The Hospitality Edge

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we dive into what it really takes to thrive in a high-risk, high-reward short-term rental market. Sebastian Humbert , c o-owner and founder of Tropicalia Puerto Rico , shares the raw truth about platform dependency, business reinvention, and building a resilient rental operation on an island where the lights don’t always stay on — literally. From Hurricane...

What separates burnt-out landlords from strategic investors managing $70M+ portfolios? For Rodney Rivera—CEO of Ion Mortgage & Lending and CEO/COO of Ion Property Management—it all comes down to knowledge. In this episode, Rodney shares how deep research, creative financing, and long-term thinking helped him build and scale his real estate empire. Forget chasing cash flow at all costs—Rodney m...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge Podcast , we sit down with Austin Spitzenberger, Founder of Blue Door Retreats and Partner at LazyH Retreats. Austin shares his journey of scaling his property management business, from managing just a few properties to successfully scaling to 100+ properties. He reveals the key strategies that allowed him to scale his business efficiently, emphasizing the i...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Robin Bass – Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Premier Properties, a luxury property management company known for its outstanding service, loyal team, and rapid growth. Robin opens up about the leadership philosophy that changed everything: kindness. From building lasting vendor relationships to scaling to 40 luxury properties without...

In our latest episode of The Hospitality Edge Podcast , we sit down with Jeff Jenson, CEO of Buckingham Luxury Vacation Rentals and serial entrepreneur, to discuss the secrets behind scaling a successful vacation rental business. What you’ll learn: Why most property managers fail and how to avoid common pitfalls How AI is transforming guest experiences and operational efficiency Key strategies for...

In this episode of the The Hospitality Edge Podcast, we sit down with Jack Zoppa, CEO of Haven Vacation Rentals , to explore the transformative power of ownership and accountability in leadership. Jack shares his unique journey from starting at the ground level to managing over 240 properties, offering valuable insights into the vacation rental industry. What You'll Learn: The importance of 10...

When short-term rental operators hit 30–50 units, most stall — or burn out. Why? Because they never learn to truly leverage people, systems, or strategy. In this episode, Sean Rakidzich, Founder of Million Dollar Renter & Host of Airbnb Automated, shares the brutal lessons he learned scaling an STR business past 100 units and the hidden risks most operators don’t see coming until it’s too late...

Buying a vacation rental management company is exciting — but what happens next can make or break your success. In this episode, we dive deep into the real challenges new owners face after an acquisition: keeping the staff, the property owners, and the business you just bought. Renée Triplett, Owner at Easy Vacation Services and Breathe Easy Rentals, shares her experience of acquiring two rental m...

Buying your way into the short-term rental industry might sound easier than starting from scratch — but it comes with a whole different set of challenges. In this episode, we sit down with someone who didn’t just start a vacation rental company… he acquired two of them without any industry experience. Gene Triplett, Owner of Easy Vacation Services & Breathe Easy Rentals, dives into what it rea...

Most short-term rental operators hit a wall around 50 units. Scaling beyond that? It’s where quality starts slipping, operations break, and owners walk away. But not this time. In this episode, we dive with Steven Chrobak, Owner of Myrtle Beach Destinations, into the playbook of an operator who built a 100+ unit portfolio in under two years — without ever living in the market he manages. From mili...

What happens when a seasoned Wall Street portfolio manager enters the short-term rental game? In this episode, we sit down with Andy Newman, CEO of Newman Hospitality, to unpack the surprising parallels between financial portfolio management and building a successful STR (short-term rental) business. With over a decade of experience in both banking and vacation rentals, Andy shares what most STR o...

What does it really take to grow a short-term rental business from one unit to over 100 listings—without raising a single dollar from outside investors? In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Hatter, CEO of Curated Vacation Properties and Founding Director of KEYS Collective, who did exactly that. From building a property management company during COVID to acquiring boutique hotels and navigatin...

Scaling a vacation rental business is one thing — staying in control while managing 200+ properties is another. In this episode, we dive deep with Philip Wilburn, Co-Founder & CEO of Hoste, into what it actually takes to grow to 200+ vacation rentals without letting quality, operations, or your sanity fall apart. You'll hear real lessons from someone who's done it — including the mista...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge , we sit down with Heidie Henriksen, Executive Director of VRNation and Co-Founder of ASTRHO, to dive deep into the evolving landscape of the vacation rental industry — and why bridging the gap between rental owners (RBOs) and professional property managers is more critical than ever. Heidie shares how VRNation is leading a movement to unite the industry, el...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Dunniela Kaufman, CEO of Sojourn DC, to explore the behind-the-scenes journey of growing a hospitality brand into a full-service property management company. Starting from managing a single building on Capitol Hill to operating over 320 properties, Dunniela shares candid insights on how Sojourn scaled organically without outside funding, na...

Handling unhappy clients is one of the hardest challenges in any business—but what if you could turn frustration into loyalty? In this episode, we dive deep into the strategies that transform conflict into long-term trust and repeat business. Luke Rzepiennik, Co-Founder and Director of Sales & Marketing of Renjoy, shares real-life experiences from scaling a short-term rental business, revealin...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge , we sit down with Jacob Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Renjoy, a property management company that’s grown to manage nearly 200 properties. Jacob shares the key lessons he's learned in scaling a business quickly, from managing a huge volume of transactions to navigating the complexities of financial systems and operational efficiency. He also opens up about...

Scaling a short-term rental business from one guest house to 150+ properties in just a few years is no small feat. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Vialpando, Co-Founder & CTO of Renjoy, to uncover the strategies, challenges, and technology that fueled their rapid growth. Michael shares his journey from house hacking and DIY property management to building a fully systematized, tech-d...

Scaling a hospitality business isn’t just about taking on more properties—it’s about building systems, automating processes, and knowing when to let go. In this episode, we sit down with Gianrene Padilla, managing partner at HMG Hospitality Management Group and co-founder of Viva Puerto Rico Shorter Rental Alliance, to explore how he transformed a one-property hustle into a scalable hospitality op...

Scaling a hospitality business isn’t just about taking on more properties—it’s about building systems, automating processes, and knowing when to let go. In this episode, we sit down with Gianrene Padilla, managing partner at HMG Hospitality Management Group and co-founder of Viva Puerto Rico Shorter Rental Alliance, to explore how he transformed a one-property hustle into a scalable hospitality op...

How do you go from a high-paying corporate job to building a thriving vacation rental business? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon St. Val, the founder of Elevate Vacation Rentals, who shares her journey from finance and consulting to scaling a multi-million dollar short-term rental operation. Shannon reveals how she made $80,000 passively in her first year, navigated strict New York City r...

How do you go from a high-paying corporate job to building a thriving vacation rental business? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon St. Val, the founder of Elevate Vacation Rentals, who shares her journey from finance and consulting to scaling a multi-million dollar short-term rental operation. Shannon reveals how she made $80,000 passively in her first year, navigated strict New York City r...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Labno, the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Vacay Mama and a seasoned real estate broker based in Destin, Florida. Taylor shares her journey from California's retail management to becoming a leader in the short-term rental (STR) industry in Florida. She explores the essential aspects of owner education and fi...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Labno, the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Vacay Mama and a seasoned real estate broker based in Destin, Florida. Taylor shares her journey from California's retail management to becoming a leader in the short-term rental (STR) industry in Florida. She explores the essential aspects of owner education and financ...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge , we sit down with Hunter Harrelson, owner of Beach Ball Properties, to uncover the secrets behind his impressive success in managing and scaling over 350 vacation rental properties. Hunter shares his journey from acquiring a small property management business to building a thriving company that prioritizes owner retention and operational excellence. Whether...