Advertise on podcast: STR Global Unlocked with Simon Lehmann

Acquiring a new homeowner is one of the highest-returning moves a property manager can make, says Brooke Pfautz. He puts the share of managers who track what that homeowner is worth at under 10%, and Simon Lehmann says he put the share who do not at 95% on a panel at VRMA. Brooke Pfautz leads Vintory, a sales and marketing platform that has helped nearly 1,000 short-term rental property management businesses grow their inventory over the past seven and a half years. In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann sits down with Brooke to talk about how he responded to the threat of AI by building an internal skunkworks team to cannibalize his own software, and to break down his rule-of-thumb math behind homeowner unit economics. This is not a conversation about finding more leads. It is a practical look at what a homeowner is worth, what that changes about CAC, churn and retention, and what Brooke expects AI to do to the industry over the next 12 to 24 months.   Questions we answer in this episode Is the short-term rental industry consolidating?Can you build your own property management software with AI?How do you calculate the lifetime value of a vacation rental owner, and how does churn change it?How much should a property manager pay for a homeowner referral?How should a property manager follow up with homeowner leads who are not ready to sign?Why do vacation rental owners leave their property manager?How can a small vacation rental company get more homeowners?Can AI replace human communication with vacation rental owners?  Want to know your own numbers? That is what the Simon Lehmann STR Academy is built for. Nine modules on how to run a property management company, from operator to CEO. Tactical, strategic and heavy on finance, with working documents built on your own numbers. Start here: simonlehmann.net/academy

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffnt What is your short-term rental business really worth? Most property management companies track occupancy rates, bookings, and guest reviews. But the four metrics that actually determine your company's profitability, scalability, and valuation are often overlooked. In this video, I reveal 4 essential KPIs every short-term rental operator and vacation rental property manager needs to track to build a more profitable, scalable, and valuable business. Podcast Episode with Julie Brinkmann: https://youtu.be/8hU24DXkHTg Podcast Episode with Shaun Shirazian: https://youtu.be/_hOa2z7EkL4 Podcast Episode with Rachel Alday: https://youtu.be/IoQnPjvqRC0

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffnt How do you make your hospitality business the one customers find, understand and trust? In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I sit down with Jessica Gillingham, founder of Abode Worldwide, to explore how strategic PR, clear positioning and a consistent brand story help short-term rental operators and travel tech companies stand out. Jessica explains why public relations goes far beyond press releases, how earned media and owned channels work together, and why third-party credibility matters as AI search becomes part of the customer journey. We discuss what makes a company ready for a PR agency, the positioning mistakes that hold founders back, and how to start building authority with a smaller budget. Which questions are answered in this episode? - What does PR actually do beyond press releases? - How can your business stand out in a crowded market? - What helps customers find and trust your company through AI search? - How should earned media and your own content work together? - When is hiring a PR agency too early? - How can founders build authority without being comfortable on stage? - Where should you start with a small marketing budget? - What can property managers do to build a stronger local reputation?

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffnt If 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 supply chain logistics brings a fresh perspective to short-term rental operations, mid-term rental strategy, and building better systems. We explore why hosts become the bottleneck in their own businesses, how to document and delegate essential tasks, and why buying more software won’t solve a broken process. Vivian also explains how booking windows, guest behavior, and calendar planning can help operators combine short-term and mid-term stays more effectively. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • How to move essential business knowledge out of your head • How value stream mapping helps identify unnecessary work • Why booking windows matter for mid-term rental demand • Where to start with cleaning and smart lock automation • How a property management system and unified inbox support delegation • Why a hybrid rental strategy requires coordinated calendar planning

simonlehmann.net/academy Twenty 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 through its scale to Expedia, chairing Make Comfy through exit, investing as an angel, and advising more than 50 management teams across 20 countries and five continents. None of that experience came with an instruction manual, which is the gap this episode addresses. In this solo episode, Simon explains why he built the Simon Lehmann STR Academy, who it is for, and what it is designed to solve. It starts with a diagnosis most operators get wrong. Simon's argument is simple: most property managers do not have a growth problem. They have a numbers problem, and adding more units often hides it rather than solving it. The Academy is his attempt to make 20 years of expensive lessons, rebuilt with AI, available before the next operator has to pay for them the same way. In this episode Why one in five properties loses money without the owner ever seeing it, hidden inside the average of the portfolio's profit and loss.Why, in one portfolio Simon reviewed, 13% of the owners held 44% of the properties, and what that concentration actually means for the business.How a currency mismatch between euros and Swiss francs once halved his profit on flat revenue, and how a due diligence mandate he lost redirected his entire career toward advising instead of running.Why 400 hours of real advisory calls, not conference panels, kept surfacing the same blind spots: measured across 750 operators in 15 countries, average owner tenure runs closer to three and a half years than the five to ten most founders assume.What the Simon Lehmann STR Academy actually contains: nine modules and 67 sessions built entirely from transcripts of real advisory and mentorship calls, with no vendor pitches and no sponsor names.Who this is built for and who it is not: founders running between 30 and 200 properties, not three unit hosts and not thousand unit operators who need a conversation instead of a course.Why only a quarter of surveyed operators actually want to sell, and why the four conditions that make a business sellable are the same four that let a founder take a month off or hand the business to their children. The Simon Lehmann STR Academy opened on 5 October 2026.  Twenty places at the opening terms, until Tuesday 13 October 2026. After that it moves to the standard price.  Every buyer also joins Simon for a live session about a month in. simonlehmann.net/academy

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffnt What 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 a property management company more valuable. David shares how he built a destination content platform alongside a property management business, turning local knowledge into a way to reach guests before they were ready to book. He explains the difference between creating demand and capturing it, why operators need to understand their guests’ booking behavior, and how diversified demand can reduce risk for a future buyer. Which questions are answered in this episode? - What does it really cost to depend on Airbnb and other booking platforms? - How can short-term rental operators create demand of their own? - What is the difference between creating demand and capturing demand? - Why should property managers pay closer attention to customer acquisition costs? - How can direct bookings and a stronger brand affect the value of a business? - What will matter most as technology changes short-term rental distribution?

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffnt With 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 necessarily those that best fit your operation. In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I speak with Gernot Zechner, the creator of one of the most comprehensive living maps of the short-term rental technology ecosystem. We explore why STR operators frequently choose the wrong software, how overlapping features create unnecessary costs and why independent reviews and transparent comparisons are essential. Gernot also reveals what his analysis of more than 1,000 providers, 6,000 integrations and approximately 45% feature overlap tells us about the state of the industry. Which Questions Are Answered in This Episode? - Why do Google and AI tools often recommend the same STR software providers? - How many technology providers currently serve the short-term rental industry? - Why should operators stop relying on “top 10” software lists? - How can operators identify the tools that truly fit their business? - Why do so many STR technology stacks contain overlapping features? - How much money could operators be wasting on redundant software? - Which STR technology categories are already overcrowded? - Where are the biggest gaps and opportunities in the market?

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://link.simonlehmann.net/widget/bookings/simon-lehmann-personal-calendar-igt0r2y3pbjffnt A 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-term rentals. We explore why reviews cannot define a property’s promise on their own, why earlier attempts at vacation rental standards failed, and whether shared quality and service tiers could help guests book with more confidence. Questions answered in this episode: - Why don’t five-star reviews tell guests what to expect from a vacation rental? - What can short-term rentals learn from hotel standards? - Why have previous attempts to standardize vacation rentals failed? - Should standards apply to individual homes or property managers? - How can property managers get homeowners on board? - Where does technology improve the guest experience, and where is human service essential? - Who should define and verify vacation rental standards? - Could shared standards make STR businesses more valuable?

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 results in short-term rental and property management businesses. I break down four key areas: guest communication, revenue management, operations, and owner acquisition. You’ll also discover which AI applications are currently overhyped and could waste your time, money, or owner trust.

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 undercapitalized decisions in the short-term rental industry. Andrea explains how operators should budget for furniture and design, where quality matters most and where it is possible to save. She also reveals why guests book with their eyes, how professional photography shapes expectations and why beautiful images can never compensate for an uncomfortable stay. Which Questions Are Answered in This Episode? Why is design one of the most overlooked investments in rental properties?How can interior design increase bookings, revenue and guest satisfaction?Where should property owners invest—and where can they save?Why can cheap furniture become expensive in the long run?How important are professional photos when guests choose a property?How do operators balance visual appeal with comfort and functionality?How is AI changing interior design and furniture procurement?How can property managers convince owners to invest in upgrades?Which amenities and furnishings do guests now expect as standard?How often should rental properties be renovated or refreshed?

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 traveler.  Niko explains why the Airbnb generation expects more than either traditional hotels or inconsistent short-term rentals can offer. He also reveals how Bob W delivers a full-service guest experience without a traditional front desk, operates with a fraction of the staff of a comparable hotel and uses technology to remove repetitive work without losing the human touch.  Questions Answered in This Episode:  - Why are traditional hospitality categories becoming irrelevant?  - What does the modern traveler actually expect from accommodation?  - Are hotels and short-term rentals becoming one category?  - Why could the traditional front desk become obsolete?  - How does Bob W deliver full service with one-seventh of the staff?  - Can technology improve both efficiency and the guest experience?  - Which hospitality operators are most at risk?

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultation Small 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 necessarily be the biggest - but the ones that understand their business, master the basics and use technology intelligently. We discuss why scaling to more units is not always the right goal, how small hosts can now compete with professional property managers, why PMS platforms are evolving into operating systems, and where AI and automation can actually create value.  Questions answered in this episode: - What separates a casual host from a professional STR operator? - Why is scaling to more units not always the right goal? - Can small hosts really compete with large property managers? - How much should STR operators rely on Airbnb and other OTAs? - When does multi-channel distribution actually make sense? - How are PMS platforms evolving into operating systems? - Where can AI and automation create the most value in hospitality? - What parts of the guest journey should never be automated?

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultation Scaling 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 scalable. Drawing on decades of experience building and leading companies in the hospitality industry and working with operators managing anywhere from 50 to 10,000+ units, he explains why most STR businesses build the wrong kind of systems. You’ll discover the three pillars every scalable STR operating system needs, why SOPs and technology alone aren’t enough, and what separates a documented process from a system that actually works without you.

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, Jackson Hole, and Sun Valley. Rachel explains why many vacation rental businesses do not actually have a memorable brand, why competing on price keeps operators dependent on platforms, and how service standards, company culture, consistency, and direct guest relationships create real differentiation. Which questions are answered in this episode? Why do many short-term rental operators struggle to build a brand guests actually remember?How can property managers differentiate themselves without competing only on price?Why are direct guest relationships so important for reducing OTA dependency?How did Abode Luxury Rentals achieve more than 60% direct bookings?What role do service standards, company culture, and consistency play in building a strong vacation rental brand?How can operators scale their portfolio without losing service quality?Why should profitability matter more than simply adding more properties?When does bringing housekeeping in-house make sense?

Book a strategic consultation with me now: https://bit.ly/simon-consultation In 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 increasing its unit count or headcount. You’ll discover how AI agents can reduce manual work, replace an overloaded tech stack and help property managers operate more efficiently. Alex also reveals why AI should support employees rather than replace them, how his company continues working while he sleeps and which tasks still require human judgement. Which questions are answered in this episode? - How can property managers use AI agents to increase profitability without adding more units or employees? - Why is the traditional property management tech stack becoming increasingly inefficient? - What is the difference between using AI as a simple tool and building an AI-powered operating system? - How can internal AI agents support finance, operations, marketing, security, and development? - Which property management tasks can run autonomously, and where is human approval still essential? - How should operators onboard and train AI agents like new team members? 00:00 – How AI is reshaping property management 03:02 – The biggest lie in property management 05:13 – Automating a critical operational role 08:54 – 160% more operating income without more units 12:20 – Inside the AI-powered “Mission Control” 19:02 – How 12 specialized AI agents work together 26:23 – Running a property business that never stops 29:56 – Three rules for successfully implementing AI 37:48 – Where property managers should start with AI 44:11 – Why humans remain essential in hospitality