Behind the Stays
Zach Busekrus
Welcome to Behind the Stays — a podcast that shares the stories behind your favorite boutique hotels, short-term rentals, and hospitality brands and the hosts, operators, and entrepreneurs who’ve brought them to life. Every Tuesday and Friday you’ll meet the military veterans, retired flight attendants, tech entrepreneurs, school teachers, single moms, hoteliers, and real estate investors who are all, in their unique ways, shaping the future of travel and hospitality. Discover how these visionaries — from all over the world — have built stunning landscape hotels in the mountains, designed bohemian bungalows on the beach, erected eclectic off-grid and nature-immersed escapes, and so muc...
How an Athlete-Turned-Actor-Turned-Entrepreneur Built a $30M Bourbon Trail Hotel
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 c...
He Helped Put Snowboarding on the Olympic Stage, Directed Shows for the Cartoon Network, and Turned Caravan Outpost into a Celebrity Magnet
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...
How He Became Hospitality’s Most Interesting Voice on Social Media: The Making of @MrScottEddy
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...
What Ian Schrager, Andre Balazs & Philippe Starck Taught Her About Hotels That Feel Different (with Erin Hosler)
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....
The Wild Story Behind Joshua Tree’s First New Hotel in a Decade: Meet Ben Uyeda of the RESET Hotel
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 dese...
They Said a 5-Star Hotel Would Never Work in Nairobi. So He Founded Tribe and Proved Them Wrong
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 Sh...
Viral Doesn’t Pay the Bills: How to Turn Social Traffic into Real Bookings
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 Inst...
The State of Glamping in 2025: Trends, Premiums, and Predictions with the Godmother of the Industry
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 Outd...
Building a Timeless Boutique Hotel by Hand (and Heart): The Story of The Outlier with Brandon Gore
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...
The Journey Begins: Journey is Officially Live! Here’s How We’re Reimagining Loyalty (with Founder John Sutton)
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...
How to Make Hotels Cool Again: What the Best Operators Know That the Brands Forgot (with Bashar Wali)
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...
The Art of Growing a Hotel Brand Without Losing the Magic: The Story of Salt Hotels
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...
Booking the Future: PMS, AI, and the War on Clunky Software with Lodgify's CEO
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 b...
Live From VRMA's Exec Summit: What the Smartest Operators Are Really Thinking About Right Now (Part 2)
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 w...
Live From VRMA's Exec Summit: What the Smartest Operators Are Really Thinking About Right Now (Part 1)
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 influentia...
Epic Stories & Insider Insights from Hospitality Legend James McBride (Co-Founder and CEO of Nihi Hotels)
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...
The New Rules of Resort Marketing: Entertainment, Influencers & AI with Jason Kycek
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....
How a Boutique Hotel Obsession Became a Global Travel Media Brand: The Story of Hotels Above Par
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.</...
How They're Building the Next Great American Hotel Brand: The Story of Trailborn with Co-Founders Mike & Ben
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-foun...
Why Vibe-Driven Hotels and Restaurants Are Failing (And What Actually Works)
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,...
How to Build Hotels With a Pulse: Carolyn Schneider, Co-Founder of Casetta Hotels, on Ditching the Copy-Paste Approach
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 actuall...
Why Hotel Booking Engines Are Dying — And How AI Agents Will Replace Them, with Selfbook Founder Khalid Meniri
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...
From Sales Guy to Hospitality Media Mogul: The Modern Hotelier Story with Steve Carran
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 Hote...
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...
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 —...
From Instagram Fame to Industry Change: JourneyMore, Mike Will Travel, and the Rise of Creator-Led Hospitality
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. I...
Is This the End of Direct Bookings? Everything You Need to Know About Airbnb’s New Off-Platform Policy
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...
7 Non-Obvious Lessons Shaping the Future of Hospitality (And What To Do About Them)
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...
She Built a Luxury Resort Around the Moon — And It’s Working. This is the Story of Stellara.
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...
The Boutique Hotel Conundrum: Expand the Brand or Build a Collection? — Quentin Incao, Q Hospitality Management
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 he...
Why Big Chains Hijacked Boutique (and How Independent Hotels Are Fighting Back) with Ariela Kiradjian, Co-Founder of BLLA
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 associa...
Building the Four Seasons of Vacation Rentals: Inside the Luxus Vision with Founder Stephen Petasky
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...
What Happens When Two Engineers Build a Boutique Resort with Zero Hospitality Experience?
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...
Why Most Hotel Developments Feel Soulless — And How Zach Rapaport Plans to Change That.
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...
From Red Bull to the Backcountry: Why Sam Degenhard Left a Dream Job to Build the Next Great Outdoor Hospitality Brand
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...
75 Hospitality Titans Share Their Secrets in Steve Turk’s New "Hospitality Unlocked" Book
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 insigh...
Why You Should Buy a Hotel (And How To Do So) with Edwin Kramer (From EDITION, Nobu, and Four Seasons)
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 d...
How They Transformed a Cape Cod Inn into the #1 Inn in the U.S — The Story of Candleberry Inn with Marco DiDomizio
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 Candleb...
From Rock Bottom to 100+ STRs: How Patryk Swietek Built The Co-Host Company
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 spac...
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...
Ultra-Luxury Travel, Billionaire Guests, and the Art of Curation with Wolf Worster, Founder of Sirreti
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...
From Chains to Originals: How John Rutledge Builds, Owns, and Manages Big Box Hotels & Boutique Brands
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. Wit...
How Inspirato Built the Ultimate Travel Membership for Discerning Jetsetters
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...
Can You Franchise Glamping? Brian Linton Thinks So — And He’s Proving It Works.
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 sta...
The Hard Truth About Scaling a Luxury Vacation Rental Brand — And How AvantStay Cracked the Code
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 hospita...
Building the Next Generation of Luxury Hotels: Dan Flannery on Launching EDITION and His New Vision for Loews Hotels
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...
How She Gave Independent Hotels a Voice and a Community: Thoughts on the Future of Boutique Travel with Fran Kiradjian
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 wor...
The Untouchable Edge That’s Made Abode a Ski-Town Luxury Empire: Ideas and Insights with Rachel Alday
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...
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 industr...
He Sold His Startup to Microsoft—Now He’s Using AI to Build an Off-Grid Luxury Retreat in Vermont
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 M...
She Studied Snake-Handlers, Scaled a Restaurant Business, and Worked With Oprah—Now She’s Redefining Luxury Retreats
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...
How Uganda and Thoreau Shaped a Texan's Vision for Luxury Outdoor Stays: The Story of Walden Retreats
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 Afri...
Netflix Fame, Rock-Star Roots, and a Treehouse Empire: The Bolt Farm Story
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 f...
What Most Hotels and STRs Miss: The Hidden Power of the In-Stay Journey
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 a...
Scaling Soulfully: The Story of The Archer Hotel and The Rise of Boutique Business Travel
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 driv...
The Power of Partnership: Lessons from a Collaborative Creator Campaign of Top Unique Stays in New England
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...
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, invite...
Is Experiential Hospitality Overhyped? Hot Takes on Travel Trends, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, and More with the French Cowboys
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 overh...
Build Fewer, Spend More: A Round Table on The New Formula for Experiential Hospitality with Ben Wolff and Isaac French
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 O...
From World Traveler to Boutique Hotelier: Lessons Learned on Owning Both Vacation Rentals and Hotels
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, A...
He's Bringing Nature-Inspired, Suspended Treehouses to the World of Unique Stays — Meet Jason Thawley from Tree Tents
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 pod...
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 pr...
Transforming Landscapes into Luxury Stays: The Future of Glamping with Edward Haynes
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 la...
How an HGTV Director and Executive Chef Brought Two Luxury Inns to Life: The Story of The Lost Fox Inn and Foxfire Mountain House
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 wh...
Held at Gunpoint, 96 Acres, and a Sabbatical That Changed Everything: The Story of Missing Hotel
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...
How to Leave Your 9-5 And Go All In on Building Unique Airbnbs: In Conversation with Zoey Berghoff
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...
She's on a Mission to Build Iconic Stays Near Every U.S. National Park: Meet Hillary Flur of Folly
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 ou...
From Global Brands to Boutique Stays: Katie Cline on Unlocking PR for Growth in Hospitality
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 hos...
Building Outpost X: How Travis Chambers Created the World's Most Unique Desert Hotel
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 age...
How They're Reimagining Affordable Experiential Travel by Building a National Hostel Brand
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...
How a Land Blunder Turned into the Most Instagrammable Stay in the Mountains of Quebec: The Story of LD Cabin
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 inspirin...
The Changing Landscape of Vacation Rental Marketing with StayFi's Arthur Colker
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 inceptio...
How to Build a Hospitality Empire in Rural America: Motels, Contactless Boutique Hotels, Wedding Venues, and More
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 hospital...
From Side-Hustle to National Hospitality Brand: How Tech, PR, and Partnerships Have Powered Boutiq's Growth
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...
How to Finance and Underwrite Unique Stays: Navigating Investment Opportunities in a New Hospitality Landscape
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 year...
How She Turned 17 Acres of Raw Land in West Virginia into a Luxury Glamping Resort
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 h...
Unlocking the Future of Hospitality: Tech Gaps, AI, and Upsell Secrets with Francois Gouelo
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 s...
How to Start and Scale an Airbnb Co-Hosting Business That Actually Works in 2024: Stories and Ideas with Jeremy Werden
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...
How Four Unique Stays in New England Came Together to Launch an Epic Creator Marketing Campaign
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'...
3 Lessons the Next Generation of Hospitality Entrepreneurs Should Learn From the Founder of Four Seasons
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 b...
Building at the Intersection of Vision and Value: How Tragedy Led Them to Craft Wellness-Focused Boutique Hotels
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. Origina...
Unlocking a Billion-Dollar Opportunity: Stories and Insights Around The Revolution of Accessible Vacation Rentals with Becoming RentABLE
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 dystro...
10 Entrepreneurs Building the Future of Hospitality That You Should Follow (If You Don’t Already)
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...
Breaking the Influencer Mold: Hot Takes on Content Creation and Promotion for Hospitality Brands
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...
5 Big Ideas for Entrepreneurs Who Want to Build the Next Great Hospitality Business
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 e...
From Air Force Officer to Hospitality Entrepreneur: Why Blake Dailey Thinks More Airbnb Hosts Should Become Boutique Hoteliers
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 se...
Hot Takes on Rental Arbitrage, Men's Luxury Footwear, Building an International Hospitality Brand, and More with Ben Earley
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 j...
The Rise of the Professional Airbnb Creator: Ideas, Advice, and Musings with Jon Kreye
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 su...
How to Make Loyalty Programs Work in Vacation Rentals: An Inside Look at Red Cottage's Membership Program
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...
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...
How to Build a Nationally Recognized Vacation Rental Management Company (That Actually Works)
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 comfo...
How He's Building a No-Fee Booking Platform for Vacation Rentals: Stories, Ideas, and Hot Takes with Eric Goldreyer
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...
Exploring the Huge Potential of Hostels: How They're Bridging Affordability and Experiential Hospitality in Hawaii (And Beyond)
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 bea...
Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites: The Secrets That Separate the Best Direct Booking Websites from The Rest
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 div...
Where to Build (or Buy) Your Next Unique Stay: Trends, Insights, and Data with Jamie Lane from AirDNA
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-fra...
Crafting Consistent Luxury: Omar Boubess on Boutique Hotels and Unique STR Branding
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 —...
Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites: The Blueprint to Building a Brand That Compels Direct Bookings
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...
From Family Gap Year to Glamping Pioneers: How a 14,000-Mile Bus Trip Changed Their Lives
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 tak...
From Video Game Designer to Travel Tech Entrepreneur: Philip Kennard on The "Rentalpreneur" Revolution
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 b...
The Future of Vacation Rentals: Annie Holcombe on OTAs, Loyalty Programs, and Industry Challenges
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...
How they Built a Luxury A-Frame in the Highest Incorporated Town in North America
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...
Building Magical Stays: The Surprising Success of Thematic Vacation Rentals
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 lif...
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...
From Theatre to Travel Tech: How He's Building the Hotel Tonight for Vacation Rentals
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 th...
How They Built an Airbnb into the Side of a Mountain (And a Waterfall Too!) — The Story of the River Rock House
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 v...
How to Interview the Land (And Other Tips on Building Unique Stays) with Mike Hicks from Wander Chatt
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...
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 ven...
He's Transformed 600 Homes into Airbnbs — Here's What Matters (And What Doesn't) When Renovating a Short-Term Rental
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 tran...
Airbnb Gave Her $100,000 to Build a Unique Stay in Idaho — This is the Story of "The Flower Pot"
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 hos...
How He Created the UK's Most Popular Glamping Site — The Story Behind Secret Garden Glamping
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 o...
How They Built a Micro Nature Resort in the White Mountains — The Story of Lumen
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...
From Potato Hotels to Hobbit Inns: How She Built the World's Most Famous Airbnbs
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, K...
He's Building a Next Generation Glamping Company That Allows Everyone to Invest in the Hottest Trend in Travel
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 Outdoo...
"Hotel Brands Won't Matter in 10 Years" — And Other Hot Hospitality Takes with Peter Fabor
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 ar...
Building the Extraordinary: How to Design Getaways for the Next Generations
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 whil...
Setting the AI Search Bar: How Homes & Villas by Marriott is Outpacing Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking at Reimagining the OTA
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...
How a Former Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Built a $1.5 Million Airbnb Co-Hosting Business in 12 Months
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 wit...
He Dropped Out of School to Build a Short-Term Rental Portfolio — Here's What He's Learned So Far.
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 — h...
Meet the Muralist Who Transforms Ordinary Airbnbs into Extraordinary Experiences
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 panne...
He's Building a Next-Generation Landscape Hotel in Public — Meet Oasi Hill Country
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 wh...
How Growing Up in the Amish Community Helped Him Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur
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 her...
He Left Banking to Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur — Here's What He's Learned Building a Collection of 100+ Airbnbs
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...
From CIA Aspirant to Travel Entrepreneur: Why He's Building a Platform Where Airbnb Hosts Can Travel for Free
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 a...
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, inte...
He Buys RV Parks: Predictions on the Future of Camping and Outdoor Hospitality
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 opportun...
How to Build the Apple of Vacation Rentals: Imagining, Creating, and Scaling the Wander Brand
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-ye...
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 rea...
How They Built a Cabin Collection That Landed in Vogue — The Story of North Country Cabin Co.
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...
So, Was the STR Wealth Conference Worth It? Here's What This Year's Attendees Thought
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...
Building the Prequel to Airbnb: Jeremy Gall on the Story of Flipkey and the Foundation of Breezeway
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...
She Wanted to Be a Cat, a Vet, or an Anesthesiologist — So, Naturally, She Got into Vacation Rentals
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...
Marriott’s Venture into Vacation Rentals: The Story Behind Launching Homes & Villas
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 Februa...
How She Designed a Luxury Haven in the Blue Ridge Mountains That Got Wander's Attention
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 CE...
He Dreamed of Being a Farmer, But Wound Up An Entrepreneur: The Story of Back Forty Glamping
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...
How He's Reimagining Outdoor Hospitality Through the Restoration of 970 acres of Texas Hill Country
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...
How They're Building the Hottest New Tiny Home: The Story of ÖÖD Mirror House
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 opportuni...
From Music Producer to Hospitality Entrepreneur: The Story of Cameron Ranch Glamping
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 an...
The New Era of Exploration: How Today’s Travelers Think About Loyalty, Independent Hotels, and Experiential Stays
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...
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 h...
How They Transformed a 100-Year-Old Beach House into a Chic Airbnb (And Booked it Fully in Just 11 Days)
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 competiti...
Reflections and Ideas on Leadership, Branding, and Innovating from Best Western’s Former CEO
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 d...
How to Merge Luxury, Sustainability, and MICHELIN-Star Experiences — The Story of the Kabn Company
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 c...
He Worked in Luxury Hotels for 20 Years — Now He’s Building the Future of Experiential Travel
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 trave...
They Sold Their Auto Body Shop — Then Built the Country’s Most Wish-Listed Summer Escape on Airbnb
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 air...
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...
From Hops to Hospitality: Crafting a Curation of the World’s Top Glamping Sites
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 co...
From Apple Intern to Hospitality Tech Entrepreneur: How Margot Schmorak Built Hostfully
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...
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...
How a Former Airbnb Employee is Reimagining How to Buy a Vacation Home — This is the Story of Summer
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...
How to Design The Right Marketing Strategy for YOUR Vacation Rental Business
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...
How He Won Airbnb’s ”OMG!” Contest and Used the Cash to Build Bubble Retreats
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...
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 w...
Mastering Vacation Rental Marketing: A Special 3-Part Podcast Series with BuildUp Bookings
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 respect...
The Business of Bill Faeth: A Look at His Content Business, STR Portfolio, and Events Company
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 invest...
He’s Built Businesses in Energy, Tech, and Media — Now He’s Building a Next-Generation Resort in Broken Bow
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...
Vacation Rental Secrets: Lessons Learned from 50 STR Experts (with Brooke Pfautz)
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 o...
The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President
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 va...
He Built the World’s #1 Hotel Marketing Website — Now He’s Building the Hottest Community in Hospitality.
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. Josi...
He Led Corporate Communications for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar — Now He’s Building a Platform for the STR Community
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 soc...
A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived
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 p...
He Wants Everyone to Own a Mansion — The Future of Vacation Rental Ownership with John Sutton
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 Mansi...
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 rea...
How AI Will Enable Hospitality Entrepreneurs to Scale Their Brands (and Portfolios)
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 provi...
How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences
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 provi...
Why She Left Her Successful Career in Accounting to Build a Hospitality Brand in the North Carolina Mountains
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 provi...
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 eco...
How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills
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 an...
How He Launched a Boutique Hotel for Bourbon Lovers — And Why He’s Bullish on Building for Niche Audiences.
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 ci...
How to Build a Franchise-Worthy Hospitality Brand — The Story of Casiola
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 com...
He Was Airbnb’s 13th Employee — And Here’s What He Thinks the Future of the Hospitality Industry Will Look Like
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...
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. - Uncover the story of how Zach and h...
Forget Vacation Destinations — He Builds Collections of Branded Airbnbs Near College Campuses
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 th...
He Launched Sonder in the UK — Now He’s Building Lodgeur, a Flexible Living Product in Texas
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 styl...
Lessons Learned While Building a Portfolio of 100+ Airbnbs AFTER the COVID Boom — with Taylor Jones
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 COVI...
How to Build the Future of Soft Brands in Short-Term Rentals — Michael Goldin, Storied Collection
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. <...
The Secret Sauce to Airbnb Influencer Marketing — Thoughts from the Founders of Hinter, Live Oak Lake, and Onera
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. <...
From Vacation Rental Manager, to Wall Street Attorney, to Boutique Hotelier
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 frie...
How She Built a Private Club for Hosts Who’ve Mastered the Art of Hospitality
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 orde...
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 st...
A Masterclass on Experiential Hospitality with Isaac French (Creator of Live Oak Lake)
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 orde...
His Hospitality Business Helps People Detox from Their Digital Lives — Meet the Co-Founder of Unplugged
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 orde...
Google Flight Alerts but for Airbnbs, a Community of Professional Guests, and other Sponstayneous Updates
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 z...
The Past, Present, and Future of Vacation Rental Software — Insights from OwnerRez Co-Founder, Paul Waldschmidt
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 techn...
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...