The STR Growth Show

I sit down with Ariel Smith , a hospitality powerhouse who went from sales rep to managing a 60-person guest comms team—and now runs her own short-term rental company with 30 properties in one of the most competitive markets: San Diego. Ariel shares her journey from her early days at Home Suite and AvantStay (back when they only had 30 listings!) to building a thriving, hospitality-first STR busin...

We have Neil Shah , a humble yet incredibly successful boutique hotel investor who now owns 10+ properties and has helped countless others break into the hospitality space. Neil immigrated to the U.S. in 1997 with an electrical engineering degree, barely English, and no hotel background. Fast-forward to today: he’s built a boutique hotel portfolio and become a go-to resource for aspiring investors...

We sit down with Riley Goldman , CEO and Founder of Beachside VR, to unpack the sales strategies that helped him scale to over 250 short-term rental units under management, growing fast. He shares his journey from starting with just a handful of units to building a 300+ property portfolio without relying on heavy marketing spend. We dive deep into his authentic approach to sales, how word-of-mouth...

I’m joined by Taylor Jones, founder of STR Search, an acquisition firm that’s helped investors close over 205 profitable short-term rental deals across the country. If you’re active on LinkedIn, chances are you’ve seen his name. Taylor’s known for consistently sharing valuable insights and hard-hitting data around STR acquisitions and performance. We dive deep into what separates a high-performing...

I’m sitting down with Dustin Baker, a digital marketing pro who’s shaking up how short-term rentals get seen, booked, and branded. With nearly a decade of experience across e-commerce and tech, Dustin brings a fresh perspective to an industry overdue for a marketing glow-up. We dive into why relying solely on Airbnb isn’t the move anymore, and how social media, email strategy, and content funnels...

In this episode, we sit down with Isaac French , a lifelong entrepreneur who built and sold Live Oak Lake, an experiential hospitality venture that grossed over $1M in its first year. Isaac shares his journey from a homeschool upbringing on a Texas farm to designing and scaling a multimillion-dollar hospitality brand—all before turning 30! If you’re interested in real estate, short-term rentals, o...

In this episode, we sit down with Zach Busekrus , a well-connected entrepreneur in the short-term rental (STR) space. From launching and selling his own startup to building powerful networks within the industry, Zach has seen it all! We dive deep into loyalty in the STR industry and how concepts from hospitality giants like Hilton and Marriott can be applied to short-term rentals. Zach, Head of th...

In this episode, I sit with Brooke Pfautz , founder and CEO of Vintori & Comparen t, who is an absolute beast in the short-term rental industry. He’s helped 800+ companies scale their acquisitions and even wrote a book on it. But here’s the crazy part – Brooke built his empire after losing everything in the 2007 crash. How did he bounce back? How did he scale from 0 to 500 units in just 5 year...

Buckle up, because this episode is straight-fire! We’ve got  Emanuele Pani in the house—a legit legend in the short-term rental game. He went from working maintenance and fixing things behind the scenes to owning 40+ units, co-hosting 10 more, and leading major syndications . Oh, and he’s also the host of STR Secrets, one of the biggest podcasts in the space. But here’s the real kicker, Emanuele i...

What’s up, everyone! I’m sitting down with Arthur Colker , the Founder and CEO of StayFi. If you’ve ever wondered how to ditch dependency on Airbnb and take control of direct bookings, this episode is for you. Arthur breaks down how his platform captures guest data (yep, through WiFi!) and turns it into marketing gold. 📨💻 We’re diving into his journey from digital marketing to creating a game-ch...

We’ve got the one and only JJ King, a STR rockstar shaking up the Florida scene. What started as a few units has exploded into over 250 properties and they’re about to hit 300. JJ talks about how his side hustle turned into a full-blown empire, the hustle behind his success, and how he balances big vision with building systems. Get ready for behind-the-scenes insights from someone who's been there...

Madi Rifkin , CEO and founder of Mount, a groundbreaking platform for short-term rental hosts! 🚀 At 27, she is already transforming the way guests experience travel by connecting them to hidden local gems through her innovative software. From selling candy as a kid to creating her first company at 12, Madi's entrepreneurial spirit has always been unstoppable. In this episode, we dive into her jou...

What if AI could take all the stress out of managing short-term rentals? Cole Rubin , Co-Founder of Host AI, is here to spill the secrets behind his game-changing platform that’s redefining the industry. From flipping 30+ properties to breaking records in Joshua Tree, Cole’s journey is nothing short of legendary. We’re talking about how he turned a simple idea into an all-in-one tool that handles...

I’ve got my guy Jason Samson on the pod today, and let me tell you, this dude is a legend. He’s out in Hawaii managing over 60 co-hosting units and just bought a short-term rental management company—absolute boss moves. If you’ve ever wanted the inside scoop on STRs, investing smart, or just how to juggle a million things at once, this episode’s for you. 🚀 Connect with me... Podcast: ⁠https://pod...

Ever wondered how top investors fine-tune their short-term rental pricing? Meet Anurag Verma , the brilliant mind behind PriceLabs, the #1 tool reshaping the STR game. In this episode, we dig deep into his journey—from United Airlines’ complex pricing systems to revolutionizing Airbnb hosts' revenue strategies. Discover hidden features, insider tips, and why smart pricing is the secret weapon ever...

Blake Dailey, a real estate entrepreneur specializing in acquiring and revitalizing boutique hotels, joins us for an insightful conversation. Blake shares his journey of successfully managing and selling a portfolio of five boutique hotels (85 units) and his latest achievement—a 130-unit hotel and resort in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. With a $3M+ renovation underway, he dives into the challenge...

We sit down with Billy Perez , a former teacher turned entrepreneur who has skyrocketed his vacation rental management company, Elevate Vacation Homes, to 27 units in less than a year. Billy shares his journey from the classroom to quitting his job in March 2024, scaling his business through strategic relationships and relentless action. He dives into lessons learned from managing Airbnbs, leverag...

In this episode, I’m joined by Redeet Negate , aka BNB in Dubai, to talk about his journey of scaling an Airbnb business in Dubai using the arbitrage model. Redeet has grown his portfolio to 40 units and shares the valuable lessons he’s learned. From starting in the Netherlands to making big moves in Dubai, he’s on a mission to hit $1M per month—and he’s taking us behind the scenes of his success....

We have Steve Trover, a powerhouse in the vacation rental industry with 28 years of expertise! Steve shares his incredible journey from launching a small management company to running 400 properties across the U.S. He reveals the secrets to building a dream team, emphasizing how top talent in operations and housekeeping can make or break your business. Today, Steve’s company, Better Talent, helps...

Katie Cline is an award-winning PR professional with experience leading global communications for top hospitality brands like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels in New York City and London. She’s passionate about bringing hotel best practices to the short-term rental (STR) world, including her own properties: Trout Landing near Lake George and Gallant Fox in Saratoga Springs. Katie recently lau...

We have a marketing expert Steph Weber ! With a deep understanding of branding in both property management and real estate, Steph has built a thriving co-hosting business and a unique micro-resort called Cabins on the Cumberland. From building a seven-figure business without paid ads to growing a portfolio of 14 co-host clients, Steph shares her secrets to creating lasting brand loyalty.  Get read...

K. Alexander Shapiro , Co-Founder, takes us inside CanMonkey’s game-changing approach to trash management for short-term rentals! Discover how this innovative service scaled from a side project to managing 5,000 properties across 26 states. Hear the story of a pandemic pivot that turned a curbside service into a thriving enterprise. Tune in for insights on the entrepreneurial hustle and groundbrea...

Join us for an inspiring episode as we sit down with Tatianna Taylor-Tait , a powerhouse in the short-term rental space and an interior design expert. As the host of the renowned "Level Up Your Listing" conference, Tatiana brings a wealth of knowledge about designing and managing STRs, building vibrant communities, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Discover how she turne...

Join us as we dive into the unique journey of Michael and Nathan, the dynamic duo behind Howzit Hostels Hawaii. Starting in the short-term rental game, they took a bold leap into the world of hostels—a move not many investors dare to make. Tune in to hear how they scaled their business during the challenging times of COVID, what it's really like running a hostel, and the financial insights beh...

Today, I’m thrilled to have my good friend Austin Palacios joining me. Austin and I started our real estate journeys together, both buying properties at the beginning and then branching out into management. Austin’s approach was all about acquisitions—he built his portfolio property by property, one strategic move at a time. He’s got a sharp eye for deals and a knack for turning opportunities into...