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STR Global Unlocked with Simon Lehmann: Unfiltered knowledge for the short term rental industry
STR Global Unlocked with Simon Lehmann: Unfiltered knowledge for the short term rental industry
STR Global Unlocked is a podcast for the short-term rental industry, hosted by Simon Lehmann, CEO of AJL Atelier. The show features unfiltered conversations with property managers, STR tech founders, and hospitality leaders about property management operations, direct bookings, pricing strategies, and the future of automation and AI. It aims to provide real insights for those scaling property management companies or investing in vacation rentals.
Episodes
050: The Hidden Trap Keeping Rental Owners Working 24/7 | Vivian Yip
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffntIf your rental business stops working when you step away, you’ve built a job that depends on you. How do you turn it into a business that runs without you?In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I sit down with Vivian Yip, whose background at Apple and in global s
049: STR Academy Launch: What 400 advisory hours taught | Simon Lehmann
simonlehmann.net/academyTwenty years ago, Simon Lehmann took over a 24,000-property vacation rental company with no manual, no course and no one to call.He came from ground handling and logistics. He knew how to turn an aircraft around in 35 minutes. He had never turned around a vacation home. What followed was a career spent learning the hard way: running Interhome, serving on the HomeAway board
048: The STR Growth Strategy Most Operators Ignore! | David Angotti
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffntWhat happens to your short-term rental business if Airbnb changes the rules? In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I talk with entrepreneur David Angotti about platform dependence, direct bookings, customer acquisition costs, and why owning guest demand can make
047: 1,000+ STR Tools: Which Ones Do You Actually Need? | Gernot Zechner
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffntWith more than 1,000 technology providers competing in the short-term rental industry, finding the right software has become increasingly difficult. The tools that dominate Google searches and “top 10” lists are often those with the largest marketing budgets - not
046: The Biggest Lie in Vacation Rental Reviews! | Ashley Ching
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffntA five-star vacation rental review tells you whether a guest was satisfied. But does it tell the next guest what level of service to expect?In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Ashley Ching, founder of Inhaven, about the trust problem facing short-
How Top STR Operators Actually Use AI to Scale
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultation Most property managers already use AI tools - but very few have truly integrated artificial intelligence into their operations. A chatbot, AI-generated listing descriptions, or a few automated responses are not enough to create a lasting competitive advantage. In this video, I explain where AI delivers measurable result
045: The Real Cost of Furnishing a Short-Term Rental | Andria Santos
Most short-term rental operators invest heavily in acquiring a property - but treat furnishing and interior design as an afterthought. Yet design may be one of the most powerful levers for increasing bookings, improving guest reviews and driving more revenue.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Andria Santos, Founder and CEO of Fülhaus, about why furnishing remains one of the most
044: Hotel vs. Airbnb Is Over: Here’s What Wins | Niko Karstikko
Hotels, serviced apartments and short-term rentals are moving closer together - but most hospitality companies are still operating as if these old categories matter. In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Niko Karstikko, Co-Founder and CEO of Bob W, about the emergence of a new, technology-enabled hospitality category built around flexibility, consistency and the needs of the modern
043: Why Big Property Managers Should Be Worried | Jannik Abraham
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultationSmall hosts are becoming more professional, technology is getting more powerful, and guest expectations are rising fast. But what does this shift mean for the future of short-term rentals?In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, i speak with Jannik Abraham about why the next generation of successful STR operators will not n
Why Scaling Your STR Breaks Without This System
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultationScaling a short-term rental business shouldn’t mean hiring endlessly, adding more tools, or working longer hours. Yet for many STR operators, growth creates more complexity, tighter margins, and a business that still depends heavily on the founder.In this video, I break down what actually makes a short-term rental business
042: Why Your Rental Business Is Easy to Replace | Rachel Alday
Most short-term rental operators are trying to stand out with better photos, smarter pricing, stronger listings, and more automation. But what if the real problem is not visibility - but replaceability?In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Rachel Alday, founder of Abode Luxury Rentals, a boutique property management company with more than 200 luxury vacation homes across Park City,
041: This Property Manager Increased Profit by 160% With AI | Alex Zemianek
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultationIn this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Alex Zemianek, CEO of JZ Vacation Rentals, about how he rebuilt his operations around internal AI agents. From finance and marketing to security, development and daily reporting, Alex explains how his company increased operating income by 160% without significantly incre
The 5 Levels of STR Companies Explained
Many property management companies grow quickly - until they suddenly hit an invisible ceiling. But why do some short-term rental businesses successfully scale to thousands of units while others struggle to grow profitably despite increasing bookings?In this video, i explain the five key growth stages of a professional property management company - from the founder-operator managing a small portfo
040: How to Turn STR Guests Into Loyal Customers | Matthew Orley
Most short-term rental operators focus on adding more units, entering new markets, and automating their operations. But what if the strongest competitive advantage is not the size of your portfolio, but the relationship you build with your guests?In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Matthew Orley, CEO of Red Cottage, about how STR operators can build a memorable brand that drives g
039: Hospitality Isn’t Ready for the Future Guest | Jamie Lane
AI is changing hospitality, but I believe the bigger question is not just how AI will change our tools, our operations, or our businesses.The bigger question is: what happens when AI starts changing the customer?In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I’m joined by Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA and one of the leading voices on travel demand, market trends, and the future of short-term rent
038: Short-Term Rentals Are Entering Their Most Dangerous Era | Shaun Shirazian
In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Shaun Shirazian, CEO of Lodgify, about one of the biggest shifts happening in short-term rentals and hospitality: the rise of AI search, direct bookings, and the future of guest experience.Shaun shares what Lodgify is seeing across more than 30,000 hosts and 100,000 listings, why the short-term rental market has become more competitive, and why
037: Will AI Replace Hospitality Teams? | Stone Fish, Vancauwenberghe, Ullrich, Rubin
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultationAI is transforming guest communication in short-term rentals and hospitality. In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with industry leaders Aarlo Stone Fish, Anthony Vancauwenberghe, Jay Ullrich and Cole Rubin about AI agents, automation, guest experience, operations, reviews, upsells, and the future of hospitality
The Margin Mistake Killing Most STR Companies!
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultationProfit margins can make or break a short-term rental business - but most operators are looking at the wrong numbers.In this video, I break down the real profit benchmarks for STR operators across different business models, including property management companies, aparthotels, hybrid models, urban portfolios, and resort/vac
036: How to Build a Business That AI Can’t Replace | Siddhi Mittal
Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultationIn this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I sit down with Siddhi Mittal, co-founder of yhangry, a Y Combinator–backed hospitality marketplace scaling across the UK and US.Together, they explore what AI-first hospitality really means beyond faster guest messages, automation tools, and surface-level efficiency. Siddhi shares h
035: The Best Way to Make Money in Property Management | Julie Brinkmann
In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I sit down with Julie Brinkmann from Beyond to discuss how short-term rental operators can move from simple dynamic pricing to true profit-first property management.We explore why revenue management is no longer just about changing nightly rates, why occupancy can become a vanity metric, and how property managers can use better data, smarter pricing strategi
034: The AI Shift Most Property Managers Are Missing | Sab Mulligan, Arnon Cavaeiro, Chris Sorensen
In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, we explore what an AI-native property management company really looks like and how AI is already changing operations, guest communication, distribution, PMS systems, scaling, and hospitality brands.Together with Sab Mulligan, Arnon Cavaeiro and Chris Sorensen, we break down why AI is not just another tool or chatbot, but a deeper shift in how short-term rent
033: Why Booking Trips Is About to Change FOREVER (CEO Explains) | Amirali Mohajer
AI is changing how people search, plan and book travel and this shift could reshape the future of direct bookings, guest relationships and platform dependency in the short-term rental industry.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann speaks with Amirali Mohajer, Co-Founder & CEO of Host.AI, about the future of travel search, the rise of AI assistants, and why operators may finally
032: How HomeToGo Shifted Beyond Its Marketplace | Dr. Patrick Andrae
Marketplaces were built to aggregate supply. Not to own it. That assumption is breaking faster than most operators expected.Dr. Patrick Andrae is the Co-Founder and CEO of HomeToGo, one of the world’s leading vacation rental marketplaces, aggregating millions of listings across platforms and property managers. Since founding the company, he has expanded it into software, services, and property man
031: Beyond STR and Hotels: How Numa's Third Model Uses 100+ Automations to Rewrite Urban Hospitality | Christian Gaiser
Short-term rentals and hotels are converging into a single operating model.The real shift is not about category. It is about who can deliver better economics, better experience, and better scalability in urban markets.In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Christian Gaiser to break down how Numa built a hybrid model between short-term rentals and hotels, and why that model is gaining tracti
030: No Phone, No OTAs, No VC Time Horizons: Can Unplugged's Digital Detox Cabins Actually Scale? | Hector Hughes
In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Hector Hughes, Co-Founder & CEO of Unplugged, a UK-based cabin brand built entirely around one conviction: that spending three days offline in nature changes people.Founded in 2020, Unplugged operates a portfolio of off-grid cabins across the UK, runs a direct-only booking model with a mandatory three-night minimum, and has never listed a single pr
029: What Marriott Really Thinks About Short-Term Rentals: Chris Stephenson on Loyalty, Quality Standards, and the Future of Alternative Accommodations
How did short-term rentals become a strategic priority for one of the world’s largest hotel companies?Short-term rentals now represent more than 14% of global lodging supply. When one of the world's largest hotel companies builds a platform inside that category, it is not a trend play. It is a structural decision about where hospitality is going.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon L
028: $200M Raised, 50x Growth: Johannes Siebers of Holidu on Local Trust, Agentic Workflows and the Supply Nobody Else Was Counting
European vacation rental is not short on platforms. It is short on platforms that have survived every cycle and kept building anyway.Johannes Siebers is the Co-Founder and CEO of Holidu, a vacation rental technology company he co-founded with his brother Michael in 2014. Over the past decade, Holidu has raised approximately $200 million in equity funding, grown its host-side business 50 times betw
027: What Institutional Capital Really Thinks About STR Right Now | Chris Hemmeter, Thayer Ventures
Venture capital is not ignoring travel tech. It is underwriting to a different standard. And most founders building in hospitality right now do not fully understand what that standard is.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann sits down with Chris Hemmeter, Managing Director at Thayer Ventures, one of the most active institutional investors across travel and hospitality technology, b
026: What AI-Native Actually Means: Arbio's Bet on the AI Operating System for Short-Term Rentals
Nobody calls a property manager "a software company." Arbio is replacing the traditional tech stack with a single AI system designed to run operations end to end.Constantin Schröder is the Co-Founder and CEO of Arbio, one of Europe's fastest-growing short-term rental operators, managing over 1,500 units across Germany and Austria. Under his leadership, Arbio has positioned itself no
025: Guests Aren't Googling Anymore: AI, OTAs & the Future of STR Distribution | Shaun Stewart
The biggest disruption coming to short-term rentals is not regulation, supply growth, or capital compression. It is distribution itself.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann sits down with Shaun Stewart, VP of Open Distribution at StubHub and one of the most consequential behind-the-scenes figures in the history of modern travel infrastructure. Shaun spent 8 years at Expedia buildi
024: Curation Over Volume: How Landfolk Is Redefining Growth in Short-Term Rentals with Christian Schwarz Lausten
Is short-term rental growth a volume game, or is quality becoming the real competitive advantage?In a market flooded with inventory, inconsistent standards, and increasing AI-driven discovery, Christian Schwarz Lausten argues that the future of STR belongs to curated supply, disciplined execution, and brand-led trust. After selling his previous company to Airbnb, Christian returned with a delibera
023: Dependability vs Consistency: How Airbnb Redefined Hospitality Standards with Chip Conley
Short-term rentals disrupted hospitality by challenging one of its core assumptions: that consistency is the ultimate brand promise.But as Airbnb scaled globally, the real shift was not about standardization. It was about redefining what quality means at scale.In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Chip Conley to explore how the platform matured from scrappy disruptor to mainstream hospital
022: Why STR Leaders Crack Under Pressure | CEO Coach Gary Cohen
As short-term rental moves from rapid expansion into a more disciplined phase, leadership quality becomes the differentiator.In fast-scaling STR businesses, execution rarely breaks because of strategy. It breaks under pressure, idea overload, unclear decision rights, and human blind spots.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann speaks with Gary Cohen, CEO coach and leadership advisor
021: Is Luxury Short-Term Rental Really Resilient? - Luxury STR Roundtable with Emerald Stay, Le Collectionist, The Luxe Nomad and Nocturne Luxury Villas
Luxury short-term rental has long been viewed as the most resilient segment of the STR industry.But resilience does not mean immunity.Rising interest rates, tighter capital, geopolitical instability, regulatory scrutiny, and growing operational costs are reshaping the landscape. Demand remains strong, yet it is more selective, more price-sensitive, and less forgiving than in previous cycles.In thi
020: Trust, Reviews, and AI: How Experience Intelligence Is Shaping Hospitality and STR with Ben Jost of TrustYou
Reviews are everywhere in hospitality, yet most operators still misunderstand what they actually represent. In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann sits down with Ben Jost, CEO of TrustYou, to unpack why guest feedback analytics, reputation management, trust, and experience intelligence are emerging as critical drivers of decision-making and long-term performance in hospitality and s
019: Travel Marketplaces That Endure: Lessons from HomeAway to RVshare with Jon Gray
Some platforms optimize for growth. Others optimize for survival. Very few manage both.In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann sits down with Jon Gray, CEO of RVshare and former executive at HomeAway (now VRBO), for a grounded conversation on what actually makes marketplaces last.Jon has seen multiple cycles from the early days of short-term rentals, through the $3.9B sale of HomeAwa
018: Where Real Estate Models Are Converging: Lavanda CEO Fred Lerche-Lerchenborg on Flexible Living, STR, and Multifamily
In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann speaks with Fred Lerche-Lerchenborg, CEO of Lavanda, about how short-term rentals, mid-term stays, and multifamily are converging inside the same assets.This is not a tech pitch. It is a practical discussion on institutional real estate, operating risk, and why flexible living is becoming a core strategy for owners and investors.Fred breaks dow
017: Decisions, Not Forecasts: How Professional STR Operators Win in 2026 with Simon Lehmann
The short-term rental industry is entering a more demanding phase. In 2026, performance will be defined by execution, discipline, and decision-making under pressure.In this solo episode, Simon Lehmann outlines what professional operators must change, what they must stop doing, and where time and capital should be focused to protect margin and build durable businesses.The 6 Decisions Shaping STR Pe
016: Flexible Living Is Reshaping STR: An Institutional Capital Perspective with Jaja Jackson of ICONIQ Capital
Short-term rentals, flexible living, and multifamily are no longer separate conversations. For institutional capital, they are converging into a single question around risk, yield, and long-term durability.In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Jaja Jackson, Senior Vice President of Real Assets at ICONIQ Capital and Corporate Development Officer at Sentral, to unpack how large-scale investo
015: Is Raising Capital Like Ecommerce the Answer to Real Estate’s Funding Problem? Insights From DealMaker Co-Founder and CEO Rebecca Kacaba
In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Rebecca Kacaba, Co-Founder and CEO of DealMaker, joins Simon Lehmann for a candid conversation on why traditional capital raising no longer works for most founders and what a modern alternative looks like.Rebecca is a former capital markets attorney who left Big Law to build one of North America’s leading online capital raising platforms. DealMaker has helpe
014: From Road to Air: How Drone Delivery Is Reshaping Last-Mile Economics and Guest Experience
In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Bobby Healy, Founder and CEO of Manna Drone Delivery, joins Simon Lehmann for a grounded discussion on why last-mile delivery is structurally broken and how autonomous aerial delivery could reshape logistics, cities, and the short-term rental guest experience.Bobby brings decades of experience building travel and infrastructure businesses. Today, he leads Eu
013: 2025 Holiday Special - A Year That Changed the STR Conversation
2025 marked a turning point for the short-term rental industry.Not a year of hype or breakout growth, but a year of recalibration.In this Holiday Special of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann reflects on the conversations, tensions, and signals that defined the industry throughout the year. These insights are from the podcast, but also from in-person events, operator discussions, and real-world in
012: Europe's STR Growth Challenge: Fragmentation, Regulation, and Execution - Panel with GuestReady, COCOONR, and Happy.Rentals
Europe is often discussed as a single market. This panel makes clear why it is not.In this panel, Simon Lehmann brings together three leaders navigating growth across Europe’s most fragmented markets: Alexander Limpert (GuestReady and RentalReady), Antoine Serrurier (COCOONR), and Harold Lubberdink (Happy.Rentals). Together they break down what sustainable growth really looks like when regulation,
011: What VCs Really Look For in STR Tech: Insights from TCV’s Woody Marshall
Woody Marshall is a General Partner at TCV, one of the most influential investment firms in global technology and a long-standing backer of travel companies including Expedia, Airbnb, HomeAway and TripAdvisor. With more than two decades of experience investing in category-defining platforms, Woody brings a unique view of how technology evolves and what it takes for a company to break through in fr
010: The Midterm Rental Shift with Furnished Finder’s Jeff Hurst and Cami Narino
Cami Narino, Chief Operating Officer, and Jeff Hurst, Chief Executive Officer at Furnished Finder, join Simon Lehmann to analyze one of the most important shifts happening in housing and hospitality today: the rise of midterm rentals. Over the past decade, Furnished Finder has grown from zero to more than 300,000 listings, powered by independent landlords, changing mobility patterns and a growing
009: Booking Holdings President and CEO Glenn Fogel on AI and Why STR Is the Next Big Travel Shift
Glenn Fogel is the President and CEO of Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak and other global brands that shape how the world travels. With more than two decades at the forefront of online travel, he has guided Booking through major industry shifts, emerging technologies and changing traveler behavior.In this episode, Simon Lehmann speaks with Glenn about how AI, s
008: Hospitality or Tech? A Closer Look at AvantStay’s Approach to STR with its Founder and CEO, Sean Breuner
Sean Breuner is the Founder and CEO of AvantStay, one of the most ambitious hospitality brands in the short-term rental industry. Since launching in 2017, AvantStay has raised significant capital, expanded across the United States, and set out to define what a national hospitality brand could look like in STR.In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Sean for an open conversation on scale, bra
007: What Really Happened at Vacasa? Cliff Johnson, Co-Founder and Former COO, Shares Lessons for STR Founders
Cliff Johnson is the former Co-Founder of Vacasa, one of the largest short-term rental management companies in the United States, and now serves as President of PadSplit, a fast-growing affordable housing marketplace. His journey from startup founder to industry veteran gives him a rare perspective on how far the STR sector has come (and what still holds it back).In this episode, Simon Lehmann sit
006: Can Revenue and Operations Work as One? Breezeway & PriceLabs CEOs Redefine STR Technology
Two systems drive every property management company: revenue and operations. For years, they’ve worked in silos. But what happens when they finally connect?In this episode, Simon Lehmann brings together Jeremy Gall, Founder and CEO at Breezeway, and Richie Khandelwal, Co-founder at PriceLabs, to explore how smarter data, clearer demand signals, and integrated tools can redefine how professional op
005: Behind the Scenes of Guesty’s Rise to Global PMS Powerhouse with Amiad Soto, Co-founder & CEO
Amiad Soto is the co-founder and CEO of Guesty, one of the most recognized property management software platforms in the short-term rental industry. His journey started in Tel Aviv, where he and his brother Koby launched the company more than a decade ago, before taking it through Y Combinator in Silicon Valley. Under his leadership, Guesty has grown into a global player, shaping the way property
004: Inside the OTA Playbook: Carl Shepherd on HomeAway, Airbnb Fees & Booking’s Rise to Power
Carl Shepherd is the Co-Founder of HomeAway, the marketplace that helped define the modern short-term rental industry. Before Airbnb became a household name, Carl and his co-founder Brian Sharples built HomeAway into a global platform that changed how people rent and manage vacation homes. The company went public in 2011 and was later acquired by Expedia for $3.9 billion.If you want to understand
003: Why Has Nobody Built a Truly Global STR Operator? Inside the Real Challenges of Scale with Forge Group, Casago, and MadeComfy
Every major player in short-term rentals has chased the idea of building a truly global operator. None have cracked it.In this panel, Simon Lehmann brings together three leaders shaping the next phase of professionalization: Graham Donoghue (Forge Group, UK), Steve Schwab (Casago, US), and Quirin Schwaighofer (MadeComfy, Australia). Together they break down what it really takes to scale across bor
002: How Brian Egan Built Evolve Into a Profitable Short-Term Rental Business & What’s Next for Vacation Rentals
Brian Egan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Evolve, a Denver-based hospitality company with a mission to become the most trusted brand in vacation rental. Since launching Evolve in 2011 alongside Adam Sherry, Brian has grown the company to support over 35,000 properties and more than $5 billion in rental revenue. If you're navigating the complexities of short-term rentals, this episode offers ins
001: 6 Hot Takes on the Future and Growing Pains of Short-Term Rentals with Simon Lehmann
“Short-term rental is mainstream hospitality. It makes up 14% of global hospitality. And mainstream industries must operate by a different set of rules.” — Simon LehmannThe short-term rental industry is at a turning point. Regulation is tightening, OTAs are shifting power, and owners are demanding more transparency. Technology and AI promise efficiency but raise new risks. Safety sits at the cente
STR Global Unlocked with Simon Lehmann | Official Podcast Trailer
STR Global Unlocked is the podcast built to say what others won’t. Hosted by Simon Lehmann, one of the most trusted voices in the global STR space, every episode takes on the hard questions shaping property management, STR tech, investment, and hospitality such as: Is regulation now existential for STR? Are OTAs making operators fragile? Will short-term rentals become just another hotel product?Th
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