Vacation Rental Scale-Up

World Cup 2026 demand is already showing up in the data ⚽📈 — but not evenly. Some host cities are seeing early booking spikes, others are moving slowly, and regulation + supply constraints are shaping outcomes just as much as football. In this episode, we break down what’s actually happening across key World Cup markets — and what STR managers should watch (and adjust) now. Listen via Apple Podc...

If your 2026 planning is already underway, this episode gives you a final data check before you lock in your strategy. In the final RevLabs × Rental Scale-Up webinar of the year, Thibault Masson (Founder, Rental Scale-Up) sits down with Richie Khandelwal (Co-Founder, PriceLabs) to break down what the data is actually showing across the US, UK, France, Spain, and Italy — and what large property man...

In today’s episode, we dig into a question more and more property managers are asking: Do you pivot to mid-term rentals—or expand into new markets? Regulations are tightening, demand is shifting, and guest expectations keep rising. To help break it down, we look at how Your Airhost grew in one of the toughest markets in the UK by mixing short-term, mid-term, and corporate stays, and why this flexi...

AI is rewriting how guests discover short-term rentals — and Lake.com is building for that future. In this episode, we sit down with David Ciccarelli , Co-Founder & CEO of Lake.com, to explore how a niche OTA for lakefront stays is betting big on: ✨ AI-driven discovery ✨ Structured content built for LLMs ✨ Conversational search and trip planning ✨ A demand profile perfectly suited for prof...

Airbnb’s 2025 updates weren’t random; they were signals . Signals about how the platform will operate in 2026… and what professional hosts will need to do to stay visible, profitable, and prepared. 💡 In this episode, Thibault Masson and Uvika Wahi from Rental Scale-Up by PriceLabs break down the full picture: – the new cancellation rules – payout term changes – the shift to host-only fees – the r...

Airbnb just made one of its biggest strategic moves of the year: hotels are now officially part of the platform . In this episode, we break down how hotels are showing up on Airbnb, what the new guest journey looks like, and how these listings compete with home-based short-term rentals. RSU by Pricelabs' Uvika Wahi walks us through the live interface, compare Airbnb’s approach with Booking.com...

In this hour-long episode, we explore where guests are really booking in 2025, and how professional short-term rental managers can build a smarter channel mix beyond Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo. Hosted by Thibault Masson , this conversation features: Alex Alioto , Co-Founder & Head of Growth at Whimstay , the leading marketplace for last-minute vacation rental deals across North America. Enr...

In this episode of the Vacation Rental Scale-Up Podcast , we explore Expedia’s new AI Trip Matching feature, a tool that lets travelers send a Reel to Expedia’s Instagram and instantly receive: 💬 Personalized itineraries 🏨 Real-time hotel listings with prices & reviews 📍 Hidden gem suggestions It’s not full booking (yet), but it’s a powerful bridge between inspiration and action — where tra...

Google just launched its new AI Mode , and it could completely change how travelers discover, plan, and book trips , all without ever leaving Google. 🌍💡 In this episode, Uvika Wahi from RSU by PriceLabs breaks down what Google’s AI Mode means for short-term rental managers , how it merges search and trip planning, and what you can do to stay visible as guest discovery shifts inside AI ecosystems...

In this episode, Uvika Wahi from RSU by PriceLabs sits down with Michael LeClerc , Founder of SkyRun Vacation Rentals, Park City, Utah , to explore how the hybrid franchise model helped him scale his short-term rental business while staying true to what matters most: great guest experiences. Michael shares how his background as a professional chef shaped his approach to guest service, how he turne...

Yes, WhatsApp can actually plan your next dream vacation! In this episode, I test GuideGeek (by @Matador Network) inside WhatsApp, from destination ideas to stays— and see how it handles Airbnb listings, hotels, pricing, availability, and bookings. Here’s what I found:✅ Great for inspiration & itineraries (fast, conversational, and context-aware)⚠️ Static nightly prices that don’t match real...

Travel discovery is changing, fast. AI is starting the trip conversation, shaping what travelers see first, and even guiding them on where to stay. In this video, we explore Perplexity’s new Travel Hub, an AI-powered platform designed to take guests from inspiration all the way to booking, without ever leaving the app. Here’s what we’ll uncover: • How AI changes the way people find destinations an...

Airbnb is rolling out a global host-only fee model for all PMS-connected listings. It affects pricing strategies and margins for property managers everywhere. 💰In this expert-led session, you’ll hear from Theoharis Mihailidis (VillaRentals.gr), who has been managing 160+ listings under the host-only model in Greece for years; John An (@TechTape), who has been running the numbers for operators to...

​  @vrbo  is about to get a LOT bigger. 🚀Expedia just announced that Vrbo listings will no longer be limited to Vrbo.com or the app. Instead, they’ll show up everywhere, from Expedia.com and airline sites like  @Delta  and Alaska, to apps like Revolut, and even through 160,000+ travel agents worldwide. In this video, we break down what this expansion means for hosts and property managers: • Wider...

Airbnb’s latest update is shaking things up for hosts and property managers: the Airbnb Host Fee Change . PMS-connected hosts are moving to a 15.5% host-only fee, and the math on how to set your markup has caused plenty of confusion. In this episode, we clear things up once and for all. You’ll learn why the correct PMS markup isn’t 15.5% but 18.34% , how to recalculate your nightly rates and clean...

The summer rush is over, and the 2025 shoulder season slowdown is here. Guests are booking later, staying fewer nights, and cutting budgets more than ever. For property managers, this means emptier calendars and tighter revenue. In this webinar replay, our expert panel shares practical pricing, marketing, and data-driven strategies to help you beat the shoulder season dip and keep occupancy steady...

Airbnb has officially ended the split fee model, moving to a new 15.5% host-only fee in the U.S. This change means property managers and hosts will see new payout rules that directly affect earnings. In this podcast, we break down: • What “split fee” was and why Airbnb ended it • How the 15.5% host-only fee works • What property managers need to know about payout changes • Why this shift matters f...

Vrbo is shifting gears in 2025. With U.S. travel growth slowing and guests watching every dollar, Vrbo is responding fast, launching aggressive promotions, shortening stays, and expanding trip types to stay competitive. In this video, Uvika Wahi from RSU by PriceLabs breaks down Vrbo’s full Q2 2025 performance and what it means for professional property managers. You’ll learn: • How Vrbo’s new Pro...

Airbnb is shifting gears — and fast. In its latest strategy update, CEO Brian Chesky confirmed that the platform is going aggressively after B&Bs, boutique inns, and small hotels. But what does that really mean for hosts and vacation rental managers? In this video, we break down: • Why Airbnb is pushing around B&Bs, inns, and small hotels right now • The 3 big reasons behind this supply sh...

With this new direct integration , you can now connect your Booking.com listings to PriceLabs without needing a PMS. Dynamic pricing comes to Booking.com. That means you can:✅ Sync rates, minimum stays, and pricing rules in real time✅ Apply consistent revenue strategies across OTAs✅ Skip manual updates and messy spreadsheets✅ Start optimizing your Booking.com listings in minutes Connectivity P...

Airbnb is rewriting the rules in 2025, and that means big changes for how you operate. You’re losing control over the things that matter most: 💸 payouts, ❌ cancellations, 💬 guest communication, and 💼 upsells. In this webinar replay, we break down what’s changing in Airbnb’s 2025 policies, and how short-term rental pros are adapting in real time. Whether you’re a host, co-host, or property mana...

🎯 Airbnb just flipped the script on host recruitment. In its newest set of commercials, Airbnb isn’t just advertising, it’s strategically crafting a brand-new kind of host:🏡 The homeowner who never thought of hosting… until now🎪 The local who only wants to rent during a festival weekend🧹 The host who wants someone else to do all the workThese ads aren’t targeting Superhosts. They’re unlocking...

France is planning to cut two of its most important public holidays: Easter Monday and May 8th (Victory Day), and that could spell trouble for short-term rental managers. In this episode, Thibault Masson explores how these proposed holiday cuts could impact: 🏡 Occupancy rates in key markets like Alsace and the French Riviera •💶 Spring season revenues that rely on long weekends •📊 Productivity v...

Vrbo has quietly launched a new partnership with BabyQuip, allowing guests to rent baby essentials like cribs, strollers, and high chairs delivered straight to their vacation rental 🏠.Convenient for families? Absolutely. But here’s what’s frustrating hosts 👇This new feature skips host involvement entirely, no heads-up, no approval, and no share of the revenue 💸For many professional managers, it...

Airbnb is making major changes to how vacation rental property managers get paid and how cancellations work. Starting October 1, 2025, new listings won’t be allowed to use the Strict cancellation policy, and even existing listings could be automatically switched to a more flexible option, unless you act fast. In this video, Thibault Masson breaks down what vacation rental property managers need to...