Advertise on podcast: The STR Growth Show

I sat down with Kory Rankine, founder of Escape Lux in Miami, to break down how he built a selective portfolio of upscale and ultra-luxury STRs through high-touch, experience-driven hospitality. Kory shares how he entered the industry through concierge services, landed early luxury bookings by pairing homes with yachts, chefs, cars, and chauffeurs, and built a business around matching the right guests with the right properties. We discuss Miami’s evolving STR regulations, why compliance is critical, how B2B referrals drive growth, and why Kory moved beyond the overused “luxury” label to focus on creating memorable escape experiences.We also dive into AI, underwriting, due diligence, and Kory’s plans to scale strategically and eventually acquire assets. If you’re building a luxury STR management company or looking to create a differentiated hospitality brand, this episode is for you. Connect with me.... Podcast: YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Kory Rankine at https://escapelux.com/

I sat down with Kyle Miklasz to break down how he built highly profitable “super properties” in overlooked, drive-to Midwest markets by turning barns and warehouses into destination short-term rentals.Kyle shares how he went from corporate sales to STRs, found his first barn for $775K, invested roughly $250K into the property, and turned an AirDNA projection of $35K into nearly 10x that revenue. We also discuss how a $2.1M refinance helped him scale to 15 locations.We dive into the strategy behind his amenity-heavy properties, how social media now drives 40–50% of revenue, growing direct bookings to 35%, and why Kyle designs properties to be the reason guests travel in the first place.We also break down his approach to underwriting without traditional comps, scaling with capital, building the Wild Warehouse brand, managing insurance and risk, and continuously refreshing properties to keep them relevant and shareable.If you’re looking to build unique, high-revenue STRs outside traditional vacation markets, this episode is packed with strategies you can apply. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Kyle Miklasz on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kylemiklasz/

Lucas Piper went from earning $30,000 a year as a social worker to building Five Star VHR, a luxury short-term rental management company with roughly 70 properties in Austin generating about $9M in booked revenue. In this episode, Lucas shares how he started by renting out his own home, scaled through rental arbitrage, survived COVID and partnership mistakes, and eventually went all-in on property management. We break down how he used Facebook groups, meetups, networking, and free education to build a reputation that helped him win luxury management contracts and grow through referrals. Lucas also shares his approach to owner retention, competing on value instead of fees, building strong local teams, and fixing financial and bookkeeping challenges. Finally, we discuss what’s next for Five Star VHR, including mergers and partnerships, growing to 85–100 high-quality properties, and using AI to improve the guest experience. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Lucas Piper on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fivestarvhr/

I sit down with Cameron and Jeremy to break down how they acquired a 46-year-old Lake Tahoe property management company, growing from 10–15 homes to nearly 140 in a single deal.We discuss how they built their partnership, navigated messy financials and non-assignable contracts, used a Quality of Earnings professional, and valued the business based on its management contracts rather than traditional EBITDA.We also dive into what happened after closing from improving revenue management and listings to automating guest communication, rebuilding maintenance workflows, hiring key team members, and implementing EOS.Cameron and Jeremy share the realities of acquiring a legacy STR management company and their plan to strengthen operations, regain Superhost status, and scale toward $30 million in annual gross bookings. Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Jeremy & Cameron:Cameron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameron.masters_/Cameron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronemasters/Jeremy's email: [email protected]

How do you scale a short-term rental management company without becoming another bloated, generic property manager?In this episode of The STR Growth Show, Alex Bykov shares how he and his wife, Natalie, grew their Lake Arrowhead short-term rental management business from just 5 properties to 37 units, with 50 in their sights.Alex breaks down how they’ve carved out a middle ground between self-management and the large national property management companies by going deep on what matters locally: operations, reliable vendors, guest experience, regulations, and technology.But where things get especially interesting is how Alex is using AI and custom-built software to run the business more efficiently.With a background in web development, Alex started using Claude AI, APIs, MCP integrations, and automation to build internal tools specifically around the problems his property management company faces.If you run a short-term rental management company, this episode is a practical look at where the industry is heading: smaller teams using AI, automation, and custom technology to operate like much larger companies. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Alex Bykov on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bykovalex/

AI search is changing how guests find places to stay and most STR operators aren't ready for it. We sit down with Jason Cincotta, CEO of Kismet, to break down how tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews are reshaping guest discovery. Jason brings a hotel development background to the conversation and explains why Kismet is now building infrastructure for short-term rentals, starting with the three things AI needs to recommend and book a property: visibility, operability, and bookability. We run a live search for boutique hotels in Sarasota to see exactly how AI ranks results, and what it's actually pulling from ratings, reviews, location data, and structured property content. The gap between operators who show up and those who don't comes down to whether their properties are machine-readable. If you're relying on OTAs to handle discovery, this episode is a wake-up call. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Jason Cincotta via email [email protected] or kismet.travel to book a demo.

I sat down with James Varley, CEO of Host Planet, to break down STR education and how to actually make money hosting around mega-events like the World Cup. James spent nearly 10 years in corporate communications for Qatar's 2022 World Cup before buying UK holiday lets and noticing a massive gap in quality STR education. That gap became Host Planet. We dig into the real demand picture: pricing comes in waves, depends on which teams play in your market, and concentrates in the group stage. Stay nimble, manage your minimum stays, and ditch the "riches all month" fantasy. Plus, what Host Planet has coming next, including a potential US expansion. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with James Varley on: Email:  [email protected] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/ Website:  hostplanet.club

Dr. Zak Ali joins the show to break down what modern revenue management really looks like in the short-term rental industry and why it's far more than just setting prices in software. With over 20 years of experience across airlines, hotels, vacation rentals, and hospitality technology, Dr. Zak shares lessons from leading revenue management for 110,000+ units at Awaze and consulting with operators around the world. We dive into the metrics that actually matter, how to price unique properties, why most operators focus on the wrong data, and how AI is changing (but not replacing) revenue management. If you're a property manager, vacation rental operator, or hospitality professional looking to increase revenue, improve forecasting, and stay ahead of market trends, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Dr. Zak on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-a-056b2714/

In this episode, we sit down with Mariam of Lume Stays and Natalie Bykov of The Orange Cabins, two powerhouse co-hosts and full-time moms who built thriving short-term rental businesses from the ground up. They share what it actually took to scale from a few properties with no software to 40 units and beyond.We get into the real operational stuff: when to hire your first VA, how to structure shifts, what a boots-on-the-ground person actually does, and how to know when your ops manager is maxed out. Mariam breaks down her referral incentive strategy with vendors and how dominating Desert Hot Springs gave her a natural path into Palm Springs. Natalie shares how a single viral video drove millions of views and turned social media into her biggest lead source. At the same time, she and her husband Alex, run active outbound sales calls to grow their Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear portfolio.We also talk about working with spouses, letting go of guest messaging, and why they both believe hospitality still needs a human touch. Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Mariam & Natalie on:Mariam: https://www.instagram.com/mariam.av_/Natalie: https://www.instagram.com/nataliebykov/Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/confessionsofahost/

Chris Petzy, co-owner and CEO of Seacoast 2 Summit Vacation Rentals, discusses scaling from a self-managed two-family property to 120+ short-term rentals through inbound leads, referrals, and operational discipline. In this episode, we cover how Chris and his partner divide responsibilities between sales, marketing, and operations, what changes as you grow from operator to CEO, and why scaling a vacation rental management company is really about people, roles, systems, and quality control. You’ll also hear how Chris thinks about direct bookings, AI tools, CRM systems, homeowner communication, maintenance workflows, VAs vs. stateside staff, and building the leadership structure needed to grow without sacrificing service or family time. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispetzy/

In this episode, we sit down with Mishan Andre of Cabo Platinum to break down how luxury short-term rentals can actually compete with hotels. Managing an 85-villa portfolio in Cabo, he shares the systems, service standards, and operational discipline behind high-end STRs. You’ll learn how they scaled from VRBO into a premium brand, how they protect $10M+ homes with detailed inspections, and why human service still beats AI in luxury hospitality. If you’re building or scaling a high-end STR business, this episode is for you. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Mishan Andre at caboplatinum.com

JJ King, founder of Beachside Vacation Rentals, joins the show to share how he scaled to 300 units in three years and how he’s using AI in real STR operations. We break down where AI actually works (guest messaging, SOPs, internal tools) and where it can hurt like fully automated messaging leading to worse guest experiences and team disengagement. JJ also shares lessons from over-automation mistakes, the rise of AI agents like Claude tools, and how to implement AI without overcomplicating your stack. Connect with me.... Podcast: YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with JJ King on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjking321/

Lynell Gordon joins the STR Growth Show to share her journey through vacation rentals and proptech, from founding and exiting a SaaS company to going deep on property management software and operations. We get into why the "one software does everything" dream is a myth across different STR markets, how short-term rental operators should actually be thinking about AI, and where automation wins versus where hospitality still demands a human touch. Lynell also drops sharp takes on trust accounting, fintech risk, OTA dependency, direct booking strategy, and what every STR operator needs to understand about EBITDA and add-backs before even thinking about selling. If you run a short-term rental business, cohosting company, or vacation rental management firm, this one will sharpen how you think about tech, operations, and building something worth owning long-term. Connect with me.... YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Connect with Lynell Gordon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynelleaddy/ The Vacation Rental Show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-vacation-rental-show/

Tyler Coon, CEO of Savvy STR Agents, scaled from roughly $50M in annual STR sales to a national team operating in 30+ markets across the U.S.You’ll learn how Tyler entered the STR space in 2020, built a national team, and is now aiming for $1B in short-term rental real estate sales while helping agents build wealth in the process.You’ll also dive into the major shifts happening in the STR market since 2022. With higher interest rates, rising home prices, and more competition, the industry is seeing an amenity arms race, where highly designed, experience-driven “super properties” outperform basic vacation rentals.Throughout the conversation, you’ll explore how investors are adapting, why lower-budget STR setups are getting squeezed out, and why Tyler believes institutional and family-office capital is beginning to enter the space looking for cash-flowing short-term rentals.Connect with me....Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...YouTube Channel: ⁠   / @patrykswietek  Instagram: ⁠  / patryk_swietek  Facebook Group: ⁠  / strnation  Visit Tyler Coon at https://www.savvy.realty/agents/Tyler...

You think you want 500 units, but do you actually? In this episode, you challenge the assumption that bigger is always better in short-term rental management. You’ll dive into the real operational breakpoints between 10 and 500+ units and discover why 100–120 units might be the true “sweet spot” for profitability, accountability, and long-term sustainability. Michael Steinkirchner, founder of Uncharted Vacations, managing partner at Stream Advisors, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, shares his path from military service to boutique STR operator to large-scale management with Vacasa and what scaling really costs in owner relationships, staffing, tech, and control. If you’re growing an Airbnb or vacation rental management company, this episode will challenge how you think about scale. Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/ Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/ Visit Michael Steinkirchner at stayuncharted.comEmail: [email protected]