at Journey. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Luxury hospitality has a credibility problem: the industry keeps charging more while delivering sameness, ceremony, and aesthetic shortcuts that increasingly feel hollow. Joining the quad this week is Bashar Wali—hotel operator, industry veteran, and one of hospitality’s most outspoken critics—known for pairing irreverence with sharp, experience-backed insight. He wastes no time arguing that the old markers of luxury no longer match what modern travelers actually value: time, privacy, ease, and the feeling of being genuinely seen.
The conversation expands into a broader critique of ownership, brands, and the “muddy middle.” Bashar reframes hotels not as service businesses, but as retailers selling a perishable product—one that must earn loyalty through experience rather than points or perks. Ben pushes on capital constraints, Scott questions whether human-first hospitality can scale, and Edwin highlights how far the industry has drifted from its roots. The tension is clear: technology should remove friction, not replace human connection.
The episode ultimately lands on a sharper test for any hotel claiming luxury status: strip away the scent machine, the coffee table books, the scripted welcome—what’s left? If it isn’t care, competence, character, and soul, the product was never luxury to begin with.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Special Guest:
Bashar Wali — This Assembly
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basharwali/
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Connect with Corey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-jones-a66a004/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
—
His tenant stopped paying rent. When he went to investigate, he found guest books, five-star reviews, and a listing on VRBO — for his own home. That's how Corey Jones stumbled into vacation rentals. No business plan. No grand ambition. Just a house he couldn't sell in 2009, a tenant who saw an opportunity before he did, and a New York Times travel feature he never knew existed — about a property he owned.
That accidental beginning became Lucky Savannah, now one of the largest vacation rental management companies in one of the South's most beloved destinations, with over 400 properties across the city.
We sat down together in one of those properties — a three-story home built in the 1760s, the oldest masonry brick structure in the state of Georgia, where George Washington once stayed. It's been a colonial meeting house, a law firm, and now a meticulously restored luxury vacation rental that just won one of VRBO's top homes of the year.
In this episode, we explore:
- How a rental gone wrong became a 400-property portfolio — and why saying yes to everything was the right move early on
- What "historic luxury" actually means, and how Corey's team blends 18th-century architecture with modern amenities
- Why Savannah's hotel-first culture forced his team to operate at a higher standard from day one
- How he's thinking about AI — including a dedicated budget line item for 2026
- The case for casting a narrow net in an industry that rewards specialization
- And why the operators who stayed disciplined through the post-COVID hangover are the ones getting the calls back
Fifteen years in, Corey hasn't expanded into new markets or chased the hotel trend. He's betting that going deeper — not broader — is how you win in the long run.
A special thanks to my friends at Expedia and the VRBO team for inviting me down to Savannah to capture Corey's story in person. — Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of Growth at Journey. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
The hotel industry is telling two very different stories right now — and this week, the squad unpacks both.
First up: a Skift deep dive exposes the brutal math crushing America's hotel owners. Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt are posting record profits while the people who actually own the buildings are hemorrhaging cash — franchise fees, loyalty fees, F&B fees, spa fees, stack an OTA commission on top and owners could be handing over 40% of revenue before paying a single employee. The panel doesn't hold back. Edwin calls it a deadlock. Ben calls it a hostage situation. Scott says the cracks show up the moment growth slows — and right now, they're everywhere.
Then: the man behind Six Senses is back. Bernard Baumgartner's new venture, Discover Collection, ditches OTAs entirely for a membership-based model with 32 villas in Oman and a bombshell incentive — travel advisors earn 12% commission on lifetime guest spend. It won't scale. That's the point.
Wyndham makes a surprise appearance with a genuinely clever social campaign — a $20K Route 66 road trip giveaway pairing grandparents with grandkids, comp stays at Days Inn and Super 8, full content documentation required. The most valuable guest isn't the highest spender — it's the best storyteller.
And Coachella? Ben drops a reality check. It didn't sell out in 2023. Random April weekends outperformed festival weekends at his Palm Springs hotel. Justin Bieber saved it this year. The takeaway: demand anchors are powerful, but they're lineup-dependent, not brand-dependent.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
05:12 — Story #1: Hotel Owners Get Crushed While Brands Cash In
26:46 — Story #2: Bernard’s Members-Only Hotel Bet
40:13 — Story #3: Wyndham’s Grandparent Route 66 Play
48:57 — Story #4: Coachella Became a Hospitality Engine
59:13 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week, Scott, Ben, and Zach discuss the growing disconnect between industry strategy and traveler behavior.
New data from Cloudbeds shows OTA share continuing to rise for independent hotels, even as operators double down on direct booking initiatives. At the same time, Hyatt tied executive compensation to improving direct channel performance—and failed to meet the target, underscoring how difficult the shift has become, even at scale.
In parallel, short-term rental data suggests demand has not weakened, but rather evolved. Travelers are taking longer to convert, prioritizing flexibility, and increasingly relying on platforms during moments of uncertainty.
And in the Caribbean, tourism reached record levels despite severe hurricane disruption—highlighting both the strength of global demand and the growing importance of long-term resilience.
Taken together, these stories point to a broader shift: success is no longer determined by capturing demand more efficiently, but by creating it earlier—and owning it before the booking ever begins.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
03:15 — Story #1: OTAs Gain Share as Direct Booking Push Stalls
27:02 — Story #2: Hyatt Ties Executive Pay to Direct Booking Goals
40:16 — Story #3: Caribbean Tourism Rebounds Despite Disaster Losses
45:06 — Story #4: STR Demand Isn’t Falling—It’s Delaying and Shifting
51:21 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Explore The Retreat Costa Rica: https://www.theretreatcostarica.com/
Connect with Diana: https://dianastobo.com/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
In just a moment you'll meet Diana Stobo, the founder and visionary behind The Retreat Costa Rica — a 25-room luxury wellness destination and healing center with three farm-to-table restaurants, about an hour west of San José. Condé Nast just named it the number one destination spa in the world.
But rewind about 25 years and Diana is 34 years old. Three kids at home. Husband travels Monday through Friday. And she's alone, projectile vomiting blood, calling a friend because she can't leave the house to get to the hospital. The doctors tell her she's raw tissue from one end to the other and hand her a prescription she'll need for the rest of her life. She never fills it.
Instead she eliminates six foods, loses 100 pounds, reverses every condition her doctors said was permanent, pioneers the raw food movement, writes 15 books, and sells 65,000 copies out of the trunk of her car.
Then comes the divorce. And on the same day it's finalized, she buys a property sight unseen on a quartz mountain in Costa Rica.
But there are years between that purchase and the property you see today. Years where there are no investors, no guests, and no money left. Years where she's draining her retirement savings to keep her staff on payroll during a global pandemic. And then there's the moment she walks into the Global Wellness Summit — the biggest gathering of hospitality and wellness executives in the world — ready to sell the whole thing. She's broke. She's overwhelmed. She's one woman paying every bill. And one by one, the biggest names in the industry start describing the future of hospitality — intimacy, authenticity, nature, homegrown food — and she realizes they're describing everything she already built.
She doesn't sell. She goes back to Costa Rica and buys the whole mountain.
This is one of the most remarkable founder stories we've had on Behind the Stays.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week, the guys unpack a massive shift happening across hospitality — and what it means for who actually owns demand.
Hotel executives are finally admitting what’s been true for years: discovery is no longer happening on their platforms. It’s happening on social, in group chats, and increasingly through AI. If you’re not part of the inspiration phase, you don’t exist.
At the same time, food is stepping into the spotlight as a true demand driver—not just an amenity. From chef-led concepts to destination restaurants, hotels are betting big on F&B to differentiate, drive rate, and create relevance. But with thin margins and fierce competition, most will underestimate how hard it is to win.
And then there’s loyalty. New data suggests travelers care more about trust, recognition, and real value than price alone — exposing just how outdated many loyalty programs have become. Points aren’t enough anymore. Guests want to feel known.
We break down what all of this means for operators, brands, and investors—and why the hotels that win next won’t just distribute demand… they’ll create it. This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
06:39 — Story #1: Discovery Moved Upstream
32:16 — Story #2: Hotels Bet on Food as Identity
47:15 — Story #3: Trust Beats Price
56:01 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Hilton just rewrote the rules on growth—without buying brands. Marriott keeps flooding the market with more flags. And underneath it all, a bigger question is emerging: who actually owns demand in hospitality?
This week, we break down Hilton’s Yotel deal and what it signals about the future of “platformized” hotel brands, Marriott’s relentless expansion strategy (and whether guests even care anymore), and why distribution—not differentiation—is becoming the real battleground.
We also get into Four Seasons’ move into luxury yachts, Thailand’s push to own wellness travel, and how Netflix is quietly reshaping restaurant demand.
If you’re building, investing in, or operating hospitality, this episode is about one thing: control the guest—or rent them from someone who does. This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
02:06 — Story #1: Hilton’s Yotel Deal Turns Brand Into Distribution
27:18 — Story #2: Four Seasons Bets That Luxury Belongs at Sea
40:31 — Story #3: Thailand Makes Wellness a National Strategy
51:11 — Story #4: Netflix Is Now a Travel Demand Engine
01:04:37 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Connect with David
Connect with Zach
Apply to join the Journey Alliance
David Kaplan didn't come up through the industry the traditional way. He went to art school, never tended bar a day in his life, and opened Death & Co in New York's East Village on New Year's Eve 2006 with a vintage cash register and zero business experience. What followed was twenty years of one of the most influential runs in American hospitality — a craft cocktail institution that helped shape how a generation drinks, thinks about bars, and expects to be taken care of.
But David was never just building a bar. He was building a brand, a culture, and eventually a company — Gin & Luck — that now spans consulting, multiple Death & Co locations, and his newest venture: Midnight Auteur Hotels, whose first property, Municipal Grand in Savannah, is already turning heads.
In this episode, David traces the full arc. We get into the origin story, the partnership drama that stalled expansion for years, why he walked away from a family office overlooking Central Park to raise $18 million from 5,000 individual investors instead, and what it actually takes to scale hospitality without losing the thing that made it special in the first place.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week in hospitality, three big shifts are colliding — and none of them are getting enough attention.
Hotel restaurants are no longer an afterthought. What was once a margin-draining “amenity” is now becoming one of the most powerful demand drivers a hotel can have. So what changed… and why are lenders suddenly bullish on F&B?
At the same time, Hyatt is making a major move into secondary and tertiary markets — a clear signal that distribution, not differentiation, is the game they’re trying to win. But does scaling faster come at the cost of brand soul?
And then there’s LOGE.
Once one of the most talked-about outdoor hospitality brands, it’s now facing a brutal reality — rapid expansion, rising costs, and the hard truth about scaling experience-driven stays.
We break down:
- Why hotel F&B is becoming a growth engine (not a cost center)
- Hyatt’s aggressive expansion strategy — and what it says about the market
- What LOGE’s struggles reveal about outdoor hospitality
- Why “manufacturing demand” is now the only strategy that works
- And how hotels are losing (or winning) relevance faster than ever
If you’re building, investing in, or operating hospitality brands — this is the conversation you need to be paying attention to.This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
06:26 — Story #1: Hotel F&B Shifts from Cost Center to Demand Driver
23:06 — Story #2: Hyatt Expands into Secondary Markets to Fix Distribution Gap
48:04 — Story #3: World Cup Demand Reality Falls Short of Industry Expectations
01:07:46 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
In this episode of Behind the Stays, Zach Busekrus sits down with Scott Wiseman, CEO of Nocturne Luxury Villas, to explore what luxury vacation rental brands can learn from hotels — and where the villa category is building a playbook all its own.
Drawing on leadership experience across Accor, Abercrombie & Kent, Cox & Kings, Apple Leisure Group, and now Nocturne, Scott shares a clear-eyed perspective on brand building, loyalty, service, acquisitions, and the future of luxury travel. From why recognition matters more than rewards to how Nocturne balances local brand identity with platform-scale infrastructure, this conversation is a thoughtful look at what it takes to build trust in a category where no two homes are the same.
The conversation explores:
- What luxury hotels get right about marketing experience over function
- Why the tension between hotels and vacation rentals may have been overstated
- How Nocturne thinks about portfolio branding, local brand identity, and direct bookings
- What repeat rate, guest journey design, and live feedback reveal about true brand value
- How Scott evaluates acquisitions, luxury markets, and homeowner acquisition in an increasingly competitive landscape
This is a practical, strategic conversation for anyone building, marketing, or scaling a hospitality brand in the luxury travel space.
Connect with Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottfwiseman/
Explore Nocturne Luxury Villas: https://www.nocturneluxuryvillas.com/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week’s episode of This Week in Hospitality starts on a deeply human note, with the crew reflecting on the escalating conflict in Iran and the ripple effects being felt across the Middle East and global travel. Edwin, Scott, Ben, and Zach share firsthand accounts from friends and colleagues across Dubai, Kuwait, Doha, Beirut, and beyond — a sobering reminder that hospitality often becomes both refuge and frontline in moments of crisis. From bombed airports to stranded travelers to terrified interns far from home, the conversation grounds the industry in what matters most: people caring for people.
From there, the episode pivots hard into one of the biggest questions facing travel right now: what happens when AI stops being a novelty and starts becoming the interface? The panel unpacks Skift’s “Claude Effect” thesis — the idea that travel may be next in line for the same investor panic and business-model disruption already hitting legal, finance, and cybersecurity. Ben argues the OTAs are in the blast zone. Scott says the markets always overreact — but something big is clearly coming. Edwin drops a scorching hot take: the real endgame may not be Booking vs. Expedia, but an AI giant partnering with or buying one of them outright.
The back half of the episode tackles hotel brand sprawl and whether the industry has finally reached a saturation point. Are soft brands actually helping, or have they become watered-down middle children that confuse consumers and dilute meaning? The crew debates whether AI-powered discovery will make “brand count” irrelevant and force hotel groups to compete on clarity, trust, and true personalization instead.
Finally, the episode closes with a fascinating look at Kimpton, one of the rare boutique brands that seems to have scaled without completely losing its soul after acquisition. Scott and Edwin explain why Kimpton has worked when so many others have failed: separate teams, protected identity, and the discipline to let the back-end scale quietly without flattening the front-end experience.
Oh, and in true This Week in Hospitality fashion, the episode wraps with a spicy final challenge for the industry: if you’re a travel executive talking about AI but not personally using it every day, what exactly are you leading?
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
15:15 — Story #1: AI’s “Claude Effect” Comes for Travel Booking
34:53 — Story #2: Have Hotel Soft Brands Hit a Saturation Point?
45:58 — Story #3: Can Kimpton Scale Without Losing Its Soul?
53:12 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Explore The Stanza: https://www.thestanzamedia.com/Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
Before she built one of hospitality’s most thoughtful media brands, Nadine Choe was underwriting some of the most ambitious luxury developments in the world — including Aman Beverly Hills, a $5B project years in the making.
She understands air rights, entitlement risk, capital stacks, branded residences, and why the “flag” can make or break a deal.
And then she walked away.
Moved to Europe. Started publishing ideas on the internet. Went viral by dissecting how lifestyle brands become hospitality empires — and why most projects fail before they ever break ground.
That experiment became The Stanza — a media platform where capital meets culture, and where taste isn’t aesthetic decoration… it’s strategic advantage.
In this episode, we explore:* What really goes into building ultra-luxury hospitality * Distribution vs. desire — and why the best brands don’t optimize for everyone * Why most pitch decks fail (and what investors actually want to see) * How authenticity becomes a moat in both hotels and media * And why the future of luxury may belong to smaller, family-led operators who treat hospitality like art
If you’re building a brand, raising capital, or trying to create something truly one-of-one in an increasingly algorithmic world — this conversation will recalibrate how you think about luxury.
Taste, Nadine argues, is not decoration. It’s defense.
Stream below or wherever you get your podcasts
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
The episode opens with a “ground truth” dispatch from Jason Henzell of Jake’s Hotel in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, laying out how community tourism, agritourism, and repeat-guest loyalty can anchor a destination—then how two major hurricanes force an operator to turn resilience into strategy.
From there, the hosts dissect Airbnb’s widening blast radius: airport transfers, grocery delivery tests, revived experiences, a bigger hotel push, and (again) a non-points loyalty experiment. Ben argues the ambition is coherent but execution has historically lagged—so the question is what Airbnb actually nails in the next 6–12 months.
Then the episode turns to the bigger tectonic shift: agentic AI and whether it breaks the OTA model. Scott calls it noise until it works; Ben and Edwin push that consumers will prefer conversational planning to endless deal-scrolling, pressuring commissions and “propping up mediocrity” less and less.
Spice of the Week closes on the coming job title nobody’s staffed for yet: the people who manage fleets of agents—and the businesses that still win because humans show up.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
01:44 — Ground Truth from the Owner: Jake’s Hotel & Treasure Beach rebuild
24:57 — Story #1: Airbnb’s “super app” push: transfers, hotels, loyalty
38:05 — Story #2: Agentic AI vs OTAs: Marriott/Wyndham integrations and Booking fears
53:01 — Story #3: Choice Hotels trims low-performing U.S. economy inventory
1:00:11 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
In an era where AI is optimizing everything—from pricing to property descriptions—the real competitive advantage in hospitality may no longer be data. It may be identity.
In this episode, Janice Wilson, founder of the luxury forest retreat Menizei, and experiential designer Paula Oblen, founder of Hotelements®, break down what it actually means to build a “Category-of-One” hospitality brand. Drawing from Janice’s background in large-scale AI systems and Paula’s two decades designing high-performing experiential properties—including Casa Tierra with Bobby Berk—they argue that optimization alone leads to sameness.
Instead, they explore how identity, emotional intention, and strategic design create durable moats that algorithms can’t replicate. From forest cocooning and longevity-themed A-frames to Return on Design™ and anticipatory guest experiences, this conversation reframes hospitality as both art and capital strategy.
If you’re an investor, operator, or designer wondering how to stand out in an increasingly automated world, this episode is your blueprint for building something unforgettable—and financially defensible.
Behind the Stays Listeners get an exclusive discount when they enroll in "From Place to Category" a destination.design educational experience by Janice and Paula. Use the code "BTS" (or simply reference it when you apply) to qualify.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
Accor isn’t just polishing the Orient Express legend — it’s trying to industrialize it. With LVMH in the mix, the play shifts from “luxury assets” to a full ecosystem built on narrative: trains, hotels, yachts, and a throughline of romance and mythology. Scott sees the upside in that long-game brand equity, but the panel keeps circling the same risk: storytelling can sell the dream, yet only flawless operations keep it from collapsing into cosplay.
Then the mood turns pragmatic with Casago’s post-Vacasa reality check. A founder-led franchise business runs on trust and alignment as much as tech and scale, and Steve Schwab’s CEO transition lands as a stress test for franchisees already bracing for integration chaos. Ben argues owners should protect optionality while the dust settles; Scott and Edwin frame it as a “psychological contract” moment where perception matters as much as governance.
Finally, Hyatt’s ChatGPT integration signals that AI discovery is becoming a real distribution layer, not a gimmick. If travelers are asking for “the right stay” conversationally, brands will win by training the narrative, not bidding on keywords. Spice of the Week closes with a blunt takeaway: creative is the only differentiator left — and hotels are still wasting money boosting the wrong posts instead of scaling what actually works.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
09:40 — Story #1: Accor + LVMH build Orient Express into a full luxury ecosystem
24:32 — Story #2: Casago’s Vacasa-era growing pains trigger franchisee unease
33:31 — Story #3: Hyatt embraces ChatGPT discovery as the next distribution layer
46:29 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Meet Jeremy Hill, Co-Founder and CEO of Arcana — a next generation nature resort complete with seasonally immersive science-based experiences that help guests feel nature’s true restorative powers.
In this return episode, Jeremy shares what’s changed (and what hasn’t), plus Arcana’s biggest leap yet: a newly acquired 56-acre property that gives the brand the zoning, septic capacity, and infrastructure required to scale — without diluting the Arcana promise.
In this conversation, Jeremy and I discuss:
- How Arcana performed in the real world after launch (and why the early guests helped propel the waitlist)
- What the team learned from the pilot site — from cabin entrances and guest flow to privacy, operability, and experience design
- The truth about “tiny cabins” and how Arcana thinks about unit size, outdoor space, and central amenities
- What Jeremy’s acquisition checklist looks like (proximity to a major city, the right zoning, and why septic is everything)
- How Arcana is repositioning an existing, cash-flowing resort with seven cottages and two houses into an Arcana-level experience
- Brand strategy: how to expand into new sites while still honoring the flagship brand promise (and when a sub-brand might make sense)
- How Jeremy is weighing construction loan options (traditional bank vs private lender) and the realities of taking on debt in Canada
- The longer-term vision: Arcana across North America, what an exit could look like, and why consistency is the superpower in experiential hospitality
Arcana is targeting a summer 2027 opening for the fully repositioned property.
Learn more about Arcana
Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
In this week’s episode, the guys jump from Sub-Saharan Africa to budget roadside America to biohacking on a Caribbean beach—and somehow tie it all together. The throughline? Hotel groups are searching for growth in a market that feels mature at home and increasingly demanding everywhere else.
They start with Choice’s plan to open 100 hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2035. Edwin argues that the real opportunity isn’t safari escapism, but dense capital-city demand driven by business travel, NGOs, and intra-African growth. With new-build pipelines lagging, conversions and franchising become the strategic edge. Ben adds that in markets without decades of “economy brand” stigma, Choice may find a cleaner runway than it has in the U.S.
Next, they unpack Wyndham’s contrarian stance on the struggling economy segment. While revenue has slid for more than a year, Wyndham’s CEO insists the downturn is cyclical—not structural—and teases a push into “budget lifestyle.” The guys debate whether affordability can actually feel aspirational, and whether travelers want to identify with “budget,” even when it’s cleverly rebranded.
Finally, they explore the shift from wellness to longevity—better framed as healthspan—as luxury hotels move beyond spa aesthetics into diagnostics, personalization, and clinic-level programming. In Spice of the Week, they take aim at hotels adopting performative anti-AI creative policies, arguing that resisting innovation in the name of authenticity may be the fastest way to fall behind.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at https://www.journey.com/alliance
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
08:22 — Story #1: Choice Hotels targets 100 hotels in Africa by 2035
20:28 — Story #2: Wyndham doubles down on economy as budget hotels struggle
36:30 — Story #3: Wellness is out, “longevity” becomes luxury hospitality’s new hook
47:37 — Spice of the Week
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
This week on Behind The Stays, Zach shares a more personal story—and then connects it to three major shifts reshaping hospitality.
After uncovering the story of his grandfather, an early travel entrepreneur who helped open tourism from North America to Tahiti, Zach reflects on why meaningful travel experiences matter more than ever—and what that legacy means for the future of stays.
From there, he breaks down three trends every hospitality leader should be thinking about:
- Why hotels may be becoming the new “third place” in a hybrid-work world
- How AI is transforming hotel discovery—and why independent brands have a real opportunity right now
- The overlooked data advantage hotels have (and how it could shape the next era of personalization)
If you’re building, investing in, or operating unique stays, this episode is a call to think more intentionally about the spaces you create—and the signals you’re sending.
Because in an increasingly automated world, thoughtfully designed places may matter more than ever.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
This week, the guys zero in on where real leadership in hospitality is showing up — and where it isn’t. Accor’s ChatGPT partnership leads the conversation, not as a booking play, but as a signal that intent is shifting away from websites and toward questions. The takeaway is clear: brands willing to test behavior, learn how guests search, and show up early in the decision journey are already ahead. Scott brings ground truth from Thailand and Jamaica, exposing a widening mindset gap. In Asia, hospitality is still treated as craft — GMs obsess over service, personalization, and staying relevant in hyper-competitive markets. In much of the Caribbean, demand is more destination-driven, and innovation often feels defensive. Edwin adds
Europe’s perspective, framing it as split between tradition, efficiency, and emotion — with each region defining “success” differently. The episode closes with Ian Schrager partnering with Highgate to scale Public Hotels — a smart handoff of execution without sacrificing creative control — and Disney’s CEO succession as a reminder that physical experiences still beat disposable content. Spice of the Week lands the point: attention is expensive, but emotion is what actually builds loyalty.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
In this episode of Behind the Stays, Zach Busekrus sits down with Rohit Bezewada, CEO of AirDNA, to unpack what may be the most important shift yet in short-term rentals.
From Airbnb’s evolving relationship with hotels to the fading “thrill” of discovery, Rohit shares what happens when a marketplace grows up — and what comes next for brand building, investing, and operating at scale. Drawing on his experience at Uber and now at the helm of one of the industry’s most influential data platforms, Rohit offers a clear-eyed view of a sector moving from side hustle to institutional asset class.
The conversation explores:* Why Airbnb’s move toward hotels signals a deeper strategic shift
* How short-term rentals are professionalizing — and who benefits most
* What the data reveals that headlines miss
* The coming consolidation of STR tech and the real role of AI
* Why confidence, not just inventory, is the next competitive edge
This is a candid, future-facing conversation about where short-term rentals are headed — and how the next frontier will be built.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
2025 was a year where the hospitality world stopped playing offense and started getting sorted — by who could scale, who could actually operate, and who was still living in the low-rate, high-growth fantasy of the last cycle.
In this special year-end episode of This Week in Hospitality, Zach is joined by Ben Wolff, Edwin Kramer, and Scott Eddy to break down the biggest winners, biggest losses, and biggest storylines that defined the year — and then go all-in on the predictions that will matter most in 2026.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
4:07 — 2025 in Review: Winners That Defined the Year
17:01 — The Biggest Losers of 2025: What Broke and Why
24:52 — Innovation in 2025: What Actually Mattered
34:15 — The Biggest Plot Twists of 2025
39:14 — 2026 Predictions: Companies, Bets, and Shifts to Watch
1:06:54 — Rapid Fire: Buzzwords, Disruptions, and What’s Next
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
In this special roundtable episode, Katie Cline (Suite Success) brings together some of the most influential voices in hospitality podcasting for an unfiltered reflection on the moments, movements, and hard truths that shaped 2025 — and what operators should be paying attention to as the industry looks toward 2026. The conversation features yours truly, Zach Busekrus (Behind the Stays), David Millili and Steve Carran (The Modern Hotelier), and Glenn Haussman (No Vacancy). Together, they move past headlines and hot takes to examine what’s really happening behind the scenes of hospitality today.Drawing on hundreds of candid conversations with founders, operators, and industry leaders, the group explores luxury’s continued ascent, the evolving (and often conflicted) state of loyalty, where AI delivered meaningful impact—and where it fell short—along with trade show fatigue, shifting guest expectations, and the creative ways operators protected profitability in a challenging year.This episode isn’t about predictions for prediction’s sake. It’s a grounded, experience-driven discussion for hospitality leaders who want to understand not just what changed in 2025, but why it mattered — and how those lessons will shape smarter, more resilient businesses in the year ahead.
On today’s episode of Behind the Stays, you’re going to meet a guy who has made a habit of burning the ships… twice.
Josh went from helping people write on their walls with his first company, Writeyboard – the e-commerce brand that turned boring offices into floor-to-ceiling whiteboards – to designing the kinds of spaces people dream about escaping to.In his early 30s, sitting on a house in LA and feeling a quarter-life crisis creeping in, he looked at his girlfriend and said, “This year, we’re moving to Bali.” He sold the house, unwound a decade-long business, and flew halfway across the world to start over in real estate in a place where the rules, language, and rhythm of life were completely different.
That leap set off a chain of projects and partnerships that eventually led to Tiba – a Bali-inspired hospitality brand – and now to his boldest undertaking yet: a highly designed, nature-immersed resort in the hills of Tennessee that blends luxury, landscape, and a whole lot of soul.In this conversation, we get into how Josh thinks about risk, why he keeps selling everything to chase the next build, and what it actually looks like to try and create the next generation of stays from scratch.
Website: https://tibaliving.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiba_tennessee/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
A big week of structural shifts in travel and hospitality.
Capital One moves to acquire Hopper’s installed software and hire key hotel and engineering teams — signaling a deeper push into owning the traveler journey.
The team explores the LuxUrban collapse which predates the Sondor fall out but has an eerily similar story.
And Google announces that hotel and flight bookings are coming directly into AI Mode, collapsing research and booking into a single conversational experience.
We break down what these moves mean for distribution, loyalty, hotel operators, and the future relationship between brands, banks, and big tech.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
03:10 — Story #1: Capital One Set to Acquire Hopper Travel Software
15:22 — Story #2: Yet Another Hospitality Company Files For Bankruptcy: LuxUrban
30:34 — Story #3: Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode
44:30 — "Spice of the Week"
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
For the final episode in this special Future of Travel series, I sat down with someone who has quietly shaped more of the vacation rental industry than almost anyone working in it today: Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partner Success at Expedia Group.
If you’ve ever wondered how VRBO evolved from a subscription classifieds site to a global e-commerce engine—or what the next decade of supply, demand, and distribution will actually look like—this is the conversation insiders will be talking about.
Tim has spent the better part of a decade helping lead VRBO through some of the most dramatic shifts the category has ever seen: the end of inquiry-based booking, the rise of instant book, the professionalization of hosts, the explosion of supply post-2020, and now, the dawn of a new era where quality, trust, and distribution matter more than raw inventory.
In this conversation, we get into:
- When vacation rentals truly went mainstream
- Why Vrbo is prioritizing quality over raw supply
- The rise of branded portfolios and social-led demand
- Expedia Group’s distribution advantage
- How One Key changes the funnel
- The real take on OTAs vs. direct
Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-rosolio-434b2a98/
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality
In this episode of This Week in Hospitality, Zach Busekrus sits down with Scott Eddy, Ben Wolff, and Edwin Kramer to unpack three major stories dominating the travel and hospitality world. From Sonder’s dramatic collapse following Marriott’s termination, to Hilton’s launch of the Outset Collection, to Airbnb’s bold embrace of hotels — this was one of the most consequential weeks the industry has seen in years.
The team brings perspectives spanning global travel, hotel development, luxury operations, and hospitality tech. Fast-paced, unfiltered, and deeply informed — this is the weekly breakdown every hotelier, operator, developer, and investor should be listening to.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.
If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Introductions & why this podcast exists
09:12 — Story #1: Sonder × Marriott partnership collapses
17:08 — Ben’s take: STR brand value & commodity product problem
23:45 — Marriott, scale, loyalty, and future brand strategy
25:47 — Story #2: Hilton launches The Outset Collection
33:50 — Owner perspective: data, flag strategies, ROI trade-offs
39:01 — Independents vs. major flags: the next 10 years
42:11 — Story #3: Airbnb officially welcomes hotels
45:42 — Airbnb’s evolution into a hospitality ecosystem
50:51 — Does Airbnb need a total rebrand?
54:00 — “Back to hospitality roots” debate
54:53 — Wrap-up & what’s coming next
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
Greg Schulze has spent more than two decades helping build one of the most influential companies in modern travel — Expedia Group.
But here’s the thing about Greg — he doesn’t talk like a corporate executive. He talks like a traveler.
He’s lived and worked all over the world. He named his dog Kaya after a coconut jam he discovered while living in Southeast Asia. And he still lights up when describing what it feels like to walk through an airport on the cusp of somewhere new.
Greg’s career has spanned from American Airlines in the early 2000s to leading Expedia Group’s global commercial strategy today — a period that’s seen the birth of OTAs, the rise of mobile, and now, the dawn of the AI-powered traveler.
In this episode, Greg and I explore:
- How Expedia has evolved from a dot-com upstart to a travel empire spanning Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.
- What he’s learned from 20 years of guiding one of the most complex, global marketplaces in the world.
- The real story behind Expedia’s relationship with independent operators — and what “partner forward” actually means.
- How the tension between discovery and control will define the next decade of travel planning.
- And why he believes the future of OTAs will be built not on ads or algorithms — but on trust, clarity, and flexibility.
Greg’s a global citizen in the truest sense of the word — deeply thoughtful about the human side of technology and the emotional heartbeat of travel itself.
This conversation is the second episode in my new Behind the Stays series, The Future of Travel, recorded live at EXPLORE Connect in Austin, Texas — a gathering of the world’s top vacation rental operators and hospitality leaders.
If you care about where the industry is headed — and how the people behind its biggest brands are thinking about discovery, booking, and guest experience in the years ahead — this is a must-listen.
Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregschulze/?originalSubdomain=uk
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Welcome back to Behind the Stays, presented by Journey.
This episode kicks off a special series on the future of travel — conversations recorded live in Austin, Texas, at Expedia Group’s EXPLORE Connect — a gathering that brought together some of the most powerful voices in travel tech alongside the top owners and operators of vacation rental management companies from around the world.
I sat down with several of Expedia’s most influential leaders — the folks guiding brands like Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo — to unpack how they’re reimagining discovery, bookings, and experiences in an AI-powered world.
In this first conversation, I chat with Larry Plawsky, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Vrbo. And get this — this was actually Larry’s first-ever podcast interview.
Larry’s a brand builder who’s spent his career rooting for the underdog — from helping revive Old Spice back in the day to scaling massive two-sided marketplaces like Ticketmaster. And now, he’s leading Vrbo into its next chapter within the Expedia Group ecosystem.
We dive deep into: How Vrbo plans to take on Airbnb by doubling down on trust and quality* — not just scale.
* The single biggest opportunity Larry sees to increase traveler confidence when booking a home.
* How Expedia’s integrated network of brands — from Hotels.com to One Key — gives Vrbo a unique competitive edge.
* And how AI is already reshaping discovery on Vrbo — from smart sorting and review summaries to a vision of what travel planning could look like when chat-based search meets marketplace precision.
Larry’s thoughtful, humble, and sharp — a rare mix of brand soul and analytical rigor — and in this conversation, you’ll hear exactly how one of the most iconic names in alternative accommodations plans to redefine trust and loyalty in the years ahead.
So grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy this special conversation with Larry Plawsky, SVP and General Manager of Vrbo, right here on Behind the Stays. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Paul Kromidas didn’t just pivot a startup—he changed the vehicle mid-race and still pulled ahead. Summer began as an asset-heavy “own an STR without the risk” model: Summer found the house, bought it with their capital, operated it for two years, and sold it back with a book of business. It worked—until the capital stack and rate environment made venture-scale returns incompatible with real estate velocity. So Paul did the brave thing founders talk about but rarely do: he sold the homes, kept the brains, and rebuilt Summer around the software that had quietly powered V1.That software—Summer OS, now supercharged by Sunny AI—acts like a true asset-management layer for short-term rentals. It stitches market underwriting to unit-level P&L, pipes into your PMS, flags issues before they become reviews, and guides both pros and serious first-timers from “where should I buy?” to “how do I out-operate the comp set?” It’s not a wrapper around generic answers; it’s a working analyst that shows its work.Today on the show, I’m joined by Paul Kromidas—founder of Summer—on building tools that help operators decide, buy, and perform.In this episode, we:* Explore why venture returns and deed-on-title don’t rhyme—and how an honest boardroom conversation led to selling the portfolio and doubling down on software. * Discuss what an STR “asset management system” really is—linking market selection, underwriting, expense modeling, and live ops into one pane of glass. * Explore how Sunny AI turns fuzzy intent into investable action—guiding you through clarifying questions, surfacing the right comps, and recommending markets you didn’t have on your radar. * Discuss the difference between high-level market data and operator-grade decisions—and why posting performance back to the model is where comp-set truth lives. * Explore who it’s for today (multi-market PMs and serious operators) and how the roadmap invites the rising class of under-20-door owners without dumbing anything down. * Discuss the next frontier: using predictions to fix tomorrow’s dip today—so hosting feels less like firefighting and more like running a dialed business.
If you’re building a portfolio—or rebuilding your ops stack—this one will sharpen how you underwrite, staff, and scale.
Richard Valtr didn’t just build hotel software—he rewired what a stay could be. Before Mews, he was designing a 60-key hotel in Prague with a brazen brief: make every guest feel five-star without hiring an army. He imagined stays like playlists—moods, moments, choices—then realized the industry lacked the pipes to power it. So he built them: an open-API PMS as the backbone for personalization at scale.
Today on the show, I’m joined by Richard Valtr—founder of Mews, hotelier-turned-systems architect, and one of the sharpest minds pushing hospitality past “heads in beds.”
In this episode, we:
- Explore how that 60-key Prague experiment became a prototype for Mews—and whether a “playlist for your stay” can actually scale.
- Discuss why the real upside may live in the 16 waking hours, and how RevPAG could nudge P&Ls beyond a bed-only mindset.
- Explore what changes when spend is posted to the guest, not the room—and whether that unlocks offers people actually want next time.
- Discuss how personalization might honor your different modes—parent, partner, road warrior—with AI helping dial convenience vs. high-touch.
- Explore what an open-by-default stack could enable—and what the future relationship between OTAs and operators might look like (and how it could benefit everyone).
Connect with Richard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-valtr-79541410/
Explore Mews: https://www.mews.com/en
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
A host who always pushes for “one last drink.” A curator who unlists homes to protect the flag. An operator who builds taste—and then bolts on logistics. That’s Max Aniort.Max is the co-founder of Le Collectionist, a luxury home brand that chose curation over scale, local operators over generic platforms, and a repeat-guest flywheel over one-and-done bookings. He started by solving for owners—people with extraordinary homes but zero appetite for late-night texts, staffing headaches, or inconsistent standards—then expanded destination by destination, partner by partner, standard by standard.Le Collectionist now stewards 3,000 handpicked homes across a hundred-plus destinations, but the center of gravity hasn’t changed: taste first, always. They keep a waitlist and aren’t afraid to quietly unlist a house if it drifts from the standard, because the promise is as much about who you let in as where you send them. Guests come back because the experience feels personal—an advisor who remembers the floor plan your kids loved, a fridge that’s stocked the way you actually eat, and a local team with gold-key caliber pull who can turn a last-minute whim into an effortless memory.In this episode, we cover:* How Max built Le Collectionist by solving owner pain first—protecting the asset with standards, service, and guests who respect the home—before ever chasing scale. * Why the brand chooses curation over growth at all costs, keeping a waitlist and telling owners “not yet” when a property doesn’t strengthen the flag. * How a local-first operating model, including acquisitions of destination experts, unlocks the “impossible” in places like Ibiza through a gold-key caliber concierge team. * How service is designed to fit the house, with baseline housekeeping and thoughtful touches for every stay and à-la-carte upgrades when “hotel-like” service truly adds value. * How a single advisor follows a family across trips as a travel PA, building deep profiles and trust that naturally moves guests between destinations. * Why longer, rooted stays—from multi-week summers to school-year relocations—are reshaping inventory strategy, staffing, and pricing.
Connect with Max Aniort: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxaniort/
Explore Le Collectionist: https://www.lecollectionist.com/en
Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/
Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
We’re live at Skift with a builder proving the future isn’t generic search; it’s purpose-built marketplaces for travelers who already know their stay type—a lake house.
I’m Zach, and today I’m joined by David Ciccarelli, co-founder of lake.com. After a startup exit during the pandemic, David and his wife (and co-founder) Stephanie bought a lake house—he grew up on Lake Superior, she on Lake Erie. A few months in, they hosted a 25-person family reunion to put the place to use—and that’s when the opportunity snapped into focus: the nearby hotel was priced for peak season, and the close-enough rentals you’d want for a shared trip weren’t surfacing. Conversations with local trades who service waterfront homes confirmed the pattern—plenty of beautiful, generational places sitting unused most of the year.
Instead of optimizing for everyone, David optimized for the traveler who already knows the experience they want. He acquired lake.com, built discovery around thousands of lakes and parks, and set a simple rule—on the water or within 15 minutes—so results stay on-vibe. On the back end, he scaled supply by integrating directly with property management systems so calendars and pricing stay in sync; on the business side, he kept incentives clean with shared success (a flat commission only when hosts get booked). The result: a fast-growing, lake-first inventory measured in the tens of thousands.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
- How that reunion turned a personal headache into a thematic OTA
- Why curated, stay-type discovery beats generic search in a GenAI world
- The domain-as-distribution bet behind lake.com
- The PMS integration play that actually scales supply (and prevents double bookings)
- What “within 15 minutes of the water” does for expectations, filters, and conversion
Explore Lake.com at, you guested it... www.lake.com ;)
Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidciccarelli/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
It’s 2008. The financial world is crumbling, Wall Street is bleeding jobs, and a brand-new finance grad named Andreea Grigore is staring down a recession with no clear path forward.
Then, at a birthday party in Montreal, everything changes. She meets the founder of Luxury Retreats, one of the world’s first platforms for high-end villas, private islands, and over-the-top vacation rentals. A casual conversation turns into an unexpected offer — and what was supposed to be a stopgap job becomes a nine-year masterclass in luxury travel, entrepreneurship, and scaling a global brand that Airbnb would eventually acquire to form its Luxe division.
Fast forward, and Andreea is now the CEO of Gather Vacations, a company reshaping the playbook for property management. Instead of asking local managers to give up their independence, Gather powers them with the back-end systems, tech, and support they need so they can focus on what matters most: homeowners and guests.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
- How a recession detour became a once-in-a-lifetime break into luxury hospitality
- The inside story of scaling Luxury Retreats and watching it become part of Airbnb Luxe
- Why Hawaii was the perfect test bed for rethinking property management
- How Gather’s model challenges the franchise status quo and sets a new standard for partnership
- What the future of vacation rentals looks like when brand, consistency, and local expertise collide
Explore Gather Vacations: https://gathervacations.com/staff/andreea-grigore/
Connect with Andreea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreea-grigore-081a6418/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What do a high school jock turned Danny Zuko, a lung-collapse survivor in the middle of the 2008 crash, and a bourbon-country hotelier have in common? Will Hardy.
In this episode, Zach sits down with Will — a creative entrepreneur, real estate maverick, and placemaker behind The Trail Hotel in Bardstown, Kentucky — to unpack a life defined by bold pivots, relentless grit, and audacious vision.
From sneaking into a high school audition that would change his trajectory, to flipping 800+ homes, to nearly losing it all during the housing collapse, Will’s story is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. You’ll hear how desperation sharpened his creativity, how a hustler’s spirit turned $100 into a flipping empire, and how faith, grit, and a little bourbon fueled his latest masterpiece: a $30M boutique hotel on the Bourbon Trail that’s redefining Kentucky hospitality.
But this isn’t just a story about bricks, bourbon, and business. It’s about a man who refused to be boxed in — who chased acting gigs in LA, launched a film production company, produced a feature on Milton Hershey, and still found the courage to start over (multiple times) with his wife and kids by his side.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to chase audacious dreams, survive catastrophic setbacks, and build something truly lasting — this conversation will light a fire under you.Expect stories of mimosa-fueled negotiations, clown costumes that saved real estate deals, and the kind of visionary thinking that transforms abandoned Holiday Inns into Napa Valley–level destinations for bourbon lovers.
Explore The Trail Hotel: https://www.thetrailhotel.com
Follow The Trail Hotel: https://www.instagram.com/thetrailhotel
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Brad Steward didn’t just ride snowboarding’s first wave—he helped make it. As a teenage builder-rider-organizer, he pushed the sport from outlaw to organized, working alongside Jake Burton and Tom Sims, lobbying the Forest Service when resorts said no, and helping pave the path that led to Nagano. He co-founded one of the early camps where an eight-year-old Shaun White showed up—years before the world knew his name.
Then Brad jumped lanes: into the Spike Jonze era of skate-culture filmmaking—directing spots for Cartoon Network (Powerpuff Girls), Adult Swim, AMC, and music work that had him shooting bands like Soundgarden and collaborating with UK labels. Today, his canvas is hospitality: Caravan Outpost in Ojai—a film-set-caliber, not-glamping hideaway that’s hosted The Bachelor and a steady stream of celebrity regulars.
Today on the show, I’m joined by Brad Steward—snowboarding’s early architect, director/producer, and co-founder of Caravan Outpost.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Brad helped move snowboarding from trespass to televised, shoulder-to-shoulder with Jake Burton and Tom Sims—and why the Nagano moment mattered.
- How an eight-year-old Shaun White landed at his camp—and what that signaled about the sport’s future.
- How the Spike Jonze pipeline turned a DIY camera habit into gigs with Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, AMC, and major-label music videos.
- Why Caravan Outpost is “production design for memory-making,” not glamping—and how it became a magnet for celebrities and The Bachelor.
- The throughline: build the culture first, then build the brand.
Connect with Brad on LinkedIn
Visit Caravan Outpost’s website to book and learn more
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
He grew up in the Cook Islands, left for business school, and planned on a career far from home—until a family visit collided with a national crisis. The government was broke, tourism was collapsing, and the prime minister asked him to help. Tata Crocombe wrote a recovery plan, stepped in as an accidental hotelier, and rebuilt from the ground up—stabilizing a flagship on Rarotonga and later growing a portfolio that now includes an acclaimed private-island resort on Aitutaki. Along the way, the destination rebounded from roughly 20,000 annual visitors to about 180,000, with ownership and hospitality rooted in the local community.
Today on the show, I’m joined by Tata Crocombe, owner-operator of The Rarotongan and Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort in the Cook Islands—and a self-described AI-first hotelier. For Tata, AI isn’t branding; it’s throughput. His teams now co-pilot with models every day: wedding quotes that used to take three hours take thirty minutes, reservations productivity has doubled, and direct conversions are up more than 100%—millions steered from OTA commissions back to the P&L. The goal isn’t fewer humans; it’s better work for more humans. AI clears the paperwork so staff can deliver the moments guests actually remember.
We also zoom out. Tata sees leisure shifting from “bed + breakfast” to membership-style communities built around passions—outrigger canoeing today, thousands of micro-affinities tomorrow. Big flags will splinter from dozens of brands to hundreds; independents will sharpen identity; and individual properties will matter more than the mothership. Social will spark desire, AI will personalize and convert, and owner–brand contracts will get far more flexible. Underneath it all sits a broader scorecard: guest joy, staff wellbeing, operational efficiency, profitability—and being a good neighbor to the island and the environment.
Visit The Rarotongan’s website to book and learn more.
Visit Aitutaki Lagoon Resort’s website to book and learn more.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Some people chase clout. Scott Eddy collects humans—and turns conversations into careers. He’s the guy who can turn a DM into a deal, a walkthrough video into a booking, and a dinner into a decade-long partnership. He doesn’t posture. He shows up. Early.
Today, I’m joined by Scott—hard to label by design. A Wall Street closer who hates the word "expert." A self-proclaimed non-golfer in a loud shirt who lives in airports, hotels, and on cruise ships. An early Twitter force who became a breaking-news signal from Bangkok…and then built one of Asia’s first hotel-focused digital agencies before most brands could spell "SEO."
Scott’s story pivots on a single, life-bending moment. He grew up destined for the police academy—until his father was killed in the line of duty weeks before graduation. A decade in finance followed, a firm sale cracked the door open, and a one-way ticket to Thailand blew it off the hinges. Eleven years later, with friendships stitched across Asia, he’d learned the playbook most Western brands skip: brand building starts with humility, and trust is earned at dinner tables, not in boardrooms.
Back in the States, Scott doubled down on what actually moves the needle: reply to every comment, post consistently without trend-chasing, flip OTA guests to direct, and treat service—not tech—as the last true luxury. If you run an independent property or lead a hospitality team, this is a masterclass in building gravity one honest interaction at a time.
Whether you’re building a boutique brand, leading a marketing team, or just love a good "how did they pull that off?" arc, this episode will reframe how you think about social, service, and the business of being unmistakably human.
Connect with or follow Scott
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Picture this: a candlelit living room in New York, a guest list cast like a film, and a host who knows exactly who should meet whom—and why.That’s Erin Hosler. Before she checks a rate code or a P&L, she curates people.
She trained at The Ritz-Carlton before the Marriott acquisition. Learned stagecraft under Ian Schrager. Honed the five-senses playbook with Andre Balazs. Sharpened her eye alongside Philippe Starck. Then led chapters at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach; THE WELL in New York; Eaton DC; and Soho House Austin.
Her take is simple: the last real moat isn’t marble or mixology. It’s training. Why this matters for independents: Turn choreography into rituals your team can actually repeat.
* Make being known* beat being “bonvoyed.”
* Design around human behavior, not developer spreadsheets.
* Let tech automate the admin—never the moment.
We’ll talk membership energy and that feeling of “home on demand,” then get painfully practical—guest history, uniforms that fit, and managers who coach.
If you’ve ever wondered how a latte placed at the right table, at the right time, by the right person can outperform any brand campaign—this one’s for you.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Erin. Connect with Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhosler/ Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Some people chase opportunities. Ben Uyeda manufactures them from thin air. He’s the kind of mind who can turn a single YouTube video into a global audience, a shipping container into a home, and an empty stretch of desert into a 65-room design-forward hotel. His career isn’t a straight line — it’s a series of bold leaps, each one bigger and riskier than the last.
Today, I’m joined by Ben — a man who defies simple titles. He’s an architect who never got licensed… yet co-founded an award-winning design firm. A YouTube creator who has racked up millions of views… yet never set out to be an influencer. A DIY experimenter who built his first video around making a vase… and somehow found himself co-developing the first ground-up hotel in Joshua Tree in over a decade.Ben’s story is one of intentional pivots and unexpected escalations — the kind that start with a single idea, and through grit, ingenuity, and a willingness to share the messy middle, grow into something extraordinary. From sustainable design classrooms at Cornell to steel-frame modular hotel rooms shipped from Canada to the California desert, his career reads like a blueprint for blending creativity with entrepreneurship.
In our conversation, we cover: How prolific demonstration of process* can be more powerful than perfection — and why that’s catnip for potential partners.
* Why sharing “warts and all” content beats polished mystery every time.
* The real reason most ambitious hotel projects in Joshua Tree fail — and how patience and risk tolerance become the ultimate competitive advantage.
* The economics of design decisions, and how a $6,000 bench became a $900 triumph.
* Why the future of hospitality may mean curating less, not more — and creating spaces for reflection instead of constant stimulation.
Whether you’re a builder, a dreamer, or just someone who loves a good “how did they pull that off?” story, this episode will make you see the intersection of design, content, and business in a whole new way.
Ben’s website: https://www.benuyeda.com/
Hotel RESET website: https://www.stayreset.com/
Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminuyeda/
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What would possess two brothers — with no hospitality background — to open a luxury hotel in a city where no new hotel had been built in three decades?
In a word: vision.
In this episode, I sit down with Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Tribe Hotel and one of the most intentional hoteliers I’ve ever met. What started as a need for a conveniently located place for business travelers became something much bigger — a cultural reset for what luxury means in Kenya.
We dive into:
- Why Tribe wasn’t designed to mimic what was trendy abroad — but to reflect the energy of modern Nairobi
- How art, music, fashion, and food became the foundation of the brand’s identity
- The unexpected call from Design Hotels — after they initially said “not interested”
- What today’s travelers actually want, and how his team is designing for access, not just aesthetics
This episode is a masterclass in designing hotels with soul — and staying true to your vision when everyone else is playing it safe.
Connect with Shamim on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
In today’s episode of Behind the Stays, we’re diving into one of the biggest mysteries plaguing modern hospitality entrepreneurs — how do you take all that beautiful, buzzworthy content that’s racking up views on Instagram and actually turn it into real bookings?
My guest today is Dustin Baker, the quietly brilliant force behind Hidden Gem Media — a performance-driven marketing agency that’s helping some of the most design-forward vacation rental and boutique hotel brands in the world unlock direct booking revenue from their social media presence.
Now, I don’t say this lightly — within the last week alone, two different people in the space told me, “Zach, you need to talk to Dustin.” So we got him on the mic fast.
In this conversation, we talk about the difference between content that looks great and content that converts, why creators (not influencers) are the most underutilized asset in the industry, how Dustin and his team are proving ROI on social in a way most operators didn’t think was possible, and why the real power play in 2025 might just be an email list, not a viral reel.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens after someone likes, saves, or shares your content — and how to turn that attention into actual revenue — this episode is for you.
Learn more about Hidden Gem Media
Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
When you need real talk and real data on the glamping industry, there’s one person you call — and her name is Shari Heilala. In this episode, I sit down with the “godmother of glamping” for a deep dive into Sage Outdoor Advisory’s just-released Q2 USA Glamping Market Insights Report — the most comprehensive data set on the U.S. glamping market to date.
We unpack how Shari and her team are filling the gaping holes in industry data with hard-earned, operator-grade insights — from average daily retail rates (spoiler: domes are leading the pack at $257/night) to the surprising rise of budget-minded cabin stays. We explore the methodology behind their research, what types of properties made the cut (and why backyard yurts didn’t), and how design decisions, geography, and hospitality strategy are influencing returns in the outdoor space.
You’ll also hear Shari’s reflections on the rise of hard-sided structures, her take on the next evolution of glamping (hint: it’s all about service), and how proximity to national parks and airports materially impacts revenue potential.
We also chat through:
- Why occupancy is the next frontier in outdoor data reporting
- What surprised Shari most by region and unit type
- How to spot saturated markets — and what it takes to stand out
- Whether prefab vs. stick-built tells a meaningful data story yet
- Why land — not your unit type — might be your biggest asset
…and so much more
This conversation is equal parts masterclass and myth-buster. All right friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Shari.
Connect with Shari on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Brandon Gore—someone whose life journey seems like it’s packed enough experiences for several lifetimes. Brandon’s story is anything but ordinary: from leaving high school behind at 17 to opening hotels, scaling sales operations across multiple Marriott properties, and then making the boldest leap yet—founding his own concrete design company.
But here’s where things get even more fascinating. Brandon didn’t just stop at concrete countertops or sinks. Inspired by sustainable architecture and a chance encounter with a rammed-earth house, he dove headfirst into the world of rammed earth construction, a building method that’s thousands of years old, yet remarkably innovative and profoundly rare today. His vision has led him to craft spaces that are not just visually stunning, but also deeply meaningful and enduring.
Today, Brandon is channeling his passion into his most ambitious project yet: Outlier, an extraordinary boutique hotel nestled in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It’s not just any hotel—this property promises a luxury experience intertwined with adventure, sustainability, and truly groundbreaking architecture.
In this episode, Brandon shares his remarkable journey, the story behind why he chose rammed earth, and what it takes to build something genuinely unique in an age of repetition. Whether you’re intrigued by innovative construction, inspired by entrepreneurial grit, or simply love a great story, Brandon’s journey is one you won’t want to miss.
So sit back, grab your favorite drink, and join us as we dive into a conversation packed with inspiration, determination, and the power of building something that stands the test of time. Without further ado, here’s my conversation with the exceptional Brandon Gore.
Follow The Outlier Hotel on Instagram
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Today is a special episode because Journey is officially live! I’m thrilled to sit down with John Sutton, the visionary founder of Journey, to talk about how this groundbreaking loyalty platform for independent hotels and private rentals came to life.
We’ll dive into John’s original inspiration, discuss the future of guest loyalty, and highlight the incredible Alliance Partners who’ve joined us early on this journey. Journey unites unique, independent hotels and private rental homes, offering travelers personalized rewards and unique experiences while empowering operators with advanced technology and guest insights traditionally reserved for major hotel chains. John shares his bold predictions for what’s next in travel and explains how Journey is reshaping the hospitality landscape.
If you’re an independent hotel or unique stay operator interested in joining the Journey Alliance, you can apply to join here!
Ready to join us on this exciting adventure? Download the Journey Members App on the App Store today!
Today, I’m thrilled to share a conversation with someone I’ve admired from afar for quite some time — Bashar Wali.
If you’ve spent any time in the hospitality space, chances are you’ve come across Bashar’s work — or at least his words. He’s the former President and CEO of Provenance Hotels, and today he leads two companies he founded: Practice Hospitality, a management company focused on culturally resonant independent hotels, and This Assembly, a hospitality think tank and incubator building what's next for the industry.
What I love most about Bashar is that he’s refreshingly candid, wildly insightful, and deeply passionate about this space — not just because it’s his career, but because it’s in his DNA.
In this episode, we get into:
- Why hospitality is not the same as service — and how even a roadside motel can deliver deeply human moments that a five-star hotel might miss.
- Why Bashar believes loyalty programs are really just bribery, and what real loyalty actually looks like.
- How he went from having visited just two countries by age 20 to now traveling like a true nomad — and how that wanderlust has shaped his worldview.
- Why the world’s best operators are not just spreadsheet wizards, but curators of culture who know how to feel what's cool — and create spaces where others can feel it too.
- And why the soft brand strategy has lost its edge — not because the concept is broken, but because the execution rarely matches the promise.
Bashar and I also talk about the role that AI should play in hospitality, the difference between trend-chasing and trend-observing, and what it takes for hotels to stop being sterile, beige boxes and become — in his words — merchants of cool again.
This is one of those episodes that had me nodding, laughing, and taking notes at the same time. Bashar is equal parts philosopher and practitioner — and I think you’re going to get a ton out of this.
Let’s dive in.
Learn more about Bashar
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
I’ve long admired Salt Hotels — their properties, their presence, their ability to make the familiar feel completely new. So when I had the chance to sit down with David Bowd, the visionary behind the brand, I knew we were in for something special.
David’s story begins not in a boardroom or luxury suite, but in a small café his mother bought when he was a kid. It was there he discovered the energy of hospitality — the joy in unpredictability, the beauty of serving others, and the sense of belonging that would later shape his career.
We talk about his time working with icons like Ian Schrager and André Balazs, and the lessons in creativity, precision, and obsession with detail that would ultimately inspire Salt Hotels — a brand built on the belief that boutique doesn’t have to mean formulaic, and luxury doesn’t have to be loud.
In this episode, David shares the founding story of Salt, how he balances growth without losing soul, why the future of business travel is more boutique than we think, and how AI might just make hospitality more human.This is a conversation about craft, partnership, legacy — and why every single chair, playlist, and pet fee at Salt Hotels is intentional.
In this episode, Zach sits down with Shaun Shirazian, CEO of Lodgify, for an unfiltered conversation about what’s next in hospitality tech—and what’s not changing. Shaun shares how a meaningful moment on a San Diego balcony more than a decade ago sparked his passion for short-term rentals, and how that guest connection still drives his work building tools for small operators around the globe.
We unpack Lodgify’s long-standing mission to “arm the underdogs” by empowering independent hosts and managers with the same technology advantages as the big players. Shaun draws a clear line between his upbringing as the son of immigrants, his experience at companies like Intuit and PipeDrive, and the deep conviction that great tech should level the playing field for the little guys.
But this episode isn’t just philosophical—it’s tactical. Shaun offers a refreshingly honest take on:
- Why switching PMSs still feels painful, and what needs to change.
- How Lodgify is navigating its role as both OTA partner and direct booking champion.
- What’s holding back the direct booking experience (hint: it’s not just UX).
- How the best future software will be invisible—delivering outcomes, not dashboards.
We also talk AI, and Shaun shares why Lodgify is entering what he calls its “13-year-old growth spurt,” a new chapter he’s dubbed Lodgify 2.0. Think: fewer clunky interfaces, more Stripe-like booking flows, and a relentless focus on what hosts have always cared about—trust, time savings, and more bookings.
This one’s for the rebels, the brand builders, and anyone who’s ever screamed at a janky checkout page and thought, “There has to be a better way.”
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Welcome back to our special two-part series recorded live at the VRMA Executive Summit in Miami Beach. This gathering brought together some of the sharpest minds and boldest voices in vacation rental management, and we made it our mission to capture real-time insights on what’s top of mind for the leaders shaping this space.
In Part 2, we continue our hot-take conversations with a new lineup of industry experts, diving into the themes of value-driven travel, AI-powered revenue strategy, and the increasing tension between quality and scale.
First up, you’ll hear from Peter Albert, CEO of Coastal Vacation Properties, who shares what it's been like rebuilding his business—and his entire community—post-hurricane in Fort Myers Beach. Peter opens up about the realities of traveler expectations today (spoiler: it’s all about price), and why vacation planners should be treated like VIPs before they even step through the door.
Next, we sit down with Richie Khandelwal, co-founder of PriceLabs, for a high-octane look into the future of dynamic pricing. Richie breaks down what AI means for rate strategy, guest personalization, and the precision of future search—and why your brand’s niche might be your most powerful weapon in an AI-first world.
Then we’re joined by Michelle Williams, General Manager at Atlantic Vacation Homes. Michelle challenges the “growth at all costs” mindset and makes a powerful case for quality over quantity. She also offers a long-view perspective on how guest expectations evolve—and why a well-made bed might matter more than that arcade machine.
Finally, Scott Leggat of Inhabit shares wisdom from decades in the field. We discuss guest loyalty, building a sense of local ownership, and why regulation—not competition—may be the industry’s biggest threat.
If you missed Part 1, go back and hear from Steve Trover (Better Talent), Jacob Mueller (Renjoy), and Michelle Marquis on everything from business travel to PMS data ownership and the future of standardization.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Welcome to a special two-part series of Behind the Stays — recorded live at the VRMA Executive Summit in Miami.
I brought my mic to the halls of one of the vacation rental industry’s most intimate and influential gatherings — and instead of long-form interviews, I asked a handful of sharp operators and thought leaders three punchy questions:1. What’s a contrarian belief you have about what today’s travelers actually want from a vacation rental? 2. What’s something happening in the industry that not enough people are talking about — but should be? 3. And finally, what’s one travel trend you’re bullish on, and one you’re a little bearish on?
In Part One, you’ll hear from Steve Trover — founder of Better Talent and a veteran of the industry with nearly three decades of perspective. Steve drops a spicy take on why guests don’t want high-touch hospitality, makes a strong case for why more PMs should be thinking about business travel, and shares his experience with purpose-built homes long before it was cool.
In Part Two, I sit down with Jacob Mueller, co-founder of Renjoy — and trust me, if you geek out on tech, systems, or data sovereignty, this one’s for you. Jacob breaks down why most property managers are being held hostage by their PMS, how owning your data is the key to unlocking real AI leverage, and what it takes to build tools that actually serve both your owners and your ops teams.
And finally — in Part Three — you’ll hear from Michelle Marquis. Michelle’s worn just about every hat in this space — from property manager to tech exec to connector-in-chief. She offers a clear-eyed take on where standardization is falling short, why guest basics still matter more than we’d like to admit, and what she’s seeing when it comes to group travel, pet-friendly stays, and the growing demand for better experiences.
These are fast, fun, and unfiltered convos with folks who are deep in the game — and I think you’re going to walk away with a few new questions to ask yourself… and maybe even a few answers you didn’t see coming.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this special series — featuring even more industry voices and insights — dropping Friday, June 13th.
James McBride is not just a hotelier — he's a visionary storyteller, a daring innovator, and a relentless champion of authentic luxury experiences.
What started as his bold vision to redefine hospitality on a remote Indonesian island has become an award-winning global phenomenon, with Nihi Resorts capturing the imagination of travelers worldwide.
As the co-founder of Nihi alongside legendary serial entrepreneur Chris Burch (co-founder of Tory Burch), James is at the heart of this extraordinary journey.
In this episode, we dive into:
- James’s fascinating journey from foundational roles at Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood Hotels to pioneering transformative luxury experiences at Nihi Resorts.
- The daring moment he famously published his personal phone number in major newspapers—and how authentic human connection remains central to his hospitality ethos.
- The incredible origin story behind Nihi Sumba, and how James transformed an untouched Indonesian island into one of the world's most celebrated travel destinations.
- Why authenticity and storytelling are indispensable for creating memorable guest experiences.
- Strategies for maintaining genuine human connections in luxury hospitality amid an increasingly digital world.
We also unpack James’s perspectives on:
- What independent hotels can learn about curating truly unique and impactful guest experiences.
- Why meaningful hospitality extends beyond aesthetics, amenities, and luxury trappings.
- How calculated risks and creativity can lead to global recognition and lasting success.
- The critical importance of sustainable, authentic luxury in today's evolving travel landscape.
This episode is for hoteliers crafting authentic luxury, bold brand builders pushing creative boundaries, and travelers seeking experiences that resonate deeply and endure long after their journey home.
Connect with James on LinkedIn
Discover Nihi Sumba
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running marketing for one of the most iconic resorts in the Caribbean—or just wanted a peek behind the scenes of what it actually takes to make a destination “hot”—today’s episode is for you.
My guest is Jason Kycek, the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the legendary Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. And while Jason’s resume includes time with some of the most respected names in hospitality, what makes this conversation so refreshing is that Jason is a marketer through and through. A builder. A thinker. A tinkerer.
We talk about what it means to market an independent luxury resort in today’s hyper-digital world. Why social media has become the new front door. How culinary strategy, entertainment programming, and influencer partnerships are being reimagined. And how the smartest marketers are building brands and balancing performance expectations—sometimes on a shoestring budget.
Jason also shares his journey—from Wisconsin to the DR—and what he’s learned leading marketing across both institutional hospitality groups and independently owned gems.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What started as a furlough-era side project on Instagram is now a full-fledged media brand reaching over 400,000 boutique hotel obsessives — and Brandon Berkson, founder of Hotels Above Par, is just getting started.
In this episode, we dive into:
- Brandon’s unshakable obsession with boutique hotels (he used to play hotel as a kid — not kidding)
- How a background in PR shaped his approach to storytelling, strategy, and aesthetic curation
- The origin story behind Hotels Above Par — and how a single Instagram caption became the launchpad for a globally respected travel media platform
- Why partnering with tourism boards (not just hotels) is a win-win-win
- How paid partnerships, affiliate bookings, and Substack newsletters drive real revenue (this isn’t just a vibes operation)
- Why he’s bullish on newsletters, hospitality humans, and high-touch check-ins — even as AI eats media
We also unpack Brandon’s POV on:
- What most independent hotels are still getting wrong on Instagram
- Why newsletters are having a renaissance moment (and how hoteliers should use them)
- How journalists are evolving into modern creators (and what makes them more trustworthy than traditional influencers)
- What makes a travel giveaway actually work — and why you’re probably doing it wrong
This one is for the independent hoteliers fighting the good fight, the brand builders playing the long game, and the travelers who crave places with soul.
Follow Hotels Above Par on Instagram
Follow Brandon on LinkedIn
Explore the Hotels Above Par Website
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What happens when two childhood friends trade finance careers for a crack at building the next great American hotel brand? You get Trailborn.
In this episode, I sit down with Mike Weiss and Ben Weinberg, co-founders and co-CEOs of Trailborn — a vertically integrated hospitality brand reimagining what it means to travel to America’s most iconic outdoor destinations.
Mike and Ben didn’t just set out to build better hotels — they’re building an experience-driven brand from the ground up, one that actually reflects how modern travelers want to explore the wild. We unpack the white space they saw in markets like Mendocino, Wrightsville Beach, and Highlands, why they chose the “harder path” of vertical integration, and what it really takes to operate with excellence in places that don’t always show up on institutional investors’ maps.
You’ll also hear: Why building brand and operating company and* real estate platform was a bet they were willing to lose sleep over * How their new partnership with Marriott gives Trailborn scale — without sacrificing soul * The early seeds of personalization in hospitality — and how Trailborn plans to lead with both human intuition and machine intelligence * Why AI won’t replace great service — but it might finally deliver on it
This one’s for the founders, the place-makers, and anyone who’s ever tried to do something the “harder, but better” way.
Learn more about Trailborn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Cory Schisler isn’t just building beautiful hotels and restaurants — he’s rethinking what hospitality actually feels like.
He’s worked with brands like Proper and Viceroy, co-founded The Madrona in Healdsburg, and has a sharp eye for the subtle — and not-so-subtle — ways hospitality has evolved (and where it still needs to catch up).
In this episode, we unpack:
– The early experiences that shaped Cory’s hospitality worldview
– How to balance timeless service with modern guest expectations
– The tech that actually enhances hospitality (and the kind that kills it)
– Why QR code menus might signal the beginning of the end
– What’s next: the rise of micro-resorts and the white space between STRs and hotels
Cory also shares how he approaches concept development, the difference between good and great creative partners, and what it really takes to build a team culture where guests feel seen — and staff feel proud.
This one’s packed with insight for anyone thinking about the next generation of hospitality brands.
Learn more about Cory here.
Explore The Madrona
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Before founding creative studio Corner Booth, Carolyn co-founded Casetta Group, the acclaimed boutique hospitality brand known for transforming forgotten roadside motels into soulful, design-forward stays that actually reflect the communities they’re in. But her journey started far from the boardroom — as a cocktail server at the Ace Hotel in New York, where she first experienced the magic of what a hotel could be when it’s built with intention and feeling.
In this conversation, Carolyn unpacks how her background in the art world shaped her creative vision, how she approaches brand-building from the inside out, and why some boutique hotels manage to feel deeply personal — while others fall flat. You’ll hear her thoughts on balancing timelessness with trendiness, her approach to embedding local artists and narratives into each property, and what she’s learning as she advises clients across the U.S. and Europe through her studio.
Plus:
- The real reason the front desk might be the most important brand ambassador of all
- Why copy-paste design is the death of boutique hospitality
- How to create a “microcosm of the community” — even in a space you didn’t build from scratch
- Her thoughts on parent brands vs. standalone hotel brands — and where Cassetta fits in
- The importance of building with soul — and what gets lost when you cut the “extras”
If you’re building a hospitality brand or dreaming up your next project, this episode is a masterclass in curating space, story, and soul.
Connect with Carolyn on LinkedIn
Learn more about Corner Booth
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Khalid Meniri didn’t come from hospitality — but maybe that’s exactly why he was able to see its most obvious blind spot so clearly.
A designer and technologist by trade, Khalid is the founder of Selfbook, the beautifully elegant booking platform that’s quietly powering the next generation of high-end hotels.
In this episode, you’ll hear the remarkable story of how a glass cube on Fifth Avenue (yes, the Apple Store) first inspired Khalid’s obsession with design — and how years later, that obsession led him to reimagine the broken booking experience plaguing even the most beautiful hotels.
We unpack:
- Why the legacy booking flow is fundamentally broken — and why most hoteliers don’t even realize it
- How Selfbook is thinking about dynamic pricing, personalized rates, and the future of “invisible tech”
- Why the most exciting guest journeys of the next decade won’t start on a hotel website — they’ll start in a chat window
- And how Selfbook’s new partnership with Perplexity could reshape hotel discovery at the point of inspiration
If you care about hospitality tech, design-led products, or the future of direct booking, this is a must-listen.
Learn more about Selfbook
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Steve Carran never set out to become one of the most recognized voices in hospitality media. But what started as a scrappy experiment to engage hoteliers during his time in sales has now blossomed into The Modern Hotelier — one of the industry’s most beloved podcasts and a new video media brand that’s putting a fresh lens on hospitality storytelling.
In this episode, you’ll hear the fascinating backstory behind how Steve and his co-host David Millili launched the podcast, how they bought it back from a startup, and how it has completely reshaped Steve’s career. We also dive into the biggest trends he’s seeing across the hotel industry — from how AI and design are converging to address labor shortages, to the rise of "bleisure" lobbies, to why apartment-style hotels like Mint House are quietly winning the loyalty of the next generation of travelers.
Plus:
- Why hotel lobbies are becoming the new coworking spaces
- How podcasts have become the secret weapon for hospitality networking
- Why giving guests a choice in how they interact with your brand is the future of service
- Steve’s vision for the Modern Hotelier Media group — including their "MTV Cribs"-style hotel video tours
If you’re building a hospitality brand or just love geeking out on where the industry is headed, this episode is for you.
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
Listen to The Modern Hotelier
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
If you’ve scrolled Instagram or Design Milk anytime in the last few years, you’ve probably come across a hotel that made you stop scrolling. Not because it was just beautiful, but because it felt like a world. A story.
And chances are... that hotel was built by Ash.
In this episode, I sit down with Ari Heckman, founder & CEO of Ash — one of the most distinctive hospitality brands redefining how hotels, neighborhoods, and even guest memories are made.
Ari’s story is a masterclass in world-building. We explore how growing up in post-industrial Providence sparked his obsession with places that transform.
Why he didn’t study hospitality at Cornell (even though he was a stone’s throw from the world’s most famous hotel school). And how Ash went from a small design studio to an experiential powerhouse shaping properties from Baltimore to New Orleans.
We get into why modern travelers don’t just want design anymore — they want mythology, meaning, and discovery.
We unpack how Ash thinks about cinematic storytelling, why boutique hoteliers must learn to master revenue as much as aesthetics, and what Ari believes is the next great unlock for independent brands scaling today.
If you care about hospitality, placemaking, or just building things that matter — this one’s for you.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What if the future of storytelling isn't about bigger platforms — but sharper taste?
What if the real shift happening in media isn't just economic... but moral?
Today, you’re about to meet Rafat Ali — founder and CEO of Skift, one of the most respected travel media brands in the world. But his story didn’t start there.
Rafat grew up in India, a shy kid who stuttered — and somehow rewrote his future with nothing but words and a relentless eye for what others missed.
He went from studying engineering to working for tech media icon Jason Calacanis during the first dot-com boom...to later building Skift into a brand so trusted that today, CEOs and world leaders cross conference halls just to get a bro hug from him.
In this conversation, Rafat shares why legacy media is collapsing, what too many creators get wrong about influence, and how AI and independent media are re-drawing the map faster than most realize.
We talk about why design — not data — will be the real differentiator in the next chapter of content.
We dive into the hidden risks of "audience capture" — and why building something truly enduring requires the courage to be misunderstood for a while.
And we explore why Rafat believes the next great media empires won't be built by corporations — but by people, building with instinct, action, and radical authenticity.
If you care about the future of media, if you're trying to build anything magnetic, or if you just want a rare look inside the mind of one of the industry's true visionaries...you're in the right place.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
When the COVID-era short-term rental boom hit, a new class of creators quietly redefined hospitality marketing — and today, three of the best in the business join me for a conversation you won't want to miss.
In this episode, I sit down with Hayden Hughes, Nicky Hughes, and Mike Iannetta — three pioneers who helped transform treehouses, A-frames, and glamp-sites from hidden gems into viral, booked-out brands. We unpack how they redefined marketing in the short-term rental world, where the future of creator-driven hospitality is headed next, and why they’ve partnered to launch a new guided course to help hospitality brands partner with the right creators.
We get into it:
- Why short-form video changed everything for independent operators
- What still actually works on social today — and why trends alone won’t save you
- Why UGC (user-generated content) isn’t enough anymore — and what’s replacing it
- The hidden burnout creators are facing, and how the next generation of hospitality marketing will be built differently
- The big opportunity no one's talking about (yet) for boutique hotels and micro-resorts
- How the best operators are thinking differently about working with influencers
- And why creators who want to build real businesses are starting to think beyond content
You'll also hear the story behind the Journey More Collective, a potential new playbook for scaling authentic creator-driven marketing and get all the details on the value of The STR Influencer Guide Hayden, Nikki, and Mike just released.
If you're an operator wondering how to actually work with creators (the right way) — or a creator dreaming about building a business with staying power — this one’s for you. Oh, and if you’re interested in accessing The STR Influencer Guide for Operators, you can do so in the show notes below!
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Mike, Nikki, and Hayden.
Purchase The Influencer Guide
Connect with JourneyMore
Connect with Mike from Strive Hospitality (MikeWillTravel)
Watch a Roundtable Discussion with Zach, JourneyMore, Mike, and other Unique Stay Builders
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
In this episode, I’m joined by Arthur Colker, Founder of StayFi, and Philip Kennard, CEO of FutureStay, to unpack one of the most talked-about moves in short-term rental history: Airbnb’s newly sharpened Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy.
Depending on who you ask, it’s either a long-overdue consumer protection measure... or a strategic power grab designed to lock in lifetime guest value at all costs.
Arthur and Philip bring firsthand insights — and a healthy dose of reality — to a conversation that’s been fueled by fear, misinformation, and a whole lot of LinkedIn hot takes.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
- Why this "new" policy might actually be less revolutionary than most hosts realize — and what’s really different this time
- The two “buckets” Airbnb is focused on: protecting guests (good) and protecting their margins (more complicated)
- How vague language, selective enforcement, and the threat of guest complaints create a new dynamic hosts must navigate
- Why operators building brands off-platform shouldn't panic — but should pay attention to regulatory winds (especially in Europe)
- What might come next: services marketplaces, tighter control over payments, and the looming specter of pricing parity
- The psychological game: How vague rules might cause small operators to self-police harder than Airbnb could ever enforce
If you’re a rentalpreneur, a professional operator, or someone who’s betting their future on brand-building in the STR world, this episode is a must-listen.
We break down not just what’s happening — but what it means for the future of independent hospitality, ownership, and guest relationships in an increasingly walled-garden world.
Because as Arthur and Philip both point out: the real battle isn’t about moving one booking — it’s about who owns the guest relationship in the long run.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
In this solo episode, Zach shares seven powerful, non-obvious lessons shaping the next era of hospitality—insights drawn from conversations with some of the most forward-thinking operators, creatives, and strategists in the space.
From the rise of emotional loyalty and transformational stays to the power of digital atmosphere and placemaking over property management, this episode challenges traditional assumptions and inspires fresh thinking for hotel owners, experience designers, and anyone shaping the future of guest experience.
You’ll walk away with:
- Questions to ask your team (and yourself) right now
- Real-world examples of brands already doing this well
- Execution ideas you can implement this quarter
Whether you’re a boutique hotelier, a vacation rental operator, or a hospitality creative, this episode will push your perspective and deepen your purpose.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
You’ve heard of luxury glamping. You’ve seen treehouses and mirror cabins. But you haven’t seen anyone doing it like this.
In this episode, I sit down with Meredith Garrett — founder of Stay Minty and Stellara — to explore how she’s redefining what it means to deliver luxury in nature. You may know her for her wildly creative short-term rental brand Stay Minty, with its kaleidoscope of high-design vacation homes and glamping domes. But with Stellara, Meredith is pushing the envelope even further — into the stars, quite literally.
We discuss:
- How she transformed treehouses and mirror cabins into immersive, astrology-inspired sanctuaries that change with the moon.
- Why she believes experiential hospitality is moving from “boutique” to “transformational.”
- The math behind scaling nature-based resorts — and how many units it actually takes to make something like Stellara work.
- Whether food & beverage is the missing link in micro-resort hospitality — and her hunt for the elusive private chef who can bring lunar dinners to life.
This conversation is for the dreamers, the builders, and the operators who believe luxury can be intimate, immersive, and wildly imaginative. Meredith is one of the most creative minds in this space — and I think you’re going to leave this episode feeling more inspired (and more curious) than you were before.
Connect with Meredith
Book a stay at Stellara
Follow Stellara on Instagram
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Picture this: You’re road-tripping through the Pacific Northwest, and you pull up to a stunning, cliffside micro-resort where elk roam the grounds and the ocean waves crash in the background. Or maybe you’re in the heart of a bustling city, checking into a boutique hotel that oozes local charm and creativity. The problem? These days, everyone from massive chains to up-and-coming brands wants a piece of that “boutique” magic.
In this episode, I’m joined by Quentin Incao, founder of Q Hospitality Management, a company that specializes in operating and consulting for some of the most unique boutique properties around. Quentin’s career has taken him from managing iconic independent hotels to building experiential outdoor resorts that redefine what luxury means.
We dig into the boutique dilemma: Why are big brands suddenly obsessed with being “boutique”? Has the term lost all meaning now that every major hotel chain has its own “indie” spin-off? And most importantly, how are the real independents – the ones that actually care about authenticity and unique experiences – pushing back?
Quentin and I discuss:
- The rise of brand operating companies and why they’re becoming more common in the boutique space.
- What makes a great operator for a glamping resort versus a luxury hotel in the city – and why not every team can handle both.
- Why some boutique hoteliers are choosing to build collections of unique, one-of-one properties instead of expanding a single brand.
- How the new wave of micro-resorts and landscape hotels are reimagining what it means to deliver a luxury experience.
Connect with Quentin on LinkedIn
Learn more about Q Hospitality
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Imagine growing up in a world where hospitality wasn't just a business — it was family. Where your childhood was spent in boardrooms with industry pioneers, and your teenage years were marked by co-founding an association that would go on to redefine boutique hotels worldwide.
Today’s guest, Ariela Kiradjian, has dedicated her life to answering the question: What does it mean to truly preserve the soul and individuality of independent hotels? As the co-founder of BLLA (Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association), Ariela is on a mission to protect the spirit of boutique hospitality from being diluted by big chains and mass marketing.
Ariela’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Raised by a mother who was already a force in the travel world, Ariela was exposed to the inner workings of boutique hotels from a young age. By 14, she was launching BLLA alongside her mom, setting out to amplify the voices of hoteliers who value individuality and craft.
In this episode, Ariela takes us on a journey through:
- The evolution of boutique hospitality: How big chains hijacked the word “boutique” and why it’s time to reclaim it.
- The real essence of boutique hotels: It’s not just design — it’s about intimacy, independence, and soul.
- The funding dilemma: Why finding capital for true boutique projects remains a challenge — and how BLLA is fighting to change that.
- The boutique advantage: Why hotels that invest in experience and individuality are poised to thrive.
Ariela’s passion for preserving the heart of boutique hotels is infectious, and her insights are a masterclass in what it means to blend business with soul.
Connect with Ariela on LinkedIn
Learn more about BLLA
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Imagine being nine years old, on your first-ever family trip to Disneyland, only to have your hotel room broken into and your precious park tickets stolen. Then, just as hope seems lost, a stranger knocks on the door and hands your family their leftover Disney passes, saving the day.
That moment didn’t just shape Stephen Petaskey’s childhood — it laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey and his passion for creating remarkable travel experiences. Today, Stephen is the visionary behind Luxus Vacation Properties, a company known for redefining luxury travel by blending consistency, comfort, and a human touch.
In this episode, Stephen shares how that early lesson in resilience and generosity set him on a path to building one of the most respected names in luxury vacation rentals. From managing private vacation clubs to developing global branded stays, Stephen has spent nearly two decades perfecting what it means to create certainty in travel.
We dive into:
- The Birth of Luxus: How a personal need for family-friendly travel inspired a multimillion-dollar portfolio.
- The Four Pillars of Luxury: The unshakable standards that make every Luxus stay unforgettable.
- Playing the Long Game: Why Stephen believes in building a brand one remarkable experience at a time.
- The Future of Luxury Travel: How branded vacation homes can stand toe-to-toe with luxury hotels.
- Finding Balance in Growth: Merging the flexibility of OTAs with the consistency of a branded portfolio.
Stephen’s story is proof that the best brands aren’t built overnight — they’re crafted through persistence, innovation, and a genuine desire to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re curious about the evolution of luxury vacation rentals or looking for inspiration from a hospitality industry pioneer, this conversation is not to be missed.
Learn more about Luxus
Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What happens when two lifelong friends and engineers decide to stop dreaming about their mountain getaway — and start building it from scratch?
Meet Dave Mayo and Matt Kamp, the co-founders of New River Ridge—a design-forward micro resort perched on 14 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
These guys aren’t developers. They’re not influencers. And they’re definitely not hotel veterans.
But what they are is obsessed with building a better kind of retreat. One where couples can truly disconnect, recharge, and rediscover each other in nature—without sacrificing thoughtful design or high-end comfort.
In this episode, we unpack:
– How a shared dream turned into a full-blown SBA-funded hospitality business
– Why they traded prefab shortcuts for custom stick-built cabins—and what most people misunderstand about that decision
– The zoning workarounds, financing hurdles, and site planning pivots that nearly derailed the project
– How they’re navigating build-in-public storytelling while still holding full-time jobs
– Why they believe in building lifestyle assets, not just investment properties—and how that mindset shapes every decision
Whether you’re a builder, dreamer, or first-time founder with land on the brain, this episode is your permission slip to start small—and think big.
Follow New River Ridge on Instagram
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What does it take to transform real estate development into something more than just bricks and mortar—into places with soul, story, and unforgettable experiences?
Today’s guest, Zach Rapaport, is on a mission to answer that question. As the founder of Meerkat Development, he’s redefining what it means to build hospitality and lifestyle-driven spaces from the ground up.
His journey started in construction — literally digging foundations — and evolved into leading development projects for some of the most compelling hospitality brands today, including Joe & The Juice, Selina, and Lifehouse.
From scaling global F&B concepts to crafting boutique hotels that blend place and purpose, Zach has been at the forefront of experience-first hospitality development. In this episode, Zach pulls back the curtain on:
- Why most developments feel soulless — and how he’s changing that.
- What it takes to design hospitality concepts that aren’t just trendy, but timeless
- The 75/25 rule of brand consistency — how much a space should adapt to its location vs. maintain its DNA
- The untapped opportunity in storytelling-driven development (and why it’s a competitive advantage)
- Lessons from scaling Joe & The Juice across the U.S., building lifestyle hotels at Selina, and leading development for Lifehouse
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build experiences, not just properties — or how the future of hospitality is being shaped by people who think like creatives but execute like developers — this one’s for you.
What does it take to walk away from one of the coolest marketing jobs on the planet—at a company so many would kill to work for—to go sleep in the dirt and build an outdoor hospitality brand from scratch?
Today’s guest, Sam Degenhard, did exactly that. After a decade at Red Bull, where he helped shape the world of action sports marketing, Sam traded corporate prestige for the unpredictable wilds of entrepreneurship. He founded Campfire Ranch, a next-gen hospitality brand designed for adventure-seekers who crave nature but don’t want to deal with the headaches of traditional camping.
In this episode, Sam takes us inside his journey from Red Bull to the backcountry, revealing:
- What Red Bull gets right about branding and experiential marketing—and how he’s applying those lessons to hospitality
- Why most campgrounds and outdoor stays are fundamentally broken—and how Campfire Ranch is fixing them
- How building a brand as an op-co, while letting others own the real estate, allows for faster, more sustainable growth
- Why today's outdoor traveler demands more than just a campsite, and how Campfire Ranch is redefining the experience
If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion into a business, building a hospitality brand with soul, or simply want to know what’s next in outdoor travel, this one’s for you.
Sam@campfireranch.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/samdegenhard/www.CampfireRanch.cohttps://www.instagram.com/campfire_ranch Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Loyalty programs should feel rewarding, but most hotel programs feel like a frustrating game of hoops to jump through. In this solo episode, Zach breaks down why traditional hotel loyalty is failing and what needs to change.
Here’s the problem: Most hotel loyalty programs are built for the brand, not the traveler. Only 18% of consumers feel they get real value from these programs, and 75% of points go unused because of complicated redemption rules and blackout dates. Instead of fostering genuine loyalty, these programs often leave guests feeling unrecognized and unmotivated to return.
So, what should loyalty actually look like? It should be experiential, personalized, and rewarding beyond just free nights.
The best programs create a real emotional connection — think about why people engage with Starbucks Rewards daily but forget about their hotel points for years. Guests want perks that matter to them, whether it’s a personalized welcome gift, a guaranteed late checkout, or a local experience they’d never find on their own.
This is where Journey comes in. We’re reimagining hotel loyalty to be about meaningful rewards, engagement-based perks, and a seamless way for independent properties to offer the same level of recognition as big brands — without the corporate bureaucracy. Imagine redeeming points for a private beach dinner, an exclusive spa treatment, or a behind-the-scenes hotel tour — experiences that make travel unforgettable.
Loyalty shouldn’t be a gimmick. It should be a thank you. And we’re building a program that does just that.
How do YOU think we should reimagine loyalty here at Journey? Send me an email at zach@journey.com and let us know!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Steve Turk returns to the podcast, this time with a brand-new title—author.
In this episode, live from the IMN STR Forum in Miami, Steve shares the journey behind Hospitality Unlocked, a book packed with insights from 75 of the industry's top leaders. We dive into his inspiration (hint: Tim Ferriss was a big influence), the art of guest experience, and the surprising lessons he uncovered while compiling wisdom from hospitality’s best.
But that’s not all—Steve also reflects on his own career, from pool boy to hotel executive, and reveals what it really takes to climb the ranks in luxury hospitality. Plus, we unpack some of the biggest trends shaping the industry, including the rise of solo travel, the future of family-friendly experiences, and why wellness travelers are spending more than ever.
If you're thinking about building your own hospitality brand — or just want an inside look at the minds shaping the future of hotels—this episode is a must-listen.
Tune in to hear:
- Why Steve believes patience, self-advocacy, and adaptability are the keys to success
- The biggest takeaways from interviewing 75 hospitality icons
- Why family travel and solo wellness retreats are the next big opportunities
- How Hospitality Unlocked is giving the next generation a roadmap to success
Buy Hospitality Unlocked
Connect with Steve Turk on LinkedIn
Listen to Steve's Podcast
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a hotel, this episode is for you.
Edwin Kramer, a global luxury hospitality expert with three decades of experience at brands like EDITION, Nobu, and Four Seasons, joins us to discuss the evolving definition of luxury, the art of hospitality, and why more people should own hotels.
Known for his mantra “Life is short—own a hotel,” Edwin now helps entrepreneurs and investors develop, launch, and scale boutique hospitality ventures through his consultancy, Kramer Hospitality.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why hospitality is attracting more entrepreneurs than ever
- The future of luxury: experience-driven, personalized, and community-focused
- Lessons from working with Ian Schrager, Marriott, and Nobu
- The biggest mistakes first-time hotel owners make
- Where the market is ripe for disruption—from boutique concepts to membership-driven hospitality
- Why the best hotels feel like a return, not just a stay
Edwin also shares insider strategies for securing investment, spotting the next great hotel opportunity, and avoiding costly pitfalls when developing a hospitality brand. Whether you’re building a micro-resort, reimagining a historic inn, or simply passionate about the art of world-class hospitality, this episode is packed with game-changing insights from a true industry master.
Connect with Edwin on LinkedIn
Learn more about Kramer Hospitality
What happens when you pour your heart and soul into reviving a historic inn, transform it into the #1 Bed & Breakfast in America, and then decide to walk away? In this episode, Marco DiDomizio, co-owner of the Candleberry Inn, shares his incredible journey — from leaving a succesful corporate careers in New York City to restoring a hidden gem on Cape Cod into a TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure award-winning destination.
Marco takes us behind the scenes of how he and his partner, Angelo, spotted potential in an underperforming property, strategically elevated every guest touchpoint, and mastered the art of personalized hospitality—leading to record-breaking rates, loyal repeat guests, and international recognition.
We also dive deep into:
- How to spot an asset with untapped potential in hospitality
- The key upgrades that drive real revenue growth
- Why small details — like knowing the bartender’s name — matter more than ever
- The psychological shift from innkeeper to seller and why timing the exit is crucial
- Marco’s next chapter: Helping future innkeepers find, buy, and scale their dream properties
If you're thinking about investing in boutique hotels, reimagining historic properties, or simply love the magic of high-touch hospitality, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and real-world lessons from someone who built—and exited—a legendary inn at the peak of its success.
Connect with Marco on LinkedIn
Learn more about Inn Advisors
Discover Candleberry Inn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
What does it take to scale a thriving hospitality business from scratch—and do it at lightning speed? Today, we sit down with Patryk Swietek, founder of The Co-Host Company, a rising star in the short-term rental space who’s proving that the smartest way to grow isn’t always from the ground up—it’s by acquiring, optimizing, and redefining what great hospitality looks like.
Patryk’s journey is anything but ordinary. From shoveling snow in Chicago as a kid to building a gaming server business at 14, he was wired for entrepreneurship. But after working under industry titans at AvantStay, navigating layoffs during COVID, and hitting rock bottom, he made a decision: No more playing by someone else’s rules.
Now, he’s leading The Co-Host Company, managing over 100 high-end properties, and proving that with the right strategy, short-term rentals aren’t just a side hustle — they’re a serious, scalable business. We’ll dive into how he leveraged acquisitions to scale quickly, his philosophy on storytelling through hospitality, and why the best listings aren’t just booked—they’re designed to sell an experience.
Plus, we’ll talk about the future of STRs, why most Airbnb ‘gurus’ have disappeared, and what it really takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Some people enter hospitality by accident. Others are born into it—raised at tables where the meal was just the beginning of the experience.
For Bobby Quintal, hospitality isn’t just a career — it’s a lifelong passion shaped by growing up in New Orleans, one of the most culturally rich and culinary-driven cities in the world.
From his early days working in restaurants to leading development for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, one of the most highly regarded restaurant groups in the world, Bobby has spent his career crafting memorable spaces that blend food, design, and storytelling.
Now, as a partner at Sandstone Hospitality, Bobby is helping redefine boutique hotels—breathing new life into historic properties like The Columns, building brand-new destinations like Hotel Henrietta, and weaving F&B-forward hospitality into every project.
In this episode, we dive into:
-
- How growing up in New Orleans shaped Bobby’s view on hospitality
- Lessons from working with Danny Meyer & Union Square Hospitality Group and how legendary brands like Shake Shack built an empire by prioritizing emotion over transactions.
- Reinventing The Columns Hotel—how Bobby and his team transformed a fading New Orleans institution into a must-visit experience
- The delicate art of new builds vs. historic renovations—why the best designers listen to the story a space already wants to tell instead of forcing a narrative onto it.
- How Sandstone weaves F&B into every project
- The role of subtle branding in hospitality —why a small oyster bar named "Fives" has an unexpected connection to a historic tobacco magnate, and how a pink espresso machine at Hotel Henrietta tells its own story.
- Why smaller cities with soul are the next frontier for experiential hotels.
- And so much more
Connect with Bobby
Learn more about Sandstone
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Imagine owning so many homes around the world that you lose track of them—so instead of letting them sit empty, you hire someone to manage them, curate them, and quietly offer them to an elite circle of travelers who can afford $20,000-a-night stays.
If that’s the world you live in, you might hire Wolf Worster lives in.
As the founder of Sirreti, a private network shaping the ultra-luxury villa and private residence industry, Wolf works with high-net-worth individuals, property managers, and travel advisors to create the most exclusive stays on the planet — homes so private and so pristine, they don’t even appear on public listings.
One of his clients? Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of Dell Computers. That’s the level we’re talking about here.
But what makes a property truly ultra-luxury? And how has high-end travel changed as younger billionaires step onto the scene, throwing traditional expectations out the window?
In this episode, we explore:
- The secret world of ultra-high-net-worth travel — where money is almost meaningless, but privacy and exclusivity are everything.
- Why younger billionaires travel differently — from tech founders to heirs of generational wealth, how their spending habits and preferences are reshaping luxury hospitality.
- How Sirreti is redefining luxury standards — and why even the wealthiest travelers don’t just want high thread-count sheets; they want a story, an experience, and a seamless booking process.
- The hidden flaws in ultra-luxury hospitality — from outdated tech to service inconsistencies, and why the highest-end stays still struggle with guest experience.
- The role of travel advisors in this elite world — why they’re more important than ever, and why smart operators are shifting away from OTAs and direct bookings to focus on this lucrative channel.
- The rise and fall of luxury markets — why Ibiza and St. Barts are struggling while other under-the-radar destinations are thriving.
- Why there’s still no “Ritz-Carlton” of private stays — and what it would take to build a recognizable ultra-luxury brand in the vacation rental industry.
Connect with Wolf
Explore Sirreti
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.
Meet Ian Joseph — real estate investor turned hospitality entrepreneur — who is on a mission to bring a new kind of micro-resort experience to life.
What started as a simple desire to buy a vacation home led him to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, a historic spa town with deep hospitality roots.
Now, Ian is in the early stages of launching Branch, an experiential micro-resort designed to blend striking architecture, immersive nature experiences, and strong community connections.
Branch hasn’t broken ground yet, but Ian is deep in the trenches — securing financing, finalizing design plans, and laying the foundation for what he hopes will be the first of many unique stays. Inspired by brands like Live Oak Lake, he’s determined to build a hospitality concept that goes beyond beautiful accommodations and taps into the story, history, and culture of its location.
In this episode, we dive into:
- Why Ian chose Berkeley Springs, West Virginia and what makes it a hidden gem ready for a hospitality revival.
- The rise of micro-resorts and why entrepreneurs without traditional hotel backgrounds are leading the way.
- How Ian is designing Branch to integrate with the local community — partnering with restaurants, chefs, and wellness providers instead of competing with them with onsite offerings.
- How he’s designing unexpected, locally inspired experiences for guests — like moonshine tastings, fruit wine flights, and hyper-local food collaborations.
- What he’s learned about raising capital for a hospitality development — including securing debt financing and finding the right equity partners.
- His long-term vision for Branch and why he believes the best hospitality brands will be built around story-driven destinations.
- And so much more
Follow Branch on Instagram
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet John Rutledge, founder of Oxford Capital Group and creator of the Godfrey Hotels—an innovative collection of boutique properties that blend upscale luxury with a social, lifestyle-driven experience.
With a unique vantage point in both the world of branded chain hotels and independent boutique properties, John’s insights are invaluable for understanding today’s rapidly changing hospitality landscape.
In this episode, John discusses:
- The modern luxury traveler: How today’s travelers are moving beyond materialism to prioritize meaningful experiences, deeper connections, and a balanced lifestyle.
- The rise of boutique hotels: Why smaller, independent properties are thriving alongside global hotel chains, and how John manages both worlds, creating powerful, in-house hotel brands while working with big-name affiliations like Hilton and Marriott.
- The Godfrey journey: From acquiring a distressed property to creating a luxury lifestyle brand that resonates with today’s social, experience-driven traveler.
- Balancing chains and independence: How John navigates the complexities of managing both branded hotels and independent brands, offering a rare perspective on the strengths and challenges of each.
- OTAs and direct bookings: How the shift toward direct bookings is reshaping the hospitality industry, providing independent hotels with more control over their guest relationships and profitability.
- The future of luxury: John shares his predictions for the next decade, including the continued growth of experiential travel, lifestyle hotels, and the rise of "bleisure" travel.
John’s dual experience of owning and operating both chain-affiliated and independent properties makes this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of hospitality, boutique hotel branding, and entrepreneurial success. His rare perspective provides a roadmap for navigating the evolving demands of today’s luxury travelers and shaping the next wave of hotel innovation.
Learn more about Oxford Capital
Discover The Godfrey
Connect with John Rutledge
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Morgan Brown, the force behind new portfolio additions at Inspirato, the premier luxury travel membership that unlocks access to some of the world’s most exclusive homes, hotels, and experiences.
Inspirato isn’t just about five-star stays—it’s about curating seamless, high-touch, high-design travel for discerning members who expect the extraordinary. But what exactly do today’s luxury travelers want? And how is the concept of loyalty evolving in an era of shifting preferences?
In this episode, we explore:
- Who the modern luxury traveler really is—and how their desires are changing
- The future of travel memberships and why exclusivity matters more than ever
- How Inspirato curates its portfolio of 400+ properties—what makes the cut, and what doesn’t
- Why business travelers are choosing boutique stays over traditional hotels
- Hot takes on where luxury hospitality is headed next—from personalization to the rise of “bleisure” travel
Morgan offers rare insights into the minds of today’s high-net-worth traveler, revealing what they crave, what keeps them loyal, and where the industry is headed next. If you’re fascinated by the future of curated travel experiences, this episode is a must-listen.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Brian Linton—entrepreneur, brand builder, and now a rising force in boutique hospitality. From founding the sustainable apparel company United by Blue to transforming rundown motels into sought-after boutique stays, Brian has mastered the art of brand storytelling and customer experience.
His hospitality journey started unexpectedly in 2020 when he and his wife purchased a neglected roadside motel in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. What began as a pandemic side project became The Rex, a high-design boutique retreat that quickly gained a cult following. From there, Brian expanded into new ventures—including Ferncrest, a glamping brand that’s pioneering a fresh approach to hospitality franchising.
In this episode, we dive into:
- How Brian went from selling jewelry out of his car to building a $20M apparel brand
- The unexpected pivot that led him from fashion to hospitality
- Why boutique motels and glamping are booming—and how social media plays a massive role
- The business of experience-driven stays: balancing high design with low-touch operations
- The future of Ferncrest and why he believes the glamping space is ripe for franchising
- Lessons from scaling a brand in multiple industries—what works, what doesn’t, and what he’d do differently
Brian is redefining what it means to build a hospitality brand in the modern era—where content, community, and commerce intersect. If you’re fascinated by the future of boutique hotels, unique stays, and experiential travel, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.
Follow Brian on Instagram
Connect with Brian on LinkedIn
Learn more about Ferncrest
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Sean Breuner and Reuben Doetsch saw an opportunity to transform the short-term rental space long before the industry exploded. In 2017, they set out to build AvantStay, a brand that blends the best of boutique hospitality with the freedom of private homes.
Their approach is anything but casual. Every property is meticulously designed, every experience carefully curated. While others rushed into the space during the pandemic, Sean and Reuben were already scaling with precision, setting a new standard for high-end vacation rentals.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why most vacation rental brands fail to scale—and how AvantStay cracked the code
- The secrets to making a vacation rental feel like a five-star hotel
- How they built a brand guests actively seek out—not just one that fills OTA listings
- What today’s luxury traveler really wants—and why it’s more than just a beautiful home
- Why competitors pouring millions into the space are still struggling to gain traction
- The future of hospitality: personalization, premium experiences, and the next big shift
Sean and Reuben are building more than just a portfolio of stunning homes—they’re redefining what hospitality looks like in the short-term rental space. If you’re interested in the future of luxury travel, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.
Learn more about AvantStay
Connect with Sean and Reuben on LinkedIn.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Dan Flannery, a hospitality leader with an extraordinary career, has spent decades redefining luxury travel. From his early days at Marriott to helping launch the Edition brand with Ian Schrager, and now leading operations at Loews Hotels, Dan’s journey is a masterclass in blending vision with execution.
Guided by a belief that true luxury lies in refinement and authenticity, Dan’s approach to hospitality is both rooted in tradition and forward-thinking. His story is one of passion, precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
In this episode, Zach sits down with Dan to explore his remarkable career and gain a deeper understanding of the trends shaping luxury hospitality today.
Tune in to hear how...
- Dan collaborated with Ian Schrager to launch Edition, crafting a luxury lifestyle brand rooted in creativity and obsessive attention to detail.
- The definition of modern luxury is evolving, with today’s travelers seeking unexpected, authentic, and deeply personal experiences.
- Lowe’s Hotels is carving its niche by focusing on destination-driven properties that combine immersive experiences with group events.
- Independent hoteliers can differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape by building brands with a singular, uncompromising vision.
- Thoughtful design, from the quality of a room’s olive oil to the flow of a restaurant space, plays a pivotal role in creating unforgettable guest experiences.
Dan’s story is a powerful reminder that great hospitality starts with visionaries who aren’t afraid to push boundaries. Whether you’re dreaming of opening a single boutique property or building a brand that scales globally, this conversation offers invaluable lessons from one of the industry’s brightest minds.
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Frances Kiradjian, founder and CEO of the Boutique Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA) and a leading voice and force in the independent boutique hotel space.
Fran’s journey began in the corporate travel world, managing massive accounts like Disney and Toyota. But it was her bold decision to champion the boutique hotel sector—long before it was trendy—that cemented her legacy. Since founding BLLA in 2009, Fran has built a thriving community for independent hoteliers and other hospitality entrepreneurs.
In this episode, we uncover:
- How Fran’s career has been built on bold ideas: From her groundbreaking work in travel technology to the inception of BLLA.
- The rise of boutique hotels: Why travelers crave unique, high-touch experiences and how boutique properties deliver where big chains fall short.
- Her passion for innovation. We discuss Fran’s favorite stories from interviewing industry legends, including Sir Richard Branson, and how these encounters shaped her vision for the future of hospitality.
- Hot takes on the next decade of boutique travel experiences: From Gen Z hoteliers to truly immersive guest experiences, Fran breaks down the trends shaping the industry’s future.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Fran.
Connect with Fran
Learn more about BLLLA
Rachel Alday, co-founder of Abode Luxury Rentals, has been quietly redefining what it means to deliver high-end hospitality in the heart of the mountains. With a background in marketing and her husband Rob’s roots in real estate, the duo created a company that marries meticulous service with a deep love for ski-town culture.
Abode’s journey began humbly in Park City, but today it spans over 200 elite properties in three coveted destinations: Park City, Jackson Hole, and Sun Valley. Guided by the belief that true luxury is about connection and authenticity, Rachel has built a brand that thrives on personal touches and an unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction.
In this episode, Rachel takes us behind the scenes of her luxury rental empire and shares how Abode has earned its reputation as a trusted name in vacation rentals.
Learn more about Abode Luxury Rentals
Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by IMN! The countdown is on for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! Join me on January 15-16 at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort where I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space. It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off the final tickets. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Steve Lassman, Vice President of Villas of Distinction—a luxury villa company that’s been curating remarkable vacation homes since the 1980s.
Steve’s story runs three generations deep in the travel industry, and he’s worn just about every hat you can imagine—from airline sales to hotel operations—before finding his calling in the world of private villa experiences.
In this episode, Steve reveals why Villas of Distinction is all about quality over quantity, and how they’ve nurtured enduring partnerships with top travel advisors around the world.
Their approach to vetting every villa (from hot water pressure checks to wine glass counts) is anything but casual, ensuring that each stay meets their lofty “five-star” criteria. And when things get tough—like after a major hurricane—they’ve proven they’ll put the guest experience above everything else.
Tune in to hear:
- How a legacy family business and decades of travel shaped Steve’s hospitality mindset
- Why a curated portfolio of villas (not 30,000 listings) guarantees the best guest experience
- Real-life stories of turning “fixer-upper” villas back into five-star stunners
- The magic of working with a travel advisor—and why it won’t cost you extra
- Predictions on the next big trends in luxury villa travel (hint: it’s all about experiences)
From private island getaways to truffle hunts in Tuscany, Steve’s passion for personalized service is palpable. If you’ve ever dreamed of a tailor-made stay that blends home comforts with high-end indulgence, this conversation is for you.
Connect with Steve
Explore Villas of Distinction
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Ari Smith, co-founder of Balanced Farm, a visionary micro-resort in Vermont that blends sustainable luxury with the power of AI.
Ari’s journey began in tech entrepreneurship, where he sold a company to a Microsoft subsidiary and learned hard lessons about innovation, scale, and adaptability. But it was meeting his wife, Hillary (co-founder of Folly Collection), that inspired him to fuse his tech-savvy background with hospitality. Today, on 540 acres of pristine land, Ari and Hillary are reimagining what it means to offer a truly bespoke travel experience.
From personalized amenities crafted through intelligent data to off-the-grid energy solutions, Balanced Farm is more than a boutique stay—it’s a living lab pushing the boundaries of comfort, connectivity, and creativity. In this conversation, we explore:
- Ari’s early tech ventures and what selling to Microsoft taught him about growth
- The role of AI in delivering hyper-personalized guest experiences
- Why blending nature, design, and cutting-edge innovation is key to future-forward hospitality
- How hands-on experimentation, from hydroponics to hidden IoT sensors, shapes their vision
- What happens when entrepreneurial grit meets the timeless desire for meaningful escapes
If you’re curious about the next frontier of hospitality—where authenticity meets ingenuity—this episode is for you.
Connect with Ari
Discover Balance Farm
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Valerie Gangas, a hospitality visionary who’s redefining the guest experience by blending soulful intention, authentic service, and meticulous design.
Raised in a family of restaurateurs, Valerie learned the art of hospitality from childhood—serving customers as a four-year-old “pickle girl” in her father’s Chicago eateries. But her journey would be anything but conventional.
Driven by both a love for warm, communal spaces and a deep fascination with spiritual connection, Valerie spent years exploring the nexus of comfort, belonging, and transcendence—managing her family’s restaurants, studying comparative religion, and working intimately with organizations like the David Lynch Foundation and Oprah Winfrey’s team.
Today, Valerie channels these experiences into Juniper Home, a boutique property management company that curates beautifully designed, minimalist vacation rentals. Every room reflects her core philosophy: that true hospitality is far more than a business—it’s an opportunity to spark meaningful encounters.
From ensuring the perfect lighting to orchestrating heartfelt surprises for guests celebrating milestones, Valerie and her team pay attention to every detail, forging environments where visitors find rest, connection, and even a hint of the divine.
In this conversation, we explore:
- How Valerie’s early years behind the line in family restaurants shaped her “guests-first” mindset.
- Why her deep dive into spirituality—and working with everyone from medical students to media moguls—translates seamlessly into elevated hospitality.
- The intentional design principles behind Juniper Home’s success, focusing on how simplicity, serenity, and authenticity create transformative travel experiences.
- The importance of hiring and inspiring a team who embody genuine care, ensuring that guests always feel seen, heard, and understood.
- How merging the disciplines of real estate, design, and soulful service sets the stage for a new era of boutique travel—one where guests do more than just “get away.” They reconnect, recharge, and remember what truly matters.
Discover Juniper Home
Connect with Valerie
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Blake Smith, the visionary founder of Walden Retreats, a boutique property that masterfully blends the serenity of nature with sophisticated design.
Inspired by his years living and working in East Africa, Blake brought lessons from safari camps and Ugandan hospitality back to Texas, reimagining what it means to escape into nature.
Walden Retreats, named after Henry David Thoreau's iconic work, offers guests a profound connection to the outdoors—crafted through thoughtful design, simplicity, and intentional experiences.
From hand-curated spaces that encourage guests to slow down and reconnect, to the inspiration behind their signature safari tents, Blake's journey from building a social enterprise in Uganda to creating an immersive nature retreat in the Texas Hill Country is nothing short of extraordinary.
Tune in to hear:
- How Blake’s time in East Africa shaped his unique hospitality vision.
- The story behind Walden’s name and its connection to Thoreau’s philosophy.
- Why Walden Retreats eschews traditional luxury for thoughtful simplicity.
- Insights on balancing guest comfort with an authentic connection to nature.
- The future of Walden as it grows from a 15-unit retreat to an expansive portfolio.
Learn more about Walden Retreats
Follow Walden Retreats on Instagram
Connect with Blake Smith on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. You can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
As 2024 draws to a close, we’re celebrating the standout conversations that defined our year. Today’s episode revisits your top 10 favorites:
10 The New Era of Exploration: How Today's Travelers Think About Loyalty, Independent Hotels, and Experiential Stays
9 He Buys RV Parks: Predictions on the Future of Camping and Outdoor Hospitality
8 How They Transformed a 100-Year-Old Beach House into a Chic Airbnb (And Booked it Fully in Just 11 Days)
7 How They're Building the Hottest New Tiny Home: The Story of ÖÖD Mirror House
6 How to Merge Luxury, Sustainability, and MICHELIN-Star Experiences — The Story of the Kabn Company
5 Meet the 19-Year-Old Who Builds (and Buys) Unique Stays
4 He Dreamed of Being a Farmer, But Wound Up An Entrepreneur: The Story of Back Forty Glamping
3 Hans Lorei on Building an Instagram Audience from 0 to 100k in 100 Days
2 How They're Building the Airbnb for Houseboats: The Story of FLOHOM
1 The Dark Side of Airbnb: How One Host Lost Everything in a Day
Each of these top episodes underscores a common thread: intention. The hosts, designers, and entrepreneurs you’ll hear from don’t just provide a place to sleep.
They craft experiences that evoke emotion, foster connection, and invite guests to see travel differently. Whether it’s a lakeside houseboat, a mountaintop treehouse, or a contemporary villa, the essence remains the same—thoughtful, meaningful hospitality that leaves a lasting impression.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Tori Bolt — Co-Founder of Bolt Farm, a celebrated nature retreat in Whitwell Tennessee, offering 23 meticulously designed villas.
In 2016, Tori and Seth Bolt embarked on a bold adventure, building their first luxury treehouse—an intimate project that began as a handcrafted wedding gift. What they didn’t know then was that this creative labor of love would spark a new era in experiential hospitality.
Long before the surge in unique stays and experiential accommodations, the Bolts were leading the way, crafting spaces that balanced the serenity of nature with the sophistication of high-end design. It wasn’t long before their work caught the attention of Netflix’s The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, a feature that helped position Bolt Farm as a pioneer in the luxury glamping space.
Seth Bolt, a longtime member of the Grammy-nominated band Needtobreathe, brought a unique perspective to the design process. Years of touring and experiencing hospitality across the spectrum informed the couple’s meticulous approach to guest experience. The result? A collection of stays where every detail, from heated marble floors to handcrafted interiors, is intentional, offering guests a haven for rest, connection, and inspiration.
In this episode, we explore:
- How their first luxury treehouse laid the foundation for Bolt Farm’s success.
- What it meant to be featured on Netflix and how the exposure transformed their brand.
- The journey from a small collection of unique stays to a full-fledged wellness resort with a seven-day-a-week spa and curated dining options.
- The couple’s vision for expansion, including discussions around franchising and strategic partnerships that maintain their signature level of quality and charm.
- Lessons from balancing bold creativity with operational excellence as they scale.
Tori and Seth’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and innovation. From their first treehouse to their plans for nationwide expansion, this episode is a testament to what’s possible when you dream big and create with intention.
Connect with Seth and Tori
Follow Bolt Farm on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. You can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Samantha Hardcastle — founder of The Storied Experience, a Creative Studio Re-imagining Hospitality Destinations, Tourism Experiences & Lifestyle Hotels.
Samantha specializes in helping boutique hotels and unique stays craft meaningful guest journeys that inspire connection, curiosity, and reflection.
Her journey began in 2011, when she launched a social media marketing company. After years of creating content for boutique hotels, Samantha felt called to dive deeper—beyond the surface of beautiful imagery and into the heart of storytelling. Today, her work helps properties infuse their brand narratives into every touchpoint, offering guests at the world’s most memorable properties something truly unforgettable.
Tune in to hear:
- Samantha’s approach to experience design and why story is the foundation of all her work.
- How she helps properties create immersive offerings, like a full moon dinner inspired by Aztec lore or a forest whisper confessional that blends nature with human connection.
- The three "opportunity zones" for creating memorable guest experiences: multi-day retreats, interactive touchpoints, and local collaborations.
- Why intentional design matters and how properties can create spaces that foster engagement, reflection, and playfulness.
- Real-world examples of small, cost-effective ideas—like symbolic painted rocks—that spark creativity and connection.
- Why Samantha believes the future of hospitality lies in embracing authenticity, storytelling, and bold creativity.
Connect with Samantha
Explore the Storied Experience Website
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – the super early bird rate expires Friday November 22nd and you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
In just a moment you'll meet Peter Triolo, the General Manager of Archer Hotel Tysons, a standout boutique hotel that's redefining hospitality in Virginia.
With over eight years at Archer, Peter has been a driving force behind the brand's growth—from his beginnings at the Archer Hotel Napa to the expansion of unique properties across the country. His journey is all about creating genuine, memorable experiences that resonate with every guest.
Archer Hotels are more than just places to stay; they're immersive environments that reflect the soul of their local communities. Each hotel is thoughtfully designed with local inspiration—from the peach murals honoring Tysons' history as a former peach field to daily treats and cocktails that celebrate regional flavors.
Tune in to hear:
- How Archer Hotels craft unique yet consistently welcoming experiences across different locations
- The brand's philosophy of being playful, careful, and thoughtful in every guest interaction
- Stories of personalized touches, like handwritten notes and special surprises that make stays unforgettable
- Peter's insights on maintaining a boutique feel while the brand grows
- The importance of community connections and supporting local artisans
- And so much more
Discover The Archer Hotel
Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – the super early bird rate expires Friday November 22nd and you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet returning guests Monique DeLorenzo and Kerri Gibson, two visionary short-term rental operators who recently piloted an exciting marketing partnership.
A couple of months ago Kerri came on the show to share a vision that she and Monique had to bring together four distinct properties, a pair of talented creators, and a shared goal of curating the ultimate New England road trip experience.
In this episode, Kerri and Monique discuss what the results of this first-of-its-kind collaboration were…
Tune in to hear:
- The birth of a boutique road trip: How Monique and Kerri turned a bold idea into a full-fledged marketing campaign in partnership with the folks at Lumen Camps and The Maine Cabins.
- Lessons learned from the journey: From wrangling tourism boards to selecting the perfect collaborators, they share what worked—and what they’d refine.
- How boutique stays align with shifting traveler preferences: Why personalized, design-forward accommodations are capturing consumer spending.
- The long-term vision: How Monique and Kerri plan to turn this road trip campaign into a blueprint for regional hospitality experiences across seasons.
- Why engagement is everything: The surprising metrics—from Instagram followers to DMs—that show their strategy resonated with audiences.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Kerri and Monique.
Connect with Kerri
Connect with Monique
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – the super early bird rate expires Friday November 22nd and you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
In this solo-episode, Zach transports listeners to Dawn Ranch, a boutique retreat in Guerneville, California, nestled in the heart of Sonoma wine country. The property, designed as a haven for creative renewal, invites guests to escape the distractions of modern life and reconnect with themselves. The host reflects on their stay while exploring trends and innovative ideas shaping the future of boutique and experiential travel.
Tune in to hear:
- How Dawn Ranch fosters creative awakenings and why properties like it play a crucial role in helping guests think deeply and recharge.
- Data-backed insights on the rise of experiential travel, including a 34% increase in spending on travel experiences since 2019.
- The shift toward boutique hotels and unique stays, with boutique properties growing at nearly double the rate of big-box hotels.
- Creative ideas for hospitality entrepreneurs, such as niche retreats like book club weekends, gamified treasure hunts, and pop-up wellness labs.
- The importance of storytelling and designing spaces with soul, and how properties can craft narratives that resonate deeply with guests.
- Why exclusivity and luxury experiences are pivotal in creating lasting guest connections and fostering loyalty.
This episode serves as both inspiration and a roadmap for hospitality innovators eager to embrace emerging trends and offer transformative experiences to their guests. Whether you’re a boutique hotelier, short-term rental operator, or an enthusiast of unique stays, this conversation explores how the future of travel is being shaped by thoughtful, immersive, and creative hospitality.
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – the super early bird rate expires Friday November 22nd and you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
In this episode Zach sits down with the French Cowboys — Dylan and Franklin — to chat about how they built their business, what the future of boutique hospitality will look like, why experiential hospitality is overhyped, and the pros and cons of owning and managing boutique hotels vs. boutique vacation rentals.
Learn more about the French Cowboys.
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – the super early bird rate expires Friday November 22nd and you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
In this special crossover episode of Behind the Stays and The Unique Hospitality Podcast, hosted by my friend Nick Purslow, we bring together two of the most innovative names in experiential hospitality—Ben Wolff of Onera and Isaac French of Live Oak Lake. Known for creating standout micro-resorts and unique stays, Ben and Isaac are veterans of the podcast scene, but this time, they’re answering some questions they’ve never been asked before.
Tune in for unfiltered insights on what it takes to create deeply personal, experiential stays that go beyond just beautiful design. Our conversation dives into Ben’s big-vision approach with projects like Onera Wimberley, where scale meets seamless guest experience, and contrasts it with Isaac’s preference for smaller, more intimate stays—designed to immerse guests fully in nature and unparalleled design.
We also explore how shifts in consumer spending and a growing preference for authenticity and personalization are reshaping the hospitality landscape and why consumers are looking beyond the traditional, finding luxury in boutique, nature-centric stays that prioritize immersive moments over cookie-cutter amenities.
You’ll get Ben and Isaac’s takes on:
- How Instagram and tech-centric tools are transforming hospitality, enabling small brands to capture attention, build loyalty, and reach consumers at scale, just like industry giants.
- Why scaling across multiple properties, brand differentiation, and why personal brand-building can be a game-changer in boutique hospitality.
- Why “build fewer, spend more” is becoming the motto for unique stays, and how these one-of-a-kind locations are meeting consumer demand for high-quality, memorable escapes.
- Predictions for the future of boutique hotels, from decentralized hospitality chains to collaborative, local-first models.
- And so much more
Listen to The Unique Hospitality Podcast
Follow Behind the Stays on Instagram
Follow Isaac on Twitter/X or Instagram
Follow Ben on Twitter/X or Instagram
Learn more about Posh Outdoors
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Adam Dailey – an adventurous soul and hospitality innovator who owns a collection of short-term rentals and boutique hotels in San Diego.
From an Olympic sports tour operator to a global family traveler, Adam’s journey into hospitality began with a family sabbatical, taking him, his wife, and their four young children around the world.
Today, Adam channels that passion for exploration and authentic experiences into managing boutique hotels and vacation rentals that blend charm, service, and design to create truly memorable stays.
In this episode, we dive into:
- Adam’s journey from corporate burnout to launching a hospitality portfolio inspired by his global travels
- His pivot from owning and managing vacation rentals to owning and managing boutique hotels
- Why he believes smaller, well-designed properties (20-30 rooms) allow for an exceptional level of personal service
- Lessons learned from his partnership with Sonder, and the difference between low-touch, tech-driven stays and high-touch, luxury-focused hospitality
- Why the right touchpoints—like an on-site concierge or thoughtful lobby design—create a feeling of true luxury, even in boutique settings
- Adam’s insights on navigating the evolution of guest expectations in a saturated market where unique stays are in high demand
- The role of AI and technology in optimizing operations, without sacrificing the human element that guests crave
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Adam.
Follow Behind the Stays on Instagram
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance.
If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
Meet Jason Thawley, founder of Tree Tents — a one-of-a-kind suspended tree structures.
Tree Tents isn’t your typical prefab company. With a product lineup featuring the iconic “Tree Tent”, fuselage-inspired pods, and the whimsical Birdhouse, Jason’s designs offer travelers an immersive outdoor experience that’s as unique as it is sustainable. As the demand for glamping grows, Jason’s creations provide unique stay entrepreneurs a way to offer something truly different, designed to bring guests closer to nature with every moment.
Tune in to hear:
- How Jason’s curiosity and early love of nature inspired his designs
- The story behind Tree Tents’ first structure—built on a tight deadline for a UK TV series
- Why immersive design matters in creating memorable glamping experiences
- Jason’s take on “rooming with nature”—why separate structures make the outdoors part of each stay
- His vision for affordable, eco-friendly units that meet the needs of small business owners
- Tree Tents’ growing presence in the U.S., and why the brand is expanding internationally
In this episode, Jason shares how each structure is crafted to give guests the feeling of true escape, encouraging them to embrace the outdoors while enjoying a unique, comfortable stay. Whether you’re a glamping enthusiast, hospitality entrepreneur, or just curious about what’s next in nature-immersive design, this conversation offers a glimpse into the future of experiential stays.
Learn more about Tree Tents
Behind the Stays and its parent company StayWatch have been acquired by Journey — a next-generation loyalty program designed for the modern traveler. Learn more about what Journey is building at JoinJourney.com.
Apply to Join the Journey Alliance
Connect with Zach on LinkedIn
In this can't-miss episode, host Zach shares the most exciting announcement in the history of the show: Behind the Stays (and its parent company StayWatch) has been acquired by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program designed to help travelers earn points on unique stays, landscape resorts, boutique hotels, vacation rentals, and more.
Joining Zach is John Sutton, the visionary founder of Journey, who brings over a decade of experience from his time at Red Ventures and collaborations with industry giants like Brian Kelly, Founder of The Points Guy.
Together, they unveil how Journey plans to bridge the gap between boutique hotels and unique short-term rentals by creating a unified loyalty program that truly benefits both travelers and property owners.
Discover how Journey aims to empower property owners with powerful marketing tools, shared insights, and a community that values their independence and brand identity. Learn about the star-studded team behind Journey, including notable figures like Chris Burch (founder of Tory Burch) and James McBride (luxury hotelier), all passionate about transforming the travel landscape.
Tune in to hear Zach and John discuss:
- The vision behind Journey and why it's set to disrupt traditional loyalty programs
- The creation of the Journey Alliance and how it's uniting exceptional properties
- Innovative marketing and storytelling tools available to alliance members
- How Journey plans to offer more meaningful rewards to travelers
- The role of Journey Studios in amplifying authentic brand stories of hotels and vacation rentals
- And so much more
Sign up for the Journey waitlist
Request to be a part of the Journey Alliance
Read the exclusive Bloomberg article announcing Journey
Connect with Zach on LinkedIn
Meet Edward Haynes — a visionary entrepreneur with roots in the event rental industry, now revolutionizing the luxury glamping space.
What started as a pivot during the pandemic has become a mission to help landowners transform beautiful landscapes into high-end, profitable escapes. Edward’s journey reflects the intersection of innovation, craftsmanship, and hospitality, blending unique structures with unforgettable guest experiences.
His company EJH Distribution sources and distributes premium accommodations—from safari tents to stunning glass “Tubo” structures—while Posh Outdoors empowers landowners to build luxury stays through profit-sharing partnerships.
For Edward, success is more than just unique units; it’s about crafting experiences that make the first and last impressions unforgettable.
Tune in to hear:
- How Edward pivoted from events to hospitality in response to the pandemic
- The rise of luxury glamping and why travelers are turning away from conventional hotels
- Posh Outdoors’ unique business model, helping landowners monetize with minimal upfront costs
- Why Edward believes ski resorts and vineyards will become the next big hubs for luxury stays
- The challenge of balancing prefab solutions with customization to maintain uniqueness
- How Posh’s first site in Sky Ridge, Canada will set a new standard for luxury glamping
- F&B innovations for remote resorts and the power of shared spaces in hospitality
Edward’s deep understanding of both events and hospitality means no detail is overlooked, from on-site amenities to the guest journey itself.
Whether you’re curious about starting your own micro-resort or fascinated by the latest glamping trends, this conversation offers insights into the future of luxury hospitality.
Alright, friends—without further ado, get ready to meet Edward.
Learn more about EJH Distribution
Learn more about Posh Outdoors
Connect with Edward on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests?
Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play.
This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line.
But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Eliza Clark, the Co-Founder of Foxfire Mountain House and The Lost Fox Inn, two remarkable boutique hotels in New York and Connecticut.
Eliza is an inspiring storyteller turned hospitality entrepreneur who grew up outside of Toronto. From her beginnings as a novelist and TV director for HGTV, to co-founding two breathtaking inn Eliza’s journey is all about crafting immersive experiences that bring people together.
The story of Eliza’s journey into hospitality entrepreneurship is really a love story — after a hard divorce, she met now-husband Tim, an executive American chef. It was their romance that ultimately inspired Eliza to take a leap from television to hospitality.
Together, they’ve created boutique properties that seamlessly blend history, design, and unforgettable food and beverage experiences. Their hotels aren’t just places to stay; they’re curated environments built with heart, imagination, and a whole lot of hard work.
Tune in to hear:
- How Eliza’s storytelling background influences every aspect of her properties
- The challenges and joys of running a hospitality business as a family
- The creative process behind transforming a bioluminescent fungus into a brand story (you won’t want to miss this one!)
- Lessons from balancing beautifully designed spaces with Tim’s world-class food and beverage programs
- Why Eliza believes boutique hospitality is about offering personalized, “indie” travel experiences
- And so much more
Alright, friends, without further ado, let’s jump in with Eliza Clark.
Book a Stay at Lost Fox Inn
Book a Stay at Foxfire Mountain House
Follow Lost Fox on Instagram
Follow Byrd Studio on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests?
Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play.
This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line.
But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Stephen and Sam Hopkins — the founders of Missing Hotel, a one-of-a-kind retreat nestled in the Texas Hill Country.
With 96 acres bordering a nature preserve and uniquely designed domes and villas, the property offers more than just a place to stay—it’s an invitation to disconnect and reconnect with what matters most.
We dive deep into their founding story, from working corporate jobs in the energy sector to making the bold decision to take a year-long sabbatical that transformed their lives and careers. Their passion for creating experiences stems from their own love of travel, and with Missing Hotel, they’ve crafted a stay that combines surprise, spontaneity, and simplicity to create meaningful moments for guests.
Tune in to hear:
- How the inspiration for Missing Hotel struck during a sabbatical and a few bottles of rum in Australia
- The challenges (and a few wild stories) of building unique structures during COVID, including being held at gunpoint over $3,000
- Why Stephen and Sam believe in keeping elements of mystery and surprise throughout their guests’ stays
- Their approach to creating spaces that offer a mental reset through digital detox and immersive, experiential hospitality
- Their exciting plans to expand Missing Hotel into new states and wilder ideas in the next five years
This conversation is packed with insights into creating unforgettable guest experiences, the power of brand storytelling, and the future of experiential hospitality.
Discover Missing Hotel
Follow Missing Hotel on Instagram
Apply for the Experiential Hospitality Community
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Zoey Berghoff, the entrepreneur and visionary who's transforming the short-term rental landscape by creating unique, unforgettable stays—and teaching others how to do the same.
Zoey is an entrepreneur, an adventurer, and a mom who travels full-time—all while building an incredible community on Instagram. She's dedicated to helping others leave their 9-to-5 jobs and dive into entrepreneurial ventures in the hospitality space, especially focusing on unique and memorable stays.
In this conversation, we dive deep into Zoey's remarkable journey—from leaving her corporate job to becoming a full-time entrepreneur and influencer in the short-term rental world.
Tune in to hear:
- Where the idea of renting out a yurt, her first unique stay, came from
- The challenges and triumphs of scaling unique stays in remote locations
- The power of building a personal brand on social media and how it amplifies business growth
- Why Zoey believes that offering out-of-the-ordinary experiences is the future of hospitality
- How she balances entrepreneurship and motherhood while traveling full-time with her family
- Her insights on the next big opportunities in the unique stays and boutique hotel space
And so much more. Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Zoey.
Connect with Zoey on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by The Content House
If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully.
What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special.
Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with…
The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations…
Follow The Content House on Instagram
Dunlap Hollow Reel
Live Oak Lake Reel
FLOHOM Reel
Villa Stay Texas Reel
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Hillary Flur, the Co-Founder and Co-Visionary behind Folly, a collection of stunning off-grid retreats in the Mojave Desert and beyond that are redefining sustainable luxury travel.
Hillary didn’t start out in hospitality. She began her hospitality entrepreneurship journey by renting out a small, kitchen-less studio apartment on Airbnb—but what started as a side hustle quickly evolved into a portfolio of design-forward, off-grid getaways that blend architecture, nature, and luxury in a next-gen, outo-of-this-world sort of way.
In this conversation, we dive deep into Hillary’s journey—from surviving her first DIY build in Joshua Tree to creating expansive desert compounds that attract everyone from A-list celebrities to adventure-seeking travelers.
Tune in to hear:
- Where the idea of creating magical, architecturally stunning stays first came from
- The challenges of scaling unique stays like Folly’s and why they’re betting on pop-up locations next
- The genius behind Folly’s exclusive membership program and how it offers hyper-personalized stays for their guests
- Why Hillary believes AI will be pivotal in helping hoteliers and hospitality entrepreneurs hyper-personalize their guest experience at scale
- Hillary’s vision of having a Folly near every National Park
- And so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Hillary.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests?
Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play.
This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line.
But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Katie Cline, a powerhouse in hospitality PR who’s worked with renowned brands like Ritz Carlton, W Hotels, and St. Regis. But Katie isn’t just a PR strategist—she’s also a vacation rental entrepreneur and the host of Sweet Success, a brand-new podcast where she interviews hospitality leaders from her world of luxury hotels and beyond.
Katie's journey into short-term rentals began just over a year ago, blending her deep expertise in PR with a newfound passion for creating unique guest experiences at her own properties. Since then, she’s launched a second vacation rental and is building an exciting podcast focused on the intersection of hospitality, innovation, and guest experience.
In this episode, we dive deep into Katie’s multifaceted career, exploring her approach to creating standout PR strategies and how she’s applied her hotel background to the world of short-term rentals.
Tune in to hear:
- How Katie crafted a guest experience at her rentals inspired by luxury hotel standards
- Her expert take on PR for independent hospitality brands, and why media coverage is key for growth
- The challenges of maintaining brand consistency across multiple properties and platforms
- Personal stories of resilience, including how her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis has shaped her journey
Connect with Katie on LinkedIn
Checkout her podcast Suite Success on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to Podcast Email Updates
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Travis Chambers, the genius behind Outpost X, a mind-bending desert hotel that’s redefining experiential stays.
Travis didn’t just wake up one day and decide to build a viral hotel—he first built an ad agency where he worked with brands like Vitamin Water, Turkish Airlines, and Old Navy to create viral social content.
After selling the agency for $17 million in 201, he used that capital to create something completely new in the world of hospitality.
In this conversation, we dive deep into Travis’s unique approach to hospitality, where he blends art, adventure, and immersive storytelling to create an experience like no other. His goal? To push guests beyond their comfort zones in a place designed to make you feel slightly
uncomfortable—in the best way possible.
And here’s the kicker: Outpost X is just the beginning. Travis has developed an elaborate storyline that will eventually connect all of his future properties across the world, building a universe where each stay is part of a larger narrative.
Tune in to hear:
- How Travis generated nearly $1 million on Indiegogo to fund the Outpost X build
- The genius behind designing a hotel that’s more art project than resort, and why some guests call it better than Disneyland while others simply don’t get it
- Why he believes creating immersive experiences will save humanity in an AI-driven world
- His ambitious plans to tie every future property into a sci-fi-inspired world
- And so much more
This was one of the most amazing, inspiring, and crazy interviews I’ve ever conducted. You’re going to love it.
Check out Outpost X
Follow Travis on Instagram
Follow Outpost X on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by The Content House
If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully.
What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special.
Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with…
The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations…
Follow The Content House on Instagram
Dunlap Hollow Reel
Live Oak Lake Reel
FLOHOM Reel
Villa Stay Texas Reel
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Nathan St Cyr, the co-founder of Howzit Hostels, a next-generation travel brand transforming hostel stays in the U.S.
Nathan and his co-founder Michael have been on the pod before, but Nathan joined us at the recent Unique Stays Summit that Ben Woldff and I hosted so I wanted to bring him back on to share some more details on what he’s building.
In this episode, Nathan shares the bold and inspiring journey behind building Howzit—a hospitality brand focused on creating affordable, community-driven, and experiential stays that challenge the traditional hostel model.
Nathan and I discuss:
- How his team recognized the gap in the U.S. hostel market, with over 300,000 hotels but only 309 hostels, and the vision for Howzit Hostels to fill that void.
- Their mission to grow into a $400 million company while maintaining responsible growth and delivering unforgettable guest experiences.
- The surprising fulfillment Nathan and his team have found in cultivating the hostel community, which initially started as a pure financial opportunity.
- The challenges and opportunities in scaling their brand in cities like Austin, Boston, and Denver, and why they focus on underappreciated real estate assets.
- What sets Howzit Hostels apart from other experiential brands like Selena, and how Nathan's unique approach to hostel development is fueling growth.
Tune in to hear Nathan’s thoughtful insights on what it takes to build a large-scale hostel brand in an overlooked market and why Howzit Hostels is perfectly positioned to shape the future of affordable experiential travel in the U.S.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests?
Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play.
This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line.
But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Melissa and Sacha Leclair, the dynamic duo behind LD Cabin, an awe-inspiring modern cabin retreat nestled in the stunning mountains of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. In this episode, Melissa and Sacha share the inspiring journey of how they transformed their love for design and nature into a hospitality brand that allows guests to experience relaxation in its purest form.
Melissa, Sacha, and I discuss:
- The story of how their personal escapism adventures led to building LD Cabin.
- The wild twists during construction, including accidentally designing for the wrong lot and powering the entire build with a generator for a year.
- How Instagram and their design aesthetic have played a pivotal role in shaping the cabin’s brand, turning their followers into an active, engaged community that helped influence decisions during the build.
- The unique partnerships that brought the cabin to life, with everything from custom-built cornhole boards to brand collaborations with KitchenAid and Blackwood Siding.
Tune in to hear Melissa and Sacha’s thoughtful approach to designing experiences that not only captivate guests but also immerse them in nature, inspiring repeat visits and creating lasting memories.
If you're passionate about unique stays, design, and creating unforgettable guest experiences, this episode is packed with ideas and insights that will leave you inspired.
Book a stay at LD Cabin
Follow Melissa and Sacha on Instagram
Follow LD Cabin on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by Enso Connect:
My new friends at Enso Connect have created a tool that’s putting AI to work in a way that’s saving hospitality pros countless hours every week.
Here’s how it works: Enso Connect’s Guest Messaging Insights tool dives into your guest messages across all booking platforms. Using AI, it analyzes these interactions and pulls out hidden opportunities that you might be missing.
And the best part? It’s FREE, and you’ll get your personalized report in just 72 hours.
Here’s what this AI-powered report will do for you:
- Analyze your message volume so you can see exactly where your time is going.
- Break down common guest questions, giving you the info you need to improve your property listings and FAQs.
- Provide sentiment analysis to understand how guests feel and spot potential issues before they escalate.
- Offer personalized recommendations that highlight upselling opportunities you might have overlooked, allowing you to tailor your services more effectively.
Get the report
This episode is also brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio:
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Arthur Colker, the founder of StayFi,a marketing platform for short-term rental hosts and operators.
Arthur and I explore the evolution of marketing in the vacation rental industry. Since StayFi's inception back in 2018, Arthur has observed a dramatic shift in how hospitality entrepreneurs and property managers approach marketing, especially as reliance on OTAs like Airbnb has become less sustainable.
Arthur and I discuss
- The rise of direct booking strategies and the importance of diversifying demand channels.
- Creative ways property managers are generating ancillary revenue, from upsells to unique guest experiences.
- How StayFi is empowering short-term rental operators to build email marketing campaigns that capture guest data and drive direct bookings with minimal effort.
- The role of social media versus SEO and other marketing channels in 2024.
- And so much more
Whether you're a vacation rental host with one property or a property manager with a large portfolio, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you future-proof your business.
This episode is brought to you by StayFi. StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
The best part is that once you have their information, you can use StayFi’s email and text marketing tools to keep in touch and make sure they become a guest for life.
Head on over to StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Austin Phippen, a hospitality entrepreneur balancing the demands of multiple ventures in the heart of Chama, New Mexico.
Austin and his wife Karlee are redefining what it means to build a rural hospitality empire, managing everything from a boutique motel to an event venue and even vacation rentals. Tune in as Austin shares his journey from construction to hospitality, how his family’s legacy property sparked a wedding venue business, and the surprising lessons he’s learned about running a motel in one of the most remote, yet scenic, areas of the country.
Discover how Austin transformed a family cabin into a top wedding destination, navigated the complexities of managing a motel, and how seasonal challenges shape his business strategy. If you’re curious about what it takes to run multiple hospitality ventures in a small town or how to grow a business with little initial experience, this episode is packed with insights for you.
Austin and I also discuss the power of organic growth, the balance between low-touch and high-touch hospitality, and why Austin believes hands-on interaction is key to guest satisfaction. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in rural tourism, family-run hospitality businesses, or those dreaming of building their own legacy in the industry.
Learn more about Chama Trails
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests?
Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play.
This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line.
But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Rena Pacheco-Theard, co-founder of Boutiq, a vacation rental management company that’s blending tech with high-quality guest experiences to transform the industry.
From starting Boutiq as a side hustle to enrolling in an Autsin-based startup accelerator, to running a nationwide portfolio, Rena shares how her team has harnessed technology, like their custom revenue management algorithm, to optimize every property.
Tune in to hear how Rena is driving innovation in vacation rentals, using partnerships like Capital One Travel to open new booking channels, and why PR is an essential but often overlooked tool in growing a brand.
Takeaways include:
- How Rena and her team built a company that balances boutique-style guest service with cutting-edge technology.
- Why new booking channels like Capital One Travel are game-changers for reaching untapped guest segments.
- How Boutique’s custom-built revenue management tools give them a competitive edge over off-the-shelf solutions like PriceLabs.
- Why PR plays a critical role in attracting homeowners, guests, and investors—and how to do it right.
- Rena’s take on the future of vacation rentals, and where new opportunities lie for entrepreneurs in the space.
Learn more about Boutiq
Connect with Rena
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
In this episode, you’ll meet Shari Heilala — the founder of Sage Outdoor Advisory, an appraisal services consultancy for campgrounds, glamping resorts, and experiential hospitality companies.
With over 30 years in commercial real estate, Shari shares her journey from valuing hotels at Cushman & Wakefield — one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services firms — to becoming a leader in the unique stays space, helping hospitality entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of financing and underwriting innovative properties.
Shari dives into the growing demand for nature-immersive stays, the challenges of securing investment for unconventional assets, and why institutional capital is starting to take notice of this emerging market. She also explores the resurgence of independent hoteliers, driven by a new wave of creative entrepreneurs who are blending luxury, design, and outdoor experiences to redefine hospitality.
Whether you're a budding hospitality entrepreneur or a seasoned investor, Shari offers invaluable insights into how to build a successful, data-driven strategy in this evolving, exciting, and at sometimes murky space.
Connect with Shari
Learn more about Sage Outdoor Advisory
This episode is brought to you by Enso Connect
My new friends at Enso Connect have created a tool that’s putting AI to work in a way that’s saving hospitality pros countless hours every week.
Here’s how it works: Enso Connect’s Guest Messaging Insights tool dives into your guest messages across all booking platforms. Using AI, it analyzes these interactions and pulls out hidden opportunities that you might be missing.
And the best part? It’s FREE, and you’ll get your personalized report in just 72 hours.
Here’s what this AI-powered report will do for you:
- Analyze your message volume so you can see exactly where your time is going.
- Break down common guest questions, giving you the info you need to improve your property listings and FAQs.
- Provide sentiment analysis to understand how guests feel and spot potential issues before they escalate.
- Offer personalized recommendations that highlight upselling opportunities you might have overlooked, allowing you to tailor your services more effectively.
Get the report
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Corinne Traub, founder of Firefly Ridge, a 17-acre magical glamping escape just 90 minutes outside of Washington D.C in Berkeley Springs, WV. What started as a dream to bring people closer to nature without the hassle of traditional camping quickly evolved into a thriving business that draws guests from across the Mid-Atlantic.
In this episode, Corinne opens up about the long search for the right land, the challenges of building 14 luxurious canvas tents, mastering the art of hospitality, and offering unforgettable experiences all of which have yielded 95% of their bookings coming direct.
Finally, Corinne hints at her next big venture—a product line for busy parents on the go. Tune in to hear how Firefly Ridge became a reality, and what’s next for this creative entrepreneur
Book your stay at Firefly Ridge.
Follow Firefly Ridge on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Francois Gouelo, the founder of Enso Connect, a guest engagement platform that’s reshaping the short-term rental space.
The story behind the founding of Enso Connect starts with a $5,000 mishap during a stay at a vacation rental stay — you’ll have to listen to the full pod for the deets.
During our conversation, Francois argues that there's still a major gap in tech innovation in hospitality despite the proliferation of property management systems, guest experience tools, and smart locks.
We also discuss:
- The importance of integrating technology to automate guest interactions, allowing hosts to focus only on solving real issues like complaints, which in turn lead to happier guests.
- Francois’ breakdown of upsell opportunities that property managers often leave on the table—like early check-ins, late check-outs, and local experiences—which can generate substantial extra revenue with the right timing and approach.
- The value of focusing on deep, high-quality integrations with a few key platforms rather than trying to be everywhere at once.
- And his vision for the future of AI in hospitality,
This episode is packed with insights for anyone curious about the future of hospitality, from tech-savvy property managers to newcomers looking to scale their vacation rental operations.
This episode is brought to you by Enso Connect
My new friends at Enso Connect have created a tool that’s putting AI to work in a way that’s saving hospitality pros countless hours every week.
Here’s how it works: Enso Connect’s Guest Messaging Insights tool dives into your guest messages across all booking platforms. Using AI, it analyzes these interactions and pulls out hidden opportunities that you might be missing.
And the best part? It’s FREE, and you’ll get your personalized report in just 72 hours.
Here’s what this AI-powered report will do for you:
- Analyze your message volume so you can see exactly where your time is going.
- Break down common guest questions, giving you the info you need to improve your property listings and FAQs.
- Provide sentiment analysis to understand how guests feel and spot potential issues before they escalate.
- Offer personalized recommendations that highlight upselling opportunities you might have overlooked, allowing you to tailor your services more effectively.
Get the report
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Jeremy Werden, an entrepreneur who has figured out the secret sauce to scale short-term rental co-hosting businesses successfully.
In this episode, Jeremy and I dive into Jeremy’s journey, from his early days as a college student trying to make the UNC basketball team starting a small boat rental business on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2018.
Tune in to hear how Jeremy leveraged his experiences, from failed startups to managing high-demand properties, to build a portfolio that continues to thrive in 2024. Discover the lessons he’s learned about resilience, the importance of staying ahead of industry trends, and how his new tool, BNBCalc, is helping others in the industry analyze and scale their own investments.
Takeaways include:
- How Jeremy transformed a simple idea into a healthy business that allowed him to leave his day job
- Why Jeremy survived when others didn’t, and the secrets to thriving in a post-pandemic market.
- Why he built BnbCalc The game-changing tool every short-term rental investor needs in their toolkit.
- How Jeremy is helping others quit their 9-to-5s and achieve financial freedom through short-term rentals.
- And Jeremy's insights on the current market and why it's ripe for new entrepreneurs.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Jeremy.
This episode is brought to you by StayFi. StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
The best part is that once you have their information, you can use StayFi’s email and text marketing tools to keep in touch and make sure they become a guest for life.
Head on over to StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Kerri Gibson, the founder of Chalets Hygge, a collection Scandinavian-style cottages located in the heart of Quebec's Eastern Townships.
In this episode, Kerri and I discuss an amazing collaboration that's reshaping how boutique hospitality entrepreneurs can market their properties. Kerri, along with Monique DeLorenzo from The Vermont A-Frame, have worked together to organize a strategic alliance of creators and hosts across New England for a Fall Creator Road Trip.
Kerri takes us behind the scenes of this innovative project, where talented creators Maddie and Will from Guest House Creative hit the road, capturing stunning content across multiple short-term rentals and local businesses.
Kerri shares invaluable insights on the power of intentionality in partnerships and how aligning with the right creators can elevate your brand without breaking the bank.
We dive into detail around:
- What the goals of the project are
- How all participants in the roadshow — the creators, Kerri, Monique, as well as the incredible entrepreneurs at Lumen Camps and The Maine A-Frames will share and collaborate on content post-campaign
- What the big audience growth strategy of a MAJOR giveaway will look like
- Ideas for how other hospitality entrepreneurs might replicate something like this in their own market
- And so much more
Follow along on this exciting journey by via the Instagram handles below:
https://www.instagram.com/will_zimm_/
https://www.instagram.com/maddie_brandon/
https://www.instagram.com/guesthousecreativestudio/
https://www.instagram.com/maineaframe/
https://www.instagram.com/lumencamps/
https://www.instagram.com/thevermontaframe/
https://www.instagram.com/chalets_hygge/
This episode is brought to you by The Content House
If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully.
What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special.
Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with…
The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations…
Follow The Content House on Instagram
Dunlap Hollow Reel
Live Oak Lake Reel
FLOHOM Reel
Villa Stay Texas Ree
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
In this episode, Zach shares three ideas inspired by Isadore Sharp, Founder of Four Seasons that today's hospitality entrepreneurs can and should take note of as they build their businesses.
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Diana Ossa Sierra, co-founder of D-I-FI, who, along with her husband Josh, is transforming the intersection of architecture, design, and real estate investment in the world of boutique hospitality.
Originally architects and construction managers, Diana and Josh were deeply embedded in their demanding careers until a life-altering event in 2021 made them question everything. The tragic loss of their fathers ignited a fire within them to pursue a different path—one that offered more than just professional success but personal fulfillment and freedom.
In this episode, Diana takes us through their journey, from the initial struggles of trying to fit into the traditional real estate mold to discovering their true passion for creating unique, wellness-focused boutique hotels. We discuss the challenges they faced, including walking away from two major hotel deals that didn’t align with their vision, and how those experiences ultimately led them to their current project in Palm Springs.
Diana shares how they’ve leveraged their architectural expertise to add real value to their projects, the lessons they’ve learned in managing properties across three states, and the importance of finding work that truly excites you. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of experiential hospitality and the power of aligning your work with your passion.
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Diana.
Meet Lorraine Woodward and Adam Norko, from Becoming Rentable, a company on a mission to make short-term rentals genuinely accessible for everyone. Lorraine's story is deeply personal—she was born with muscular dystrophy and is the proud mother of two sons who also have the condition.
When traditional vacation properties couldn’t meet her family's needs, she didn’t just accept the status quo—she decided to build something better.
In this episode, we chat about:
- How Lorraine turned a personal challenge into a thriving business that’s changing the game for accessible travel.
- Some of the biggest misconceptions about what it means to be an accessible short-term rental
- The massive business opportunities that exist in the space for entrepreneurs interested in building with guests that need accessible stays in mind
- And so much more
Learn more about Becoming RentABLE
Connect with Lorraine
Connect with Adam
This episode is brought to you by StayFi. StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
The best part is that once you have their information, you can use StayFi’s email and text marketing tools to keep in touch and make sure they become a guest for life.
Head on over to StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Today on the pod Zach highlights 10 underrated entrepreneurs creating next-generation travel experiences! Give these incredible folks a follow...
- Justin Potts — Linear Magazine
- Sara Roitman — Field & Lake
- Nick Purslow — Posh Outdoors
- Boris & Susan — Lumen Camps
- Hillary Flur — Folly Collection
- Matt Orley — Red Cottage (acquired businesses, memberships, etc.)
- Brian Meyer — FLOHOM
- Becca Schulman Havemeyer — Beach Plum
- Janice Smith — Cozy Rock
- David Garber — BrandyWine Grove
- Amber and Charlie Pledge — KABN Company
This episode is brought to you by StayFi. StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
The best part is that once you have their information, you can use StayFi’s email and text marketing tools to keep in touch and make sure they become a guest for life.
Head on over to StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Krystal and Eric Nagel, the adventurous duo behind Nagel Media Company, who have seamlessly blended their love for travel and photography into a thriving media business.
In this episode, we dive into their unique journey from living out of a rooftop tent to becoming full-time van lifers and content creators specializing in lifestyle photography for boutique hotels and short-term rentals.
We'll explore:
- How Krystal and Eric transitioned from traditional travel to full-time van life.
- The inception of Nagel Media Company and its focus on high-quality, authentic content.
- The misconceptions around influencer marketing and why they choose not to follow the typical influencer path
- Their vision for creative partnerships in the boutique hospitality sector
- Their unique business model prioritizes the needs of hosts and provides top-tier content without the need for sponsored posts.
- Future plans for Nagel Media Company, include expansion and a special project dedicated to their roots in the Poconos.
Get ready to be inspired by Krystal and Eric's innovative approach to content creation and their commitment to maintaining authenticity in the hospitality industry.
Learn more about Nagel Media Company.
Follow Krystal and Eric on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by The Content House
If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully.
What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special.
Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with…
The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations…
Follow The Content House on Instagram
Dunlap Hollow Reel
Live Oak Lake Reel
FLOHOM Reel
Villa Stay Texas Reel
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
In this episode Zach shares 5 big ideas for hospitality entrepreneurs to implement right now...
These ideas could be HUGE.
Holler at Zach if you're already building one (or more) of these.
This episode is brought to you by The Content House
If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully.
What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special.
Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with…
The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations…
Follow The Content House on Instagram
Dunlap Hollow Reel
Live Oak Lake Reel
FLOHOM Reel
Villa Stay Texas Reel
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Blake Dailey — a former Air Force officer turned boutique hotel entrepreneur.
Growing up, Blake dreamed of being in the NFL. And while that never came to fruition, his love for sports instilled in him a sense of discipline and determination that would later fuel his entrepreneurial spirit.
After a stint playing college football, Blake's interests shifted toward business, eventually leading him to discover his passion for real estate and hospitality.
In this episode, Blake and I delve into his incredible journey from serving in the Air Force to becoming a successful hospitality entrepreneur. We explore how his initial investments in real estate and short-term rentals laid the foundation for his entry into the boutique hotel space.
In this conversation you’ll learn:
- How Blake's early investments and entrepreneurial mindset led him to the boutique hotel industry.
- The biggest differences between owning and operating short-term rentals and owning and operating boutique hotels
- The massive opportunity that exists to reimagine outdated motels and transform them into boutique hotels
- Why entrepreneurs who’ve figured out how to host well shouldn’t be scared of graduating from STRs to boutique hotels
- Blake's views on the emerging trends in hospitality and the advantages of a regional focus for portfolio development
- And so much more.
Follow Blake on Instagram
Learn more about Boutique Hotel Con
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Ben Earley, an exceptional entrepreneur who has made waves across multiple industries—from finance to luxury footwear, and now, to innovative hospitality.
In this episode, Ben takes us on his fascinating journey from Wall Street to the world of short-term rentals. As the co-founder of Holt, Ben is building a portfolio of unique and upscale Airbnbs and hotels that stand out for their thoughtful design and exceptional guest experiences.
We'll explore:
- Ben’s early start in finance and how it fueled his entrepreneurial spirit.
- The story behind his luxury men’s shoe brand, Paul Evans, and the transition to hospitality.
- Why Ben is building his portfolio overseas, focusing on markets like Romania, Mexico, and Greece.
- His hot takes on "rental arbitrage" and why he prefers the term "commercial vacation rental."
- How Holt is vertically integrated, giving them unparalleled control over their properties and guest experiences.
Get ready to hear how Ben's innovative approach is setting new standards in the hospitality industry and why he believes in creating spaces that are more than just a place to stay—they’re experiences in themselves.
Connect with Ben on Twitter
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Learn more about HOLT
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Jon Kreye, a professional creator and community builder in the short-term rental space.
Jon has become a prominent figure in this niche, known not just for his stunning content but also for fostering a supportive community among hospitality creators.
Jon recently hosted his fourth creator retreat in partnership with Nikki & Hayden from Journey More, where they brought together influencers and content creators to share ideas, collaborate, and discuss industry trends.
In this conversion, Jon talks about the evolution of creators in the Airbnb and greater hospitality space, the challenges and opportunities within the creator economy, and the importance of professionalizing the role of hospitality content creators.
He shares insights on how creators can differentiate themselves, the significance of setting professional standards, how hosts and vacation rental managers can best engage with creators and the strategies that help separate the best creators from the rest of the pack.
Discover how Jon and his peers are navigating the complexities of pricing, the value of collaboration over competition, and the exciting potential for partnerships with hospitality brands. Whether you're a property manager looking to enhance your marketing or a creator seeking tangible ideas for how to grow your business, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable takeaways.
Connect with Jon on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by The Content House
If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully.
What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special.
Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with…
The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations…
Follow The Content House on Instagram
Dunlap Hollow Reel
Live Oak Lake Reel
FLOHOM Reel
Villa Stay Texas Reel
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Matthew Orley, CEO of Red Cottage, a premier platform and vacation rental brand for unique stays across the Northeast.
Matthew's journey with Red Cottage started as a guest in 2012. Captivated by the brand's consistency, unique portfolio, and potential, he acquired the business in 2022. Now, as the owner, Matthew is on a mission to transform Red Cottage into a regional powerhouse, known for its high-quality homes and exceptional guest experiences.
In this episode, Matthew and I discuss:
- The origin story of Red Cottage and its evolution over the years
- The innovative membership program Red Cottage launched, which is designed to foster loyalty and make last-minute getaways even more
- Insights into acquiring vacation rental management companies — Red Cottage just acquired Posto
- The importance of maintaining brand authenticity while scaling
- The biggest opportunities for hospitality entrepreneurs right now to build, buy, and sell businesses
- And so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Matthew.
Discover Red Cottage
Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Paul Zway, the incredible founder of Exclusive Tents, who is joining us live from the lush jungles of Belize.
Paul’s journey from a young boy fascinated with wildlife in South Africa to becoming a pioneer in the luxury glamping industry is nothing short of extraordinary. Raised among the snakes and wilderness of a rural community outside of Pretoria, Australia, Paul’s path led him through the vast expanses of Kruger National Park as a game ranger and nature conservationist.
In this episode, Paul shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, from the struggles of adjusting to city life in the US to the innovative creation of Exclusive Tents — a company that manufactures stunning luxury tents that blend the thrill of outdoor living with high-end comfort, catering to both individual adventurers and world-renowned hospitality brands like Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin.
We’ll dive into the nuances of glamping, the evolution of this unique industry, and the emerging markets that hold exciting potential for luxury outdoor accommodations. Paul’s insights are invaluable for anyone interested in the intersection of nature, innovation, and hospitality.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
Meet Ashley Ching, co-founder of Inhaven, a trailblazing company with ambitious plans to set new standards in the vacation rental industry.
If you've ever booked a vacation rental and found it lacking in comfort or consistency, you'll understand the frustration that led Ashley to start Inhaven.
With a background in merchandising and a deep understanding of the hospitality sector, Ashley is on a mission to professionalize vacation rentals by focusing on the essential aspects of a stay: bed, bath, and kitchen.
In this conversion, Ashley shares her insights on why standardizing these elements can elevate the entire vacation rental experience, drawing parallels to the evolution of the hotel industry.
Discover how Inhaven is partnering with local property managers to implement these standards and ensure that every guest enjoys a reliably excellent stay, no matter where they book.
Ashley also dives into the challenges of scaling a vacation rental management company and why local expertise is crucial for delivering exceptional hospitality. Whether you're a property manager looking to enhance your offerings or a traveler seeking a more predictable vacation rental experience, this episode is packed with valuable insights and innovative ideas.
Tune in to learn how Inhaven is paving the way for a new era in vacation rentals, where comfort and quality are no longer a luxury but a standard.
It’s a tall order, but, if she and the Inhaven team can do it, they’ll be the first company in the space to truly build the Marriott for Vacation Rentals.
Access the PDF
Connect with Ashley
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch. StayWatch brings you the best deals on stays across Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com that align with your travel preferences.
Planning a beach trip for the fam in a couple of months? Create a Trip on StayWatch and get a curated list of deals that match your criteria sent to you every day.
Perhaps you just want to be notified anytime there’s a great deal on a stay in San Diego, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bali, or the Texas Hill Country? Watch a Destination on StayWatch and get the coolest deals on stays that match what you’re looking for every day, every week, or every month!
Oh, and you know that Airbnb you’ve been following on Instagram that’s like always booked? With StayWatch, you can Follow a Specific Stay and get notified if that stay ever becomes available.
The best part? It’s all free.
You’ll never overpay for an Airbnb again if you start your search at StayWatch.ai.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
I’ve got a huge confession to make…
Something I’ve never admitted publicly before…EVER.
Behind the Stays' parent company's name, Sponstayneous, sucks.
No one can say it right. We’ve been called everything from “spoon stayneous” to “spontaneously.”
I’ve fought this so hard, but today, I’m here with my white flag.
So, I’m here with exciting news — as of today, Sponstayneous is now StayWatch!
StayWatch brings you the best deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com that match your travel preferences.
Planning a beach trip? Create a Trip on StayWatch and get daily curated deals.
Want to be notified about deals in your favorite destinations? Watch a Destination on StayWatch!
Following a specific stay on Instagram that’s always booked? Follow it on StayWatch and get notified when it’s available.
And the best part? It’s all free.
You’ll never overpay for an Airbnb again if you start your search at StayWatch.ai
Sign up for the StayWatch for Hosts partner program.
Meet Eric Goldreyer, a legend in the world of travel and hospitality. Eric is the founder of bedandbreakfast.com, a platform he launched in the late '90s that revolutionized the bed and breakfast industry by bringing it online.
At a time when most innkeepers relied on guidebooks and phone calls, Eric saw the potential of the internet and created the largest database of B&Bs in North America.
Eric’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t stop there. After selling bedandbreakfast.com and later reacquiring it, he sold it again to HomeAway. He then turned his attention to vacation rental management, co-founding TurnKey Vacation Rentals, which he successfully sold to Vacasa in 2021.
Today, Eric is at the helm of BNB Finder, a no-fee booking platform for professionally managed properties, aimed at providing travelers with a seamless booking experience and property managers with greater control over their listings.
In our conversation, Eric shares:
- The challenges and triumphs of convincing innkeepers to embrace the internet in the early days of bedandbreakfast.com.
- His experiences in scaling and selling multiple businesses in the travel sector.
- Insights into the evolving vacation rental market and the importance of professional management.
- The innovative model of BNB Finder and its potential to disrupt the industry by eliminating booking fees.
Discover BnBFinder
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Nathan and Michael, the founders of Howzit Hostels, who are revolutionizing the hostel experience in Hawaii today, and across the rest of the US tomorrow.
Nathan and Michael, broadcasting live from the beautiful island of Maui, share their journey from real estate sales to creating upscale hostels that blend affordability with a boutique hotel feel. They dive into the origins of their business, explaining how the local greeting "Howzit" inspired their brand name and how an unexpected listing led them to explore the untapped potential of hostels in the U.S.
Nathan, Michael, and I discuss:
- The massive opportunities that exist in reimaging hostels — especially for younger travelers who are in the market for more experiential stays
- Their innovative use of AI for dynamic pricing which helps them generate around $200,000 in monthly revenue from their two properties.
- The unique staffing opportunities hostels enable with traveler work exchanges
- The vast growth potential in the U.S. hostel market, particularly in converting underutilized urban buildings into vibrant communal spaces.
- What they’ve got planned next and how you might be able to join them in expanding their vision across the states
Explore Howzit Hostels
Discover Vortex Maui
Connect with Nathan and Michael on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites: A Special 2-Part Series with Hudson Creative Studio.”
In this series, I sit down with Eli Pritykin, founder of Hudson Creative Studio to dive deep into the art and science of creating a memorable website that serves as the digital headquarters for your hospitality brand.
In the first episode, you'll hear Eli's fascinating journey from his early days in the former Soviet Union, where he built his first graphic design program as a child, to becoming a leading creative director in the hospitality industry.
We discuss the importance of having a strong brand identity and how it is the foundation for all your marketing efforts. Eli's unique perspective on merging technical rigor with creative design will inspire you to rethink your approach to your brand and website.
In the second episode, we get down to the nitty-gritty. Eli and I cover everything from the initial planning stages of your website to advanced tactics for optimizing user experience and conversion rates.
You'll learn why a well-designed navigation structure can make or break your site, how to balance aesthetics with functionality effectively, and why speed and simplicity are your best friends. Eli also shares innovative ideas like integrating loyalty programs directly into your site to boost repeat bookings and enhance guest loyalty.
Some additional takeaways from this series you won't want to miss include:
- Discovering why fitting in with your local market's aesthetic before standing out can give you a competitive edge.
- Learning how to turn your website into a powerful tool not just for direct bookings but also for attracting property owners.
- Understanding the critical role of guest experience (GX) in web design and how it can drastically improve your conversion rates.
Getting actionable tips on reducing perceived load times to keep potential guests engaged and ready to book.
Missed Episode 1? Catch up on the series here.
If you're ready to take your hospitality brand to the next level, there's no better team to partner with than Hudson Creative Studio.
Eli and his team are passionate about helping hospitality entrepreneurs like you craft websites that not only look stunning but also perform exceptionally well in converting visitors into loyal guests. Whether you're in the initial stages of branding or looking to revamp your existing site, Hudson Creative has the expertise to bring your vision to life.
And here's a special offer just for 'Behind the Stays' listeners: When you reach out to Hudson Creative for your first or next website redesign and mention 'Behind the Stays' during your discovery call, you'll receive 10% off any service level option.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In this episode, we welcome back Jamie Lane, SVP of Research at AirDNA, to discuss the booming trend of unique stays in the hospitality industry.
Over the past few years, the demand for unique stays—think A-frames, yurts, and treehouses—has skyrocketed. Jamie and I delve into the data behind this trend, exploring how travelers' preferences have shifted towards distinctive and memorable accommodations and the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to break into this niche market.
Jamie and I discuss:
- Just how many unique stays exist on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo
- How the number of unique stays has doubled since 2018 and is the fastest growing segment of stay on the OTAs
- The average ADR of a unique stay vs a more traditional STR/VR stay
- What we can learn from the markets where unique stays are plentiful — like the Texas Hill Country and Blue Ridge, Georgia
- Where the biggest opportunities to build new unique stays lie
- How AirDNA is working on marking the data they have on unique stays more actionable and accessible to entrepreneurs
- And so much more
So many of you who listen to this podcast have built, are building, or desire to build unique stays — and I think you’ll really enjoy Jamie’s insights here.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Omar Boubess, Creative Director at Studio Circa, a luxury branding agency that works with boutique hotels and unique collections of STRs.
Growing up, Omar wanted to be a National Geographic photographer — or a soccer player — depending on the day you asked him.
And, while neither dream quite came to fruition, Omar did pursue his creative interests and wound up finding a love for developing unique and novel brands in travel and hospitality.
In this episode, Omar and I discuss:
- The importance of consistency in brand story and identity across all guest touchpoints.
- How a strong digital presence must align with an exceptional on-property experience.
- Real-life examples of successful branding strategies in the hospitality industry.
- Tips for scaling a boutique brand while maintaining a cohesive identity.
- And so much more
Connect with Omar on LinkedIn
Learn more about Studio Circa
This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option.
If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special.
And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites: A Special 2-Part Series with Hudson Creative Studio.”
In this series, Zach sit down with Eli Pritykin, founder of Hudson Creative Studio to dive deep into the art and science of creating a memorable website that serves as the digital headquarters for your hospitality brand.
In the first episode, you'll hear Eli's fascinating journey from his early days in the former Soviet Union, where he built his first graphic design program as a child, to becoming a leading creative director in the hospitality industry.
We discuss the importance of having a strong brand identity and how it is the foundation for all your marketing efforts. Eli's unique perspective on merging technical rigor with creative design will inspire you to rethink your approach to your brand and website.
In the second episode, we get down to the nitty-gritty. Eli and I cover everything from the initial planning stages of your website to advanced tactics for optimizing user experience and conversion rates.
You'll learn why a well-designed navigation structure can make or break your site, how to balance aesthetics with functionality effectively, and why speed and simplicity are your best friends. Eli also shares innovative ideas like integrating loyalty programs directly into your site to boost repeat bookings and enhance guest loyalty.
Some additional takeaways from this series you won't want to miss include:
- Discovering why fitting in with your local market's aesthetic before standing out can give you a competitive edge.
- Learning how to turn your website into a powerful tool not just for direct bookings but also for attracting property owners.
- Understanding the critical role of guest experience (GX) in web design and how it can drastically improve your conversion rates.
- Getting actionable tips on reducing perceived load times to keep potential guests engaged and ready to book.
Join us as we delve into these topics and more, ensuring you capture the trust and interest of your guests from the first click to the final booking. Whether you're managing a single chic property or a vast portfolio, this series offers valuable insights to elevate your digital presence and drive success in the competitive world of hospitality.
Learn more about Hudson Creative Studio
Connect with Eli on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays listeners get 10% off any service level at Hudson Creative Studio! Just mention Behind the Stays when scheduling your discovery call to qualify for the discount!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Ruth Wimpory — the entrepreneur behind Skoolie Stays and The Vacationist, two of the UK’s favorite off-grid escapes.
In 2019, Ruth and her husband, Guy, along with their two young children, decided to take a year off from their “normal” lives in Brighton in the UK, to embark on an adventurous year-long journey across the United States in a converted school bus.
What started as a quest for a new perspective and family bonding turned into a 14,000-mile odyssey through national parks, homeschooling on the road, and navigating the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tune in to hear Ruth recount the highlights of their trip, from the breathtaking solitude of Montana's wilderness to the bustling streets of San Francisco. Discover how their travels inspired them to create Skoolie Stays and the Eco Glamping Club, offering unique off-grid stays that blend sustainability with luxury.
Ruth shares invaluable insights into the world of glamping, from the complexities of land regulations in the UK to the innovative use of recycled materials in their eco-cabin project. Learn about the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Ruth and Guy to build one-of-a-kind experiences, and how their story has inspired others to rethink conventional lifestyles.
Whether you're a travel enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration for a family adventure, this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and insights you won't want to miss.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Philip Kennard — Founder and CEO of Futurestay.
Growing up, Philip loved video games. And for Philip, video games were about so much more than the playing experience…he loved the art, the logic, and the business behind creating worlds.
This love sparked his entrepreneurial spirit and led him to work in game development for Sega, one of the world’s leading game design companies, and, eventually, would lead to the founding of FutureStay.
In this conversation, Philip and I explore the evolution of the vacation rental market, discussing the critical role that small-scale rentalpreneurs play in driving innovation. Learn why he believes the future of hospitality lies in the hands of passionate individuals creating unique, memorable stays rather than large-scale professional managers.
You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how FutureStay helps rentalpreneurs optimize their listings, secure direct bookings, and protect their investments with AI-powered tools and strategic partnerships like Google Vacation Rentals.
Some key takeaways from our conversation include:
- The importance of diversifying your booking channels to mitigate risks and maximize profits.
- How technology, such as AI and automation, can level the playing field for small rental operators.
- Why delivering exceptional guest experiences is crucial for standing out in a crowded market.
- Philip's vision for the future of short-term rentals and how Futurestay plans to support rentalpreneurs in achieving their goals.
- If you're passionate about short-term rentals and eager to learn how to succeed in this competitive space, this episode is a must-listen.
This episode is brought to you by STR Search!
STR Search helps you find and buy and Airbnb that’ll be profitable from Day 1. Co-Founding by John Bianchi and Taylor Jones, two of the best data nerds and underwriters in the industry, have partnered together to bring this new service to life.
While tools like AirDNA are awesome, they’re just tools.
Not everyone has the time or expertise to sift through all the data and find the perfect deal, especially with today’s interest rates. STR Search does all the legwork for you. They’ll present you with options that not only meet your criteria but will actually cash flow.
Learn more here — and mention Behind the Stays when you book a call for an exclusive discount!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Annie Holcombe, a seasoned hospitality industry expert with a passion for vacation rentals and an impressive track record at major travel tech companies.
Annie's journey in the vacation rental industry is nothing short of inspiring. Starting from property management, she moved on to pivotal roles at Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott, gaining invaluable insights into the world of travel and hospitality.
In this episode, Annie dives into the current state of the industry, emphasizing the importance of standardization and safety in vacation rentals. She shares her thoughts on how new entrants can navigate the complexities of regulations and market demands and offers practical advice on building a brand that stands out in a crowded market.
We'll explore the challenges and opportunities facing vacation rental managers today, discuss the role of OTAs in the evolving landscape, and consider the potential for loyalty programs within the industry.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Yvonna and Darren Grandfield, a dynamic duo who’ve turned their passion for real estate into a thriving business of unique and stunning short-term rentals.
Growing up, Yvonna and Darren never imagined they’d one day be the proud owners of a collection of charming properties, but a chance encounter at an Ace Hardware store set them on a path they couldn’t have anticipated — who’d a thought they’d date, start a business, and then ultimately get married and have kids together?!
In this episode, Yvonna and Darren share the story of their first renovation project—a quaint bungalow in Berkeley—and how that experience sparked their love for transforming spaces. You’ll hear about the challenges and triumphs of renovating properties while moving frequently for work, and how they ultimately built a luxury A-frame cabin, the Haute Haus, in the highest incorporated town in North America, which, if you didn’t know, is in Alma, Colorado.
We’ll dive into their recent partnership with Wander, a company known for its high-end vacation rentals, and discuss the sweat equity, creative visions, and personal touches that make their stays truly special.
Follow Haute Haus on Instagram
Book a Stay at Haute Haus
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Josh Luttrell, the innovative entrepreneur behind Home Theme Orlando, a company transforming vacation rentals into immersive themed experiences.
As a kid, Josh dreamed of being a basketball player, but life had other plans. However, he took his competitive spirit and he channeled it into real estate, eventually carving out a niche in Orlando's short -term rental market by creating uniquely themed homes.
From Marvel superheroes to Disney princesses, Josh's properties are designed to captivate and delight, ensuring unforgettable stays for families visiting the magic of Disney.
In this episode, Josh and Zach discuss:
-
How he started in real estate and discovered the profitability of themed vacation rentals
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The unique aspects of the Orlando market that make it perfect for themed homes
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The process of selecting and designing themes to create immersive experiences that kids and their parents love
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The financial benefits and higher occupancy rates that come with investing in themed properties, insights into how upcoming attractions like Universal's Epic Universe will influence the market
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Whether or not these themed homes could perform in other markets, and so much more.
Learn more about Home Theme Orlando
Connect with Josh on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In this episode of "Behind the Stays," we bring you a special and urgent conversation with a guest who's no stranger to the show, Elam King — we featured his story on Episode 180 of the podcast.
Elam's story is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in the Amish community, he transitioned into a successful hospitality entrepreneur, building an impressive portfolio of short-term rentals. However, just a few days ago, Elam faced a devastating blow—Airbnb kicked him off their platform, leading to a loss of over $200K in bookings.
As the host of this podcast, I have a deep respect and admiration for Airbnb. The platform has revolutionized the hospitality industry, providing incredible opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world. This podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories of some of the most inspiring and innovative hospitality entrepreneurs in the space. But it’s also important to share the hard stories—stories that hold Airbnb accountable to their promise of supporting hosts. This is one of those stories.
In this gripping conversation, Elam shares the shocking events that led to his account suspension, the challenges of being overly reliant on a single booking platform, and the emotional toll of questioning his own integrity and business practices. We delve into the specifics of how a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings spiraled into a full account ban, impacting not just Elam but also his family and business associates.
This episode is not just a cautionary tale but also a story of resilience and determination. Elam opens up about his plans moving forward, his faith, and the support he's received from his community. Whether you're a seasoned host or new to the short-term rental space, Elam's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of diversification and the unpredictable nature of the hospitality business.
Without further ado, get ready to hear one of the most compelling and eye-opening stories we've ever shared on "Behind the Stays."
Connect with Elam
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
Meet Cody Watson, the entrepreneur behind Explorely, a groundbreaking platform poised to revolutionize outdoor travel planning and experiences.
Growing up, Cody dreamed of being an inventor. And while he didn't end up creating the next big gadget, he did channel that inventive spirit into the entrepreneurial world, ultimately founding Explorely — a platform designed to be the Kayak.com for outdoor travel.
Explorely simplifies the often fragmented process of finding and booking RV rentals, campsites, and glamping spots.
In this episode, Cody and I discuss:
- The inspiration behind Explorally and how it evolved from his experiences at RVZ, a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace
- The challenges and opportunities in aggregating outdoor accommodations and building partnerships in a highly fragmented industry
- The impact of technology, including AI and machine learning on the future of travel businesses
- Why building a strong brand is more critical than ever in this digital age
- And so much more.
Explore Explorely
Connect with Cody on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
Meet Tyler Jordan, the co-founder of Nova Haus —a ground-breaking hospitality brand that's redefining luxury stays for larger groups and corporate retreats.
Tyler and his business partner, Martin Papp, are on a mission to create the ultimate group getaway experience. Think luxury villas equipped with everything from gyms and saunas to podcast recording studios and content creation rooms, all set in breathtaking locations like Costa Rica.
In our conversation, Tyler shares the fascinating story of how personal experiences and a gap in the market led to the birth of Nova House.
We dive deep into their innovative approach to hospitality, the challenges of creating such unique properties, and their ambitious plans for the future.
Tyler also reveals some jaw-dropping details about their first developments in Costa Rica, including a villa with the largest hanging garden in the country. If you're curious about the future of luxury group accommodations or interested in the nuts and bolts of developing high-end properties, this episode is packed with insights.
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Tyler Jordan.
Learn more about Nova Haus
Connect with Tyler Jordan
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Alex Alioto, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Whimstay, the Hotel Tonight for Vacation Rentals.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alex had dreamed of being a wide receiver for the 49ers — he was the kind of kid you’d find walking around the grocery store sporting a helmet and a jersey even when it wasn’t game day.
While his dreams of playing in the NFL never came to fruition, Alex did wind up playing in another arena — he studied theatre at the University of Michigan and spent nearly a decade as an actor in New York City.
And, believe it or not, this was all a precursor to Alex finding his way back to the Bay area to work at early-stage, high-growth startups. After 7 years of helping Yelp become a household name, Alex met his cofounder, Ben Jamshahi, and the duo began building Whimstay.
In this conversation, Alex and I discuss:
- The massive market that exists for last-minute travel
- The locations that Whimstay sees the most spontaneous travel to
- The biggest differences between Whimstay and other OTAs like Airbnb and Vrbo
- How Whimstay negotiates exclusive discounts with professional property managers
- What the next generation of travelers is looking for from travel brands
- And so much more
Learn more about Whimstay
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Can Monkey — the Uber for Trash Service for your Short-Term Rentals.
Can Monkey ensures that the trash cans at your Airbnbs are moved to the curb and back promptly on collection day so that if you’ve got a same-day turnover your new guest arrives to a clean and empty trash bin.
And for those unexpected situations, like a guest leaving behind excess trash or an unexpected mid-week turnover, their OnDemand trash removal enables you to book a CanRunner (cool name huh?) to immediately come and remedy the situation.
For just $49/month per property, Can Monkey will pick up and return both your trash and recycling cans on your home’s pick up days No hidden costs. You are never locked into a contract. And whether you’ve got one property or 100, Can Monkey can have you up and running within a week.
To learn more about why hosts love this Uber for trash solution, head on over to CanMonkey.com and submit the form on the home page to get more information about how Can Monkey can help you. Oh, and if you do, be sure to mention that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way and you’ll qualify for an exclusive discount off of your first month of using Can Monkey.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Justin and Rebecca Rush, the creators of the River Rock Cabin on the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Justin and Rebecca are real estate photographers who had always dreamed of one day building their very own Airbnb…long after they had built their primary dream home, of course.
One day Justin got a text from one of his clients about a piece of land that was for sale along the Toccoa River. Justin assumed the call was a request to go take pictures of the lot, but his client asked him if HE wanted to buy it…he knew how much Justin and Rebecca loved the area…
Once Justin figured out he wasn’t joking he immediately said, “yes”...
There was only one problem — the home was only permitted for a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom which was too small for the primary residence they were hoping to build.
But the land was WAY too beautiful to pass up and that’s when the idea of building a unique cabin into the side of the mountain that overlooks 300 feet of private river frontage was born.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
- How Rebecca and Justin build a stunning cabin on the side of a mountain during COVID
- How they got inspiration from Levi Kelly’s YouTube channel for their build — and the story behind how Levi wound up coming to the cabin the month after it opened
- How they financed the build
- Their honest thoughts on the cons of direct booking
- Some ideas they have for modernizing RV parks as a next project
- And so much more
Book a stay at the River Rock House
Follow the River Rock House on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Mike Hicks, the founder of Wander Chatt, a collection of unique stays across Chattanooga, TN and beyond.
Mike started his entrepreneurial journey at just 19 years old after dropping out of college to learn how to work for himself.
Mike got a job with a real estate developer helping to clear lots and doing an array of labor-intensive construction tasks. Mike worked long hard days for this developer but after work Mike and the rest of the crew would be invited out to go fishing.
And it was during these moments that he started asking questions…how do you determine a good deal? What should you look for when purchasing a lot? Etc.
In this conversation Mike and I discuss:
- How he bought his first house as a 19 year old
- Why he moved into short-term rentals after nearly two decades of buying, renovating, and renting traditional long-term rentals
- Why he pivoted away from traditional vacation rentals and went all in on unique stays when founding Wander Chatt
- How he “interviews the land” before buying a lot
- His thoughts on the biggest opportunities for hospitality entrepreneurs today
- And so much more
Book a stay at Wander Chatt
Follow Wander Chatt on Instagram
Connect with Mike on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Brian Meyer and Selly Butler — the founders of FLOHOM a new hospitality start-up that offers stunning, on-the-water stays in marinas across the mid-Atlantic.
Selly is a serial entrepreneur whose latest venture is in the marina business. One day Selly received a call from an enthusiastic entrepreneur who asked to place Oysters in his marina as part of a water purification and protection nonprofit that he was running.
This enthusiastic entrepreneur? Well, yes, it was Brian Meyer.
And while the two couldn’t have known it at the time, this one phone call would change the course of both of their lives forever.
In this conversation, you’ll hear Brian, Selly, and I discuss:
- Where the idea for FLOHOM came from
- How hard it was to get the necessary permits to be able to rent a floating home that’s also a houseboat as a short-term rental
- What their go-to-market strategy for FLOHOM has looked like so far
- The new economic potential businesses like FLOHOM can generate for marinas
- How they’re thinking about franchising and brand licensing
- Why they are vertically integrated
- The kinds of investors they’re looking for to join them on this journey
- And so much more
Book a FLOHOM
Follow FLOHOM on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by Posh Outdoors.
Posh Outdoors supplies owners of iconic properties and stunning land with high-end glamping accommodations and backend support, at no up-front cost to the landowner — and the way they make their money is through an attractive revenue share model once your unit is ready for hosting.
Posh Outdoors is doing something really revolutionary — they are making it easy for you to invest in luxury glamping as an entire asset class rather than an individual glamping resort.
As a Behind the Stays listener, you can become an early investor in this company for as little as $100.
You can learn more about Posh and all the deets surrounding this early investment opportunity by visiting https://posh.dealpage.io or sending an email to nick@posh-outdoors.com.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Mark Lumpkin from STR Cribs — the leading one-stop-shop for renovating, designing, and fully-furnishing a short-term rental.
Mark is an innovative entrepreneur who has worked on nearly 600 renovations transforming run-of-the-mill homes into bespoke, scroll-stopping stays.
In this conversation, Mark and I discuss
- How thematic short-term rentals can be a great way to compete against unique stays when your STR is a condo or single-family home
- Why more hospitality entrepreneurs should create experiential stays for families not just couples
- The most impactful and least impactful renovations you can do when getting your home ready to list on Airbnb
- The most under-rated markets for thematic stays
- Hot takes on AI and the role it should and shouldn’t play in hospitality
- And loads more
Connect with Mark
This episode is brought to you by Posh Outdoors.
Posh Outdoors supplies owners of iconic properties and stunning land with high-end glamping accommodations and backend support, at no up-front cost to the landowner — and the way they make their money is through an attractive revenue share model once your unit is ready for hosting.
Posh Outdoors is doing something really revolutionary — they are making it easy for you to invest in luxury glamping as an entire asset class rather than an individual glamping resort.
As a Behind the Stays listener, you can become an early investor in this company for as little as $100.
You can learn more about Posh and all the deets surrounding this early investment opportunity by visiting https://posh.dealpage.io or sending an email to nick@posh-outdoors.com.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Whitney Hansen, the creator of The Flower Pot, a truly spectacular, one-of-a-kind experiential stay in Burley, Idaho.
Whitney has always been entrepreneurial — she owns her own consulting business, she hosts a podcast on investing and financial freedom called The Money Nerds, and is now also a hospitality entrepreneur.
After building one of Idaho's only geodesic domes and seeing it perform remarkably well on Airbnb, Whitney began dreaming of what her next build might look like — would it be an A-Frame? A Treehouse? A Pirate Ship?
And then she had a crazy idea…her family owned some farm land in Burley and her mother nurtured a beautiful flower garden on the plot. What if, she thought to herself, what if we created a giant flower pot that folks could stay in?
And while the idea sounded totally crazy at the time it didn’t sound that crazy to Airbnb. That’s right, Whitney wound up being a winner of Airbnb’s OMG fund and got $100,000 from the company to help her bring the project to life.
In this conversation Whitney and I discuss:
- How she heard about and ultimately won Airbnb’s OMG contest
- What it cost to bring this unique stay to life
- Some of the hardest aspects of owning and operating unique stays that not enough people talk about
- How the Flower Pot has performed as an investment so far
- Ideas she’s cooking up for her next build
- And so much more
Book The Flower Pot
Follow The Flower Pot on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Derry Green — the creator and visionary behind The Secret Garden Glamping — the UK's most booked, most wished-listed, and most viewed glamping site with a 2+ year waiting list.
Derry has always loved the outdoors – growing up, he and his family were avid campers. Some of his childhood memories involved playing in the woods with his brother and sitting around the campfire telling stories.
When Covid hit, Derry and his children were, like most of us, stuck inside a lot. On one particular day when his kids were going a bit stir crazy, Derry asked if they wanted to camp in their garden. His kids were ecstatic and he began building them a fort.
And while he didn’t know it at the time, building this fort would give him an idea that would change the course of his life forever. You see Derry and his kids loved the experience so much that they decided to build an experiential glamping stay for the whole world to enjoy.
Tune in to hear Derry and I discuss:
- How he landed on Dragon’s Den (the UK’s version of Shark Tank) to pitch his idea
- How he’s leveraged influencers and creator partnerships to amass a 2+ year waitlist with thousands of booking requests every week
- Why he’s bullish on building an experience that prioritizes outdoor amenities rather than obsessing over the unit design
- What he’s learned about leveraging content and social media to build a brand
- How he’s thinking about franchising his brand to expand internationally
- And so much more
Visit the Secret Garden Glamping Website
Follow Secret Garden Glamping on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
Meet Boris Mordkovich, who created Lumen Nature Retreat — a luxury waterfront glamping resort nestled in the heart of New Hampshite’s White Mountains — in partnership with his wife Susan.
The idea for Lumen was born while Boris and Susan traveled from Boston to Argentina over a 6-month road trip for an extended honeymoon. During this trip, their Toyota Land Cruiser car had a rooftop tent that allowed them to camp at some of the most spectacular places — from bush camping in the middle of the salt flats and next to volcanoes to little campgrounds and campsites all over North, Central and South America.
Upon their return, they dreamed of being able to offer a nature-immersive experience that enabled folks in their hometown, Boston, to escape the city for a long weekend retreat. And, while they couldn’t have known how it would all work out at the time, that dream wound up becoming Lumen.
In this conversation, Boris and I discuss:
- How they found the perfect 20-acre plot of land for Lumen
- How they decided on the types of units they’d offer at Lumen
- Which of their unit types perform best and why
- Lessons learned when building a luxury product offering in a shared space
- How they’ve differentiated themselves from other offerings in the market
- What they’re planning next
- And so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Boris.
Follow Lumen on Instagram
Book a Stay at Lumen
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Can Monkey — the Uber for Trash Service for your Short-Term Rentals.
Can Monkey ensures that the trash cans at your Airbnbs are moved to the curb and back promptly on collection day so that if you’ve got a same-day turnover your new guest arrives to a clean and empty trash bin.
And for those unexpected situations, like a guest leaving behind excess trash or an unexpected mid-week turnover, their OnDemand trash removal enables you to book a CanRunner (cool name huh?) to immediately come and remedy the situation.
For just $49/month per property, Can Monkey will pick up and return both your trash and recycling cans on your home’s pick up days No hidden costs. You are never locked into a contract. And whether you’ve got one property or 100, Can Monkey can have you up and running within a week.
To learn more about why hosts love this Uber for trash solution, head on over to CanMonkey.com and submit the form on the home page to get more information about how Can Monkey can help you. Oh, and if you do, be sure to mention that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way and you’ll qualify for an exclusive discount off of your first month of using Can Monkey.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Kristie Wolfe — the entrepreneur and builder behind some of the world’s most famous Airbnbs including the Big Idaho Potato Hotel, The Big Island Treehouse, The Hobbit Inn, and several others.
Growing up, Kristie always wanted to do her own thing – she convinced her parents to let her drop out of high school because she felt like she could learn more about business outside of the classroom.
Kristie is a true creative — she gets an idea in her head and just has to execute it…even if, and arguably especially if, it doesn’t make sense to other people.
In this conversation, Kristie and I discuss:
- Why she built her first unique Airbnb — long before anyone else was doing it
- How she forged an early partnership with Airbnb as the company started dreaming up would would eventually become “categories”
- How she creatively financed each of her builds
- Why she thinks what she builds resonates with folks
- What she’s working on next
- And so much more
Follow Kristie on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
Meet Nick Purslow, who is both the Co-Founder of Glampitect North America, an incredible educational and consulting resource for setting up a glamping site, and also the co-founder of a new start-up called Posh Outdoors, which supplies owners of iconic properties with high-end glamping units and backend support, at no up-front cost to the landowner, through an attractive revenue share model.
Growing up, Nick wanted to be a lawyer — but after graduating from university with a law degree he realized that being an entrepreneur would be a heck of a lot more fun and rewarding.
Nick has always loved to travel so when an opportunity presented itself to work for a glamping start-up in the UK emerged, he jumped at the opportunity and started working there for free!
In this conversation, Nick and I discuss:
- The booming glamping industry in North America
- Why more landowners should consider augmenting their hospitality businesses with glamping units
How Nick teamed up with some incredible serial entrepreneurs to launch Posh Outdoors - Posh Outdoor’s unique model of supplying Instagram-worthy glamping units to hospitality entrepreneurs with no upfront costs
- And how you, my friends, can invest in this exciting new start-up
I highly encourage y’all to check out this investment opportunity via the link in the show notes below…Posh Outdoors is making it easy for you to invest in luxury glamping as an entire asset rather than a glamping resort that's in one specific geo.
Learn more about investing in Posh Outdoors.
Email Nick
Connect with Nick on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Peter Fabor, an entrepreneur building a portfolio of niche hospitality businesses from marketplaces to industry newsletters.
Peter is a product designer by trade and has spent his career working in and around hospitality and technology companies.
In this conversation, Peter shares hot takes he has on the relevancy (or lack therefor) of hotel brands over the next decade, how he built a marketplace for company off-sites and corporate retreats, why the best hospitality entrepreneurs can run both hotels and vacation rental portfolios, the future of loyalty programs in the travel industry, and so much more.
Visit Peter's Website
Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
Connect with Peter on Twitter
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Can Monkey — the Uber for Trash Service for your Short-Term Rentals.
Can Monkey ensures that the trash cans at your Airbnbs are moved to the curb and back promptly on collection day so that if you’ve got a same-day turnover your new guest arrives to a clean and empty trash bin.
And for those unexpected situations, like a guest leaving behind excess trash or an unexpected mid-week turnover, their OnDemand trash removal enables you to book a CanRunner (cool name huh?) to immediately come and remedy the situation.
For just $49/month per property, Can Monkey will pick up and return both your trash and recycling cans on your home’s pick up days No hidden costs. You are never locked into a contract. And whether you’ve got one property or 100, Can Monkey can have you up and running within a week.
To learn more about why hosts love this Uber for trash solution, head on over to CanMonkey.com and submit the form on the home page to get more information about how Can Monkey can help you. Oh, and if you do, be sure to mention that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way and you’ll qualify for an exclusive discount off of your first month of using Can Monkey.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Louis Thompson — Founder and CEO of Nomadic Resorts, a consultancy that designs and builds some of the world’s most innovative and unique hotels and homes.
Growing up, Louis wanted to be a chef — and while he never pursued his culinary aspirations he did wind up designing some of the world’s most memorable restaurants.
In this conversation, Louis and I discuss how he thinks about designing luxury, unique stays, how he predicts short-term rental collections and hotel brands will partner in the coming years, the unique opportunities that exist in Europe to lease land from estates to build unique structures on them, and so much more.
Explore Nomadic Resorts
Connect with Louis on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Nitin Sood, Vice President of Innovation at Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy.
Nitin and his team launched the first AI-powered search experience of any travel site so I invited him to come on the show to talk about how they built the tool, how folks are engaging with the experience post-launch, and what they’ve got cooking up behind the scenes to improve the product.
Tune in to hear Nitin and I discuss:
- How Marriott built their Search with AI tool
- What they’ve learned since allowing users to craft a prompt rather than filter to find a stay
- What Marriott has planned next to improve its AI search functionality
- How AI has transformed and will continue to transform the travel industry
- What the future of determining where to go and when to go there will look like
- Why he thinks the next generation of OTAs will be a place where folks come to dream about where to go and not just book a stay
- And so much more
Explore Marriott's AI Search Tool
Connect with Nitin on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Cameron Weeks — a former coast guard rescue swimmer turned hospitality entrepreneur.
From a young age, Cameron dreamed of owning his own business — he used to listen to audio books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad with his father in the car when he was in elementary school. After high school, Cameron enlisted in the coast guard and became a rescue swimmer — yes, like one of those guys who jump out of helicopters to save people stranded in the middle of the ocean. In this conversation, Cameron shares his story of leaving the coast guard to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams, how he grew his short-term rental co-hosting business on Tybee Island from $0 - $1.3 million in 12 months, and what he’s learned about the value of building a boutique management company in a vacation destination. Follow Cameron on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
In just a moment you’ll meet Antonio Bafia, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who dropped out of college to pursue his dream of building hospitality businesses.
Growing up, Antonio was a competitive hockey player — he dreamed of one day playing in the NHL. And while that dream never came to fruition, the discipline he learned playing hockey equipped him wonderfully for the exciting and taxing journey of being an entrepreneur.
In this episode, Antonio and I discuss:
- how he built a portfolio of short-term rentals across the country in partnership with his dad
- why he’s so bullish on finding and then sticking to a niche
- why he believes that service is the next frontier of true competitiveness in the space
- his dreams over the next few years
- and so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Antonio.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Bella Linchenko, a muralist, STR investor, and creative finance community builder.
Growing up, Bella wanted to be a dog groomer…or an olympic gymnast…or both.
And while neither of those dreams panned out, she does get to apply her love of art, form, and problem solving to the work she gets to do each day.
In this conversation Bella and I discuss:
How murals can elevate the value of your STR
Why Bella started a creative financing community for women real estate investors
What she’s learned from house hacking
How she’s underwriting deals today
and so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Bella.
Connect with Bella on Instagram
Check out her Facebook group
Check out her YouTube Channel
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
Howdy friends! In this episode Zach sits down with Ben Wolff, Co-Founder of Onera and Oasi — two of the most innovative brands in the experiential hospitality space.
Ben Wolff is an incredible entrepreneur who has built some of the world's most unique and social-media-famous Airbnbs — if you haven't checked at his work, it's time to change that.
In this episode, Ben announces his latest project, Oasi Hill Country, a $39 million luxury landscape resort that he's building in the Texas Hill Country.
Ben shares:
- Why he's building Oasi Hill Country
- Why he's building the resort in public
- How he's fundraising for the project on social media
- Lessons he's learned about building next-generation stays
- And so much more
Learn more about the project here
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Connect with Ben on Twitter
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
One of the newest and hottest industry events, Level Up Your Listing, host by Natalie Palmer and Tatiana Taylor-Tait, just wrapped last week — and we wanted to know what people thought about the event!
In this episode, Zach sits down with Sage Nathan (Head of Partnerships at Minoan and a sponsor of the event), Tyann Marcink, an industry veteran and one of the most respected voices in vacation rental management, and Bella Linchenko, a designer and muralist who is new to short-term rental investing and made the decision to attend the event on a whim!
Hear what these ladies thought about the event — what was different, what they loved, what they think can be improved next time, and so much more.
Learn more about Level Up Your Listing
Connect with Sage Nathan
Connect with Tyann Marcink
Connect with Bella Linchenko
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In this episode, Zach explores what Google Trends says about where to buy or build your next unique Airbnb.
Zach shares fascinating insight into how search behavior for unique stays like treehouses, container homes, yurts, and A-frames has changed over time and where these searches for unique stays are most and least popular.
You're not going to want to miss this one folks!
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Elam King — founder and CEO of Kingly Vacation Renta;s, a collection of short-term rentals and soon to be motels located across Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Elam grew up in the Amish community and it was here that he learned the importance of discipline, hard work and craftsmanship.
After leaving the Amish community as a young adult, Elam began to learn everything he could about real estate investing.
Elam has a knack for dilapidated homes that others have looked over and being able to see how to transform a piece of crap into a piece of gold. This skillet has served him incredibly well as he’s grown his portfolio of short-term rentals from 5 to 10, to over 15 over the last few years.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Elam got into hospitality, the metrics he uses to determine whether or not a fixer upper can be renovated into something truly valuable, why he just bought a motel, and so much more more.
Connect with Elam:
https://www.facebook.com/elamzkinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/elamzking/http://www.rewonder.com This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Fred Boothby, Founder of Enjoy Unique Stays, a collection of 100 short-term rentals across Chattanooga, Michigan, North Carolina, and North Georgia.
Fred was a banker — it seemed like a safe and stable way to build a nice life for his family. But there was something about the “safe way” that never felt quite right to Fred.
One day he got a call from a friend who was looking for someone to help scale a landscaping business in Central Florida.
And while he didn’t know it at the time, that call would change the trajectory of his entire life. Tune in to hear the story of how Fred scaled and sold this landscaping business and how it enabled him to pursue his dream of buying, building, and managing vacation rentals.
In this conversation Fred and I discuss:
- Whether or not his unique properties out perform his more traditional cabin stays
- The future of vacation rental communities and the opportunity that exists here for entrepreneurs
- The emergence of soft brands in the vacation rental space and what the value this provides to both guests and management companies
- Why he loves hospitality and hosts in his own home along with his 7 children
- And so much more
Connect with Fred on LinkedIn
Explore Enjoy Unique Stays
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Landon Wilkinson, Co-Founder of Hostshare — a new platform that enables short-term rental hosts to trade unbooked nights in exchange for free travel.
Growing up Landon wanted to be a spy — he went so far as to write a letter to the CIA asking them to recruit him …he even had a code name which you’ll hear about shortly!
And while Landon never wound up pursuing a career in espionage, the boldness he had as a child has followed him along his journey of becoming an entrepreneur.
In this episode, Landon shares:
- Where the idea of Hostshare first came from and why he believes a travel platform for Airbnb hosts is needed
- The specific rules and guard rails he and the team had to create to ensure the platform would be exciting for hosts that own mansions in Miami and also hosts that own condos in Detroit.
- How they plan on monetizing the platform
- And so much more.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
What’s up friends got a special episode for y’all today featuring my friend Hans Lorei one of the best if not THE BEST designer in the short-term rental space.
While I am a real sucker for the traditional, interview syle pod, I also know that sometimes you need content that is short, sweet, and super practical.
So, once or twice a month, I’ll be dropping episodes on the pod that are slightly more tactical.
Each of these episodes will featuring an industry expert andbe just 10-20 minutes in length.
In this episode, Hans and I discuss how he built an Instagram audience from 0 to 100k followers in just 101 days.
Hans shares why he started posting on Instagram, the content format and framework that helped him go viral, how his online audience has translated to opportunities offline, and so much more.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Matt Whitermore, a hospitality entrepreneur who buys, builds, and manages RV parks.
In this engaging conversation, Matt shares how he got started buying RV parks and why he believes there’s huge opportunity to disrupt and reimagine this category of travel and real estate investment.
Tune in to hear:
-
The lessons Matt learned after buying his first RV park
-
How he see experiential hospitality and RV parks intersecting in the near future
-
Why camping is getting younger and cooler and the opportunity this presents for folks who want to build cool brands and businesses in the space
-
And so much more
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Kyle Tibbitts, Chief Marketing Officer at Wander, a network of smart, luxury vacation rentals that’s on a mission to verticalize the short-term rental experience.
If you were to have asked Kyle as a 10-year-old what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would have told you a lawyer, which, today, Kyle would tell you would have been a huge mistake.
But if you were to have asked Kyle what he wanted to be just a few years later, he would have told you an architect — from a young age he had a deep appreciation for design and a longing to build things.
And while Kyle wouldn’t go on to design or build structures, he would go on to help design and build some of the most incredible brands in hospitality and real estate.
Tune in to hear Kyle’s stories and musings about:
- What he learned while working at HotelTonight — a marketplace for last-minute hotel bookings that was ultimately acquired by Airbnb
- The growth marketing lessons he learned while working at Open Door
- How he met John Andrew, the Founder and CEO of Wander on Twitter and what it was about Wander that was so compelling to him
- How he and the team built the Wander brand
- Lessons learned when trying to build a consistently luxurious, yet distributed hospitality product
- How Wander has pivoted over the last 12 months in light of macro-economic shifts
- The vision for the Wander brand over 2024
- And so much more
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before.
In this episode of Behind the Stays, Zach shares five tangible and tactical ideas for how OpenAI's new Sora model will fundamentally change hospitality entrepreneurship.
Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions.
Sora is able to generate complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details of the subject and background. The model understands not only what the user has asked for in the prompt, but also how those things exist in the physical world.
See Sora in action here.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Valcove Hospitality.
Valcove Hospitality enables you to have a dedicated assistant available 24/7 who can help with everything from email comms to responding to Karen — and they make this all possible at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.
Whether you’re managing 10 properties or scaling up to 150, Valcove's experienced team is ready to help you streamline your operations. Say goodbye to the endless cycle of hiring and training staff, and say hello to seamless efficiency.
With flexible partnership options tailored to your needs, Valcove offers 24/7 support, or a custom schedule that fits your business. And with a straightforward hourly rate of just $9.95/hour for your entire portfolio, you always know what to expect on your bill - no surprises, just dependable, transparent service.
The team at Valcove is offering 'Behind the Stays' listeners, like you, an exclusive offer. Use the code BEHINDTHESTAYS50 to get 50% off your first month with Valcove Hospitality.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Stephanie Gutierrez, the creator of North Country Cabin Co. — a boutique collection of short-term rentals located just 90 minutes from Minnesota's twin cities in Comstock, Wisconsin.
Growing up, Stephanie wanted to be an artist — her grandmother had an incredible eye for art and design and Stephanie dreamed of emulating her.
And while she didn’t become a professional artist, her knack for creativity would wind up leading her to launch a boutique hospitality company in partnership with her husband Eric.
In this episode, Stephanie and I discuss:
- How and why she and Eric got into short-term rentals
- The story behind how they found their first cabin and what it took to get it Airbnb-ready
- Whether building from the ground up or renovating an existing cabin yields a more profitable unit
- How they landed in Vogue and on the Magnolia Network
- And so much more
Alright friends, without further adieu, get ready to meet Stephanie.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Valcove Hospitality.
Valcove Hospitality enables you to have a dedicated assistant available 24/7 who can help with everything from email comms to responding to Karen — and they make this all possible at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.
Whether you’re managing 10 properties or scaling up to 150, Valcove's experienced team is ready to help you streamline your operations. Say goodbye to the endless cycle of hiring and training staff, and say hello to seamless efficiency.
With flexible partnership options tailored to your needs, Valcove offers 24/7 support, or a custom schedule that fits your business. And with a straightforward hourly rate of just $9.95/hour for your entire portfolio, you always know what to expect on your bill - no surprises, just dependable, transparent service.
The team at Valcove is offering 'Behind the Stays' listeners, like you, an exclusive offer. Use the code BEHINDTHESTAYS50 to get 50% off your first month with Valcove Hospitality.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
One of the newest and hottest industry events, STR Wealth Con, just wrapped last week — and we wanted to know what people thought about the event!
In this episode, Zach sits down with Wil Slickers (emcee of the event), Sean Wilkinson (Co-Founder of Hostshare and first-time conferences attendee), and Heidie Henriksen ( a vacation rental industry veteran, to get their thoughts on the content, the community, and the networking at the event.
Let us know what you thought of the event by joining the conversation on LinkedIn!
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jeremy Gall, Founder & CEO of Breezeway — the leading property care, operations and messaging platform for hospitality entrepreneurs.
Growing up, Jermey wanted to be a professional basketball player. And while he never made it into the NBA, he did make it into Law School.
But Jeremy’s professional career as an attorney wouldn’t last long because he was bit by that sneaky, but ever so enticing, entrepreneurial bug.
Tune into hear the exciting story of how Jeremy co-founded and built Flipkey, the first online marketplace for vacation rentals, which was ultimately acquired by Trip Advisor, why he built Breezeway, the industry’s leading operations hub, and the opportunity he sees for other hospitality innovators and entrepreneurs over the next 5 years.
Learn more about Breezeway
Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Meaghan Moylan, Executive Director of Outpost — a Vacation Rental and Property Management company located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
If you were to have asked Meaghan what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you a cat, a veterinarian, a nurse, or a lawyer — depending on whether she was 3, 10, 15, or 18.
As fate would have it, Meaghan did not become any of the aforementioned and, after graduating from college with a degree in public relations, decided she was going to move to Thailand to teach English. One night at a bonfire she was telling an acquaintance about her plans to move abroad when said acquaintance asked her if she’d ever considered working in hospitality.
She hadn’t…but that night, Meaghan went home and, on a total whim, applied for a job at 360 Blue, one of the most respected, luxury vacation rental companies in the country…and, well, she got the job and almost 10 years later, Meaghan has become one of the most interesting and influential young voices in the industry.
In this chat, Meaghan and I discuss:
- Opportunities she sees for young entrepreneurs to build great businesses in and around vacation rentals
- What the quote-on-quote “Instagram Airbnb Host” can learn from professional operators (and vice-versa)
- Her new love of podcasting
- Hot takes she has on the future of hospitality
- And so much more…
Connect with Meaghan on LinkedIn
Learn more about Outpost
Stream Workflows and Espressos
Follow Corporate Natalie on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Valcove Hospitality.
Valcove Hospitality enables you to have a dedicated assistant available 24/7 who can help with everything from email comms to responding to Karen — and they make this all possible at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.
Whether you’re managing 10 properties or scaling up to 150, Valcove's experienced team is ready to help you streamline your operations. Say goodbye to the endless cycle of hiring and training staff, and say hello to seamless efficiency.
With flexible partnership options tailored to your needs, Valcove offers 24/7 support, or a custom schedule that fits your business. And with a straightforward hourly rate of just $9.95/hour for your entire portfolio, you always know what to expect on your bill - no surprises, just dependable, transparent service.
The team at Valcove is offering 'Behind the Stays' listeners, like you, an exclusive offer. Use the code BEHINDTHESTAYS50 to get 50% off your first month with Valcove Hospitality.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Chris Stephenson, Vice President of Global Development at Marriott Homes & Villas.
Chris has spent his career building new, innovative products and services across travel and hospitality.
In February of 2019, Chris was a part of the founding team of Marriott Homes & Villas and in charge of thinking through how best to bring Marriott’s vacation rental home product to life.
In this episode, Chris and I discuss:
- What it’s like incubating a new product offering within a legacy business
- Why Marriott Homes & Villas has had a different business model from Airbnb since Day 1
- How Homes & Villas has grown from a couple of thousand listings to a couple hundred thousand listings in just the last couple of years
- How Bonvoy, Marriott’s loyalty program, has played a roll in accelerating usage of Homes & Villas
- And what the product roadmap for Homes & Villas looks like in 2024 and beyond
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Taylor Bates, the creator of The Afton House — a stunning, luxury home made for gathering and nestled in the heart of Virginia wine country.
Growing up, Taylor wanted to be an architect or a Fortune 500 CEO — she’s always loved the intersection of marketing, design, and business.
After working in a few marketing management and nonprofit leadership roles, Taylor wound up starting her own boutique interior design firm focusing on residential and commercial projects.
And it was around this time when the idea of building a luxury short-term rental that was conducive to multi-family stays, first began to percolate.
Tune in to here the story behind:
- How Taylor designed a truly unforgettable stay in Afton, Virginia
- Her process for approaching a design project — the room she loves designing most and the room she loves designing least
- Getting approached by Wander about joining the Wander network, Wander’s new managed service option
- And so much more…
Book The Afton House
Follow The Afton House on Instagram
Connect with Taylor on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Scott McIntosh, Co-Founder of Back Forty Glamping, a luxurious glamping oasis on 26 acres of land in Meaford, Ontario.
Growing up, Scott wanted to be a farmer — he loved being outdoors and the notion that you could make a life from tilling fields and harvesting crops was incredibly attractive to him.
And while Scott wound up pursuing a career as an educator instead, a few years ago he and his brother Ben had an idea which would enable Scott to trade the classroom for the great outdoors…
And that idea? Well, it was to build a glamping resort featuring luxury domes just 2 hours outside of Toronto, Canada.
Tune in to hear the story of how:
- Scott and the team worked through loads of red tape to get Back Forty Glamping approved by their local municipality
- Why they decided on domes as their unique stay structure of choice
- What it actually cost to bring the first 5 domes to life
- Why investing in the right infrastructure and building the right product from the beginning is crucial for success.
- How they’re thinking about franchising the Back Forty Glamping brand
- And so much more
Book a Stay at Back Forty Glamping
Follow Back Forty Glamping on Instagram
Connect with the Back Forty Team
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Valcove Hospitality.
Valcove Hospitality enables you to have a dedicated assistant available 24/7 who can help with everything from email comms to responding to Karen — and they make this all possible at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee.
Whether you’re managing 10 properties or scaling up to 150, Valcove's experienced team is ready to help you streamline your operations. Say goodbye to the endless cycle of hiring and training staff, and say hello to seamless efficiency.
With flexible partnership options tailored to your needs, Valcove offers 24/7 support, or a custom schedule that fits your business. And with a straightforward hourly rate of just $9.95/hour for your entire portfolio, you always know what to expect on your bill - no surprises, just dependable, transparent service.
The team at Valcove is offering 'Behind the Stays' listeners, like you, an exclusive offer. Use the code BEHINDTHESTAYS50 to get 50% off your first month with Valcove Hospitality.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Dylan Barahona, General Manager at Canyon of the Eagles, a nature resort and preserve on 940 acres of land, located just 1.5 Hours from Austin, Texas.
If you were to have asked Dylan at ten-years-old what he wanted to be when he grew up, he’d tell you either a professional baseball player or a chef.
And while neither of those dreams quite panned out, the latter, dream set him on path to pursue a career in hospitality, and, over the last decade, Dylan has become a highly-regarded and respect voice in outdoor hospitality.
In this episode, Dylan and I discuss:
- How he’s reimagining outdoor hospitality through the restoration of 970 acres of Texas Hill Country
- The importance of building an event strategy at your glamping resort
- The future of fine dining in the glamping space
- The opportunities he sees for hospitality entrepreneurs in the space
- And so much more
Learn more about Canyon of the Eagles
Follow Canyon one the Eagles on Instagram
Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Antonio Gonzalez, President of ÖÖD House — the company behind the instagram famous mirror houses.
Antonio is an engineer by trade, but always had a heart for entrepreneurship…
So, when the opportunity to co-found Jupe along with past-podcast guest Jeff Wilson and take it through Y Combinator, the world’s most prestigious of startup accelerators, came about, he took it.
Antonio learned SO much from the accelerator where the Airbnb founders also graduated from and had an incredible couple of years at Jupe before realizing that his heart was really in hospitality.
Tune in to hear the story of how ÖÖD House, founded in Estonia, came to be, what their game plan for expanding in the US in 2024 and 2025 looks like, and the kind of hospitality entrepreneurs they are looking to partner with to make this happen.
Learn more about ÖÖD House here.
Follow ÖÖD on Instagram
Connect with Antonio on LinkedIn here.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at StayFi.
StayFi is enables you to create a custom branded WiFi splash page for your short-term rental’s WiFi — similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
StayFi enables you to collect the contact info of every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need the wifi?
So if you want a frictionless way to capture guest contact info and empower your direct booking strategy with more data, sign up for StayFi at StayFi.com and use the discount code “BTS” for 20% off of your first year…
If you chat with the team there, be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way!
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Garett Brown, the visionary and creator behind Cameron Ranch Glamping, a collection of luxury glamping units on 11 acres just an hour outside of Houston, Texas.
Garrett is a professional music producer and traveling DJ who has always loved dabbling in real estate investing. When he wasn’t performing on stage or out on a tour, he’d find himself scrolling through listings dreaming of what it’d be like to build his own portfolio of homes.
He wanted to learn more about real estate so he decided to get his real estate license so he could get an inside look at how the industry actually works.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Garrett quickly swapped showing homes to others for building his own and the series of events that led him to fall in love with hospitality.
In this episode, Garett shares:
- The importance of considering both novelty and variety of structures when building a unique stay to increase virality and attract repeat guests.
- Why he believes you should determine the unit type you want to build and THEN go find the land (rather than the other way around)
- Why you shouldn’t overlook smaller content creators and influencers when marketing your stay
- And how the tragic loss of his brother inspires the work he does today
Book a Stay at Cameron Ranch
Follow Cameron Ranch on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Brett Deas, a 19-year-old entrepreneur who owns and operates unique stay vacation rentals across the U.S.
While his high school buddies were scrolling through TikTok before school and playing video games afterwards, Brett was binging Bigger Pockets podcasts to understand the world of real estate investing.
After graduating from high school, Brett decided to try his hand at real estate investing and entrepreneurship before pursuing a college degree. And so far? That decision is paying off dividends.
In this episode, you’ll hear the story behind how Brett raised capital to both build new unique stays and buy existing ones. Brett shares tips on:
- What he’s learned about assessing the value of a unique stay
- Why hospitality entrepreneurs might be better off buying a unique stay rather than building one from the ground up
- The importance of building a consumer-facing brand to help consolidate a portfolio of differentiated stays
- How he thinks about investing in 2024 and 2025
- And so much more
Follow Brett on Twitter
Connect with Brett on LinkedIn
Book a Stay at The Hideaways
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Mollie Reese, the host of the popular Stay in Good Company podcast and an experienced community builder who has spent her career working with leading brands across the the food & beverage and events & hospitality industries.
Having recently left the world of corporate burnout and the hustle and bustle of city-living behind for a slower way of life, Mollie set out to pursue personal passions in travel.
Throughout her journey, she is in search for authentic stories to share, curious about different cultural experiences, and inspired to curate a community who, like her, seeks to be in good company.
In this episode, Mollie and I discuss:
- Lessons she learned while working for brands like Anheuser-Busch, True Food Kitchen, and a couple of startups in hospitality
- Mollie’s thoughts on how the next generation of travelers will discern where to go and where to stay
- Her hot takes on how the next generation of travelers thinks about loyalty programs
- The biggest opportunities she sees for folks to build successful brands and businesses in this space
Stream Stay in Good Company
Visit Mollie's Website
This episode is brought to you by our friends at StayFi.
StayFi is enables you to create a custom branded WiFi splash page for your short-term rental’s WiFi — similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
StayFi enables you to collect the contact info of every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need the wifi?
So if you want a frictionless way to capture guest contact info and empower your direct booking strategy with more data, sign up for StayFi at StayFi.com and use the discount code “BTS” for 20% off of your first year…
If you chat with the team there, be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way!
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Assaf Karmon, Co-founder & CEO of Turno — a marketplace that helps vacation rental hosts and property management companies simplify and automate cleaning.
Assaf was born and raised in Israel and as a kid his dream was to be a professional soccer player.
And while that dream never came to fruition, in part because Assaf spent most of his early sports career sitting on the bench, the determination, boldness, and focus he garnered as a child trying to level up his game, has enable him to become the entrepreneur he is today.
In this episode, Assaf and I discuss:
- The founding story of Turno
- The recipe for a successful working relationship with your cleaning team
- What separates the best cleaning teams from the rest of the pack
- His thoughts on working with one team in a market vs a multiple teams in the same market to reduce risk
- And the biggest opportunities he sees for entrepreneurs building new companies in the hospitality space
Oh, and one last thing — Turno has graciously offered Behind the Stays listeners a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first turnover with them! Simply go to turno.com/behindthestays to claim this offer before March 31st, 2024.
This episode is brought to yo buy our friends at Booklee.
Booklee like a Linktree designed exclusively for Airbnb hosts and STR property managers.
If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re a hospitality entrepreneur that cares about building a brand for your Airbnb/STR business and that’s why many of you invest so much time into building your presence on Instagram.
Knowing where to direct your Instagram followers to is always a challenge:
- Should you send them to your Airbnb listing directly to show off your incredible reviews?
- Or to your direct booking site which is a little clunky to navigate on mobile but will save you 10-15% if your follower books direct?
- Or maybe you’re testing out VRBO and Booking.com
Well, what’s amazing about Booklee is that you don’t have to decide.
Booklee allows you to create a stunning link-in-bio page that showcases everything about your property across all platforms. Booklee pulls in and aggregates your reviews across Airbnb, VRBO, and other OTAs, and invites guests to book via your direct booking site or their preferred OTA.
Get 20% off your first year of Booklee when you reference Behind the Stays at checkout.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jake and Leslie, the creators of the Lighthouse Cottage, an oceanfront escape in Cape May, New Jersey.
Jake and Leslie had always dreamed of owning a beach house, but acquiring a property in the competitive Cape May market seemed out of reach.
That is until one day Leslie was scrolling on Zillow and noticed a new listing for a 100 year old property located right on the beach.
The home clearly needed a lot of work but something about its character spoke to Leslie…and within hours she had called the realtor, packed the car, and paid the place a visit.
And that visit? Well, it’d end with Leslie calling Jake to convince him that this was the place they’d been searching for.
Tune in to hear the story behind:
- How the couple renovated the home to dramatically improve its aestetic without losing the heart and soul of the property
- The pros and cons of DIY
- How they used design, photography, and Instagram to book the home out for the entire season in just 11 days
- What the future holds for the couple
- And so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Jake and Leslie.
Follow The Lighthouse Cottage on Instagram
Book your stay at The Lighthouse Cottage
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Rob Patterson, an incredible hospitality leader whose most recent post was as the CEO of Best Western in the United Kingdom.
Rob grew up in a very remote town in the country of Australia. Growing up, Rob dreamed of becoming a professional footballer — so much so that when an opportunity to move to Sydney to pursue his dream came to fruition, he left home without thinking twice.
And while he never wound up playing football professionally, Rob did stumble into another profession while living in the big city — and that profession, well, you guessed it folks, was working in hospitality.
In this episode you’ll discover:
- What Rob learned during his first hospitality job working in housekeeping at a Hilton
- How dynamic pricing and the internet revolutionized the hospitality industry
- How Rob led Best Western through the pandemic and gained brand equity at a time when so many other hotel companies were struggling
- Why he believes branding in the industry has lost its way and been driven more by investor needs than consumer needs and the opportunity for independent brands to stand out with clear, distinctive identities in light of this reality
- And so much more
Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Rob.
Connect with Rob on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at StayFi.
StayFi is enables you to create a custom branded WiFi splash page for your short-term rental’s WiFi — similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
StayFi enables you to collect the contact info of every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need the wifi?
So if you want a frictionless way to capture guest contact info and empower your direct booking strategy with more data, sign up for StayFi at StayFi.com and use the discount code “BTS” for 20% off of your first year…
If you chat with the team there, be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way!
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Amber and Charlie Pledge — the founders of Kabn Company, a new hospitality brand focused on creating luxurious, and sustainable nature-immersed escapes.
Amber and Charlie have always loved to travel. The couple has been fortunate enough to live and work in major hubs of innovation like London, San Francisco, and Dubai.
And while Amber and Charlie both love working hard, climbing the corporate ladder just started to feel, well, a bit unfulfilling.
Tune in to hear the story behind how this couple left their day jobs to go and build their first two escapes on the west coast of Scotland.
In this conversation we discuss:
- How their travels to Japan, India, and Africa all helped inspire the design of their first cabins
- The benefits of long-term leases when building your first site
- What Amber and Charlie learned about how to balance sustainability and luxury when building their cabins
- How they secured a MICHELIN-Star chef to offer incredible personalized dining experiences for their guests
- And so much more
Book your stay at The Kabn Company
Follow The Kabn Company on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Steve Turk — a decorated professional who has spent over two decades working in luxury hospitality.
Steve’s father was a susccessful attorney. From time to time, his dad would bring him along on work travel and Steve remembers being in total awe at the hotels he and his dad would stay in.
There was something so magical about walking into an ordnately decorated hotel lobby and being greeted as if you were some kind of royalty that left a significant impression on Steve.
As Steve began thinking about what he wanted to do with his life during his later high school years, he assumed he’d just become a lawyer like his dad was.
But there was an idea that Steve just couldn’t shake…this nagging that pulled at his heart. And that nagging was a desire to work in hospitality.
Tune in to hear the remarkable story of:
- How Steve worked his way up to executive roles at Loews, Nobu, Mandarin Oriental and other luxury hotel brands
- Why he wound up leaving these coveted roles to become a hospitality entrepreneur
- And why he’s now building a luxury micro resort focused on sustainability and agritourism in South Florida.
Follow Steve on LinkedIn
Listen to his podcast The Hospitality Mentor
This episode is brought to yo buy our friends at Booklee.
Booklee like a Linktree designed exclusively for Airbnb hosts and STR property managers.
If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re a hospitality entrepreneur that cares about building a brand for your Airbnb/STR business and that’s why many of you invest so much time into building your presence on Instagram.
Knowing where to direct your Instagram followers to is always a challenge:
- Should you send them to your Airbnb listing directly to show off your incredible reviews?
- Or to your direct booking site which is a little clunky to navigate on mobile but will save you 10-15% if your follower books direct?
- Or maybe you’re testing out VRBO and Booking.com
Well, what’s amazing about Booklee is that you don’t have to decide.
Booklee allows you to create a stunning link-in-bio page that showcases everything about your property across all platforms. Booklee pulls in and aggregates your reviews across Airbnb, VRBO, and other OTAs, and invites guests to book via your direct booking site or their preferred OTA.
Get 20% off your first year of Booklee when you reference Behind the Stays at checkout.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Ashley and Andy — the creators of The Glass Treehouse, a stunning couple’s stay in Banner Elk, North Carolina close to downtown Boone.
Andy is a mechanic by trade. After spending years working in the airline industry, he decided to open up his own auto body shop in Charlotte, North Carolina. While Ashely and Andy loved the benefits that came with owning a small business, the couple dreamed of one day leaving Charlotte to move to the mountains.
One day while scrolling through Zillow, Andy stumbled upon a house that had been on the market for 3 years…and, while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this dilapidated home that had been passed over hundreds of times would one day become one of Airbnb’s most wish-listed stays in the entire United States.
Follow The Glass Treehouse on Instagram
Book a Stay at The Glass Treehouse
This episode is brought to yo buy our friends at Booklee.
Booklee like a Linktree designed exclusively for Airbnb hosts and STR property managers.
If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re a hospitality entrepreneur that cares about building a brand for your Airbnb/STR business and that’s why many of you invest so much time into building your presence on Instagram.
Knowing where to direct your Instagram followers to is always a challenge:
- Should you send them to your Airbnb listing directly to show off your incredible reviews?
- Or to your direct booking site which is a little clunky to navigate on mobile but will save you 10-15% if your follower books direct?
- Or maybe you’re testing out VRBO and Booking.com
Well, what’s amazing about Booklee is that you don’t have to decide.
Booklee allows you to create a stunning link-in-bio page that showcases everything about your property across all platforms. Booklee pulls in and aggregates your reviews across Airbnb, VRBO, and other OTAs, and invites guests to book via your direct booking site or their preferred OTA.
Get 20% off your first year of Booklee when you reference Behind the Stays at checkout.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
You've been asking what we've got planed for 2024 — so here's a sneak peak!
I'm calling this episode our "Winter Housekeeping" pod so if you’re just here for the guests I bring onto the show and don’t care too much about what we’re building at Sponstayneous or the community we’re cultivating through Behind the Stays, I am not offended, just ignore these episodes when they pop-up into your feed.
But, if you ARE cheering us on and curious about what’s been happening behind the scenes of Behind the Stays, then lend me your ears for the next few minutes.
We'll chat about:
- Hitting 1,000 subscribers to our YouTube Channel — if you haven't watched our videos, you can do so here.
- A big update to Sponstayneous
- StayWatch — Google Flight Alerts but for Airbnbs
- How hosts are using our Ping product to increase their nightly rates
- The expansion of our host partner program
I want to hear from YOU! Send me an email at Zach@sponstayneous.com with your ideas on how we can take the show up a couple of notches in 2024!
Meet Jake Pontius — Co-Founder of Nook, a collection of North America’s most remarkable landscape hotels and outdoor accommodations.
After working as a business analyst at a timeshare company, Jake left the corporate world to pursue his passion of brewing craft beer and it was during this season of his life where he first fell in love with hospitality.
Now while Jake fell in love with the industry while working in food and beverage, his family is no stranger to hospitality. Jake’s father, David, actually spent his career working in executive capacities at RCI, Hilton, and Bluegreen Vacations.
In this episode, Jake and I discuss:
- Why he and Michael Goldin from Storied Collection and building Nook
- The value of building soft brands in hospitality
- What his predictions on the future of experiential travel are
- Why he’s bullish on landscape hotels and outdoor accommodations
- And so much more
Connect with Jake on LinkedIn
Learn more about Nook
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Margot Schmorak, Co-Founder and CEO of Hostfully — one of the hospitality industry’s leading technology companies.
Margot started her career working in marketing at Apple during one of the company's most pivotal eras. She remembers the launch of the very first iPhone quite vividly since she was the only person on the marketing team to NOT receive a phone since she was just an intern at the time.
In this conversation, Margot and I discuss:
- The lessons she learned about marketing, startups, and company culture during her time at Apple
- Where the idea for Hostfully first came from
- How Hostfully grew from a digital guidebook to a full-fledged property management platform
- How much money Hosttfully has raised so far
- Why she started a community for venture-backed founders who are also moms
- The gaps she seems in the hospitality tech space
- And so much more…
Learn more about Hostfully here
Listen to Margot's Episodes of The Pitch Podcast
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to Episode 3 of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing — a special Behind the Stays podcast series brought to you in collaboration with my friend, Conrad O’Connell, Founder and CEO of BuildUp Bookings, one of the most respected marketing agencies for vacation rental managers and hospitality entrepreneurs.
Conrad just published an incredible book “Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing” which serves as a strategic guide designed for vacation rental managers, hosts, and STR professionals eager to scale their business without becoming overly reliant on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com.
Over the next three weeks, you’ll get a sneak peek into the frameworks, case studies, strategies and data that Conrad shares in his book. If you’d like to purchase the book, you can do so via the Amazon link below OR if you’d like a digital copy of the book Conrad is offering a free digital version to Behind the Stays listeners (you can find a link to download the book in the show notes below).
Stream Episode 1 of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing
Stream Episode 2 of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing
Buy Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing on Amazon
Download a free copy of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing
Connect with Conrad on LinkedIn
Learn more about how BuildUp Bookings can help you scale your business
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it’s the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Paul Kromidas, an industry trailblazer who transitioned from a strategic role at Airbnb to founding Summer, a company revolutionizing the vacation rental space.
This episode delves into Paul's insights on the shifting dynamics of property management and his innovative approach to vacation home ownership.
Tune in as we explore:
- Paul's key learnings from his tenure at Airbnb and their influence on Summer's vision.
- The concept behind Summer: Empowering aspiring vacation home owners with a risk-free trial of property ownership.
- The unique 'gradual ownership' model: A gateway for hesitant investors to step into the vacation rental market.
- How Summer addresses the quality versus quantity debate in property management.
- The challenge of balancing brand consistency with local uniqueness in vacation rentals.
- The future of vacation rental management: Predictions and strategies from a seasoned insider.
Learn more about Summer
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Summer.
Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home.
What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb”
Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works:
- You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental.
- Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy.
- When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment.
- Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to Episode 2 of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing — a special Behind the Stays podcast series brought to you in collaboration with my friend, Conrad O’Connell, Founder and CEO of BuildUp Bookings, one of the most respected marketing agencies for vacation rental managers and hospitality entrepreneurs.
Conrad just published an incredible book "Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing" which serves as a strategic guide designed for vacation rental managers, hosts, and STR professionals eager to scale their business without becoming overly reliant on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com.
Over the next three weeks, you’ll get a sneak peek into the frameworks, case studies, strategies and data that Conrad shares in his book. If you’d like to purchase the book, you can do so via the Amazon link below OR if you’d like a digital copy of the book Conrad is offering a free digital version to Behind the Stays listeners (you can find a link to download the book in the show notes below).
Stream Episode 1 of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing
Buy Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing on Amazon
Download a free copy of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing
Connect with Conrad on LinkedIn
Learn more about how BuildUp Bookings can help you scale your business
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Tim Harper, an innovator who left the digital marketing world to create Bubble Retreats, a unique hospitality experience in Victoria, Australia.
This episode takes you through Tim's inspiring journey from a memorable stargazing night in France to becoming a winner in Airbnb's OMG campaign.
In this conversation, Tim and I explore:
- Tim's transition from online marketing to hands-on entrepreneurship in the hospitality sector.
- The birth of Bubble Retreats: How a transparent tent in France sparked an innovative idea.
- Overcoming the challenges of building a unique property with no prior construction experience.
- The strategy behind choosing bubble structures for a standout guest experience.
- Winning Airbnb's prestigious OMG competition and the journey from concept to reality.
- Future plans for Bubble Retreats: Expansion, partnerships, and creating a sustainable business model.
- And so much more
This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jeremy Hill, Co-Founder and CEO of Arcana — a next generation nature resort complete with seasonally immersive science-based experiences that help guests feel nature’s true restorative powers.
Jeremy was working in banking and had climbed the proverbial and prestigious corporate ladder for years. But one day, as he was staring out the window of his beautiful corner office, the question “what the heck am I doing with my life?” assaulted his brain!
While he couldn’t have known it at the time, this moment would be the beginning of a major career pivot…it was this moment that would ultimately lead Jeremy to leave the corporate world behind, jump into entrepreneurship, and set out on a mission to build a supernatural hospitality brand.
In this conversation, Jeremy and I discuss:
- How to build a truly experiential and multi-sensory hospitality brand
- How Arcana is reimagining food and beverage for its guests in a truly innovative way
- How much money he raised to get Arcana’s first site off the ground
- And so much more
Learn more about Arcana
Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Minoan!
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
If you liked this episode, you might also like:
-
He’s An Accountant, Artist, and Airbnb Superhost — Meet Isaac French the Creator of Live Oak Lake
-
How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing — a special Behind the Stays podcast series brought to you in collaboration with my friend, Conrad O’Connell, Founder and CEO of BuildUp Bookings, one of the most respected marketing agencies for vacation rental managers and hospitality entrepreneurs.
Conrad just published an incredible book "Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing" which serves as a strategic guide designed for vacation rental managers, hosts, and STR professionals eager to scale their business without becoming overly reliant on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com.
Over the next three weeks, you’ll get a sneak peek into the frameworks, case studies, strategies and data that Conrad shares in his book. If you’d like to purchase the book, you can do so via the Amazon link below OR if you’d like a digital copy of the book Conrad is offering a free digital version to Behind the Stays listeners (you can find a link to download the book in the show notes below).
Buy Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing on Amazon
Download a free copy of Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing
Connect with Conrad on LinkedIn
Learn more about how BuildUp Bookings can help you scale your business
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Bill Faeth — one of the most popular and well-respected voices in the short-term rental industry.
Bill Faeth has been involved in real estate for almost 25 years with both commercial and residential investing. In 2015, he switched the majority of his residential portfolio to short term rentals from long term after seeing an opportunity to increase profit and reduce risk.
Bill currently has a multi-million dollar portfolio of short term rental properties primarily located in vacation rental markets with a focus on beach, lake, and mountain properties. In addition to his own portfolio, he hosts the popular STR Unfiltered podcast and he’s the co-producer of STR WealthCon, one of the hottest industry events for vacation rental entrepreneurs.
In this episode Bill and I discuss:
- The story behind how he traveled to golf tournaments with Tiger Woods
- How he built, scaled, and sold his first businesses
- How much money he makes off of his content vs. his portfolio
- How much money the STR Wealthcon makes and what the long term vision for the event is
- What he’s recently changed his mind about
- And so much more
This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Max Gagliardi — founder of Mountain Fork Resort, a 140-acre waterfront development in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
Max is an entrepreneur who builds businesses across energy, real estate, & technology — he has a knack for finding opportunities in places others are convinced no opportunity exists.
After stumbling upon an incredible piece of land in Broken Bow, one of the hottest up and coming vacation destinations in the southeast, Max began dreaming about how he could build a next generation resort that would become a destination in and of itself.
In this episode, Max and I discuss:
- What inspired him to start a hospitality brand
- Some unpopular opinions he has about the current state of the short-term rental industry
- The biggest opportunities you see to build thriving businesses in the space
- And what’s he learned by hosting a popular entrepreneurship podcast called “Always Be Building”
Connect with Max on LinkedIn
Follow Max on X/Twitter
This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Brooke Pfautz, founder and CEO of Vintory, the only sales and marketing platform on the planet exclusively dedicated to helping professional vacation rental managers grow their inventory.
Brooke is one of the industry's most respected experts, so it was an honor to get him back on the podcast to discuss his new book, Vacation Rental Secrets, which is a collection of the short-term rental industry’s top experts disclosing their biggest mistakes and sharing their hard-earned wisdom.
Brooke and I discuss some of the most meaningful lessons garnered from these interviews, some unpopular opinions he has about the current state of the industry, the opportunity he sees for entrepreneurs to build new businesses in and around hospitality, and some hot takes he has on the future of the industry.
Connect with Brooke on LinkedIn
Buy Brooke's book on Amazon
Learn more about Vintory
This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
- A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
- How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet David and Andy Heyman — the two brothers who brought one of the newest and most unique glamping sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains to life, which they call Glamp Blue Ridge.
David has a background in finance and Andy is a graphic designer by trade. The guys had long dreamed of being able to work on a business venture of some kind together but the timing and the idea never seemed right…
That is, of course, until the idea of building a collection of unique Airbnbs on an actual waterfall in Cherry Log, Georgia began to percolate. David is the idea guy and Andy is the creative who brings the ideas to life.
The brothers purchased dozens of acres of land that will eventually be home to a number of unique units like treehouses, a-frames, and maybe even airplanes, but the first iteration of Glamp Blue Ridge is a collection of 7 massive domes that all have their own brand, character, and unique furnishings.
In this conversation we discuss:
- Lessons learned trying to build unique Airbnbs on-top-of a waterfall
- How they generated over 100k followers on Instagram in their first few months
- Why they’re bullish on direct bookings
- Why their occupancy rate is over 90% even as travel slows down a bit
- And so much more
Visit Glamp Blue Ridge
Follow Glamp Blue Ridge on Social Media
This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills
- Forget Vacation Destinations — He Builds Collections of Branded Airbnbs Near College Campuses
- He Was Airbnb’s 13th Employee — And Here’s What He Thinks the Future of the Hospitality Industry Will Look Like
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Mike Harrington, a true legend among vacation rental managers.
Mike’s career in hospitality started by accident. After graduating from business school, Mike received a call from a recruiter to join a vacation rental management company on Hatteras Island.
He learned the ropes of the industry at this first gig, grew to love the art of the business, and eventually decided that what he really wanted was to own and operate his own vacation rental management company.
After working at one of the largest vacation rental managers in the Outer Banks, Mike decided to take the leap and founded Carolina Retreats, a vacation rental management firm that would grow to serve nearly 400 properties across the state of North Carolina.
Along the way he’d answer the call to serve his colleagues in the industry by becoming the president of VRMA, the largest professional trade association for vacation rental managers, and serving in that role for over 6 years.
While Mike had no intention of selling his business, in 2021 he got an offer from V Trips, one of the world’s most respected vacation rental management brands, that he just couldn’t refuse.
Tune in to hear the stories, lessons and insights Mike has garnered throughout his career and get an inside look at the company he’s building next.
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills
- Forget Vacation Destinations — He Builds Collections of Branded Airbnbs Near College Campuses
- He Was Airbnb’s 13th Employee — And Here’s What He Thinks the Future of the Hospitality Industry Will Look Like
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Josiah Mackenzie, Founder of Hospitality Daily — a community, podcast, and email newsletter that helps hospitality professionals stay informed and inspired in this ever-changing and dynamic industry.
Josiah has spent his entire career creating, innovating and building in Hospitality. He founded a company called Hospitality Marketing Strategies which went on to become the #1 hotel marketing website in the world.
Josiah then spent several years working for hospitality tech companies leading go-to-market strategies and helping these start ups get off the ground, scale, and in some cases even get acquired.
In this conversation, Josiah and I discuss:
- What STR owners and operates can learn from some of the leading boutique hoteliers about brand building and marketing
- The most interesting insights he’s garnered from hosting a daily podcast
- Why he’s bullish on building his brand and the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn
- The biggest opportunities he sees for hospitality entrepreneurs today
- And so much more
This episode is brought to you by our friends at OptimizeMyBnB
I’ve been trying to find someone who I think understands the platform and marketing strategy better than me that I can refer you all to…
And I’m happy to say that I think I’ve found him.
Meet Daniel Rusteen — he’s a former Airbnb employee, full-time digital nomad, and author of “Optimize Your BnB” which has sold over 50,000 copies by word-of-mouth alone.
Daniel has lived on Airbnb for more than 2,500 nights and has helped hundreds of hosts via his consulting, his program, and his thought leadership, increase their listing’s rank on Airbnb.
If you’re newer to the STR space, or if your listings are starting to drop in rank, I want to encourage you all to do one of two things — if not BOTH — of the following:
- Buy Daniel’s new book, “Profitable Properties: Airbnb Insider Secrets” — you can get it on Amazon for just $10
- Join Daniel’s 9-week program and he’ll teach you everything you need to know about optimizing your STR for Airbnb, VRBO, Google Search, and beyond. You can use the discount code BTS for 40% off the program between now and the end of the 2023 calendar year.
Daniel will teach you what the top 1% of short-term rental owners and managers already know about how to fully optimize their STRs across OTAs and beyond.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills
- Forget Vacation Destinations — He Builds Collections of Branded Airbnbs Near College Campuses
- He Was Airbnb’s 13th Employee — And Here’s What He Thinks the Future of the Hospitality Industry Will Look Like
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Tanner Cummings — Co-founder and Owner of Thin Spaces, a new hotel brand that’s building its first micro-resort called Cypress at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Jasper, Georgia.
Tanner has always loved finding issues and solving problems, which is why he spent most of his professional career working in quality assurance engineering for software companies like Calendly.
But in 2021, Tanner was bit by the entrepreneurial bug and decided to join the e-commerce start up his wife Melissa founded called, Cedar and Ink. And while the couple couldn’t have know it at the time, this venture would ultimately inspire them to dream bigger.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of why Tanner and Melissa decided to go all in on building a brand new hotel brand and what their first project, Cypress, a remarkably intentional micro-resort with luxurious and unexpected amenities will look like when it launches next year.
Connect with Tanner on LinkedIn
Follow Cypress on Instagram
Follow Tanner on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by Minoan!
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
If you liked this episode, you might also like:
-
He’s An Accountant, Artist, and Airbnb Superhost — Meet Isaac French the Creator of Live Oak Lake
-
How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet James Varley — Founder of the Holiday Cottage Handbook and Varley Media.
James has had an impressive career in media — taking jobs around the world to work in print, TV, radio, digital advertising and social media organizations large and small.
For the last ten years, James was living in Qatar leading corporate communications for last year’s FIFA World Cup organizing committee — how cool is that?
James first got into short-term rentals as he’d rent out his flat in London when traveling abroad for lengthy work assignments. He was amazed by how much he loved the experience of hosting and by how lucrative this asset class could be.
After the World Cup finished in Qatar, he saw a gap in the STR media space for practical, helpful content that would help property managers grow their businesses.
And, while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this observation would lead to the founding of a new platform for STR owners, operators, and media partners to connect, learn and grow.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at OptimizeMyBnB
I’ve been trying to find someone who I think understands the platform and marketing strategy better than me that I can refer you all to…
And I’m happy to say that I think I’ve found him.
Meet Daniel Rusteen — he’s a former Airbnb employee, full-time digital nomad, and author of “Optimize Your BnB” which has sold over 50,000 copies by word-of-mouth alone.
Daniel has lived on Airbnb for more than 2,500 nights and has helped hundreds of hosts via his consulting, his program, and his thought leadership, increase their listing’s rank on Airbnb.
If you’re newer to the STR space, or if your listings are starting to drop in rank, I want to encourage you all to do one of two things — if not BOTH — of the following:
- Buy Daniel’s new book, “Profitable Properties: Airbnb Insider Secrets” — you can get it on Amazon for just $10
- Join Daniel’s 9-week program and he’ll teach you everything you need to know about optimizing your STR for Airbnb, VRBO, Google Search, and beyond. You can use the discount code BTS for 40% off the program between now and the end of the 2023 calendar year.
Daniel will teach you what the top 1% of short-term rental owners and managers already know about how to fully optimize their STRs across OTAs and beyond.
Recent episodes you might enjoy:
- How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills
- Forget Vacation Destinations — He Builds Collections of Branded Airbnbs Near College Campuses
- He Was Airbnb’s 13th Employee — And Here’s What He Thinks the Future of the Hospitality Industry Will Look Like
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet John Andrew Entwistle, Founder and CEO of Wander, Sief Khafagi, Co-Founder and CEO of Techvestor, and Cameron Wu, VP of Investments at Arrived.
I invited these incredible gentlemen onto the podcast for a panel discussion on the future of fundraising, portfolio building, and passive investing in short-term rentals.
I’ve been curious, as I’m sure many of you all have been, how these short-term rental funds, REITs, and other forms of fractional ownership of vacation rentals businesses are panning out, and thought I’d bring some of the finest folks in the arena to share their stories and insight with you all.
In this vibrant chat you’ll learn:
- How these business overlap and how they are distinct
- How the strategies for each business have evolved given the changes we’ve seen in macro economic environments over the past year
- Why today’s consumers are ready for altgernative forms of real estate investment
- What exit strategies for each of these companies might look like
- And loads more
Moderating discussions with such incredible people is always so hard — and while we didn’t get to half of the questions I had hoped to because of time, I believe there’s so much value to be garnered from this discussion around how the industry as a whole is evolving and what these entrepreneurs believe the future of travel, hospitality, and vacation rental investing, just might look like.
Learn more about Wander
Learn more about Techvestor
Learn more about Arrived
This episode is brought to you by Minoan!
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Like this episode? Here are a few others you'll love:
How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences
How to Build a Franchise-Worthy Hospitality Brand — The Story of CasiolaHow AI Will Enable Hospitality Entrepreneurs to Scale Their Brands (and Portfolios)
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet John Sutton — Co-Founder and CEO of Mansion, a new fractional ownership offering for those looking to get into short-term rental investing without needing to own or operate an Airbnb.
Before starting Mansion*, John was the Chief Digital Officer at Red Ventures — the parent company for brands like Lonely Planet, The Points Guy, Reviews.com, and many others, so it’s safe to say John knows his way around building and scaling brands at the intersection of travel, hospitality, and technology.
In this conversation, John talks about:
- Mansion’s vision of making real estate investing more accessible and exciting — fun fact, you can own a piece of your own Mansion for as little as $9/share.
- Some of the learnings he garnered while at Red Ventures about the future of travel and hospitality
- How Mansion’s approach is different from that of Techvestor’s, Here, or Wander who have similar offerings.
- And what he predicts will happen over the next 5-10 years as more of these branded, professionally managed STR funds continue to grow.
Learn more about Mansion here
Follow John Sutton on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by Minoan!
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Like this episode? Here are a few others you'll love:
How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences
How to Build a Franchise-Worthy Hospitality Brand — The Story of CasiolaHow AI Will Enable Hospitality Entrepreneurs to Scale Their Brands (and Portfolios)
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
*The Issuer is conducting public offerings pursuant to Regulation A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, through this Website. The most current offering circular for Mansion Collection I is available here. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments such as those on the Mansion Group platform are speculative and involve substantial risks to consider before investing, outlined in the respective offering materials and including, but not limited to, illiquidity, lack of diversification and complete loss of capital. Key risks include, but are not limited to, limited operating history, limited diversification, risk of asset damage or theft and lack of voting rights. An investment in an offering constitutes only an investment in a particular series and not in the underlying asset(s). Investors should carefully review the risks located in the respective offering materials for a more comprehensive discussion of risk.
Meet Jake Tucker, founder of Roav — a collection of urban and luxury retreat STRs located in the Pacific Northwest
Jake began co-hosting Airbnbs while in college as a side-hustle. He had no experience in real estate or hospitality whatsoever, but after Googling "how to make a lot of money as a college kid", he stumbled upon the plethora of rental arbitrage content on YouTube and began to binge.
When he graduated, all of his friends started getting real jobs and Jake felt pressured to do the same.
But as he thought more and more about it, the idea of working for someone else seemed untenable to Jake…
So, he decided to trust his gut and go all in on building his STR property management business. And now, just a few years later, Roav is one of the largest short-term rental hosting companies in the Inland Northwest.
Tune in to hear Jake share how he got started with his first few properties, how he navigated COVID, his tips for acquiring new property owners as customers, the pros and cons of managing both traditional STRs AND unique stays, and much more.
Book your stay with Roav
Follow Roav on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at OptimizeMyBnB
I’ve been trying to find someone who I think understands the platform and marketing strategy better than me that I can refer you all to…
And I’m happy to say that I think I’ve found him.
Meet Daniel Rusteen — he’s a former Airbnb employee, full-time digital nomad, and author of “Optimize Your BnB” which has sold over 50,000 copies by word-of-mouth alone.
Daniel has lived on Airbnb for more than 2,500 nights and has helped hundreds of hosts via his consulting, his program, and his thought leadership, increase their listing’s rank on Airbnb.
If you’re newer to the STR space, or if your listings are starting to drop in rank, I want to encourage you all to do one of two things — if not BOTH — of the following:
- Buy Daniel’s new book, “Profitable Properties: Airbnb Insider Secrets” — you can get it on Amazon for just $10
- Join Daniel’s 9-week program and he’ll teach you everything you need to know about optimizing your STR for Airbnb, VRBO, Google Search, and beyond. You can use the discount code BTS for 40% off the program between now and the end of the 2023 calendar year.
Daniel will teach you what the top 1% of short-term rental owners and managers already know about how to fully optimize their STRs across OTAs and beyond.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Meet Luca Zambello, Founder of Jurny, a tech company with the mission of bringing hospitality into the age of AI and Automation.
Luca was born and raised in Italy but moved to California to pursue his dreams of becoming a tech entrepreneur more than 15 years ago.
Pretty soon after arriving in LA, he stumbled into real estate and quickly realized there was massive opportunity in the short-term rental management space as Airbnb was quickly gaining popularity.
In the process of scaling his Airbnb management company to over 300 units, Luca had to change PMSes not once, not twice, but five different times! Luca was convinced that there had to be a better way to build tooling and solutions that could grow with a property manager as their business and portfolio grew.
So, he took a big risk, and left his successful management company to go all in on an idea he had for levaragin AI to create a One-Stop Shop Property Management solution to help short term rental hospitality entrepreneurs save copious amounts of time and money on operations so they can focus more time on growth.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how he started and scaled Jurny and how he predicts AI will enable the next generation of hospitality entrepreneurs to scale their brands, increase their revenue, and decrease their expenses in hugely significant ways.
Have you signed up for Minoan yet?
In this episode we feature a Minoan customer review from Alyson, the founder of SmartStays — discover what she loves most about Minoan and how Minoan has helped her save thousands of dollars setting up her short term rentals.
Create your totally free Minoan account here.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Meet Sief Khafagi, Co-Founder of Techvestor — one of the hottest new services that allows folks to passively invest in short-term rentals.
Sief has spent his entire career working in tech, and helped scale one of Facebook’s largest engineering organizations from a couple hundred to thousands across the world.
It was during his time at Facebook where he met his now Co-Founder Sabrina who owned a couple of Airbnbs. Sief was shocked by how successful her short-term rentals were that he asked Sabrina if he could just give her money to go buy and operate his own STRs.
And, while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this ask would be the seed of the idea which would ultimately blossom into Techvestor. Today, Techvestor owns and operates nearly 100 short-term rentals in some of the country’s most desirable vacation markets.
Tune in to hear:
-
the story of how Sief helped build Techvestor
-
why Techvestor is bullish on single-family homes
-
what their secret sauce to sourcing, designing, and launching STRs looks like
-
the opportunities he sees to build new tech and new businesses in the space, and his hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality.
Learn more about Techvestor here
Have you signed up for Minoan yet?
In this episode we feature a Minoan customer review from Alyson, the founder of SmartStays — discover what she loves most about Minoan and how Minoan has helped her save thousands of dollars setting up her short term rentals.
Create your totally free Minoan account here.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way.
Meet Catherine Morris, the creator of Edenwod — a 6-acre oasis in the North Carolina mountains just 45 minutes outside of Asheville.
Catherine is an accountant by trade and spent nearly two decades climbing the corporate ladder taking on big roles in both finance and human resources. And she loved the work she did.
But, when COVID hit, and her 9-year-old son was stuck at home doing school virtually, Catherine realized that it might be time for her family to make a change.
She and her husband had always loved hosting people for dinner, and the two of them had recently discussed extending their love of hospitality into other arenas when the pandemic hit.
Once it became clear that life wasn’t going to return to normal anytime soon, Catherine decided to take an idea she had been noodling on, of creating a unique getaway for folks looking to reconnect with a loved one and nature, into reality.
Tune in to hear the story of how Catherine found the perfect plot of land through cold calling, how she worked with a local architect to build a one-of-a-kind barn and treehouse, and how she hopes to fully replace her former salary with revenue from Edenwood over the next year.
Book Your Stay at Edenwood
Follow the Edenwood Treehouse on Sponstayneous
Follow the Edenwood Barn on Sponstayneous
Follow Edenwood on Instagram
Have you signed up for Minoan yet?
In this episode we feature a Minoan customer review from Alyson, the founder of SmartStays — discover what she loves most about Minoan and how Minoan has helped her save thousands of dollars setting up her short term rentals.
Create your totally free Minoan account here.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jacob Mueller, Co-Founder and CEO of Renjoy — a next generation short-term rental management firm based in Colorado Springs.
Growing up, Jacob never would’ve guessed he’d be an entrepreneur, he studied economics in college and thought he’d go into policy.
But during his senior year, Jacob had the opportunity to work on a school project as a part of his thesis that revolved around launching a business in rural Michigan — and while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this project would inspire him to leave his dreams of working in Washington DC to own and operate businesses.
After graduating, Jacob wound up getting really into coffee and bought a local chain of coffee shops in the Colorado Mountains. But after a couple of years of working in the restaurant businesses, Jacob desired a pivot — and so he began binging episodes of Bigger Pockets and learned as much as he could about real estate.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Jacob wound up going all in on real estate as he believes it’s one of the best ways to help people achieve financial freedom, and how this mission of his led him and two of his friends to start Renjoy and scale it to over 150 properties under management in just a couple of years.
Discover Renjoy
Follow Jacob on Twitter
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Meet Zach in Person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Stephen Pellicano — a hospitality entrepreneur in the Catskills focused on building simple glamping structures with everything you need and nothing that you don’t!
Stephen is a graphic designer by trade and fell in love with travel and hospitality after winning not one, but two free, round-trip tickets to Europe on British Airways as a part of a giveaway they were running back in the late 90s to promote the Concorde.
This trip abroad would inspire Stephen to spend the next decade living, working, and traveling across Europe. It was during this time abroad where Stephen had his first encounter with Airbnb and while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this experience would ultimately inspire him to start a glamping hospitality business a decade later in the Catskill Mountains in New York.
Follow Stephen on YouTube Follow Stephen on Instagram Elena's Cosmetics & Essential Oils Store Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Meet Zach in Person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Eric Carrico — founder of the The Woodford Hotel, a boutique invisible service hotel in Versailles, Kentucky.
Eric is a civil and environmental engineer by trade and has spent his career solving complex civil engineering problems for some of the largest heavy industrial earthwork construction projects in the country.
After the housing crisis in 2008, Eric had the opportunity to buy a couple of properties and start his real estate investing journey. Eric’s investment journey was quite traditional until this little known start-up at the time, which we now all know as Airbnb, began expanding into the south east and the midwest.
Eric being the early adopter that he is, decided to test it out…and, well, that would ultimately lead him to grow a meaningful portfolio of STRs in the great Louisville area which he’d then wind up parlaying into an experiential boutique hotel for Bourbon aficionados.
Tune in to hear the dynamic story of the unique approach Eric took to launching this boutique hotel and why he believes other hospitality entrepreneurs should get bullish on hospitality offerings catered to niche audiences.
Follow Eric on Twitter Follow Eric on Instagram Follow The Woodford Hotel on Instagram
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Meet Zach in Person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Dennis Goedheid, founder and CEO of Casiola — one of the hottest vacation rental management companies in the short-term rental space.
Dennis is no stranger to entrepreneurship — he started and sold two companies in his native Belgium before moving to Silicon Valley to find inspiration for his next big thing.
And while he couldn’t have known it at the time, that next big thing would be a vacation rental management company based in Orlando, Florida that is helping to write the book, in real time, on how to build such an exceptional hospitality brand that short-term rental managers from around the world want to franchise.
In this episode, Dennis and I discuss:
- Why Casiola builds their own software in-house
- Why Casiola is quick to grow regionally, but slow to grow nationally
- Why he’s bullish on franchising in the STR and vacation rental spaces
- The entrepreneurial opportunities he sees for founders in the hospitality industry
Learn more about Casiola
Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Meet Zach in Person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Justin Hauge, Co-Founder and CEO of Storied Collection — a collection of castles and historical stays across the UK and Ireland.
While Storied Collection is Justin’s first rodeo as a founder, it’s not his first rodeo working in startups.
Back in 2009, Justin was hired as the 13th team employee at a little start up that had just graduated from the most prestigious of startup accelerators, Y Combinator.
And, yes, you guessed it — that startup was Airbnb.
In this riveting and insightful conversation, Justin talks about the 10+ years he spent working at Airbnb and how he helped build the company into the memorable brand that it is today.
Justin also shares:
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The story behind the founding of his new company Storied Collection, from a slightly different perspective than what his co-founder, Michael Goldin shared a few weeks ago on this very podcast
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His ideas for the opportunities he sees to build great companies in the hospitality tech space
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His thoughts on memberships and loyalty programs in STRs
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Some spicy takes on the future of travel and hospitality as a whole.
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Meet Zach in Person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In this special podcast episode, Zach Busekrus, host of the Behind the Stays podcast and co-founder of Sponstayneous shares the stories behind the inception of both brands.
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Uncover the story of how Zach and his wife broke their lease in Washington D.C. in the fall of 2020 to live full-time on Airbnb
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Discover how Sam Parr, Founder of The Hustle and host of the My First Million podcast, played a role in Sponstayneous' early growth
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Hear how Guy Raz from NPR's How I Built This inspired Zach to start Behind the Stays
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And get a behind-the-scenes look at what Zach and the team at Sponstayneous are building (and why they're building it!)
Reach out to Zach with questions, comments, and ideas at zach@sponstayneous.com
Subscribe to Sponstayneous
Sign up for Ping
Join the Sponstayneous Host Partner Program
Meet Zach in Person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Daniel Johnson, founder of Deacon Stays — a collection of curated stays near Wake Forest University.
Daniel has always been interested in real estate and investing and started his hosting as many do in the Airbnb arbitrage arena back in 2018.
He thoroughly enjoyed the experience of hosting and was impressed by the returns STRs could generate compared to other real estate investments (Daniel is also a financial advisor that specializes in working with real estate investors).
In this episode, Daniel and I discuss:
- The surprising pros about building a collection of STRs near a college campus
- How to build a brand for your STR business ON the Airbnb platform
- His thoughts on REITs and other more passive investment opportunities in STR funs
- And how he’d approach buying right now amidst a more challenging market
Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn
Book a Stay at Deacon Stays
This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the property management software most-loved by professional vacation rental mangers.
If you’re in the market for a better platform to help you manage your STR portfolio, OwnerRez is offering Behind the Stays listeners 30% off the first 3 months…all you gotta to is mention Behind the Stays when talking to a team member at OwnerRez!
Also, in about 15 minutes from now, you’ll get to hear an exclusive chat I had with Tyann Marcink, an industry leader who LOVES OwnerRez. So head on over to ownerreservations.com and give OwnerRez a good lookover!
I want to meet you all in person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Sébastien Long, founder of Lodgeur — a furnished living, on-demand product that gives traveling professionals and digital nomads the service and consistency of a hotel with the spaciousness and function of a stylish home.
While Sébastien has spent the better part of his professional career working big corporate jobs he actually grew up immersed in hospitality entrepreneurship — his parents owned and operated a vacation resort on the island of Corsica, just off the coast of France.
After traveling around the world working in banking for HSBC, in 2017 Sébastien was recruited to help launch Sonder in the UK. He got a front row seat to the big opportunities and big challenges of launching and scaling a consumer-facing property-management brand.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of the series of events that led him to write his master’s thesis on hospitality interior design at Cambridge, leave the UK and move to Houston, Texas, and how he built and scaled Lodgeur.
Connect with Seb on LinkedIn
Book a Stay with Lodgeur
This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the property management software most-loved by professional vacation rental mangers.
If you’re in the market for a better platform to help you manage your STR portfolio, OwnerRez is offering Behind the Stays listeners 30% off the first 3 months…all you gotta to is mention Behind the Stays when talking to a team member at OwnerRez!
Also, in about 15 minutes from now, you’ll get to hear an exclusive chat I had with Tyann Marcink, an industry leader who LOVES OwnerRez. So head on over to ownerreservations.com and give OwnerRez a good lookover!
I want to meet you all in person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Taylor Jones, Head of Acquisition at Techvestor, one of my favorite STR thought leaders to follow on social media, and a good friend of the Behind the Stays podcast.
After losing his sales job during COVID, Taylor spent hundreds of hours watching YouTube videos to learn all that he could about short-term rental real estate investing and the growing trend of experiential hospitality.
Today, he leads acquisitions at Techvestor, and in our chat, Taylor talks about everything he and his team have learned while building a portfolio of over 100 Airbnbs over the last 17 months.
Techvestor focuses on transforming run-of-the-mill single-family homes into unique, curated short-term rentals and Taylor shares the success they’ve found in sticking to and being bullish about this model.
Follow Taylor on Twitter
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Learn more about Techvestor here.
This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the property management software most-loved by professional vacation rental mangers.
If you’re in the market for a better platform to help you manage your STR portfolio, OwnerRez is offering Behind the Stays listeners 30% off the first 3 months…all you gotta to is mention Behind the Stays when talking to a team member at OwnerRez!
Also, in about 15 minutes from now, you’ll get to hear an exclusive chat I had with Tyann Marcink, an industry leader who LOVES OwnerRez. So head on over to ownerreservations.com and give OwnerRez a good lookover!
I want to meet you all in person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Michael Goldin, Co-Founder of the Storied Collection — an exclusive collection of historic estates, castles and other unique residences-turned-accommodations, situated across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Michael and his wife were searching for a much needed vacation as covid rules across the world began to subside.
They dreamed of staying in a beautiful castle, but the search was rather difficult and the historic properties were particularly hard to find.
After hours and hours of research, Michael finally found the perfect property… a property his family lineage could actually be traced to! The decision to book that property was a no brainer.
Tune into how this experiential feeling at the intersection of exploration and history led him to find co-founders to start Storied, a collection of the most richly historic and enjoyable places to stay in the world.
Michael is also one of the hosts of Good Morning Hospitality — stream the weekly morning show here or wherever you get your podcasts.
I want to meet you all in person!
Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Annette Grant and Sarah Karakain from Thanks for Visiting — one of the most popular, if not THE most popular short-term rental podcasts out there.
Sarah is an actress by trade and was hustling on Broadway when Airbnb first became available in NYC. She somehow convinced her husband to let her list their basement on Airbnb and, well, it wasn’t long before Sarah traded securing auditions for home acquisitions that she’d transform into short-term rentals.
Annette is an entrepreneur by trade who has helped launch and scale multi-million dollar businesses in and around Columbus, Ohio. Today, she partners with real estate investors to help them launch and scale their short-term rental portfolios.
In the episode you’ll hear the story of how Sarah and Annette met, the founding story of Thanks for Visiting, their thoughts on building a brand, and everything you can expect from their event TFVCON happening in Columbus, Ohio Sept 24th - 26th.
Annette and Sarah were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event.
I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
Today you'll re-meet Emily Padan, Ben Wolff, and Isaac French, founders of Hinter, Onera, and Live Oak Lake respectively — all three of these fine people were gracious enough to come BACK onto Behind the Stays.
In this first-of-its-kind panel podcast, this dynamic trio shares their experiences of working with hundreds of influencers and creators to promote their hospitality brands.
You’ll learn what they think does and doesn’t work when collaborating with influencers, how they structure their agreements and partnerships with folks, what they think about free night stays and giveaways, the gaps they see in the Airbnb creator space, and so much more…
Connect with Emily Padan on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Connect with Isaac French on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Connect with Ben Wolff on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Meet Julia Rossi — a Shark Tank alum turned hospitality entrepreneur.
Julia has spent the better part of her career working in corporate sales and marketing for a myriad of SaaS companies.
Back in 2015, Julia had an idea for a fairly niche product…that product was NeatCheeks — flavored face wipes for children. As a mom of young children, Julia knew how difficult it was to get kids to sit still while wiping their faces after a gooey snack, and that’s when the idea of NeatCheeks was born.
After securing an investment for Barbara Corcoran and building the brand over the next couple of years, Julia wound up exiting from the business so she could pursue her other passions of design and hospitality.
In this episode, Julia shares the founding story of her design consultancy Grey Domain, how she brought McKenzie Corner, an intelligently designed and fully-shoppable Airbnb, to life, and how Julia thinks STR hosts can leverage their spaces as more than just places to stay.
Connect with Julia on Instagram
Explore Grey Domain
Book a Stay at McKenzie Corner
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Please give a quick thank you to our sponsor for today’s episode, OwnerRez — the most loved and trusted property management software by professional vacation rental managers on the market.
Some of my best friends in the industry swear by OwnerRez so I’d highly encourage you to check them out and be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way and they’ll give you an exclusive discount when you decide to purchase their software.
Meet Kevin Reardon, founder of The Shore House Hotel — a beachside lifestyle retreat built from a mid-century motel in North Wildwood, NJ.
Kevin grew up in a blue collar family. His idea of “success” looked like working on Wall Street, become a doctor, or becoming a lawyer, so after graduating from undergrad, he decided to pursue law and wound up getting his JD from the University of Pennsylvania.
After a couple of years working at a very prestigious firm, Kevin decided that what he really wanted to do was get into hospitality…becoming a hotelier was what he’d dream about on nights and weekends in-between very late nights at his firm’s office.
And then an opportunity to buy a fairly rundown motel on the Jersey shore presented itself. And there was something about this particular motel that seemed to speak to Kevin…so, he raised a little bit of money from friends and family and decided to take the plunge.
Tune in to hear the story of how Kevin build The Shore House Hotel, why he thinks STR owners and operators can make great hoteliers, and what his hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality look like.
Follow The Shore House Hotel on Instagram
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Adam Norko, a former marine turned hospitality marketer extraordinaire.
Adam has spent the last two decades working in sales and marketing for a number of hospitality brands — everything from the PropTech side of the house to leading growth at vacation rental and STR management companies.
In this conversation, Adam and I talk about how marketing has evolved in the vacation rental industry, what shifts the smartest hosts are making right now to prepare for the next generation of guests, the opportunities that exist for entrepreneurs to build new brands and companies in the space, whether or not the future of hospitality is boutique, and so much more.
Adam is a wicked smart, wonderfully dynamic, and humbly passionate guy — y’all are going to love this episode.
Oh, and before we dive in, I want to give a quick thank you to our sponsor for today’s episode, OwnerRez — the most loved and trusted property management software by professional vacation rental managers on the market.
Some of my best friends in the industry swear by OwnerRez so I’d highly encourage you to check them out and be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way and they’ll give you an exclusive discount when you decide to purchase their software.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Meet Samantha Pike, founder of The Hosting Societe — a private club for hosts who have mastered the art of experiential accommodations.
Back in 2018, Samantha launched her first vacation rental in Ontario — she had poured so much love and intention into the space that when she opened her calendar it booked out for 6 months almost immediately.
Samantha was stunned by the response and began wondering whether she had scratched an itch that the next generations of guests had for highly-curated short-term stays.
Sam started posting about her approach to hosting on Instagram and, before she knew it, folks with a similar heart for elevated hospitality began asking her to swap ideas and connect to share stories.
And it really was these requests that got Sam thinking about what it might look like to design a space where these exceptional creators of some of the world’s most beloved stays could come together.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Sam built The Hosting Societe and what she thinks the future of travel and hospitality just might look like…
Learn more about The Hosting Societe
Connect with Samantha on Instagram
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Matt Landau, the founder of VRMB — a vacation rental marketing blog and community for the world’s most innovative vacation rental professionals.
When Matt was a senior at the University of Richmond, he stumbled upon an alumni magazine that wound up changing his life.
On the cover of this magazine was an alum sitting in a hammock while on a beach in Costa Rica. While Matt had no idea what this guy did that enabled him to chillax in such a pristine aesthetic, he made up his mind then and there that he wanted to do whatever it was that this guy did.
And as it turned out, this guy had started the top luxury travel agency in Costa Rica. So Matt decided to shoot his shot and ask this guy to get together for a coffee next time he was in town…and, to Matt’s pleasant surprise, he did.
This opportunity was Matt’s foray into travel and hospitality and, while he didn’t know it at the time, this job would enable him to buy his own vacation rental management agency and, eventually, build a prolific online platform and membership community that thousands of professional operators all around the world would one day come to learn from and be inspired by.
This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the smartest property management software for vacation rental hosts. You can get a 30% discount on your first 3 months by mentioning Behind the Stays after booking a call or requesting more information from their team.
Learn more about OwnerRez here.
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
Learn more about the VRMB Community
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
Meet Bunim Laskin, Founder and CEO of Swimply — the Airbnb for Pools.
Bunim grew up in Israel and moved to the states with his family when he was 15 years old.
He is oldest of 12 children and the idea for Swimply came to him when he was looking for a way to entertain his younger siblings in the heat of a New Jersey summer.
His next door neighbor had a pool that she didn’t use much and Bunim asked her if his family could use the pool when she wasn’t using it they agreed to pay 25% of the pool’s annual costs…to his surprise, she agreed.
Tune in to hear the remarkable story of how Bunim raised his first million dollars, wound up pitching Swimply on SharkTank, how he and the team navigated COVID, and what the next 12 months for the company will look like (hint: it includes being able to book more than just pools!).
This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the smartest property management software for vacation rental hosts. You can get a 30% discount on your first 3 months by mentioning Behind the Stays after booking a call or requesting more information from their team.
Learn more about OwnerRez here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Issac French, Creator of Live Oak Lake, joins Zach for a chat about his latest project — a Masterclass on Experiential Hospitality.
This 9-hour, 45-videos-course, is your complete guide to financing, designing, building, marketing, and automating a boutique hospitality experience.
I’ve interviewed over 100 hospitality entrepreneurs on my podcast, Behind the Stays, and I’ve never met someone in this industry so committed to excellence in ALL he does.
Isaac is humble, smart, and has zero tolerance for ‘just OK.’ What he’s built at Live Oak Lake is truly extraordinary and I for one can’t wait to see what he does next.
A few decades ago, a young entrepreneur named Issy from Canada had a simple vision for creating exceptional experiences…that vision became Four Seasons.
If I was a betting man, I’d bet that the creator of the “next generation” Four Seasons might come from Waco, Texas…and chances are his name will be Isaac.
Sign up for the course here.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Meet Hector Hughes, Co-Founder of Unplugged — a collection of off-grid cabins around the UK designed and optimized for guests seeking a digital detox.
Hector started his career working in sales at a start-up, but it wasn’t really his thing. So, he gave product management a try and, well, that wasn’t much better. So he was REALLY excited when he finally got the opportunity to join the growth team…but, as it turns out, that wasn’t really his thing either.
So Hector did the only thing he could do…he went soul searching at a two-week silent retreat in the Himalayas.
Tune in to hear how that retreat inspired him and his now-Co-Founder Ben to build a hospitality business focused on helping young professionals from the city escape the matrix for a couple of days by locking up their phones, disconnecting from the internet, and booking a stay in an impeccably-designed tiny cabin nestled in nature.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In this episode Zach shares some exciting new updates on what we're building at Sponstayneous and asks for feedback from listeners on how to improve Behind the Stays. Got ideas for Zach? Reach out to him direct at zach@sponstayneous.com or find him on Twitter @zboozee or on LinkedIn at @zacharybusekrus.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Paul Waldschmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of OwnerRez — one of the industry’s most beloved property management platforms.
Paul is a software developer through and through. He has always loved leveraging technology to solve problems. So, when he and his business partner Chris began experiencing problems with their property manager on their recently purchased vacation rental in the Blue Ridge mountains, the technical duo saw an opportunity.
Tune in to hear the story of how Paul and Chris bootstrapped the creation of one of the most respected, loved, and powerful PMSes for STR owners and property managers.
In this episode, Paul and I discuss:
- The history of PMSes in the vacation rental space
- Why Airbnb invests tens of millions of dollars each year on UX/UI design
- Why so many direct booking websites suck
- The opportunities that exist to build new software and tooling in the industry
- And much more.
Finally, Paul and his team have generously offered a 30% discount for new customers for their first 3 months. Just mention Behind the Stays after booking a call or requesting more information from their team.
Learn more about OwnerRez here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
This episode is brought to you by StayFi!
StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
Learn more about StayFi at StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Meet Jessica Foster, the creator of Ironton Island — a collection of unique glamping stays in Ironton, Minnesota.
Jessica is a product designer by trade and has always had a love for the outdoors — something she and her husband Chad have in common. Jessica and Chad have always enjoyed working hard and dreaming about ways to create valuable assets that enable others to encounter the natural world in more meaningful ways.
So, when the opportunity presented itself for the couple to begin designing and building unique, but affordable, Airbnb escapes, they jumped at it.
Tune in to hear the story of how Jessica and Chad have strategically acquired overlooked land, built simple but memorable unique stays — with little-to-no financing — and how they plan to take a more “bootstrapped” approach to building their collection of insta-worthy short-term rentals.
Follow Ironton Island
Follow Lazy Loon Properties
Learn more about StayFi
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
This episode is brought to you by StayFi!
StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
Learn more about StayFi at StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Meet Mark Simpson — the founder and CEO of Boostly, the leading direct booking website builder for STR and vacation rental hosts.
Mark literally grew up immersed in the hospitality industry. His family lived on a 200 acre farm in Scarborough, England where they ran a bed and breakfast and farm-to-table restaurant for folks around the UK looking for a relaxing getaway from the city.
After a career as a football, or as we call it here in the states, soccer coach, Mark wound up returning to the farm to help usher the family business into the 21st Century. And while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this move would wind up laying the groundwork for Mark to become one of the most trusted and inspirational voices in hospitality.
Tune in to hear the story of how Mark recognized a massive opportunity to help STR owners and operators build and scale their businesses, reduce their reliance on OTAs like Airbnb, and increase their portfolio’s revenue.
In this episode we talk about:
- How Tim Ferris’ 4-Hour Work Week inspired Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit
- Why he bought a billboard in Times Square with has face on it and the words “I’m the guy Airbnb doesn’t want you to know about”
- His content marketing playbook which has garnered him tens of thousands of followers across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram
- His hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality
Discover Boostly
Follow Mark on Instagram
Learn more about StayFi
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
This episode is a special one! Wil Slickers from Slick Talk invited our host, Zach Busekrus, to come and share his story on Wil's top-rated hospitality podcast.
Enjoy this rebroadcasted episode!
Be sure to subscribe to Wil's show here or wherever you get your podcast.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
This episode is brought to you by StayFi!
StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop.
This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi.
Learn more about StayFi at StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months.
Meet Katie Cline, creator of Trout Landing in Lake George, New York.
While new to the STR space, Katie comes from a background of luxury hospitality PR, having worked for brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, St. Regis, JW Marriott, Edition, and Le Méridien in both New York and London.
In this episode Katie and I discuss what STR hosts designing, building, and hosting luxury stays can learn from some of the most highly-regarded hospitality organizations in the world.
We chat about how the communication tone and style differs within Marriott's luxury collection, some of the most noteworthy experiences Katie had while working in PR, how she’s applying her learnings from luxe hospitality to the building of her own hospitality brand, and some lessons she thinks STR owners and operators can learn from luxury hotels.
Book Your Stay at Trout Landing
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
So there’s been a LOT happening over the last couple of months and I wanted to give you all a quick update on some exciting happenings at Sponstayneous and Behind the Stays...
Say hi to Minoan
Sign up for Minoan
Subscribe to Behind the Stays on YouTube
Follow Behind the Stays on Instagram
Say hi to DEN Outdoors
Join the Sponstayneous Host Partner Program
Subscribe to Sponstayneous
Say hi to Uplisting
’m going to call this episode and future episodes like it “housekeeping” so if you’re just here for the guests I bring onto the show and don’t care too much about what we’re building at Sponstayneous or the community we’re cultivating through Behind the Stays, I am not offended, just ignore these episodes when they pop-up into your feed.
But, if you ARE cheering us on and curious about what’s been happening behind the scenes of Behind the Stays, then lend me your ears for the next few minutes
On the agenda for today:
- New ways for y’all to stay connected to Behind the Stays
- A big update to Sponstayneous
- How hosts are using our Ping product to increase their nightly rates
- The expansion of our host partner program
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Meet Hans Lorei — Head of Design at Investmet.com and one of the most beloved designers in the short-term rental and boutique hospitality corners of the internet.
Hans was working at a bar in Nashville when he overheard a couple of real estate developers discussing a new luxury build they were working on nearby, and something about their conversation sparked inspiration in Hans.
He asked if he could come and check out their project and the duo said yes. And while Hans couldn’t have known it at the time, this would prove to be a pivotal moment in his life and the first step in his journey to becoming a realtor, learning the ropes of development, and applying his creative talents to the hospitality space.
In this conversation, Hans and I discuss:
-
Why STR hosts should invest way more in design
-
Why hosts should think about their yards as an extension of their homes
-
How to ensure that every item you buy for your STR is aligned with your brand
-
And loads more.
Get excited for a riveting and inspirational conversation with one of my favorite follows on Twitter.
Follow Hans on Twitter
Create your free Minoan account
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Meet Jason and Monique — the founders of The Vermont A-Frame…one of the OG instagram famous A-Frames in New England.
Jason grew up vacationing in Vermont, but it wasn’t until he took Monique up from Jersey for a weekend that the couple realized how special this part of the country really was.
Soon after that trip, Jason and Monique began dreaming about how they might own a vacation home in the area that they could escape to on long weekends and perhaps rent out to others on occasion.
Tune in to hear the story of how the couple found the perfect A-Frame (after visiting more than 20 others!) and transformed it into one of the most desirable vacation homes in the Green Mountain State.
In this episode, I chat with Jason and Monique about:
- What it was like owning a unique stay back in 2017 and how their business has been impacted since the covid boom
- The best and worst experiences they’ve had with creators and influencers
- Why they often ignore their dynamic pricing tools in favor of attracting the core guest avatar
- And so much more.
Book Your Stay at The Vermont A-Frame
Follow The Vermont A-Frame on Instagram
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
Meet Nate Vietz, founder of Content House — one of the most exciting media agencies serving the short-term rental community.
After graduating from high school, Nate began working as a line cook. He loved the creative outlet that cooking offered so much so that he wound up starting his own meal prepping business.
And then covid hit…and, overnight, Nate’s entire business model had to shift. It was stressful to say the least, but it was this world-changing moment that inspired him to pause and think about what he really wanted to do in the next chapter of his life.
Tune in to hear the story behind the opportunity Nate saw to help hospitality entrepreneurs build their brands on social media through a unique approach to content creation, social media strategy, and audience development.
In this episode, Nate and I discuss:
- How he convinced internet-famous Airbnb personalities like Levi Kelly and Isaac French to work with him
- How he’s helped dozens of clients go viral on Instagram and TikTok
- The key to creating great content that doesn’t break the bank
- How to measure the value of your Airbnb’s following on social media
- and much more
Discover Content House
Follow Nate on Instagram
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Episode:
Meet Sani Djaya, the creator of Moonbase — a next generation luxury campground designed to help make stargazing accessible to all.
Sani is a product manager by trade. After graduating from University of Maryland College Park, he traded the east coast for the west coast and has spent the last few years working for tech startups.
Sani has always loved the outdoors, so when he learned that his girlfriend had never been stargazing, he knew he had to change this reality as quickly as possible. But there was one BIG problem…his girlfriend wasn’t thrilled about sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent on top of a mountain.
And that’s when Sani had an idea…what if he could design a luxe camping experience that would enable you to stargaze to your heart's content AND get the best night of sleep you ever had…and, that’s when the idea for Moonbase was born.
In this episode, Sani and I chat about:
- How he ran a Google Ads campaign to validate his idea
- Why he launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise some initial cash for Moonbase
- The story behind how he discovered Jupe and his thoughts on the benefits of pre-fab structures
- And how he plans to scale Moonbase over the next 12-24 months.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Download the full free report . Oh, and be sure to start your 14-day free trial of Uplisting at at https://www.uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout.
Welcome to Episode 3 of a special 3-part podcast series on The State of the Short-Term Rental Industry brought to you by my friends at Uplisting — one of the most powerful property management systems on the market.
In this episode, Zach and Vinny (founder and CEO of Uplisting) chat about how to market your short-term rental portfolio in 2023 — and the approach different property managers take to promoting their listings.
About the series
Airbnb hosts and short-term rental operators often work independently without much intel as to how their peers are marketing their properties, increasing their booking rates, and how much money folks are actually making from their portfolios.
In order to address this issue, the Uplisting team took it upon themselves to collect and analyze data from their own customers as well as hundreds of other STR owners and operators in the industry.
This special podcast series will unveil some of the more interesting findings from this report and equip you with insight into how your business compares to others.
Stream Episode 1 here
Stream Episode 2 here
This episode and 3-part series is brought you to by Uplisting.
Whether you have a single property or hundreds of properties, Uplisting is designed to help you accelerate growth with incredible reliability, critical marketing automation and the most powerful direct booking engine on the market.
Start your 14-day free trial at uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout — but act fast, because this offer expires on June 30th, 2023 at midnight!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Hayden Laverty, Founder of CHJ Development, a real-estate developer in Portland, Oregon focused on acquiring, designing, and constructing the city’s most significant short-term-rental residences.
Hayden learned pretty early on in life that he wasn’t cut out for the traditional 9 - 5.
After working at two internships during his junior and senior years of college at Intel and Price Water Cooper, Hayden realized that he loved working hard, pushing the envelope of convention, and didn’t have much patience for bureaucratic friction.
So, after graduating from Arizona State University, Hayden decided to shoot his shot by starting his own business.
Follow Hayden on Twitter
Connect with Hayden on LinkedIn
In this episode of Behind the Stays, Hayden shares:
-
The story behind the opportunity he saw in the short-term rental real estate development and management game
-
How he’s scaled his business to over 200 units under management
-
Why he thinks OTAs like Airbnb should charge hots more
-
What he’s learned as a young entrepreneur about the importance of focus, grit, and differentiation.
This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors.
You’ve seen them all over Instagram…
You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine….
And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs.
DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others.
I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast.
And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans.
By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Download the full free report . Oh, and be sure to start your 14-day free trial of Uplisting at at https://www.uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout.
Welcome to Episode 2 of a special 3-part podcast series on The State of the Short-Term Rental Industry brought to you by my friends at Uplisting — one of the most powerful property management systems on the market.
In this episode, Zach and Vinny chat about how much money you can actually make from short-term rentals based on new data uncovered by the aforementioned report.
About the series
Airbnb hosts and short-term rental operators often work independently without much intel as to how their peers are marketing their properties, increasing their booking rates, and how much money folks are actually making from their portfolios.
In order to address this issue, the Uplisting team took it upon themselves to collect and analyze data from their own customers as well as hundreds of other STR owners and operators in the industry.
This special podcast series will unveil some of the more interesting findings from this report and equip you with insight into how your business compares to others.
Stream Episode 1 here
This episode and 3-part series is brought you to by Uplisting.
Whether you have a single property or hundreds of properties, Uplisting is designed to help you accelerate growth with incredible reliability, critical marketing automation and the most powerful direct booking engine on the market.
Start your 14-day free trial at uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout — but act fast, because this offer expires on June 30th, 2023 at midnight!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Robin Craigen, Co-Founder and CEO of Moving Mountains —a luxury collection of lodging properties in Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek, Vail, and Breckenridge, Colorado.
Robin began his hospitality entrepreneurship journey alongside his wife Heather at sea. Yes, you heard that right, the Craigens ran a luxury yacht charter business around the British Virgin Islands.
And while sailing the stunning waters of the BVI was nothing short of a dream, Robin and Heather had higher aspirations. The couple moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and decided to open up a ski chalet business.
And that business? Well they called it Moving Mountains and today, they manage more than 200 properties across in Colorado’s most desirable ski towns.
In this conversation, Robin shares:
-
His musings on the current state of the vacation rental industry
-
His thoughts on how to best leverage OTAs
-
How he’s scaled a team to manage 200+ properties with the kind of service and attention to detail of a 5-start resort
-
Why he thinks Moving Mountains generates so many returning guests
-
How he’s thinking about growing in other vacation destinations with his soon-to-be-launched sub-brands Moving Beaches and Moving Oceans.
Book your stay at a Moving Mountains property.
Connect with Robin on LinkedIn.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting.
Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Download the full free report . Oh, and be sure to start your 14-day free trial of Uplisting at at https://www.uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout.
Welcome to a special 3-part podcast series on The State of the Short-Term Rental Industry brought to you by my friends at Uplisting — one of the most powerful property management systems on the market.
Over the next three weeks, join Vinny Breslin, Co-Founder and CEO of Uplisitng, and yours truly, Zach Busekrus from Behind the Stays, as we unpack Uplisting’s latest trends report .
Airbnb hosts and short-term rental operators often work independently without much intel as to how their peers are marketing their properties, increasing their booking rates, and how much money folks are actually making from their portfolios.
In order to address this issue, the Uplisting team took it upon themselves to collect and analyze data from their own customers as well as hundreds of other STR owners and operators in the industry.
This special podcast series will unveil some of the more interesting findings from this report and equip you with insight into how your business compares to others.
Uplisting invites you to download the full, free report via the link in the show notes below.
Alright folks, without further ado, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite evening cocktail and settle in for an informative and timely 3-part conversation.
This episode and 3-part series is brought you to by Uplisting.
Whether you have a single property or hundreds of properties, Uplisting is designed to help you accelerate growth with incredible reliability, critical marketing automation and the most powerful direct booking engine on the market.
Start your 14-day free trial at uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout — but act fast, because this offer expires on June 30th, 2023 at midnight!
Meer Eric Moeller, Founder + CEO of Freewyld — a curated collection of properties designed to inspire awe and bring people together launching this summer in Idyllwild, California.
Eric is no stranger to hospitality entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder of Overnight Success which is the engine behind short-term rental educational brands like Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator, STR Legends Mastermind, Get Paid For Your Pad, and the Airbnb Profit Club.
Eric was also the co-founder and CEO of Koda Homes — a real estate investment, management and professional tenant company in San Diego.
In this lively conversation, Eric and I chat about the major opportunities that exist in the boutique hospitality space right now, why impeccable design is table stakes when it comes to short-term rentals today, the challenges of building membership programs as a highly-curated collection of stays, and much more.
Learn more about Freewyld
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors.
You’ve seen them all over Instagram…
You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine….
And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs.
DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others.
I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast.
And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans.
By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Amy Dourson from Red River Gorgeous, a collection of unique cabins, treehouses, and instagram-famous cliff houses in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.
Growing up, Amy wanted to be a doctor. So, she spent a lot of her time studying as she was determined to go to medical school.
But, after a series of adventurous and serendipitous events, Amy fell in love with carpentry and decided to exchange her dreams of becoming a doctor with a new dream to become a builder.
When Amy met her husband Aaron, his family owned a few cabins in the Nada Tunnel Road in the heart of the gorge. The business — if you could call it that — was hanging on by little more than a wing and a prayer.
As Amy saw it, the couple had two options — let the family business run its course or adopt a new vision of building a collection of unique stays that would introduce the world to the geological wonders of the Gorge that she had fallen in love with.
The couple chose the latter.
Tune in to hear how Amy transformed a side-hustle family business into a thriving hospitality brand, how she’s strategically partnered with folks like Canopy Crew to build one-of-a-kind treehouses, how she’s built the right team to support the company’s growth, and her vision for the future of travel and hospitality.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting.
Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Ben Wolff — Founder and Creator of Onera — a truly one-of-a-kind collection of unique escapes in the Texas Hill Country.
Ben is no stranger to hospitality entrepreneurship. Prior to starting Onera, Ben founded and grew ProTripper, a property management services platform, and Blink Hospitality, a data-driven, vacation rental company with hundreds of properties across the US.
But then something happened in early March 2020 that changed everything. Ben was overseas celebrating the prior year’s successes with a team he had built in the Philippines when his phone began vibrating uncontrollably. Guests were canceling their stays as news broke that the WHO had announced that COVID-19 was now a pandemic.
And while COVID crushed Ben’s core business, which primarily focused on STRs in urban locations, it inspired him to think bigger, bolder, and more creatively than ever before.
Tune in to hear the story behind how this set of seemingly-doomsday day events led to the creation of an innovative hospitality company offering luxury, eco-focused, unique stays in beautiful, natural landscapes.
Book a Stay at Onera
Follow Onera on Instagram
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Follow Ben on Twitter
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting.
Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Chelsea Dunckley — the Founder of Digs Co, a hospitality company that specializes in creating elevated vacation rentals in Central Washington and the Greater Phoenix area.
Chelsea and her husband Luke have always loved real estate. After getting married, you’d often find the couple working on nights and weekends flipping homes while discussing the latest trends in design, real estate, and hospitality.
But it wasn’t until Chelsea received some unexpected news from the tech company she worked at that she and her entire unit were to be let go that she decided to try her hand at transforming Digs Co from a fun side hustle into her full time gig.
In this conversation, Chelsea and I discuss the power and importance of brand building, why Chelsea is so discerning about the properties she chooses to manage for clients within the context of the Digs Co. brand, how and why she’s structured her portfolio into thematic collections, and much more.
Book a Stay at Digs Co.
Follow Digs Co. on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting.
Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In this special episode, Zach sits down with Amy from Allbelongco to discuss the viral story behind her missing painting. One of Amy's recent Airbnb guests stole a painting and then REPLACED it with one of his own.
Amy posted about this on Instagram and TikTok...and it went viral! Tune into the riveting, somewhat unbelievable story behind this mystery unfolding (in real time) in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Follow Allbelongco on Instagram.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting.
Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Meet Jacob Halverson, the General Manager of Mendocino Grove — a luxury glamping resort on 32 wooded acres in Mendocino County, California.
After studying hospitality management at Lakeland University, Jacob started his career as a front desk manager at Custer State Park Resort in South Dakota. Since then, he’s helped launch luxury boutique hotels, started his own hospitality consultancy, and, currently, serves as the General Manager at Mendocino Grove.
In this lively conversation, Jacob and I discuss the massive opportunity that exists in the luxe camping space, how to increase revenue and profitability when you’ve reached the ceiling for your nightly rate, and the future of experiential travel.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan.
If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting.
Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes.
Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money!
Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jenny Power, the creator of The Cornerstone Cottage, a carefully restored historic home near Acadia National Park in Lamoine, Maine.
Jenny wasn’t looking for a vacation rental — and while she enjoys hosting at her home in Houston, Texas the idea of becoming a short-term-rental host wasn’t remotely on her mind.
Jenny’s family are long-time Mainers and she grew up spending lots of time in The Pine Tree State. And so when Jenny and her husband Allan visited Maine in the latter half of the pandemic, they were reminded just how magical this part of the world really is…and mere moments after this realization while on a walk down the street, they stumbled upon a For Sale sign on an impeccable waterfront property.
Tune in to hear the vibrant story of how Jenny and Allan acquired The Cornerstone Cottage, which had once been a part of a hotel that families like the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers used to stay in on their way to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and carefully brought it into its next chapter of life.
Follow The Cornerstone Cottage on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors.
You’ve seen them all over Instagram…
You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine….
And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs.
DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others.
I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast.
And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans.
By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet John Stokinger — Co-Host of the No BS Short-Term Rental Podcast and the Director of Sales at Direct, a SaaS platform for short-term rental property and reservation management.
In this wide-ranging conversation, John and I talk about his time at the popular start-up, Hopper, how to build better technology platforms for short-term rental hosts, the pros and cons of industry events, and the powerful network effects of podcasting.
Connect with John on LinkedIn
Check out The No BS Short-Term Rental Podcast
Learn more about Direct.
This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors.
You’ve seen them all over Instagram…
You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine….
And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs.
DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others.
I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast.
And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans.
By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Travis Wilburn and Rebecca Lombardo — the founders of The 100 Collection, a curation of the best properties from trusted vacation rental brands on a mission to set the gold standard for hospitality.
Travis has built and run companies in travel and hospitality for well over a decade. His working knowledge spans every level of his organizations, from operations to business development, to maintenance.
And Rebecca is seasoned marketing executive with 15 years of experience developing brands and content for travel publications like Yahoo Travel and Orlando Magazine as well as several Fortune 100 companies.
In this episode, this dynamic duo unpack their vision for a new era and standard of hospitality for the short-term and vacation rental markets and discuss crucial topics like:
- How to build a loyalty program in the vacation rental market
- How to fight back against the market-share owned by OTAs like Airbnb
- How to grow a meaningful, consumer-facing hospitality brand
- And much more
Discover the 100 Collection
Connect with Travis and Rebecca on LinkedIn.
This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors.
You’ve seen them all over Instagram…
You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine….
And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs.
DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others.
I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast.
And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans.
By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In just a moment you’ll meet Doug Heestand, the owner of the Desert of Maine, a unique and intriguing roadside attraction located in Freeport, Maine.
In this podcast interview, Doug shares his journey of transforming the Desert of Maine from a simple tourist attraction to a thriving hospitality company.
We explore the origins of the Desert of Maine, its unique geological features, and the challenges Doug faced when taking over the business. He shares how he implemented innovative strategies and creative ideas to rebrand the attraction and turn it into a destination that offers a range of exciting activities and experiences for visitors.
Throughout the conversation, Doug emphasizes the importance of taking risks, embracing change, and following your passion when pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams.
Doug's inspiring story and valuable insights will leave you feeling motivated and inspired to pursue your own entrepreneurial dreams and make a positive impact on the world.
Discover the Desert of Maine
Book a Stay at the Desert of Maine
Follow the Desert of Maine on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Janice Stitzer, the creator of The Back Country A-Frame in Kremmling, Colorado.
One afternoon Janice was flipping through a Dwell magazine when she stumbled upon a piece about a new start-up called DEN, which was selling plans for some of the most beautiful cabins she had ever seen.
Janice was so impressed by the gorgeous DEN designs, particularly their designs for A-Frames, that right then and there she decided it was time to put her dream of building a short-term-rental from the ground up to life.
In this podcast, Janice shares her journey of how she was first inspired to build an A-Frame Airbnb, the challenges she faced during the process and we delve deep into the topic of budgeting for a new A-Frame build and discuss the actual cost of building an A-Frame near Rocky Mountain National Park.
Follow the Back Country A-Frame on Instagram
Stay at the Back Country A-Frame
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Andrew Kitchell, a hospitality and proptech entrepreneur currently leading the team at Wheelhouse — a technology platform that helps you manage your short-term rentals as professionally and efficiently as major hotels—from understanding performance to better nightly pricing.
Andrew is no stranger to tech or hospitality…in fact, he was building companies in Silicon Valley while a then-small start-up “Air Bed and Breakfast” was working their way through Y Combinator, the most exclusive of startup accelerators in the world.
In this episode, Andrew and I discuss:
- The revenue management strategies that the best hospitality entrepreneurs use to scale their brand reach as well as their revenue and profitability
-new business opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to build in the ever-dynamic industry of hospitality
- and what the future of travel, workcations, and experiential stays just might look like.
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn here or on Twitter here.
Learn more about Wheelhouse here.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jen and Michael Penchansky, the creators of Casa Nevana, the first short-term rental in the couple’s newly founded portfolio, Nevana Properties.
Michael and Jen met while working in the fashion industry in New York City. Michael founded a software company in fashion tech and Jen was employee number one, so the couple know a thing or ten about how to work together. Michael grew up going to Hunter, New York in the Catskills with his family and always had an appreciation for the reprieve the mountains offered from life in the city. So, when Michael and Jen began dreaming about starting a boutique hospitality brand centered around building a collection of luxurious, but accessible, short-term rentals, the couple new that the first home in their collection just had to be in Hunter. Tune in to hear the story of how Michael and Jen leveraged the local community to build their home in record time, the careful consideration that went into the founding of their hospitality brand, and what they have planned next. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Michael and Jen. Book Your Stay at Casa Nevana This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Wil Slickers — founder of Hospitality FM, the largest network of hospitality podcasts, and the co-founder of Recreation Rentals, a boutique collection of vacation rentals with luxury hotel-like operations.
While working as a hotel manager in the pacific northwest, Wil stared a podcast called Slick Talk — a show that explores the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry — from short-term rentals and boutique hotels to Michelin star restaurants and five star resorts. Now this show Wil started as a fun side project? Well, a lot of people liked it…and before too long, Wil quick his job as a hotel manager and decided to build a niche media company dedicated to the professionals in the industry. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Wil founded and scaled Hospitality FM into the leading digital professional development space for hospitality entrepreneurs and what his hot takes on the future of the industry will look like. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Michael Albaum — a professional remote real estate investor, Airbnb superhost, and fellow podcaster.
After getting an engineering degree and moving to the Bay Area, Michael stumbled upon a book that would forever shift his perspective on work and wealth…and that book was Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
In this episode of Behind the Stays, Michael shares candidly about how he’s been able to grow a portfolio of short-term and longer-term rentals that are mostly remote — as in, he doesn’t live in close proximity to his properties.
Michael and I chat about:
- the pros and cons of using a property manager
- the importance of balancing perspectives and decisions from both an investment and hospitality lens
- the future of OTAs like Airbnb
- how to get a crash course on real estate investment on Twitter
- and much more.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jonah Hanig, Founder and CEO of Rove — a premium portfolio of luxury Airbnbs designed for discerning travelers.
Jonah grew up in the Chicago suburbs and always had a knack for tinkering with business ideas.
After going to school in New York, Jonah decided to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and was fortunate enough to get accepted to Y Combinator — the most prestigious of start-up accelerators in the world. Fun fact — Airbnb is a YC company!
Soon after being accepted to YC covid hit…and, well, Jonah’s startup wasn’t immune to the disruption that all of us felt in those early days.
But it wasn’t long before Jonah had another idea…and that idea was to offer a Ritz-Carlton-like experience within the context of a collection of highly-curated short-term rentals.
Tune in to hear the story of:
- Where the idea for Rove came from
- How Rove is building the Ritz-Carlton of STRs
- Why Rove is also building a Zillow for STR investors
- How Rove has thought about differentiation in an increasingly-crowded marketplace
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to Marketing Mondays — a new, weekly segment on the Behind the Stays podcast that covers specific marketing strategies and tactics that Airbnb hosts and hospitality entrepreneurs can immediately use to promote their stays.
On this third episode Zach covers all things Email A/B testing!
Email A/B tests are incredibly important...yet many Airbnb hosts and hospitality entrepreneurs fail to conduct them regularly.
I did a recent poll with some of the hosts in the space whose brands I respect the most and asked if they’ve run A/B tests to their email lists and 95% of them said no!
Testing is INCREDIBLY important if you want to grow as a hospitality marketer — and, as far as I’m concerned, if you’re collecting guest emails to increase your direct bookings or to communicate with them after their stay, you are, in fact, a hospitality marketer.
Now the reason folks don’t A/B test their emails typically comes down to time…
Well folks, I’ve got some great news for you! I've taken the time to come up with 10 different email A/B tests that you can (and should) test out.
These are fun! And pretty creative(ish) — if we do say so ourselves. If you use any of them, be sure to let us know which version won!
Let us know what you think about this new segment by sending us a DM on Instagram @sponstayneous, shooting our founder a DM on Twitter, or sending him an email at zach@sponstayneous.com .
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jeff Iloulian — Founder and CEO of HostGPO, a buying group for the short term rental industry.
After graduating with a degree in Economics from Columbia, Jeff thought he wanted to be an attorney, so went to Law School.
But after practicing law for a few years, Jeff was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug so he founded a real estate and technology investment company called Winthorpe Valentine which grew to manage over 250 short-term rentals.
Managing more than 250 properties meant that Jeff spent a lot of time buying furniture and other furnishings for his homes. While the homes he managed certainly varied in style and size, Jeff often found himself buying 100 of the same broom or 50 of the same bookshelf all at retail price.
And that’s when the idea, which would eventually become HostGPO was born. Tune in to hear the story of how Jeff founded HostGPO and scaled it to be the largest buying group of short-term rental hosts in the country.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Devon Loerop, the creator of The Pacific Bin — a luxurious escape made of 5 shipping containers, just an hour outside of Seattle.
Devon grew up in the midwest but was born with a New York City mindset — from the time he was young, he hustled hard, and enjoyed proving people wrong when they said “he couldn’t, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t” do something.
Devon is a mechanical engineer by trade, but after being bored out of his mind during his first job after college, he decided to try his hand as a creative and became obsessed with photography and videography. And, while he didn’t know it at the time, this decision would quite literally change the course of his life.
Tune in to hear the story of how Devon:
- Left the Chicago suburbs and moved to Seattle on a whim
- Invested his entire life savings into Tesla stock at the perfect moment
- Learned how to weld so that he could build a unique Airbnb by himself
- Spent $500,000 building a one-of-a-kind, category-re-defining container home in the Cascade Mountains of Washington
- Grew an Instagram following from 0 to 750k in one year
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Michael Romanowicz, the founder and CEO of DEN Outdoors.
Mike is a software designer by trade, but has always had a love for the natural world.
So, when he wasn’t busy leading the product team at Conductor, which was a content marketing platform owned by WeWork, Mike was tinkering with some designs for a minimalist, beautiful cabin he could build in the woods one day.
After sharing his designs with some buddies and seeing their positive reactions he thought that there might be an opportunity to sell these plans to others.
And, well, an opportunity there sure was. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how:
- How Mike bootstrapped DEN Outdoors to seven figures of revenue
- How Instagram fueled DEN’s growth and inspired Mike to leave his day job
- How he landed Jimmy Kimmel as an Angel Investor
- And the exciting new offerings DEN is building for the next generation of builders and hospitality entrepreneurs.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Chase Charifa, the creator of the Lightfoot Cabin — a cozy, unique escape nestled in the foothills of Big Bear Mountain in Southern California.
A few years ago, Chase and his wife April started a production studio as a side hustle.
The couple regretted not having a videographer at their wedding and this inspired them to start their own studio to shoot weddings and events.
In doing research for how to bring their studio to life, they stumbled upon Levi Kelly’s Airbnb tours. Levi Kelly is one of the OG Airbnb influencers and has amassed over 80 million views on his YouTube channel.
Chase and April were so inspired by his videos that they decided to create their own unique stay. Tune into hear the exciting story of how Chase and April:
- Transformed a run-of-the-mill cabin into a Dwell and Condé Nast featured, multi-sensory, truly unique stay
- Bought and sold Teslas to help grow their short-term rental portfolio
- Acquire more traditional rentals to help them fund unique ones
- Created a secret experience that guests LOVE that’s not noted on their Airbnb listing
Book a Stay at Lightfoot Cabin
Follow the Lightfoot Cabin on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty...
Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here!
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to another Marketing Mondays on the Behind the Stays podcast feed!
In this episode we chat ALL about SEO and how Airbnb hosts can leverage the power of great keyword research to increase their organic rankings on Google.
In today's lesson we share a lot of screenshots and data...so...you MAY wish to WATCH this episode on YouTube, which you can do here: Stream Marketing Mondays on YouTube.
In this 30-minute power episode you'll learn:
- How to find and target keywords that align with your short-term rental brand
- How to out-optimize pages ranking higher than yours
- How to splice your target keywords into headers on your website
We also use Field & Lake as a case study during this episode...discover the incredible brand their founder, Sara Roitman, is creating by visiting their website, following them on Instagram, or booking one of their stays below:
- Field & Lake Website
- Field & Lake Instagram
- Field & Lake Airbnb Listings
Subscribe to Behind the Stays wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Sponstayneous to get the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Brooke Pfautz, founder and CEO of Vintory — a sales and marketing platform exclusively dedicated to helping professional vacation rental managers and short-term rental entrepreneurs grow their inventory.
Brooke built one of the largest mortgage banking firms in the DC Metro Area, but when the financial crisis of 2008 hit, Brooke began to reconsider what it was he wanted to do with his life.
After a serendipitous conversation with an investor-friend of his, Brooke decided that building a premier, boutique vacation rental company would serve as an exciting next chapter in his professional journey, so he founded “Vantage Resort Realty” and grew his company from 0 to 500 properties under management in just 5 years.
Tune in to hear the motivating story of:
- How Brooke grew his company from zero-to-one
- How he was one of the first management companies to use VRBO
- What it was like in the Vacation Rental Management world when Airbnb first came onto the scene
- And how we came across the idea that would ultimately lead him to found the first-ever marketing and sales platform designed to help hospitality entrepreneurs and real estate investors grow their portfolios.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty.
Will you do us a favor and thank Gusty for being a Behind the Stays sponsor by DM'ing them on Social Media or writing them a quick email?
While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts.
Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels.
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion.
Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings.
And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios.
So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to Marketing Mondays — a new, weekly segment on the Behind the Stays podcast that covers specific marketing strategies and tactics that Airbnb hosts and hospitality entrepreneurs can immediately use to promote their stays. On this second episode of this new Behind the Stays segment, Zach covers:* Why you should build a website for your Airbnb even if you don't have a direct booking site * How to start ranking * The CMSes that Airbnb hosts should consider building their websites on
Let us know what you think about this new segment by sending us a DM on Instagram @sponstayneous, shooting our founder a DM on Twitter, or sending him an email at zach@sponstayneous.com . Before we dive in, I want to quickly plug a product my team and I recently moved out of beta, called Ping, because I think a lot of y’all tuning into this chat will get real value from it! Ping is a simple plugin that lives on your website or direct booking site and integrates with you Airbnb calendar and notifies your fans and followers the minute there is a match between your home’s availability and their desired travel dates. Ping was designed specifically for hosts with unique stays that typically have limited availability. The insta stories y’all post about last minute cancellations is a great start, but what it you could also automatically Ping folks who’ve already expressed interest in the very dates that just opened up?! And that’s exactly what Ping does. All prospective guest data collected in Ping is available to you and if you purchase a premium plan you can integrate Ping directly with you Mail Chimp or Constant Contact accounts! Learn more at BnBping.com or shoot our founder Zach an email at zach@sponstayneous.com if you've got questions! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Levi Kelly — a creator whose cabin tour videos have garnered nearly 80 millions views on YouTube.
Growing up, Levi used to goof around and shoot funny videos with his buddies and then edit them on the iMovie app on his phone. In high school he realized that shooting and editing video was more than just a hobby of his…it felt like something he was destined to do.
After successfully landing a few freelance clients in college, Levi came to the realization that he didn’t like paying tuition to be taught something he already knew how to do…so he dropped out of school to pursue video full time. And it was around this time where he posted his first tour of a tiny home on his YouTube channel.
Well Jaden Smith, Will Smith’s son, happened to see this video and share it on Twitter…and, well, it went viral. Tune in to hear the story behind how Levi used his love of storytelling to produce video tours of the world’s most incredible Airbnbs.
Watch Levi's Videos on YouTube
Follow Levi on Instagram
Explore Levi's website
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Whitney and Andrew Bradberry, the creators of the Front Range A-Frame in Bailey, Colorado, just an hour outside of Denver.
Whitney is a freelancer marketer by trade, and her husband Andrew is a firefighter paramedic.
Given their non-traditional jobs, the couple has always enjoyed tinkering on creative projects together.
Whitney’s father loved Colorado and it’s because of him that she fell in love with the mountains. So, when he passed away unexpectedly after a battle with cancer, the couple thought it would be fitting to honor his legacy by creating a space for others to enjoy in a place that meant so much to him.
In this episode of Behind the Stays Whitney and Andrew discuss:
- The best YouTube channels to tap into for DIY projects
- The affordable design decisions they made that landed them a feature by HGTV
- How to build a simple, but website for your Airbnb that aligns with the brand strategy of your home
This episode is brought to you by Guest Guru.
Everyone’s talking about ChatGPT, but there’s a new AI tool that just hit the market that short-term rental hosts should care more about. Meet Guest Guru — the first, fully automated, AI-powered conversational tool for guest communications. Guest Guru integrates with your Airbnb or VRBO listing and automatically answers those questions like “what's the wifi password/", “where can I find the lockbox?”, and “can I bring my dog”, so you don’t have to. But get this…it does so by matching the tone and communication style of your guest. If they use emojis, Guest Guru will use emojis too. If they are a four-exclamation-points-per-sentence kinda person, well, Guest Guru will match or beat their enthusiasm. Now, you might be thinking this is to good to be true…or that Guest Guru can only answer BASIC questions…but that, friends, is where you’d be wrong. Guest Guru learns with every message you exchange with a guest or prospective guest. And once you answer a question like “what’s the best place near you to score all-you-can-eat breadsticks that isn’t Olive Garden?” once, Guest Guru will remember this query and be able to answer it, without pinging you, the next time one of your guests is a restaurant-chain hater. Anytime Guest Guru doesn’t know the answer to something, you’ll immediately receive an email and/or SMS text inviting you to jump into the conversation. Guest Guru is offering Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous Host Members their first property TOTALLY free when you sign up at GuestGuru.ai and mention that you heard about them from us. Discover how AI can help alleviate you from answering the same dozen questions every guest asks so you can have more time to better your guest experience in other, more productive and rewarding ways. Sign up at GuestGuru.ai.About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Welcome to Marketing Mondays — a new, weekly segment on the Behind the Stays podcast that covers specific marketing strategies and tactics that Airbnb hosts and hospitality entrepreneurs can immediately use to promote their stays.
On the first episode of this new Behind the Stays segment, Zach covers:
- Why you should work with creators
- A framework for how to discern who to work with and how to work with them
- How creators can help you increase direct bookings
- Ideas for how to partner with creators in unique ways
Let us know what you think about this new segment by sending us a DM on Instagram @sponstayneous, shooting our founder a DM on Twitter, or sending him an email at zach@sponstayneous.com
Before we dive in, I want to quickly plug a product my team and I recently moved out of beta, called Ping, because I think a lot of y’all tuning into this chat will get real value from it!
Ping is a simple plugin that lives on your website or direct booking site and integrates with you Airbnb calendar and notifies your fans and followers the minute there is a match between your home’s availability and their desired travel dates.
Ping was designed specifically for hosts with unique stays that typically have limited availability.
The insta stories y’all post about last minute cancellations is a great start, but what it you could also automatically Ping folks who’ve already expressed interest in the very dates that just opened up?!
And that’s exactly what Ping does. All prospective guest data collected in Ping is available to you and if you purchase a premium plan you can integrate Ping directly with you Mail Chimp or Constant Contact accounts!
Learn more at BnBping.com or shoot our founder Zach an email at zach@sponstayneous.com if you've got questions!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Emily South — the creator of The Appalachian A-Frame in Sugar Grove, North Carolina just 20 minutes outside of downtown Boone.
Emily and her husband John are entrepreneurs. Emily is a yoga instructor and John owns and runs a production studio.
Given their non-traditional career paths, Emily and John don’t have some of the benefits one might expect from a 9-5 such as a 401k match or stock options.
As such, the couple has talked for years about what their retirement plan might look like and in 2019 they had finally agreed that a vacation home in the mountains would be a part of it.
In this episode Emily talks about how they found their A-Frame, — despite realtors not wanting to work with them given their limited budget —, what they spent to acquire the home, and how they used credit card points to help fund the renovations.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Emily.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jamie Kraus, the creator of Chestnut Hill — a beautiful appointed home located 5 minutes from Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Jamie and her husband have three young adult sons and live in the great state of Texas. Growing up, Jamie would vacation in the Colorado mountains with her family and dreamed of one day owning a home in Breckenridge.
A few years ago, Jamie was diagnosed with breast cancer. After an arduous battle, she was, thankfully, able to survive the disease.
This life-altering event reminded Jamie that life is short — and that waiting to find her dream vacation until the timing just “felt right” was silly. Afterall, would it ever really feel right?
Tune in to hear the story behind how Jamie found her dream vacation home and, unexpectedly, a love for hospitality that inspired her to build an entire collection of escapes in one of the world’s most popular ski towns.
In this episode, Zach and Jamie discuss:
- How to go from 0 - 4 properties in under 2 years
- How to prioritize guest experience as a point of differentiation
- When building a short-term-rental in an incredibly crowded market IS a good decision
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Chris Broomfield, the creator of Evergreen Cabins — one of Instagram’s favorite collections of luxurious cabin rentals in the Adirondacks.
Growing up, Chris loved to tinker. At the age of 14 he started building picnic tables and bar stools with his next door neighbor that he’d sell to local patrons.
It was at this young age that Chris realized he wanted to work for himself…that he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
Chris studied the art and science of building unique structures and has spent the better part of 25 years bringing absolutely stunning, terrifically memorable spaces to life.
Tune in to hear the motivational story of how Chris channeled his love of designing memorable homes into Evergreen Cabins — a portfolio of top-rated, luxurious, impeccably unique short-term rentals in the Adirondacks.
You can connect with Chris at:
Instagram - @Evergreen_CabinsEmail - adirondackevergreencabins@gmail.com Facebook - EvergreenCabinsRentalsLinkedin - Evergreen Cabins, LLCWhatsApp - Evergreen Cabins
This episode is brought to you by our friends at The Host Co.
The Host Co. enables short-term rental host to build their own storefronts and offer amenities like late night snacks, massages, fresh flowers, grocery delivery, in-home shopping and much more.
The Host Co. makes it easy for guest to augment their stay with the products and services they need and makes it easy for STR hosts to make up to an additional $10k in ancillary revenue on each rental.
Hosts keep 93% of all sales and The Host Co. takes care of guest receipts, sales tax and payouts to you and vendors.
Create your free store today by visiting TheHost.co and be sure to tell the team their that you heard about them from Behind the Stays!
And, for a limited time, Behind the Stays listeners will get $30 back on their first sale when you use the discount code BTS30 at check out!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Tiffany Lund — the creator of The Havarti Haus, an accessible, Scandinavian-style retreat in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, opening in late 2023.
Tiffany and her family love to go on adventures — the outdoors has always been a place of restoration and reinvigoration for them.
Tiffany and her husband Jim have an incredible son named Morty. Morty, like his parents, loves the outdoors. He also loves the Boston Celtics and the Red Sox. Unlike his parents however, Morty has Cerebral palsy.
If you’ve ever traveled with a wheelchair, you may know how difficult it can be to find a place to stay - somewhere you can get through the door without having to traverse up steps or somewhere you can actually take a shower without jerry-rigging something or settling for a sponge bath.
Tiffany and Jim believe a place can be accessible and universally appealing to everyone. That is their dream. And they are watching it come to life with the building of Havarti Haus.
Tune in to the inspiring story of how Tiffany is using universal design concepts to drive the design decisions to simplify the travel experience for the mobility impaired.
Follow the Havarti Haus on Instagram
Discover the Havarti Haus' Website
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Mike Iannetta, better known as Mike Will Travel, a YouTube creator and hospitality marketing specialist.
Mike started his first business at the age of 17. He raised $5,000 on Kickstarter to start what he thought would be the next big board shorts brand.
Now, the clothing line didn’t quite pan out, but it solidified for Mike that he wanted to spend his career starting and running his own businesses.
When Mike was in college, he studied abroad in Europe…and after traveling to a dozen countries over his four months abroad, he came back to the states convinced he had to find a way to travel as close to full time as possible.
So, Mike bought a camera and started messing around with shooting video. And, while he didn’t know the difference between shooting in 720, 1080, and 4k at the time, in just a few months, Mike would be traveling around the globe documenting his stays at some of the world’s most remarkable hotels and Airbnbs.
Tune in to hear the story of how Mike started his YouTube channel, how he generated his first 10 million views, and how he’s helped Airbnb hosts generate millions of new fans and followers for their homes on Instagram.
Subscribe to Mike's YouTube Channel
Follow Mike on Instagram
Explore Mike's Website
This episode is brought to you by our friends at The Host Co.
The Host Co. enables short-term rental host to build their own storefronts and offer amenities like late night snacks, massages, fresh flowers, grocery delivery, in-home shopping and much more.
The Host Co. makes it easy for guest to augment their stay with the products and services they need and makes it easy for STR hosts to make up to an additional $10k in ancillary revenue on each rental.
Hosts keep 93% of all sales and The Host Co. takes care of guest receipts, sales tax and payouts to you and vendors.
Create your free store today by visiting TheHost.co and be sure to tell the team their that you heard about them from Behind the Stays!
And, for a limited time, Behind the Stays listeners will get $30 back on their first sale when you use the discount code BTS30 at check out!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet John Andrew Entwistle, Founder and CEO of Wander, one of the most exciting startups in the travel and hospitality space today.
John Andrew had a non-traditional schooling experience. He started and ran a game server company when he was just 13 years old, so focusing on homework wasn’t a high priority.
In high school, John Andrew and his father agreed that an online option would be best for him as it’d allow him the opportunity to continue to pursue his projects and build companies.
In this episode of Behind the Stays, John Andrew talks about:
-being raised by a single dad
-
how he started and grew his second company Coder
-
what it was like being a Thiel Fellow
-
and, of course, the past, present and future of Wander — a company on a missions to verticalize the 100B+ short-term rental industry with a network of smart vacation homes in inspiring places that guests can control from their phones.
Discover Wander
Follow John Andrew on Twitter
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Ty and Mary, the creators of The Northwoods A-Frame and Tiny Cabins near Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota.
Ty and Mary both have demanding jobs – Ty is an architect and Mary a nurse. So, in October 2020, after months of lockdown, the couple was in dire need of a getaway.
Mary had been following an A-Frame on Instagram for a few months and decided to plan their getaway around when the home had availability.
Upon their arrival, Ty and Mary were met with such a deep peace that they began dreaming about what it would take to create something of their own so that they might share this serenity with others.
Tune in to hear how Ty and Mary designed, built, and branded an A-Frame and a couple of Tiny Cabins that they call Northwoods.
Book Your Stay at Northwoods
Follow Northwoods on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at The Host Co.
The Host Co. enables short-term rental host to build their own storefronts and offer amenities like late night snacks, massages, fresh flowers, grocery delivery, in-home shopping and much more.
The Host Co. makes it easy for guest to augment their stay with the products and services they need and makes it easy for STR hosts to make up to an additional $10k in ancillary revenue on each rental.
Hosts keep 93% of all sales and The Host Co. takes care of guest receipts, sales tax and payouts to you and vendors.
Create your free store today by visiting TheHost.co and be sure to tell the team their that you heard about them from Behind the Stays!
And, for a limited time, Behind the Stays listeners will get $30 back on their first sale when you use the discount code BTS30 at check out!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Addie Wales, the creator of The Ely Cabin Collective — a boutique collection of Airbnbs near The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota.
Growing up, Addie always wanted to be an entrepreneur. She remembers pitching her first business to her dad as a 10 year old which was for an ice cream shop where the roof of the shop was shaped like an ice cream cone!
In the fall of 2020, Addie got a call from her uncle about a 40 acre plot of land that was for sale which included a charming, but quite dilapidated, log cabin.
Addie and her husband Ben made the 4-hour drive from the Twin Cities to explore the opportunity further and, while they didn’t know it at the time, this trip up north would be the start of a remarkable adventure.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Addie transformed that dilapidated cabin into the Ely Log Cabin and how this renovation inspired the launch of The Ely Cabin Collective.
Book a Stay at The Ely Cabin Collective
Follow The Ely Cabin Collective on Instagram
Follow The Ely Log Cabin on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Justin and Shaun — the creators of The Chal-A Frame, a beautifully curated escape nestled between the Stratton and Mt. Snow ski areas in Vermont.
Justin and Shaun are both architects. They were roommates in college and have been close friends ever since.
One day while hanging out with the rest of their crew, Justin and Shaun got really excited about the possibility of having a place in the mountains where they could host their friends and families on long-weekends.
Justin began scrolling through Zillow listings every night looking for plots of land in Vermont that might work for the guys to build their dream getaway on.
Tune in to hear the fun story of how Justin and Shaun found their land, how they collaborated on designing the A-Frame, what they did when they had to fire their builder halfway through the project, and the role Instagram has played in helping them book their first guests.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Justin and Shaun.
Stay at The Chal-A Frame
Follow The Chat-A Frame on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at The Host Co.
The Host Co. enables short-term rental host to build their own storefronts and offer amenities like late night snacks, massages, fresh flowers, grocery delivery, in-home shopping and much more.
The Host Co. makes it easy for guest to augment their stay with the products and services they need and makes it easy for STR hosts to make up to an additional $10k in ancillary revenue on each rental.
Hosts keep 93% of all sales and The Host Co. takes care of guest receipts, sales tax and payouts to you and vendors.
Create your free store today by visiting TheHost.co and be sure to tell the team their that you heard about them from Behind the Stays!
And, for a limited time, Behind the Stays listeners will get $30 back on their first sale when you use the discount code BTS30 at check out!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
About the Episode:
Meet Melissa Hessney Masters — the founder of Tanglebloom and the creator of the Tanglebloom Cabin.
Melissa has always been creative.
Growing up in the fingerlakes region of New York, she found herself mesmerized by natural beauty — whether it be wildflowers or waterfalls, Melissa was transfixed by the innate purity of the natural world.
She started her first business when she was in high school, selling hand-sewn clothes on the internet and in the parking lots of Phish concerts.
And while she couldn’t have guessed it then, this was the first stepping stone in her journey to become a flower farmer and short-term-rental entrepreneur.
Tune in to hear the enthralling story of how Melissa brought her wedding and event flower business, Tanglebloom, as well as Vermont’s most wish-listed Airbnb, to life.
Book a Stay at the Tanglebloom Cabin
Follow the Tanglebloom Cabin on Instagram
Follow Melissa on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA.
I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into.
Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription:
-
AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe.
-
Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence.
-
You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that?
If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you.
AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription.
Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout!
Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Connor Gross — an entrepreneur in his mid-twenties who is currently focused on building a portfolio of self-storage units across the state of Texas.
Connor graduated from Northeastern University in 2020. As a part of a co-op program at Northeastern, he was able to spend a semester building his first start-up, Cardly, with his co-founder Giovanni, which was a snazzy looking credit card holder that attaches to the back of your iPhone.
After selling the start-up in early 2020, Connor began learning about real estate investing. While the idea of investing in a short-term rental was attractive, in Connor’s mind, being responsible for a place where folks actually lived or vacationed was a bit too much of a headache. So, he decided to start with self-storage.
Tune in to an energetic, idea-producing conversation where Connor and I discuss:
- How he convinced the host of a luxury Airbnb villa in Bali to let him stay in their home for free
- How he founded, built, and sold his first e-commerce company
- Why you’re never too young or too old to start your entrepreneurial journey
- Connor’s hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality after living out of a suitcase for 2 years and traveling to more than 30 countries.
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts(as in, Behind the Stays). If you liked this episode, you're going to love some of our other recent conversations: How She Built an Insta-Famous Airbnb — The Story Behind the Cozy Rock Cabin. She Left Her Law Career to Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur — Meet the Creator of Field and Lake How They’re Building Canada’s Premier Luxury Treehouse Company About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In just a moment, you’ll meet Natalie Palmer — an Airbnb Ambassador, a 17x superhost, and the creator and host of the popular No Vacancy podcast.
Natalie was never really sure what she wanted to do when she “grew up”...but she was always quick to say “yes” when opportunities to step outside of her comfort-zone surfaced.
So, after spending a couple of months learning about short-term rental investing and hosting, Natalie asked her parents if she could try her hand out at turning their family’s vacation home in the mountains into an Airbnb.
While skeptical, they agreed to give her a shot…and within one ski season, they had made enough to pay the mortgage on the home for the entire year!
This early win inspired Natalie to further immerse herself in learning everything she could about how to deliver an exceptional guest experience while also growing a profitable business.
Natalie and I discuss the power of networking and why more hosts should participate in STR industry events, frameworks for how to structure your time as a hospitality entrepreneur, and why she’s throwing a women’s only STR hospitality event in Scottsdale, Arizona called the “Level Up Your Listing Summit.”
You’ll learn more about this event towards the end of the interview but I want to highly encourage all the ladies tuning into today’s chat to check out Natalie’s event.
Natalie is also giving all Behind the Stays listeners a 10% discount when they use the code BTS10 at check out. Learn more about the Level Up Your Listing Summit here.
Follow Natalie on Instagram
Stream the No Vacancy Podcast
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts(as in, Behind the Stays). If you liked this episode, you're going to love some of our other recent conversations: How She Built an Insta-Famous Airbnb — The Story Behind the Cozy Rock Cabin. She Left Her Law Career to Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur — Meet the Creator of Field and Lake From Serving in Afghanistan to Hosting on Airbnb: Meet the Founders of Seasons‘ Yield Farm About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Alexis and Skeeter — the creators of The Kingdom A-Frame, a quintessential New England escape in Burke, Vermont.
Alexis and Skeeter love mountain biking and have traveled to Northeastern Vermont to traverse the Kingdom Trails for years! These trails are known as the crown jewel of East Coast mountain biking.
Alexis and Skeeter have three dogs and struggled to find an Airbnb that both allowed dogs and offered an inspirational aesthetic.
After doing some back-of-the-napkin math, the couple realized that, given the frequency of their travels to Burke, they might actually be better off buying a place then continuing to book stays on Airbnb.
Tune in to hear the fun story of:
- How Alexis and Skeeter found and refurbished The Kingdom A-Frame
- How an instagram post landed their A-Frame in Vogue
- How they’ve balanced increasing their nightly rate (as their insta-fame has grown) with their original mission of creating a beautiful, accessible, and unique escape for all
Follow The Kingdom A-Frame on Instagram
Book Your Stay at The Kingdom A-Frame
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). If you liked this episode, you're going to love some of our other recent conversations: How She Built an Insta-Famous Airbnb — The Story Behind the Cozy Rock Cabin. She Left Her Law Career to Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur — Meet the Creator of Field and Lake From Serving in Afghanistan to Hosting on Airbnb: Meet the Founders of Seasons‘ Yield Farm About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Damian Sheridan, founder of The Book Direct and Scale Rentals Shows — a couple of the leading events for short-term rental hosts and property managers interested in building their direct booking strategies.
Growing up, Damian wanted to be a professional footballer…but, he quickly learned that in addition to passion for the game, you needed the skill as well!
Years later while working at a travel agency, Damian developed an affinity for Search Engine Optimization — also known as SEO.
The idea that, with the right set of strategies and tactics, you could rank #1 on Google for a term like “best vacation rentals in Miami” fascinated him…and before too long he became something of an expert in SEO!
Tune in to hear the motivational story of how Damian parlayed his SEO skills into a full-time gig and what inspired him to build a collection of niche, in-person events for hosts and operators interested in growing their direct bookings.
Connect with Damian on LinkedIn
Learn More the Book Direct Show
Learn More about the Scale Rentals Show
Rate and Review this Episode on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to Sponstayneous
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Janice Smith, the creator of the Cozy Rock Cabin (@cozyrockcabin), a 750 square-foot cabin on 3 acres of wooded land in Freeport, Maine.
Janice has always had a knack for project management — and this skill has served her well as she led an ed-tech startup, launched her own video production agency, and brought not one, not two, but three cozy Airbnbs to life.
Now Janice has used instagram to promote all of her homes, but one in particular, the Cozy Rock Cabin, has become what some might call “insta-famous” having garnered over 70k followers.
Tune in to hear the moving story of why Janice wanted an Airbnb in Freeport, how she DM’d the creator of The Raven House — one of the OG insta-worthy cabins — and convinced him to help her develop the plans of her own cabin, and her theory on why Jimmy Kimmel follows the Cozy Rock Cabin on Instagram.
Book Your Stay at the Cozy Rock Cabin
Follow the Cozy Rock Cabin on Instagram
Rate and Review this Episode on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to Sponstayneous
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts(as in, Behind the Stays). About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Sara Roitman, the creator of Field and Lake, a new collective of boutique vacation rentals on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Sara is an attorney by trade and lives in Chicago with her beautiful family. A few years back, Sara and her husband had purchased a vacation home on Lake Michigan so that they could escape from the city with the kids for long weekends and a couple of weeks each summer.
When COVID hit, the home next door to their lake house became available…and, upon hearing this news, a bold idea began to form, and ultimately take residence, in Sara’s mind.
And that idea? Well, it was to buy this home, launch a hospitality brand, build a portfolio of beautiful yet casual escapes, oh — and leave her job!
Tune into the fun and inspiring story of how Sara ideated, planned out, and ultimately launched Field and Lake.
Follow Field and Lake on Instagram
Book a Stay at Field and Lake
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Ethan Abitz — one of the OG Airbnb Instagram Influencers.
Ethan first started using Instagram in high school to promote an apparel line he started. This was when Instagram let you upload a photo and select from just a handful of filters before posting your shot — no stories, reels, etc.
In college, Ethan thought he wanted to work on Wall Street. He was interested in finance and investing and was always good at spotting opportunities.
But around this time, Ethan began to further explore his creative abilities — especially in the context of photography. And he soon realized that his love of capturing moments and telling the stories behind them outweighed whatever affinity he had for buying low, and selling high.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Ethan pursued his love for adventure and photography and grew his following to hundreds of thousands across Instagram and TikTok.
Follow Ethan on Instagram
Follow Ethan on TikTok
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Spenser and Marcy Kernea, the creators of the Retreat at Fall Branch Falls, a pristinely crafted escape in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Spenser has always been a big dreamer. And while Marcy is fond of big ideas herself, she often has to counterbalance Spenser’s idealism with just a smidge of realism.
Spenser once had this grand idea of opening up an authentic Italian gelateria in Tennessee, and Marcy had to remind him that he didn’t know the first thing about making ice cream or running a restaurant!
So, after Spenser’s dream of becoming the Guy Fieri of gelato were tabled, he and Marcy began discussing a dream they both shared — and that was to be able to create welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds might feel at home.
Tune in to hear the somewhat miraculous story of how Spenser and Marcy found the perfect piece of land, created a magical Airbnb on that land, and grew their Tiny Houses’ following to over 30k across Instagram and TikTok.
Book your stay at the Retreat at Falls Branch Follow the Retreat at Falls Branch on Instagram Follow the Retreat at Falls Branch on TikTok
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR.
Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In just a moment you’ll meet Jamie Lane, Vice President of Research at AirDNA.
After spending a decade at CBRE, one of the country’s largest American commercial real estate services and investment firm, Jamie was itching for a change…
He had always loved the hospitality space, and the short-term rental space in particular, so when he got a call from Scott Shatford the founder of AirDNA about joining the team, Jamie couldn’t say no.
Tune in to hear Jamie’s thoughts on:
- How savvy STR hosts should be using pricing strategies to increase their occupancy rates
- How STR hosts should balance OTAs and the building of their own brands
- As well as his hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality
Learn More about AirDNA
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Stream Jamie's podcast, STR Data Lab
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes…
And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location.
Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection.
Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR.
Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts(as in, Behind the Stays).
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Emir Dukic, founder and CEO of Rabbu.
Rabbu helps investors find and manage short-term rentals.
Emir started working in tech via a cold email. He reached out to the founder of Kick, which was a social network dedicated to talking about all things soccer, asking if he could help the company grow in any way.
He started volunteering for the company, was eventually hired, and then worked his way up into a leading operations role before the company was acquired by NBC.
Tune in to hear the fun story of how Emir got into the STR game as a host and how that experience inspired him to found Rabbu.
Follow Emir on Twitter
Learn more about Rabbu
This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay.
Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR.
Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In just a moment you’ll meet Evan Dolgow, Head of Predictive Hospitality at Jarvis ML.
Jarvis ML was founded by the guys over at Google who built the machine learning platforms powering Google Ads and Payments.
Evan and his team have a vision of democratizing the data and technology that OTAs have and making these tools and insights accessible to short-term and vacation-rental hosts in order to increase direct bookings.
Tune in to discover what short-term rental and vacation rental hosts can learn from the ecommerce space about building independent brands and moats.
Learn more about Jarvis ML here
Connect with Evan on LinkedIn
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Lauren and Cam Green, the founders of The Fort Treehouse Company — Canada’s premier luxury treehouse company.
Cam and Lauren met at summer camp. They were a part of the same friend group for more than 15 years before they started dating, but once they did, it was clear that they were a perfect match.
Both Lauren and Cam are quite entrepreneurial. Lauren tends to have the big ideas and Cam is incredible at finding ways to bring them to life.
While working on staff at the camp that he and Lauren met at, Cam discovered a sustainable treehouse design and build program in Vermont.
And it was this moment where Cam first realized that what he really wanted to do was build beautiful escapes in the trees!
Tune in to hear the remarkable story of how Cam and Lauren brought their first treehouse to life and what the couple has planned next for The Fort Treehouse Co.
Learn more about The Fort Treehouse Co.
Follow The Fort Treehouse Co. on Instagram
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Ali Nichols — Co-Founder of Getaway.
Getaway is on a mission to make vacation rental real estate accessible to the next generations of investors and to reimagine travel memberships by allowing investors to stay in the premier homes they own.
Ali has been interested in real estate since she was a young child. She’d come home on Sunday mornings after church and circle listings in the newspaper with open houses she wanted to visit.
After working for technology companies like Uber and Bungalow, Ali was bit by that entrepreneurial bug and began desiring to start her own company.
Tune in to hear the story behind where the idea of Getaway came from and what her goals are for the company over the next 12 months.
Discover Getaway Connect with Ali on LinkedIn
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product!
So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Heather Davis, the creator of the Stone City Treehouse in Hardwick, Vermont.
Heather grew up in New York but always had great affinity for the Green Mountain State — so much so that her only criteria for where to go to college was that it had to be in Vermont.
In 2012 Heather started renting her home on Airbnb in order to help pay the bills. Being a single mom with two teenagers in Vermont was not always easy!
She had such a positive experience with the platform and the guests who stayed in her home that she started dreaming about how she might expand her business.
And that’s when the idea for the Stone City Treehouse was born. Tune in to hear the story behind how Heather built the Treehouse with a little help from the DIY Network’s The Treehouse Guys, and how she generated over 500 incredible reviews and 12k followers on Instagram.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Heather.
Book a Stay at the Stone City Treehouse
Follow the Stone City Treehouse on Instagram
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Daniel Rusteen.
Daniel is the self-proclaimed “world’s best at Airbnb.”
And before you laugh or roll your eyes, he’s got a pretty solid case for why this title is fitting.
Daniel worked at Airbnb for several years, launched his own Airbnb property management business, is building his own collection of luxe Airbnbs, has a plethora of courses, tools, and resources he’s developed for Airbnb hosts AND has spent more than 2,000 nights staying at Airbnbs!
So, yeah, the dude knows a thing or two about the Airbnb ecosystem.
Tune into a riveting conversation on how to optimize your Airbnb business and what Daniel thinks the future of travel and hospitality will look like over the next few years.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Daniel.
Visit Daniel's Website
Book a stay at Daniel's Airbnb
Follow Daniel on Twitter
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product!
So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Nate Ritter — founder of Room Steals, a travel membership that provides customers with incredible deals on hotel rooms.
Nate is a technology executive who has started, bought, and sold companies and who has also consulted for companies like Microsoft and Land Rover.
Fun fact — Nate also popularized the use of the hashtag on Twitter…pretty cool, huh?
In this episode, we talk about:
- Where the idea for Room Steals came from and how it compares to Expedia and other OTAs
- How to build a productized experience for your STR collection
- Hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality
- What it’s like to live full time in an RV as a family of 5
Sign up for Room Steals
Follow Nate on Twitter
Get to Know More About Nate on His Website
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product!
So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Bryce Garcia. Bryce works in sales for a SaaS company by day and is building his own collection of STRs by night.
When Bryce’s mom found out he had bought a condo in Austin, site unseen, during the middle of the pandemic, and planned to live in one room and rent out the other on Airbnb she thought he had gone NUTS.
But when Bryce made enough money over one holiday weekend to pay his mortgage for the month, she told Bryce’s father, “maybe the kid is on to something.”
In this episode, Bryce and I talk about:
- How to get into the game as a new STR investor
- The tech stack you need from 0 - 3 properties
- How to use Twitter to grow your brand and business as an STR entrepreneur
- The best people to follow on Twitter for tips on STR investing and business building
- And lots more.
Follow Bryce on Twitter
This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts.
One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System.
Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries.
That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why:
-
Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
-
Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review.
-
It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings.
-
And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product!
So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you.
The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout.
Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts.
Try Guesty for Hosts for Free.
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Jon Kreye — an award-winning Airbnb and VRBO photographer.
Growing up, you’d often find Jon in the backyard snapping photos of trees, flowers, and wildlife — he has always been moved by the beauty nature offers.
Jon dreamed of being able to do photography full-time, but was sober to the fact that making it as a full-time photographer is super difficult.
One day, while traveling in Minnesota, Jon posted photos of the cabin he was staying at on Instagram — and while he didn’t know it at the time, this decision would change the course of his life forever.
Tune in to hear the story of how the success of those first posts on Instagram inspired Jon to focus his photography business around the short term travel space.
Follow Jon on Instagram.
This episode is brought to you by BuildUp Bookings.
SEO. Paid Search. Email Marketing. You know they are the marketing trifecta needed to build your brand and increase direct bookings to your properties... But, outside of watching a couple of YouTube videos and listening to a few STR podcasts, you haven’t had the time to really understand how Google ranks content or what subject line and preview text combo are the best when sending an email to your list about last-minute availability. If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re not just any run of the mill STR or vacation rental host — you’re an entrepreneur who wants to see their portfolio of homes and the brand that encompasses grow. And this week’s podcast sponsor, BuildUp Bookings, can help you do just that. BuildUp Bookings is the digital marketing team that some of the best players in the game use to scale their businesses. I had their founder, Conrad O’Connell on Episode 44 of the podcast...and let me tell you — this guys know his stuff! In just the last 12 months, BuildUp Bookingshas helped their clients earn over $48 million in direct bookings. If 90% of your bookings are coming via the Airbnbs and VRBOs of the world, it might be time to audit and augment your direct booking strategy — and Conrad and his team have set up a special landing page for Behind the Stays listeners chock-full of free resources to help you do so. Head on over to www.BuildUpBookings.com/BTS to learn more. And be sure to request a free marketing strategy session with Conrad and tell him Zach from Behind the Stays sent you his way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
In just a moment you’ll meet Joel Holland, CEO of Harvest Hosts — an RV membership program that allows travelers to stay overnight at unique locations around the country including farms, wineries, breweries, and more.
Joel is what you might call a creative hustler. As a young teenager, you could either find him selling DVDs and books on eBay or out and about shooting video.
Joel loved capturing compelling video content. So much so in fact, that he launched a business called VideoBlocks, which was a marketplace for stock video footage.
He grew the company now known as StoryBlocks and sold it back in 2020 — but not before spending a year RVing around the country with his wife.
After taking some much deserved time off, Joel began looking for his next opportunity. And that’s when he stumbled upon Harvest Hosts.
Tune in to hear the serendipitous story of how Joel discovered, bought, and scaled one of the travel industry’s most beloved brands.
Explore Harvest Hosts
Connect with Joel on Twitter or LinkedIn.
This episode is brought to you by BuildUp Bookings.
SEO. Paid Search. Email Marketing. You know they are the marketing trifecta needed to build your brand and increase direct bookings to your properties... But, outside of watching a couple of YouTube videos and listening to a few STR podcasts, you haven’t had the time to really understand how Google ranks content or what subject line and preview text combo are the best when sending an email to your list about last-minute availability. If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re not just any run of the mill STR or vacation rental host — you’re an entrepreneur who wants to see their portfolio of homes and the brand that encompasses grow. And this week’s podcast sponsor, BuildUp Bookings, can help you do just that. BuildUp Bookings is the digital marketing team that some of the best players in the game use to scale their businesses. I had their founder, Conrad O’Connell on Episode 44 of the podcast...and let me tell you — this guys know his stuff! In just the last 12 months, BuildUp Bookingshas helped their clients earn over $48 million in direct bookings. If 90% of your bookings are coming via the Airbnbs and VRBOs of the world, it might be time to audit and augment your direct booking strategy — and Conrad and his team have set up a special landing page for Behind the Stays listeners chock-full of free resources to help you do so. Head on over to www.BuildUpBookings.com/BTS to learn more. And be sure to request a free marketing strategy session with Conrad and tell him Zach from Behind the Stays sent you his way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Tyann Marcink — the Queen of Guest Experience at Touch Stay, a digital guidebook platform for short-term and vacation rental hosts.
Tyann has a knack for charting her own path. She’s a resilient creative who owns 2 rental management brands and has been active in the vacation rental industry since 2007.
Discover Tyann’s hot takes about the future of the hospitality industry, hear the story behind how she bought a bank and turned it into a vacation rental in the Ozarks, and learn about how she ventured off on her entrepreneurial journey after losing a college scholarship in this episode of Behind the Stays.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Tyann.
You can learn more about Touch Stay here.
Explore Tyann's Vacation Rentals here.
Connect with Tyann on Twitter here.
This episode is brought to you by BuildUp Bookings.
SEO. Paid Search. Email Marketing. You know they are the marketing trifecta needed to build your brand and increase direct bookings to your properties... But, outside of watching a couple of YouTube videos and listening to a few STR podcasts, you haven’t had the time to really understand how Google ranks content or what subject line and preview text combo are the best when sending an email to your list about last-minute availability. If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re not just any run of the mill STR or vacation rental host — you’re an entrepreneur who wants to see their portfolio of homes and the brand that encompasses grow. And this week’s podcast sponsor, BuildUp Bookings, can help you do just that. BuildUp Bookings is the digital marketing team that some of the best players in the game use to scale their businesses. I had their founder, Conrad O’Connell on Episode 44 of the podcast...and let me tell you — this guys know his stuff! In just the last 12 months, BuildUp Bookings has helped their clients earn over $48 million in direct bookings. If 90% of your bookings are coming via the Airbnbs and VRBOs of the world, it might be time to audit and augment your direct booking strategy — and Conrad and his team have set up a special landing page for Behind the Stays listeners chock-full of free resources to help you do so. Head on over to www.BuildUpBookings.com/BTS to learn more. And be sure to request a free marketing strategy session with Conrad and tell him Zach from Behind the Stays sent you his way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
Meet Marcus Rader — Founder and CEO of Hostaway.
Marcus grew up in Finland. He was quite a curious kid, but struggled to develop any lasting hobbies as he was easily distracted.
After flying for the first time as a six year old, Marcus’ dream was to become a pilot. Something about being at 30,000 feet was inspirational and invigorating.
Sadly, Marcus was diagnosed with epilepsy just a few years later. And while he didn’t understand much about the disease as a kid, his soul was crushed when he learned he’d never be able to be a pilot.
Tune in to hear the inspirational story of how Marcus turned this moment of despair into the pursuit of greatness and how he ultimately built one of the most valuable all-in-one tools for vacation rental property managers on the market.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Marcus.
This episode is brought to you by Build Up Bookings.
SEO. Paid Search. Email Marketing.
You know they are the marketing trifecta needed to build your brand and increase direct bookings to your properties...
But, outside of watching a couple of YouTube videos and listening to a few STR podcasts, you haven’t had the time to really understand how Google ranks content or what subject line and preview text combo are the best when sending an email to your list about last-minute availability.
If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re not just any run of the mill STR or vacation rental host — you’re an entrepreneur who wants to see their portfolio of homes and the brand that encompasses grow.
And this week’s podcast sponsor, Build Up Bookings, can help you do just that.
Build Up Bookings is the digital marketing team that some of the best players in the game use to scale their businesses.
I had their founder, Conrad O’Connell on Episode 44 of the podcast...and let me tell you — this guys know his stuff! In just the last 12 months, Build Up Bookings has helped their clients earn over $48 million in direct bookings.
If 90% of your bookings are coming via the Airbnbs and VRBOs of the world, it might be time to audit and augment your direct booking strategy — and Conrad and his team have set up a special landing page for Behind the Stays listeners chock-full of free resources to help you do so.
Head on over to www.BuildUpBookings.com/BTS to learn more. And be sure to request a free marketing strategy session with Conrad and tell him Zach from Behind the Stays sent you his way!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Marc Hostovsky, Founder and CEO of Minoan — a customizable, curated retail platform for short-term rental hosts.
Marc is a self-proclaimed boutique geek and is passionate about the future of retail.
After spending nearly 6 years working at Jet.com and then Walmart (acquired Jet.com), he quickly realized that the best product experiences don't happen on screens or shelves, they happen in real moments of use "in the wild".
Marc founded Minoan to help hosts:
- create, and capitalize on, rich moments in their homes
- save money on everything they need to buy
- and spend a fraction of the time on the unsexy things that come along with ordering (tracking, routing, logistics, etc.)
Tune in to discover the exciting story of the early days of Minoan and learn how you, as an STR host, can leverage Minoan for a current or future property.
Explore the Minoan Experience Website
Connect with Marc on LinkedIn
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com This week's episode is brought to you by Mount.
A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego.
The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right?
There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay.
We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not.
Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences.
Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses!
With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds.
Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking.
Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you.
Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at help@RentMount.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Heather Bien and Adam Shapiro, the creators of Rosehill Cottage — a charming river house on the Rappahannock River in Virginia.
Heather works in marketing at a tech start-up by day and runs her lifestyle and travel blog by night, and Adam works for the federal government.
While the couple lives in Washington DC, they thoroughly enjoy weekend escapes from the city. And it was on one of these weekend escapes that they fell in love with the charming Virginian towns along the Chesapeake Bay.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Heather and Adam found the perfect home in Locust Hill, Virginia and how they brought Rosehill Cottage to life.
Book Rosehill Cottage on Airbnb.
Visit the Rosehill Cottage Website.
Follow Rosehill Cottage on Instagram.
Follow Heather Bien on Instagram.
Discover Heather's Lifestyle Blog.
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com This week's episode is brought to you by Mount.
A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego.
The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right?
There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay.
We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not.
Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences.
Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses!
With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds.
Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking.
Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you.
Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at help@RentMount.com
In just a moment, you’ll meet Vinny Breslin, founder of Uplisting — one of the industry’s leading short-term rental software & channel manager platforms.
Vinny was born and raised in Ireland. If you were to stumble into his room as a young kid, you might find Vinny taking apart a computer or a radio.
When he was 14 years old, he started building websites and was pleasantly surprised when he learned that people would pay him to do such.
He went to school for civil engineering and after graduation started working for a SaaS startup building products and services for the travel industry.
And it was during this season in his life where he started thinking about starting his own company in the hospitality management space.
Tune in to hear the entertaining story of how Vinny Breslin brought Uplisting to life.
Explore Uplisting here.
Follow Vinny on Twitter here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com This week's episode is brought to you by Mount.
A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego.
The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right?
There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay.
We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not.
Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences.
Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses!
With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds.
Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking.
Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you.
Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at help@RentMount.com
Meet Arthur Colker, Founder and CEO of StayFi.
Growing up, Arthur thought he wanted to be a politician. He was intrigued by how power and influence could move society forward.
After going to school in DC and interning on The Hill, Arthur realized that while he loved following politics, working in it wasn’t quite for him.
And while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this realization was the first major stepping stone in his journey to becoming an entrepreneur and in founding StayFi — a wifi portal for short term rentals that allows hosts to capture crucial data from their guests.
Now you’re going to meet Arthur in JUST a second here, but, before you do so, I have a gift for you.
Arthur has offered listeners of Behind the Stays 50% off their first 3 months of StayFi.
So, if you’re inspired by what Arthur and his team are building and want to leverage their tools to grow your STR business, head on over to StayFi.com and use the discount code BTS50 at check out for 50% off the first 3 months of your subscription.
You can connect with Arthur on Twitter or learn more about StayFi here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
This week's episode is brought to you by Mount.
A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego. The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right? There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay. We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not. Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences. Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses! With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds. Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking. Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you. Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at help@RentMount.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Jason Neil — the creator of Golden Tiny Homes – a collection of minimalist short term rentals in Golden, British Columbia.
Growing up, Jason liked working with his hands. He always had an eye for making things better and this perspective ultimately led him to become a builder — like his father before him.
Jason has also always loved the outdoors — in fact he spends half the year surfing in Mexico and the other half snowboarding in British Columbia.
One summer while surfing in Baja, Jason’s buddies started talking about the emerging Cannabis industry and the business opportunities that surrounded it.
Tune in to hear the incredible story of how Jason built up a Cannabis business only to sell it and use the profits of his exit to start building Golden Tiny Homes.
Alright, without further adieu, get ready to meet Jason.
This week's episode is brought to you by Wander.
In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths.
While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths.
And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths.
Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander.
Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion.
Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander.
Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue.
If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Chad Ludeman, Co-Founder of Post Green Homes and Lokal Hotel.
Chad moved around a lot as a kid, but spent high school in upstate New York. He’s an engineer by trade, but an entrepreneur at heart.
Courtney, Chad’s wife and business partner, was Chad’s most critical sounding board — she shot down most of his business ideas until he started talking about real estate.
There was one idea, in particular, that Chad and Courtney both agreed was worth pursuing and that was to build a 1,000 square foot house for $100k. This project was the birth of the couple’s first business, Post Green Homes.
And while they learned a lot through this venture, they realized that their hearts were really in the hospitality space. And it was this realization that ultimately led them to found Lokal Hotel — a collection of design driven boutique luxury hotels.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Chad and Courtney built their brand and their first three hotels.
Book your stay at a Lokal Hotel
Follow Chad on Twitter
Follow Lokal Hotel on Instagram
This week's episode is brought to you by Wander.
In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths.
While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths.
And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths.
Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander.
Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion.
Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander.
Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue.
If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Dylan Petrich — Co-Founder of Wilder Ways, a Texas-based hotel brand and management company.
Dylan was born in Paris but grew up in London. After graduating from university he went to work in finance and split his time between London and New York.
While finance was fascinating, Dylan grew tired of just looking at numbers — he wanted to get into the game of business and be an operator.
So, when an opportunity presented itself to move into the hospitality space by joining a new startup, The Guild, Dylan took it.
After a couple of years of learning a lot about hospitality, real estate, and startups the entrepreneurship bug bit Dylan…and he wondered what it would look like to start his OWN hospitality brand and business.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Dylan built Wilder Ways.
This week's episode is brought to you by Wander.
In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths.
While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths.
And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths.
Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander.
Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion.
Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander.
Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue.
If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Conrad O'Connell (@conradoconnell), Founder and CEO at BuildUp Bookings, a digital marketing agency that helps STR hosts increase direct bookings & build their brands.
Conrad was working at a marketing agency after college. This agency onboarded a new client in the boutique hotel space and Conrad was assigned to the account.
Pretty instantly, Conrad fell in love with the hospitality space — so much so that he wound up leaving the agency to start a firm of his own.
Tune in to hear Conrad share new ideas for how to market STRs, an overview of the most common marketing mistakes that STR hosts make, and how to know if/when it might be time to move off of Airbnb.
This week's episode is brought to you by Wander.
In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths. While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths. And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths. Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander. Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion. Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander.
Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue. If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Debbie Todd, creator of The Woodlands at Hocking Hill.
Debbie is a physical therapist and mother of three by day, and an STR host by night.
Debbie and her husband Jeff were looking for a vacation home that they could get away to a couple of weekends a month. The idea of renting it out wasn’t totally off the table, but certainly wasn’t a priority.
Then one weekend, in the spring of 2020, the family decided to list the property on Airbnb. And, well, it instantly took off…so much so, in fact, that the Todd family was rarely able to stay there!
This traction inspired Debbie and Jeff to start searching for another home in Hocking Hills.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Debbie and Jeff found the property which they’d transform into the Woodlands Lodge and how they’ve designed their budding STR business to give back to the community.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Debbie.
Book The Woodlands at Hocking Hills.
This week's episode is brought to you by Wander.
In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths. While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths. And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths. Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander. Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion. Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander.
Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue. If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to hello@wander.com. If Wander makes an offer, you can count on it being all cash, quick and hassle-free. So if you’ve been thinking of selling, even remotely, why not start a conversation with our friends at Wander? Send them an email at hello@wander.com.
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Madison Rifikin — Founder and CEO of Mount, a platform designed to help short term rental hosts upsell their guests.
Madison has always been a tinkerer. In 5th grade, she had the opportunity to enroll in an innovation program…and she was pretty much hooked on building things after that.
One of the first products she built was a smart bike lock, which she’d go on to sell to some of the most well-known scooter brands in the industry.
Tune in to hear the fantastic story of how selling locks to the Bird’s and Lime’s of the world led to Madison building a platform for STR hosts to turn just about anything into a rentable amenity.
Learn more about Mount by visiting their website.
Connect with Madison on LinkedIn
This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available.
Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available.
Here’s how it works.
Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available.
Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available.
In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available.
And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses.
Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Jack Buck — a hospitality entrepreneur working on his first luxe vacation rental concepts in Sedona, New Orleans, and The Boulders in Arizona.
Buck fell in love with travel after taking a motorcycle trip across Vietnam a few years ago. The beauty and adventure the country offered, coupled with the community he found while traveling, inspired him to work on projects in and the travel industry.
Discover his thoughts on the democratizing of hospitality brand building, why he thinks the future of travel will be communal, and how he’s designing highly-experiential stays for the next generation of travelers.
Follow Buck on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/buckshotio
This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available.
Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available.
Here’s how it works.
Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available.
Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available.
In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available.
And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses.
Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment, you’ll meet Justine Palefsky, co-founder of Kindred — a members-only community for home swapping.
Growing up, Justine loved to read, ideate, and create. Her parents originally moved to San Francisco to follow the Grateful Dead and encouraged Justine to dream big and take bold risks even if others didn’t quite get it.
Justine has always loved to travel. When COVID hit, Justine, like many folks, started dreaming about what it would look like to live in different cities throughout the year.
She started looking into buying short term rentals in markets like Tahoe, but soon realized that, for her, it was less about owning real estate, and more about having the ability to live and work in different locations throughout the year.
And it was this revelation that sparked the initial idea which would become Kindred.
Follow Justine on Twitter here.
Learn more about Kindred by visiting their website.
This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available.
Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available.
Here’s how it works.
Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available.
Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available.
In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available.
And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses.
Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Jami Jenkins — the creator of The Carpenter’s Cabin — a top-rated, luxe cabin stay in Southeastern Ohio's Scenic Wonderland - Hocking Hills.
Jami has always had a knack for the creative. She remembers drawing up floor plans of beach cottages in elementary school and building furniture for her Barbies.
A graphic designer and event planner by trade, Jami loves using design as a way to communicate the story behind a space, an idea, or an experience.
So, when it was time to build the first cabin on the 32 acre plot that Jami and her husband Scott had purchased, Jami knew she wanted an eco-friendly escape that was truly special — that had a soul if you will.
And that’s when the idea of building a space to honor the memory and legacy of her father, a lifelong carpenter, was sparked.
Book your stay at The Carpenter's Cabin
Follow The Carpenter's Cabin on Instagram
This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available.
Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available.
Here’s how it works.
Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available.
Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available.
In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available.
And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses.
Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com
Meet Jeff Wilson, the founder and CEO of Jupe.
Jeff is a serial entrepreneur in the real estate technology industry. If you were to have asked Jeff as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would have either said a “garbage man”, “a doctor”, or “a builder of solar-powered cars” — so, yes, his interests have always been quite varied.
Before founding Jupe, Jeff founded the award-winning micro housing company Kasita, which was named one of Inc’s 25 most disruptive companies in the World (alongside the likes of SoFi and Hyperloop).
Jeff is also known as ‘Professor Dumpster.’ He lived in a 33 sq. ft. modified trash dumpster for a year as part of a minimalist living and housing experiment during his time as a professor in the University of Texas System.
In this interview, you’ll learn how Jeff sees the world, why he’s so passionate about using Jupe as a vehicle to make offgrid living accessible and enjoyable, and how STR hosts can join the Jupe platform and design unforgettable, soul-enriching experiences for their guests by placing a Jupe on their property.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Jeff Wilson.
Learn more about Jupe
Stay in a Jupe
Follow Jupe on Twitter
Follow Jupe on Instagram
Connect with Jeff on Twitter
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment, you’ll meet Billy Chu — owner of The Blue Bungalow, a chic escape in Palm Springs, California.
Billy and his wife Becky are both doctors who live in Los Angeles and parents to young twin girls.
A couple of years ago, Billy and Becky joined an online community of medical professionals who invest in real estate in order to learn more from their peers about the industry.
In early 2021 they stepped into the longer-term rental game by purchasing a couple small multifamily properties.
But the couple really wanted to try their hand at short term rentals and had been eyeing properties in Palm Springs.
Here was the problem — getting into the short term rental game in the fall of 2021 when the real estate market was going bananas seemed all but impossible.
But after consuming dozens of hours worth of STR podcasts, losing out on multiple bids, and almost throwing in the towel, they discovered the home which they now call theirs.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Billy and Becky bought a 4 bed, 3 bath property 5 minutes from downtown Palm Springs and transformed it into The Blue Bungalow.
Book your stay at The Blue Bungalow
Book your stay at The Salty Saguaro
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Stephanie Hays and Peter Woolcock — winners of Airbnb’s Live Anywhere contest.
Last summer, Airbnb announced that they were looking for 12 individuals who’d be willing to live full-time via stays booked on their platform for a year — and over 314,000 applicants from all around the world applied for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
One of the 12 selected was Stephanie Hays. Stephanie and her husband Peter are no strangers to travel — in fact the couple first met each other in a bar in Shanghai!
Since then, they’ve traveled to more than 70 countries and lived abroad on a number of occasions.
Most recently, Steph and Pete were living in Chattanooga, Tennessee along with their toddler son, Hays. When she heard about the contest something told Stephanie that she just had to throw her hat into the ring.
And, well, that something was right.
Tune in to hear the incredible story behind what this young family has learned after 9 months of living around the globe on Airbnb.
You can follow their travels on Instagram here
You can watch their travel vlogs on YouTube here
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Isaac French, the creator of Live Oak Lake, a collection of seven stunning cabins nestled around a small lake in Waco, Texas.
Isaac is what you might call a curious creator. He was homeschooled growing up and his parents enabled him the freedom to pursue a plethora of interests — from art, to architecture, and accounting to entrepreneurship.
Isaac comes from a family of entrepreneurs and learned a lot about business, architectural design, and general contracting from his grandfather who built luxury homes all across the state of Texas.
And it was this influence of his grandfather’s, in part, that emboldened Isaac to purchase an overgrown, 5 acre plot of land just outside of Waco, Texas and transform it into an Insta-worthy vacation destination.
Tune in to hear the remarkable story of how Isaac brought Live Oak Lake to life.
Book your stay at Live Oak Lake.
Follow Live Oak Lake on Instagram.
Follow Isaac on Twitter.
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Taylor Jones, Head of Acquisition at Superhost Labs.
Taylor was working in sales when COVID hit. A few weeks after the world shut down, Taylor’s job was put on a two-month pause and he knew he had to start looking for a new frontier.
Taylor had always dreamed of getting into real estate but had never quite known where to start. With newfound time on his hands, and with nowhere to go, he began Googling.
After watching more than 200 hrs of YouTube videos, streaming a plethora of STR podcasts, and reading through dozens and dozens of blog articles, Taylor finally pulled the trigger on his first-ever short-term-rental.
And while he didn’t know it at the time, this decision would ultimately upon up an entirely new career trajectory for Taylor.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Taylor Jones became the Head of Acquisition at Superhost Labs, a short-term-rental investment startup, and became one of the leading voices on all things STRs on Twitter @MrJonesSTRs.
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment, you will meet Katrina Kuhn and Kathy and Sayres Dudley — the dynamic trio who brought to life The Dwelling Place, a special, peaceful escape in Radford, Virginia.
Kathy was the 12th child in her family and was born on the land that would become Iron Heart Vineyard in Southwestern Virginia.
Kathy and Sayres met in college, married young, and have two sons.
Today, Kathy and Sayres run an executive recruiting firm that specializes in the real estate space, but that’s only half of their story.
The Dudleys have always had a heart for mission-driven entrepreneurship, and Kathy is the founder of four nonprofit charities and ministries, including Imani Bridges, an organization whose mission is to connect Christians from different denominations around the world to use their gifts, talents, and resources to become agents of transformation.
Tune in to hear the incredible story of how and why Kathy and Sayres felt compelled to purchase a home in Southwestern Virginia and with the help of their co-host Katrina, transform it into a serene escape for the world to enjoy.
Book your stay at The Dwelling Place
Purchase Kathy's book, Bridges: Transforming Communities Together
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Hillary and Jason DeMeo — the creators of the IROX ONE, a Scandinavian modern retreat in Asheville, North Carolina.
Hillary and Jason are serial entrepreneurs.
A few years ago, the couple left their respective day jobs to go all in on an idea they had dreamed about for years.
And that idea was to start We Are Curio — a creative studio built for explorers and innovators.
Hillary and Jason have consulted with incredible brands like Disney, NASA, the Orlando Magic, and Chick-fil-A within the context of We Are Curio, but the couple always dreamed of expanding their work into the hospitality space.
Tune in to hear the remarkable story of why this dynamic duo built the Irox Living brand and how they brought their first property, the IROX ONE to life.
Book your stay at IROX ONE
Discover Irox Living's Website
Follow Irox Living on Instagram
Learn More About We Are Curio
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay. The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more. Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year." Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment, you’ll meet Megan and Darin — the creators of the Lakeview Hilltop, a coastal-chic cottage on Claytor Lake in Radford, Virginia.
Originally from the California Bay Area, and a graphic designer by trade, Megan has always had an awareness of the role space plays in inspiring new ideas and perspectives.
Darin, who grew up in the Southwestern Virginia area, had always dreamed of having a lake house. But with two young kids and demanding jobs the idea of acquiring a vacation home in this season of life seemed untenable.
But then COVID hit. And within a matter of months, a charming home that overlooked one of Virginia’s most beautiful, and somewhat undiscovered lakes became available.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Megan and Darin acquired the home which they now call Lakeview Hilltop and brought it to life.
Book Your Stay at the Lakeview Hilltop
Follow Megan and Darin on Instagram
Visit the Lakeview Hilltop Website
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Andrew Hunter — the creator of Airstream Island, a mid-century, tropical hideaway in Atlanta, Georgia.
Andrew is an actor. He will never forget the first time his mother took him to see Fiddler on the Roof. He was transfixed by the characters in the show, but more bewildered by the fact that you could make money pretending to be someone you weren’t!
Fast forward a couple of decades and Andrew is pursuing his acting dream by day and Instagram influencing at night to help pay the bills. But after he meets the love of his life — and proposes to her just two months later — Andrew realizes that in order to continue his acting dream, he’s going to need some supplemental income to support his family.
And that’s when the idea that would ultimately become Airstream Island was born.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Andrew transformed his backyard into a tropical escape and how he grew it to become one of Atlanta’s top-rated Airbnbs.
Book your stay at Airstream Island
Follow Airstream Island on Instagram
Follow Andrew Hunter on Instagram
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Ryan Killeen — General Manager of The Annex Hotel.
You might call Ryan a child of the hospitality industry. He grew up traveling the world with his mom who worked in the luxury hotel space, and had the privilege of encountering a diverse set of cultures and experiences all around the world.
Ryan studied hotel management in college, and while in school, he started cleaning bathrooms and making beds with the housekeeping team at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, which was considered Vancouver’s definitive luxury hotel.
His hard work paid off, and when an opportunity to join the opening team in Dubai at Fairmont the Palm arose, Ryan took it!
After a couple of years, Ryan became interested in the budding space of short-term rentals, so he took jobs at both Sonder and Airbnb.
But Ryan has always been entrepreneurial so when a new opportunity to join a hospitality start up came his way, he took it.
Tune in to hear the story behind The Annex — a new hospitality concept marrying the best of boutique hotels, Airbnb and cutting edge technology that Ryan and his team are developing.
Book Your Stay at The Annex Hotel Here.
Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn Here.
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Margaret Shutze — the creator and owner of Flat Mountain Farm, a luxury escape and events venue in the Appalachian Mountains of Highlands, North Carolina.
Margaret has helped design some of the world’s most incredible luxury hotels working on projects for The Ritz Carlton, Belmond, Waldorf Astoria, and the Four Seasons.
And it was her love for design and hospitality that inspired her and her husband Chris to take a risk and build a couple of Airbnb’s and a micro-events venue on the 3 acre lot they lived on in Colorado.
To their surprise, it was a hit! So much so that they began to dream of something even bigger…
Tune in to hear the story behind how Margaret and Chris bought a magical, rustic, 28-acre plot of land and transformed it into a haven that they call Flat Mountain Farm.
Book your stay at Flat Mountain Farm
Follow Flat Mountain Farm on Instagram
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Alex Breen, founder of BnB Buyer — a biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers a list of new Airbnb and other short term rentals that are for sale.
Alex grew up vacationing in short term rentals — in fact his family was an early adopter of VRBO.
One afternoon, while Alex was in Dublin, his parents were scouting out second homes around Lake Norman in North Carolina.
They stumbled upon an incredible home for sale and, after speaking with the realtor, discovered that the home was being used as a short term rental.
Knowing that there was a reputable history of bookings gave Alex’s family the confidence they needed to purchase the home. And it was this experience that sparked the idea for what would become BnB Buyer.
You can subscribe to BnB Buyer for free here.
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Meet Mike Belleme — the creator of The Nook, an obsessively handcrafted Airbnb just outside Asheville, NC.
Growing up, Mike loved to skateboard — at one point he even thought he might go pro.
But as he grew up, another craft he had dabbled in began to pique his interest even more.
And that craft was photography.
Mike’s incredible focus and unrelenting pursuit of perfection has landed him gigs with media companies like National Geographic, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.
And while his passion has been, and continues to be, storytelling through the medium of still images, Mike recognizes that photography has its limits when it comes to evoking emotion and changing perspectives.
And it was this recognition, in part, that inspired him to build a story in the form of a house, which became The Nook.
Tune in to hear how Mike and his wife Kristen created a tiny home where Japanese aesthetic intersects with Anthropologie-esque accents and where everything from your coffee mug to the tile in the bathroom is handmade by a local artist.
Book Your Stay at The Nook
Follow The Nook on Instagram
Visit Mike's Website
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Joshua Nunnally, the creator of The Shelltown Sanctuary in San Diego, California.
Joshua is an artist. Originally from Fresno, Joshua moved to San Diego to go to architectural school. A few years afterwards, in late January of 2020, he stumbled upon a home in southeast San Diego that seemed almost too good to be true.
When Joshua and his now husband bought the place, they had no intention of listing it on Airbnb. But after COVID hit, Joshua found himself with more time on his hands.
And with it, he decided to transform his home into an artistic oasis complete with original art pieces, pottery, and more than 25 live plants.
Once the rainforest master bathroom, speakeasy guest bathroom, and insta-worthy backyard space were all finished, Joshua knew this space was just too cool to not share with others.
Tune in to hear the story behind how Joshua brought The Shelltown Sanctuary to life.
Book you stay at The Shelltown Sanctuary
Follow The Shelltown Sanctuary on Instagram Contact Josh at josh.evolvds@gmail.com View Josh's Etsy Store, Imperfect Ceramics This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
In just a moment you’ll meet Steven and Kylee Niederhauser, the founders of Arrivls, a boutique vacation rentals management company based in San Diego, California.
Steven and Kylee have always loved to travel. They are the kind of people that would rather book a last-minute weekend getaway than wine and dine at California’s latest Michelin star restaurant.
After traveling in Europe for four years, they decided to move to San Diego. They really wanted to live near Mission Beach but weren’t sure how to make it work financially…and that’s when the idea came to them.
What if they bought a duplex and rented half of the house out as an Airbnb?
And while they didn’t know it at the time, this idea would ultimately enable the couple to leave their jobs and build one of Southern California’s top-rated collections of short term rentals.
You can:
Check out the entire Arrivls collection on their website Follow the Rockaway House on Instagram Follow Arrivls on Instagram
Subscribe to their YouTube Channel (launching soon)!
This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts.
It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic.
You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all.
After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?"
The answer? They use GuestyFor Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again.
Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay.
The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more.
Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it.
While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year."
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
Get ready to meet Amy Corbett Co-Founder of All Belong Co — a collective of short term rentals based in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Amy and her husband Marc have a rich story. The couple has been married for over twenty years and have two amazing children through the gift of adoption.
After working in campus ministry for 17 years, they left salaries and financial stability and even their community behind in order to go “all in” on their life-long side hobby of renovating houses until they could figure out what was next.
They started their first Airbnb in 2018 and the couple was instantly hooked. It became clear that creating these welcoming spaces where anyone could belong was not just a mission, but a calling for their family. They were made for this.
Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Amy and her family, who often feel as though there aren’t enough places where they truly “fit”, built a budding short-term-rental empire that focuses on crafting welcoming spaces not just where people can stay, but where they can truly belong.
Learn more about Amy and the All Belong Co story by visiting their website or following her on Instagram.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe, for free, here.
In just a moment you’ll meet Navid Safabakhsh, the creator of Safa Farms — a boutique eco-hotel featuring a collection of cabins outside of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Navid is a serial entrepreneur.
He founded an agency that helped build products for companies like eBay, Comcast, and LinkedIn before founding a company called Placeit which was a design and mockup tool for creatives that he’d eventually sell to Envato — the leading marketplace for creative assets.
After spending several years building his various businesses, Navid wanted to work on a different kind of project — a project that felt more like play and less like work and somehow conjoined hospitality with sustainability.
Tune in to hear the impressive story of how Navid designed an adventurous farm escape in harmony with the environment and ecosystem around it.
You can book your stay at Safa Farms here and follow them on Instagram here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
In just a moment you’ll meet Kayla Stormont — the creator of The Apex Cabin in Big Bear, California.
When Kayla would go to a toy store or jewelry shop as a kid, and ask her mom for a trinket or a pair of earrings, her mom wouldn’t often say, “No, I’m not buying you that, you could make that yourself.”
And while she didn’t know it at the time, this encouragement would serve her well as an adult.
As a native of the Island of Hawaii, Kayla has always loved the mountains. So when she visited Big Bear for the first time after moving to LA, she knew she needed to find a way to acquire a mountain home.
Tune in to hear the story of how Kayla went from cutting drywall in a Lowe's parking lot on a Friday night to transforming a historic, 1960s A-Frame into a contemporary modern escape.
Book your stay at The Apex Cabin here and follow The Apex on Instagram here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
In just a moment you’ll meet Kelly Cronin — the creator of Cronin's Castles, which is a new collection of unique short-term rentals.
Kelly has always loved to travel and refers to herself as a professional travel hacker — she once scored an $11 Southwest flight from Wisconsin to Puerto Rico!
By the time she visited all 50 states, Kelly had fallen in love with too many places…and she began to brainstorm ideas for how she might ensure that she return to some of her favorites.
And that’s when she started seriously looking into acquiring unique tiny homes that she could transform into short-term rentals.
And before long, she bought a home in Vieques, Puerto Rico…and then one in Alaska…and then another in Utah…oh, and this was all over the course of one year…while she was still living thousands of miles away from all locations in Wisconsin.
Tune in to hear the delightful story of how Kelly transformed her dream of owning a little part of the places she loves most into a reality — a reality which guests from around the world can also enjoy.
Learn more about Kelly's vision — and book one of her stays — by visiting the links below:
www.croninscastles.com https://www.facebook.com/croninscastlerentals ig -@croninscastles https://www.instagram.com/croninscastles/ https://www.facebook.com/Viequesseahouse https://www.facebook.com/elevatedsolitudeutah https://www.facebook.com/Innanutshellalaska/
Interested in learning more about how to buy, build, and manage Airbnbs remotely?
Check out Kelly's course on Short Term Rental Success.This is a one-stop-shop class for selecting, funding, starting and running a short-term rental profitably!
In just a moment, you’ll meet Annie Sloane — Co-Founder and CEO of The Host Co.
Have you ever been in an Airbnb and wished you could buy one of the coffee mugs, rugs, or pieces of artwork from the home?
Or perhaps wished you could order some groceries ahead of time so that you arrive to a fully-stocked fridge upon check-in?
Well, thanks to The Host Co., you now can!
Annie was an early adopter of Airbnb — she remembers when you used to have to hand cash to your host upon arrival to pay for your stay!
After working as a writer for Lucasfilm, a producer for HGTV, and a creative director at both Facebook and Twitter, Annie began thinking about doing something new.
Around this time, she reconnected with Mikel Hubbard, a former colleague from HGTV. Annie and Mikel helped launch and direct a myriad of popular HGTV shows like Curb Appeal, Landscape Smart, Color Splash, Find Your Style, and Design to Sell — so they knew a thing or two about real estate.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Annie and Mikel are building the mini-bar, concierge, and gift shop for your Airbnb.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Annie Sloane.
Learn more about The Host Co. by visiting their website at www.TheHost.co or by following them on Instagram @thehostcompany.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
In just a moment, you’ll meet Emily Padan — co-creator and co-owner of Hinter Company.
A few years ago, Emily left her career as a school teacher in Montreal to pursue entrepreneurship full time with her now husband, Mauricio.
The creative couple had a vision for building a luxurious, eco-friendly escape in the Canadian forest.
Over the next couple of years, Emily and Mauricio wrestled tirelessly with the question “what would it look like to create spaces that integrate art, nature, community, and sustainability?”
Their answer to that question proved to be Hinter. Hinter spaces are inspired by cabins in the Norwegian mountains. They use Japanese design cues and a minimalist philosophy, so, yes, they are absolutely stunning.
Every interior space is carefully crafted with a strong emphasis on what matters most to Emily and Mauricio - comfort and nature.
Tune in to hear how these entrepreneurs first brought Hinter to life in 2018, how they’ve scaled to one of the most desirable places to stay in North America, and get a sneak peak for what they have in store next.
Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Emily Padan.
You can book your stay at Hinter here and follow Hinter Company on Instagram here.
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
In just a moment, you’ll meet Tim and Cindi Spaulding — the builders, designers, and hosts of Salamander Ridge — a charming tiny cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Tim and Cindi, along with their three children, love the outdoors — the Spaulding family are avid campers, hikers, creek walkers, and trail runners.
One afternoon, after Cindi had contracted a bad case of poison ivy, the family decided to go on a creek walk in the Blue Ridge Mountains right near the Appalachian Trail.
While wading through the stream, the couple noticed a property for sale up on the mountainside. The 2.5 acre lot was stunning, but upon further investigation they realized that a sale was already pending.
Being the optimists they are, Tim and Cindi decided to call the realtor to see if there was any chance the seller might entertain another offer…and, as luck would have it, the seller was interested.
Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Tim and Cindi brought Salamander Ridge, one of Airbnb’s highest-rated escapes for outdoor enthusiasts, to life.
You can book The Salamander Ridge on Airbnb and follow them on Instagram here.
In just a moment, you’ll meet Daniel and Fawn Shear, the founders of Seasons' Yield Farm.
Daniel, like his father before him, served in the military after graduating from college. During his first deployment to Afghanistan, his wife Fawn mailed him a book by Chad Robertson titled Tartine — a book of sourdough bread baking and recipes, but also a compelling story of one couple’s journey building a business around their passion for bread.
Daniel had always enjoyed baking, so after a second deployment, and long stretches of separation, Daniel and Fawn began seriously thinking about what it would look like to work together as a family, on a farm in a home-based food-service business.
And it was this dream that ultimately led these entrepreneurs to start the budding empire that is Seasons' Yield Farm.
Tune in to hear the enchanting story of how Daniel and Fawn started selling meat and veggies, then became a CSA, and ultimately chose to go all in on the bread and hospitality business…and yes, their gorgeous, top-rated Airbnb sits right above their bespoke, bakery and cafe.
You can book your stay at The Bread Barn here.
In just a moment you’ll meet Michaela Carozza, the creator and host of one of Carmel Valley’s top-rated Airbnbs.
Michaela had been in the market for a property in Carmel Valley for many years. She loved the diversity of beauty that the central California coast offered, but needed to find a place with both a main house and a second property that she could use as a rental for some supplementary income.
So, in 2011, when a 5 acre plot of land with a house and a horse barn on top of a hill became available, Michaela knew she had to jump at the opportunity. Both properties needed a lot of work, but over the course of several years, Michaela and her partner Micha poured their blood, sweat, tears, and love into transforming the horse barn into an enchanting retreat...one they’ve now shared with over 300 guests from all around the world.
Tune in to hear the story of how Michaela brought the rustic retreat that she calls the Valley Eden Barn to life.
You can book your stay at Valley Eden Barn on Airbnb, or with Michaela and Micha directly on their website.
In just a moment you’ll meet Alla and Garrett Hohn — the creators of The Hohnstead, which is a mini-glamping resort featuring a collection of tiny cabins about 20 minutes from Missoula, Montana.
Garrett’s father had always dreamed of buying a plot of land that the whole extended family could enjoy, so when he stumbled upon over 100 acres of untouched Montana forest for sale, he knew it was time to pull the trigger.
So, he called Garrett and Alla who were living in South Korea and asked if they “were in” — and, “in” they were.
The following summer, the couple built a small, rustic structure with recycled materials on the property that they dubbed “The Shanty”, and it wasn’t long before Alla asked Garrett and the rest of the family a question that would change their lives forever, “what if we listed the Shanty on Airbnb?”
Everyone thought she was crazy!
Tune in to hear the compelling story of how the Hohn family built an incredibly unique oasis of tiny cabins that hundreds of guests from all over the world have since come to enjoy.
Book your stay at The Hohnstead here.
In just a moment, you’ll meet Andrew and Bianca — founders of the Serenity Hill Group, a growing collection of luxury Airbnb escapes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Andrew and Bianca live in Boston, and while they love all that the city has to offer, their hearts have always found peace in the mountains.
Andrew grew up hiking, skiing, and vacationing in the White Mountains and dreamed of one day buying his own home in the area.
As luck would have it, one day, the seemingly perfect opportunity presented itself — a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home tucked away on a private 2-acre lot surrounded by tall pines and the crisp White Mountain air.
But, the home needed a lot of work. So Andrew, Bianca, and their families spent the next year transforming the home into an incredibly beautiful, modern escape from the city.
And while the couple had intended to make this place their permanent home, their circumstances changed and they decided to list the space on Airbnb.
Tune in to hear the story of how Andrew and Bianca learned how to build, design, and furnish Serenity Hill House and how they decided when it was time to open up their SECOND Airbnb, The Rosewood, just a couple of towns away.
Book your stay at the Serenity Hill House or The Rosewood! You can also follow Serenity Hill Group on Instagram @SerenityHillGroup.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
In just a moment you’ll meet Louisa Conrad, Co-Founder of Big Picture Farm. Big Picture Farm is a Vermont farmstead goat dairy and confectionery whose award-winning caramels have won over a dozen national awards...and while these candies are undeniably decadent, there is more to Big Picture than just the goat dairy…
After leaving their careers in academia, Louisa and her husband Lucas founded the farm in 2010. Their vision was to help their customers understand the rich context that surrounds the milk, cheese, and candies produced on the farm. They aspired to tell consumers the story behind the food in hopes that they might, well, understand the “big picture” of how, what, and who made the treats they consumed.
But Lousia and Lucas dreamed of taking things a step further...what if they could invite folks to experience the dairy? Could this be a vehicle through which they might expand their mission and help underwrite the cost of their Animal-Welfare-Approved farm?
Tune in to hear the story behind how Louisa and her husband Lucas built three bespoke residences on the farm that they now rent out on Airbnb.
In just a moment you’ll meet Maris LeBlanc and JR Amantea, the creators of The Little House of Essex — a chic cottage near the Connecticut River in the most quintessential of quintessential New England towns.
Maris has spent her career in real estate — mostly brokering luxury, waterfront homes along the Connecticut Shoreline. When she met her now husband, JR, he was living in New York working in finance, but his real passion lay in curating and managing classic and exotic cars.
Maris encouraged JR to go all in on his passion and, soon after, he left New York, moved to Essex, Connecticut and started GT Motor Cars — a boutique vintage and exotic car dealership, and collection management company.
And it was here in Essex where Maris and JR bought a beautiful, oversized ranch-style home which included a shed-like structure behind it. And while JR had hoped to transform this shed-like structure into a bachelor’s pad, Maris had bigger ambitions...tune in to hear the wonderful story behind the building of The Little House of Essex.
You can book your stay at The Little House of Essex here.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
In just a moment you’ll meet Laura Gentry and Carollani Sandberg — the creators of The Sagecliff Satori, a luxurious Airbnb cabin in Quincy, Washington.
Laura and Carollani are what you might call “experience optimizers”. They love to travel, try new restaurants, and explore off the beaten paths, but can’t help but do so with a critical eye. They often ask each other, “what would you do differently if you owned this space?” or “how might you enhance this experience to make it even more memorable?”
Carollani had decided that it was time to sell her townhouse and explore the possibility of a new rental property -- one that she and her family could use for short term rentals.
One afternoon, Laura and Carollani were having lunch with a few friends who worked in real estate investments and the bunch started chatting about up and coming neighborhoods in and around the greater Seattle area, but none of these areas particularly compelled Laura and Carollani.
Right before lunch wrapped up, one of their friends casually mentioned a new development out in Quincy, Washington — about 2.5 hours east of Seattle. This development was to feature a collective of luxury condos that overlooked the Columbia River Gorge.
And, while they didn’t know it at the time, that moment was the genesis of what would become The Sagecliffe Satori. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Laura and Carollani brought one of the most incredible and magical stays available on the Airbnb platform to life.
Book Your Stay: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/34682157
Follow the Stay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecliffesatori
Follow the Stay on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagecliffe/
On this episode of Behind the Stays, you’ll meet Eli Clark and Alexa Lang from Clark Family Silos. Eli grew up on a farm in Kalispell, Montana (about 30 minutes outside of Whitefish in the North-Western part of the state). After studying design in college, he moved to Carlsbad, California to work at a design firm where he got the opportunity to work on a couple of Addidas’ leading product lines. But Eli wasn’t satisfied with the 9-5…so he bought an Airstream and embraced the freelance, digital nomad life…before it was the cool thing — Instagram wasn’t even around yet, so you won’t find any of his posts in #wanderlust. About a decade later, Eli’s father, Brad, the Clark Family’s Farmer-in-Chief, was eyeing retirement. Over drinks in a local town pub one evening, Eli and his partner Alexa pitched an idea to Brad that would make stepping back from the farm a bit more possible…and that idea? It was to transform five grain silos into luxurious Airbnbs. The problem? Well, while Clark Family Farms had fields of canola, peas, and wheat, depending on the season, they didn’t own a single silo. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Eli, Alexa, the Clark family, and ultimately the entire Kalispell community, came together to erect some of the most inspiring and unique stays on the Airbnb platform. You can book your stay at Clark Family Silos here — if you do, be sure to tell them that you discovered them through Behind the Stays!
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
In a minute, you’ll meet Valerie Malone — Creator and Founder of Quill Decor, a design consultancy that specializes in short-term rentals.
Valerie studied interior design at Auburn University, but always had a knack for entrepreneurship. After running a successful Airbnb out of her basement in Bloomington, Indiana, Valerie fell in love with the Airbnb community and felt a calling of sorts to make an impact in the budding short-term-rental economy.
After she landed her first Airbnb design gig, Valerie decided it would be worth documenting the entire process so that she could one day teach current and aspiring hosts how to successfully design their homes to stand out. As fate would have it, her husband landed a professorship at Cambridge and Valerie’s family moved to the UK…but not before she produced one of the most comprehensive, inspiring, and user-friendly e-courses on Airbnb design on the market. During our conversation, Valerie outlines several helpful frameworks for how to think about the design style of your Airbnb, and shares advice on how to effectively and efficiently craft a memorable experience that compels a 5-star rating.
One last thing before I introduce you to Val…Quill Decor is offering a free Airbnb Design Master Class on Wednesday, July 7th. So, if you’re listening to this before the 7th, be sure to sign up! Valerie is also offering Sponstayneous subscribers and Behind the Stays listeners a special offer on her Airbnb Design E-course. Visit the links below more information.
Airbnb Design E-Course Quill Decor's Short Term Rental STYLE QUIZ A Free 3 Day Email Course
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
The idea was born on a road trip from Waco, Texas to Ferndale, California. Merritt Brodt and her daughter, Callie Alexandre, had gone to the Lone Star State to source antiques for their artisan shop, The Farmer’s Daughter, in downtown Ferndale. Callie, whose husband's married family owns and operates Alexandre Farms (one of the few organic dairies to produce A2/A2 milk AND secure coveted shelf space at Whole Foods’ across the country) had the idea. “What if we renovated the barn and turned it into an Airbnb?” Merritt, mother of 3, grandmother of 4, owner of 500 cows, and founder of The Farmer's Daughter, was skeptical at first. She had a pretty full plate already! Upon arriving back home in their lush, almost Ireland-like town just a few hours north of San Francisco, Callie was able to convince Merrit and her husband Brian to give it a shot...and the whole family got to work. Their mission? To create a piece of heaven on Earth. Tune in to hear Merritt and her daughter-in-law Amanda share the inspiring story of how the family came together to bring The Farm Stay at the Bluff to life. To book your stay at the Bluff, or to connect with the Brodt family, visit the links below! Oh, and the next time you're at the grocery store and pick up a delicious block of Rumiano's Cheese or a pint of Humboldt Creamery's ice cream, say a little "thank you" to Merritt and the Brodt family...chances are, the milk came from one of their cows! Book Your Stay Follow Merritt on Instagram Follow Amanda on Instagram Follow Callie on Instagram Follow the FarmStay on Instagram Follow The Famer's Daughter on Instagram
Follow Rumiano Cheese Follow Humboldt Creamery
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
They met at a Starbucks.
Amber was working as a barista and Tyler had just moved from Utah to Tennessee. They didn't know it at the time, but just a few years later they would not only be life partners but business partners as well.
The story behind the vision and building of the Little River Tiny House — one of the highest-rated Airbnbs in all of Tennessee — is nothing short of a miracle.
Amber and Tyler Woodruff were rich with dreams, but poor in cash. Through a series of serendipitous events, the Woodruff's were able to purchase their dream home in Maryville, Tennessee — on a property that was large enough for a second home (a second tiny home that is).
Tune in to this episode of Behind the Stays to hear the remarkable story of how a young family designed, built, and promoted their first Airbnb on little more than a wing and a prayer.
You can find Amber on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/littlerivertinyhouse/ And book the Little River Tiny House here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/44588661
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Meet Katie Denton — a mother of three small children and a lifelong lover of travel and fine hospitality.
On this episode of Behind the Stays, Katie shares the origin story of Bees Nees Getaways — a boutique rental home collection she founded with a focus on unique and dreamy experiences in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Northern Neck of Virginia — and explains her vision and process for cultivating spaces that aren't just beautiful, but are conducive to the creation of memories.
Katie's properties include The Treehouse and The Cottage — which can be booked directly on Airbnb and you can view photos of these beautiful homes by following Bees Nees Getaways on Instagram.
Bees Nees was named for a very special home on Gibson Island, on the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland, and the family that filled its rooms every summer.
The Patterson family made great memories within those walls and along the waters of the Bay. They loved a party, they loved to sail and they loved spending quality time with family. Even though the Pattersons no longer own the original Bees Nees retreat, they have kept up the rich tradition of family togetherness.
Learn more about Katie, her family, her story, and the future of Bees Nees Getaways by tuning in to this week's episode of Behind the Stays.
If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in!
So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Suzie has spent most of her life working at the intersection of travel and customer service.
She traveled the world as a flight attendant for many years, before deciding to become a full-time Airbnb host.
But there's so much more to her story...
My wife and I stayed at this impeccably clean and serene cottage on Suzie and Neal’s stunning property for two weeks and instantly fell in love with this calming and beautifully inviting and decorated space.
The love, care, and thought poured into this place is unmatched. We found everything we might need and then some to make dinner prep feel like a French chef’s dream.
And, when we didn’t want to cook, Suzie’s recommendations never disappointed. But, what made this place even more magical — besides the sweet smell of lavender wafting through the air, or the crisp linens on the bed, or even the fresh cut flowers that greeted us on the kitchen table...(oh aaaaand did I mention the chic decor and rustic fire pit?) — was Suzie and Neal’s kind and warm hospitality, which made our stay truly feel like home.
If joy were a place, it would undoubtedly be The Sparrow’s Nest. Enjoy the show!
Hey friends — hope you enjoyed today’s show! If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in! So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Alright, all — see you next time...
When they purchased their home in 2016, the Smith family had no idea what adventures lay ahead. On the far edge of their property sat an empty WWII train and a historic aircraft hangar...
Fast forward just a couple of years, and these historic spaces have been transformed into gorgeous stays. Tune in for an exciting story of how the Smith family went from managing one to managing three Airbnbs, with Adrienne at the design helm, Tayler heading up branding and marketing, and Dean commanding the post of "Chief Customer Experience Manager"...oh, and their seven dogs playing key roles in the guest happiness department.
Check out the Smith Family Airbnb's here:
Platform1346
Terminal1344
Dolly's Fantasy Camper
Hey friends — hope you enjoyed today’s show! If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat!
Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com
Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in! So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
Alright, all — see you next time...
On this epsiode of Behind the Stays, Zach interviews Kristen Bishop — a real estate professional who purchased the historic guest on the Filene family's estate that would become "Camp Adelaide."
The Filene family owned and operated "Filene's Basement", also called The Basement, which was a Massachusetts-based chain of department stores that was owned by Retail Ventures, Inc. until April 2009 when it was sold to Syms.
The oldest off-price retailer in the United States, Filene's Basement focused on high-end goods and was known for its distinctive, low-technology automatic markdown system.
After purchasing the home in 2019, Kristen has made Camp Adelaide her nights and weekends project...slowly, but surely, restoring the home without disrupting its deep character.
Listen in to learn more about the serendipity that led to Kristen's acquisition of the home, the story behind why she decided to become an Airbnb host, and what "home" during a global pandemic means to Kristen and her family.
You can book a stay at Camp Adelaide, here. Mention "Behind the Stays" and/or "Sponstayneous" and Kristen might just cut you a special deal...but no promises :).
Welcome to Behind the Stays — a podcast that shares the stories behind your favorite Airbnbs and the hosts who’ve made them memorable.