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Airbnb's shifting fee structure is shaking hosts, but the real issue goes deeper—pricing psychology, guest behavior, and knowing your market.In this episode, Thibault shares actionable strategies that hosts can use to protect margins, win more bookings, and scale smarter.• Why Airbnb's new fee model has hosts freaking out• How to price for what guests see (not what you keep)• Tools like PriceLabs—and why they're useless without context• How European vs. U.S. guests think about fees differently• When to simplify pricing and present “one clean price”• The principles of occupancy, demand, and market alignment00:05:12 – 3 Pricing Foundations Every Host Must Know00:07:02 – Why Hosts Are Freaking Out About Airbnb Fees00:08:22 – The Real Reason Airbnb Changed Its Fees00:09:15 – The Only Price That Matters to Guests00:10:24 – Why “One Clean Price” Converts Better00:11:50 – Airbnb vs. Vrbo vs. Booking.com Costs Compared00:12:09 – How Airbnb Went From Host-Friendly to Guest-First00:24:50 – Are More Bookings Always Better?00:25:04 – AI + Pricing Strategy: Where the Future Is Headed00:25:22 – Who Owns Mistakes—You or the Machine?Guest Bio:Thibault Masson is the Head of Product Marketing at PriceLabs. His short-term rental journey started as a villa owner in Bali and St. Barts, which gave him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges of hosting. That passion for hospitality later brought him to Booking.com, where he worked on vacation rental strategy at a global scale, and inspired him to launch Rental Scale-Up as a platform for industry knowledge-sharing. Today at PriceLabs, Thibault brings together his experience as a host, tech marketer, and industry advocate to help property managers worldwide grow through smarter pricing and revenue management.Guest Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibaultmassonGet FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:http://group.strsecrets.com/
Airbnb's shifting fee structure is shaking hosts, but the real issue goes deeper—pricing psychology, guest behavior, and knowing your market.In this episode, Thibault shares actionable strategies that hosts can use to protect margins, win more bookings, and scale smarter.• Why Airbnb's new fee model has hosts freaking out• How to price for what guests see (not what you keep)• Tools like PriceLabs—and why they're useless without context• How European vs. U.S. guests think about fees differently• When to simplify pricing and present “one clean price”• The principles of occupancy, demand, and market alignment00:05:12 – 3 Pricing Foundations Every Host Must Know00:07:02 – Why Hosts Are Freaking Out About Airbnb Fees00:08:22 – The Real Reason Airbnb Changed Its Fees00:09:15 – The Only Price That Matters to Guests00:10:24 – Why “One Clean Price” Converts Better00:11:50 – Airbnb vs. Vrbo vs. Booking.com Costs Compared00:12:09 – How Airbnb Went From Host-Friendly to Guest-First00:24:50 – Are More Bookings Always Better?00:25:04 – AI + Pricing Strategy: Where the Future Is Headed00:25:22 – Who Owns Mistakes—You or the Machine?Guest Bio:Thibault Masson is the Head of Product Marketing at PriceLabs. His short-term rental journey started as a villa owner in Bali and St. Barts, which gave him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges of hosting. That passion for hospitality later brought him to Booking.com, where he worked on vacation rental strategy at a global scale, and inspired him to launch Rental Scale-Up as a platform for industry knowledge-sharing. Today at PriceLabs, Thibault brings together his experience as a host, tech marketer, and industry advocate to help property managers worldwide grow through smarter pricing and revenue management.Guest Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibaultmassonGet FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:http://group.strsecrets.com/
In this bold and thought-provoking episode, Heather sits down with Humphrey Bowles, the founder of Truvi and who has adopted the term "digital sharecropping" within the short-term rental industry. Together, they explore the illusion of entrepreneurship in the short-term rental world - especially when you build your business entirely on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. Humphrey shares the powerful analogy behind digital sharecropping and breaks down what it really means to build a business you don't own. If you've ever questioned who really controls your guest relationships, your reviews, or even your ability to operate, this episode will hit home. From psychological burnout to platform dependency, from trust to true entrepreneurship, this is a conversation that every host and manager needs to hear.
We explore how Vrbo is deepening its integration within Expedia by expanding distribution, tying vacation rentals into the One Key loyalty program, and testing AI-powered reviews to meet global demand, while Hospitable takes a different path by raising $1.5 million from its own customers and employees to fuel AI innovation, platform reliability, and sustainable growth in short-term rental management.Are you new and want to start your own hospitality business?Join our Facebook groupFollow Boostly and join the discussion:YouTube LinkedInFacebookWant to know more about us? Visit our websiteStay informed and ahead of the curve with the latest insights and analysis.
Another day, another masterclass in awkward honesty courtesy of The Rizzuto Show. This week, the crew dives into the eternal mystery: how the hell do you actually know if someone's into you? Spoiler: apparently it involves secret triangles with your eyes, unnecessary elbow touching, and maybe staring at lips like a weirdo?! But the real highlight? Lern hits us with a story about her mom letting one rip right in front of her at a girl's weekend — and not the “oops, blame the chair squeak” kind. Nope, the kind that makes you reconsider ever making eye contact with your parent again. Listen now and prepare to be blown away… hopefully not the same way Lern was. Show Notes: Who won the Pick'em Challenge this week between the Rizz Show and the 101ESPN's Fast Lane? Moon's weekend review of Las Vegas. Lern's weekend review of Salem Mass. King Scott's weekend review being knighted by the Hives at White Castle. VRBO guest ‘permanently injured' by cockroach feces in coffee, lawsuit claims Six Flags St. Louis has 'no plans to close,' company says “That's so outta pocket”: Florida A&M band announcer Joe Bullard sparks outrage over calling Alabama State's Honey Beez “the new Face of Ozempic” Mother-of-two left with a broken neck after huge YAWN: 'I had a 50/50 chance of survival' Texas high school teacher shamelessly tells students she fed ‘ailing' kitten to class snake ‘Bio-baiting' is the latest toxic dating trend fooling singles: ‘Erodes trust' We Asked Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials And Zoomers How To Flirt. Their Answers Were Surprising. Follow The Rizzuto Show @rizzshow on all your favorite social media, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and more. Connect with The Rizzuto Show online at 1057thepoint.com/rizzSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane sit down with Tim Rosolio, VP of Partner Success at Vrbo, to unpack how Expedia Group's new distribution strategy is reshaping opportunities for vacation rental operators. From expanded visibility across Expedia platforms to the rollout of One Key, Merchant of Record, and new AI-driven features, the conversation explores what hosts and managers can expect as Vrbo integrates deeper into Expedia's ecosystem. We also cover how urban markets may benefit, what loyalty means for vacation rentals, and whether guest-uploaded photos and review summaries will help—or hurt—operators. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane sit down with Tim Rosolio, VP of Partner Success at Vrbo, to unpack how Expedia Group's new distribution strategy is reshaping opportunities for vacation rental operators. From expanded visibility across Expedia platforms to the rollout of One Key, Merchant of Record, and new AI-driven features, the conversation explores what hosts and managers can expect as Vrbo integrates deeper into Expedia's ecosystem. We also cover how urban markets may benefit, what loyalty means for vacation rentals, and whether guest-uploaded photos and review summaries will help—or hurt—operators. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Airbnb's new 15% fee structure has left property managers, cohosts, and homeowners asking the same question: who's really paying?In this episode, finance expert Ben Coons breaks down the numbers behind gross vs. net commission models—and what you must do to protect your margins.• Gross vs. net commission explained in plain English• How Airbnb's fee hits managers vs. homeowners• Why this change is different from Vrbo and Booking.com• Pricing adjustments to avoid eating the new fee• Commission stacking and where your money really goes• How to communicate fee changes to homeowners clearly• Key takeaways to stay profitable under the new systemCo-hosts and homeowners: want the real numbers on Airbnb's 15% fee? Click the link and DM us “SPREADSHEET” and we'll send you the file.Link: https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T027&utm_content=Spreadsheet00:04:30 – Example Scenarios: Who Really Pays the Fee00:07:00 – Comparing Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com00:11:30 – Impact on Gross Model Operators00:14:00 – Impact on Net Model Operators00:18:30 – The Homeowner's Point of View00:23:30 – Commission Stacking: The Hidden Cost00:26:00 – Pricing Adjustments to Stay Profitable00:29:00 – How to Communicate Fee Changes to Homeowners00:32:00 – Key Takeaways: Run the Numbers & Adapt EarlyGet FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:http://group.strsecrets.com/
Airbnb's new 15% fee structure has left property managers, cohosts, and homeowners asking the same question: who's really paying?In this episode, finance expert Ben Coons breaks down the numbers behind gross vs. net commission models—and what you must do to protect your margins.• Gross vs. net commission explained in plain English• How Airbnb's fee hits managers vs. homeowners• Why this change is different from Vrbo and Booking.com• Pricing adjustments to avoid eating the new fee• Commission stacking and where your money really goes• How to communicate fee changes to homeowners clearly• Key takeaways to stay profitable under the new systemCo-hosts and homeowners: want the real numbers on Airbnb's 15% fee? Click the link and DM us “SPREADSHEET” and we'll send you the file.Link: https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T027&utm_content=Spreadsheet00:04:30 – Example Scenarios: Who Really Pays the Fee00:07:00 – Comparing Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com00:11:30 – Impact on Gross Model Operators00:14:00 – Impact on Net Model Operators00:18:30 – The Homeowner's Point of View00:23:30 – Commission Stacking: The Hidden Cost00:26:00 – Pricing Adjustments to Stay Profitable00:29:00 – How to Communicate Fee Changes to Homeowners00:32:00 – Key Takeaways: Run the Numbers & Adapt EarlyGet FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:http://group.strsecrets.com/
Michael Goldin, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers unpack the biggest takeaways from Skift Global Forum and Vrbo's Connect conference while Brandreth Canaley is away preparing for her move to Boston. Jamie shares his perspective as a speaker at Vrbo's event, where Expedia Group announced major distribution expansion, stricter listing standards, and new host tools. The conversation also touches on Airbnb's tech overhaul and how these shifts are shaping competition, guest expectations, and host opportunities. Next week, Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partner Success, joins the show for a deeper dive into the changes happening at Vrbo.This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael Goldin, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers unpack the biggest takeaways from Skift Global Forum and Vrbo's Connect conference while Brandreth Canaley is away preparing for her move to Boston. Jamie shares his perspective as a speaker at Vrbo's event, where Expedia Group announced major distribution expansion, stricter listing standards, and new host tools. The conversation also touches on Airbnb's tech overhaul and how these shifts are shaping competition, guest expectations, and host opportunities. Next week, Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partner Success, joins the show for a deeper dive into the changes happening at Vrbo.This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The TSA is “looking aggressively at liquids,” signaling potential changes to the 3.4-ounce rule, while also preparing for a possible government shutdown. Expedia Group blamed sluggish U.S. demand for slow B2C growth (1%) even as B2B rose 17%, and expects Vrbo to reaccelerate via promotions and wider inventory sharing. Royal Caribbean says AI now underpins pricing and operations, helping cut waste by 50% across 69 ships and aligning with a shift toward multiple shorter trips. Expedia CEO: Slow Growth in Consumer Business Was Due to Sluggish U.S. Market TSA Is ‘Aggressively' Weighing Changes to Liquids Rule Royal Caribbean CEO: AI Now Manages 15 Million Price Points a Day Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Every business transaction has hidden tax opportunities waiting to be discovered, if you know where to look. This week on the IC-DISC podcast, I spoke with Mike D'Onofrio from Engineered Tax Services, who's spent 17 years helping business owners maximize their tax strategies through engineering-based specialty tax services. Mike joined ETS after working in corporate M&A and private equity, where he first recognized the critical need for specialized tax expertise during business transitions, and what struck me about Mike's approach is how his firm combines professional engineering expertise with tax strategy to deliver comprehensive solutions. They handle everything from cost segregation studies and energy incentives to insurance optimization, processing hundreds of cost segregation studies weekly across every property type imaginable. Mike's philosophy centers on what he calls "HABU" - highest and best use - focusing on their core expertise while partnering with specialists like us for complementary strategies that create immediate opportunities for businesses to improve cash flow. The conversation reinforced something I've noticed across successful advisory relationships: the best results come from specialists who stay in their lane while building collaborative teams. Mike's emphasis on maintaining human intelligence alongside technology adoption resonated with my own experience that relationships still drive business success.     SHOW HIGHLIGHTS ETS processes hundreds of cost segregation studies weekly, from single-family rentals to NFL stadiums, proving tax strategies scale across all property types. The recent bonus depreciation bill plus R&D tax credit enhancements now allow 100% first-year expense capture, creating immediate cash flow opportunities. Mike's "HABU" principle (Highest And Best Use) drives their decision to stay specialized rather than compete with partners in overlapping services. Engineering expertise combined with tax strategy creates unique value—ETS knows roof types, electrical systems, and construction costs that insurance carriers demand. After recognizing insurance as clients' second biggest pain point after taxes, ETS launched a complementary insurance division leveraging existing property data. Mike advises his 25-year-old self to surround himself with people much smarter, crediting uncomfortable situations with experts as his greatest learning opportunities.   Contact Details LinkedIn - Mike D'Onofrio (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfdonofrio/) LINKSShow Notes Be a Guest About IC-DISC Alliance About Engineered Tax Services Mike D'OnofrioAbout Mike TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dave: Good morning, Mike. Welcome to the podcast. Mike: Good morning, Dave. Great to be here with you today. Definitely. Dave: So where are you located at the moment? What part of the world are you in? Mike: Yeah, well, I'm in my home base today in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dave: Okay. Mike: Yeah. I've always liked Charlotte, a pretty part of the country. Charlotte's a beautiful place, man. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Great school, high school, college, so I know the Midwest and I still love Cleveland, of course, a Browns fan and a Indians guardians fan and Cavs. But moved to South Florida right after that, right after college and was living in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, and we're still based there. Our corporate acres is there, but my wife and I had originally met in Charlotte, and we love the seasons. I love the ability to, I see those mountains in your background. I love the ability, we don't have the same type of mountains as you do, but love getting out to the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, seeing the fall, the leaves, and can get to the beach, can drive down to Wilmington or Charleston in a couple hours. So we're right in the middle. We're bus to be here and have the Dave: Options. Yeah, it's a great location. You have four seasons and a slightly milder winter than Cleveland, Mike: That's for sure. It seems like winters have softened up a little bit in Cleveland, but man, I remember the mornings going out to the bus when I was a little kid with snow piled up over my head and the drifts up on the side of the house. I'll never forget those days. That was awesome. That was a real winter. But now in Charlotte, if we get a dusting of snow or a little bit of ice, it's usually gone by noon. Dave: Yeah. I was born and spent the first 13 years of my life in northwest Iowa and was the oldest of two boys. So I remember having to get up an hour early to go shovel the driveway just so mom and dad could get to work in that. So yeah, my saying is the worst Texas summer is still better than the best Northern Winter is my theory. Mike: You got it, man. High five to those of us that have shoveled snow driveways, walkways, figured out a snowblower with the chains on the wheels and all that fun stuff that comes with winter. Dave: So by some people's interpretation, we come from the same place because I've discovered people not from the Midwest, they think Ohio, Iowa, and Idaho are all the same place. Mike: Yeah, Dave: They're just all somewhere up there. Yes. It's up Mike: Somewhere up there in the Midwest. Folks like myself grew up in Ohio and Cleveland and Detroit and Chicago. I mean, definitely they think that's the heart of the Midwest, but they forget about the Midwest. Goes pretty far west. Right. Dave: It does. All the way to the mountains. So, well, let's get into it. So when did you join engineered tax services? Mike: Wow, it's been a big part of my life. Exciting journey. Like I said, after college I moved down to South Florida and my background was in more corporate m and a private equity working on the finance side of things in transactions, in private equity back in the day, they would call it kind of strategic intermediary work where we would either work on the buy side or sell side with the client. So I worked with a lot of clients and business owners that were maybe interested in transitioning out of their business. Maybe they were a food manufacturer or distributor. And interestingly enough, one of my mentors in life, his name is Bruce. Bruce was one of the first international CEOs with McDonald's corporation. Oh, really? Yeah, one of Ray Croc's, first five or six right hand key people. Before McDonald's had any international business, the first place that they went outside the US was to Latin America and the Caribbean. And I met Bruce in South Florida my early career, and we really saw an opportunity together, old school style, to go through his Rolodex and be like, man, I have a lot of relationships within the McDonald's and the finance ecosystem. So we started working with many different company owners, like I said, distributors, producers of different things, and we had some great success. And along the way I saw that there was really a need to understand specialty tax credit and incentives and strategies depending on who the client was, whether it was the seller of a company or a property or buyer of that was really to dig into the details of, Hey, what's the best way to make this transaction as tax efficient as possible? Tax was always the first pain point, either from the seller's point of view, maybe there was a big potential cap gain situation, how to structure that deal or from the buyer or investor's point of view, how to maybe capture some additional credits and incentives that they hadn't thought about, like research and development tax credits, or maybe there was a big piece of real estate or property involved in the transaction, like a manufacturing facility or office buildings or retail locations. So while digging in deeper in some of those transactions, I met Julio Gonzalez in Engineered Tax Services. She's going on 17, 18 years ago, and it was a small boutique firm at the time, engineered tax, and we were very focused on serving CPA firms nationally as that specialist. And I saw a great opportunity to really become a more diverse, focused specialist, and not only help CPA firms, but help private equity, the real estate investor, anything in that transaction to really help understand the tax code for the bonus depreciation or energy credits and incentives. Sure you do. Maybe they do domestic or international type of trade in that business, and there's a structure that might be a little bit more savvy than they're familiar with. So man, 17, 18 years ago is when I started with ETS, and we've grown substantially over the years from a handful of people in a small boutique firm in downtown West Palm Beach, Julio, and myself and Kim and Heidi and others, though I think pretty well, and we've really expanded, and so now not only still working with those CPA firms nationally, to be that specialist working with other professionals like you of really just how to maximize each transaction, understand the inevitable changes in the tax code with the different administrations. There's the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Trump 1.0, 2.0, what happened just now in July with a big beautiful bill, but the CARES Act, the Path Act, the previous tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the CHIPS Act, whatever the stimulus plan or new tax incentive of the day was. That was our job to really dig into that, be a great job educating around that and bringing it as proactively and transparently to the CPA community as well as the investors and owners. Dave: Yeah. I became acquainted with ETS and about the same time you did, and Julio invited me to South Florida and gave you the tour of the cool office building that you all rehabbed. Mike: Yeah. Then he was Dave: Kind Mike: Enough to, was that the one on a Vernia Street when he had just purchased it? Was it, Dave: I forget the street. It was like maybe a six story old building Mike: That's still his building and our corporate headquarters on the corner of Vernia and Olive for any of you that are down in West Palm Beach, and we'd love to show you around. It's a cool building. Dave: And then he was kind enough to host me at a Dolphins football game. Mike: I remember those days. Right. Dave: And for whatever reason, he was considered a bit of a VIP by the Dolphins, so I was able to go down on the field before the game, and I think I even had a photo taken with a Dolphin's cheerleader on each side of me that for whatever reason, it never made it up on the wall in our house. I'm not sure why, if that would've been a problem with my wife or now with a photo of two Dolphins cheerleaders hugging me, Mike: Dave, I think I have different versions of the exact same picture with myself and some friends. I have a great one with myself and my dad. Maybe we'll use some technology and pop some of those pictures up for others to see when you publish this podcast, or maybe we'll just keep those private for ourselves. But yeah, we used to Julio's involvement with the Dolphins and the family behind the scenes. We did. We did some amazing, not only professionally working with those types of property owners and venues, we did the cost segregation study on the Miami Dolphins Stadium when it was renovated. Dave: Oh, Mike: Yeah, I remember that. And a lot of others, Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins. I did some work on the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the Superdome in New Orleans, the Raiders facilities, the Buffalo Bills not allowed to give out any confidential information, but everybody's looking to save in tax and take advantage of whatever strategies are available in the code. But personally, obviously, we love sports and entertainment and being able to build the relationships with our clients, so we had a very cool double founder suite there in those early days that we used to all meet in West Palm Beach, have some fun on the Saturday, take the bus down on the Sunday morning. Yeah. We did that for years, and we still do some of that in Miami and in some different cities. I'll be doing some of it in Charlotte. But yeah, man, those were fun times. We really built amazing relationships still with clients today that actually, I saw a client yesterday that said, Hey, Mike, I was at the Green Bay game. I remember when we were down on the field and one of the Green Bay players said, hi. He is like, Hey, man. That was a childhood legend of mine that I'd always wanted to meet. And then of course, that's really cool. Sometimes we got to meet what Dan Marino and folks down in the tunnel in the Dolphins. Dave: Well, the other cool thing was Julio intentionally picked a Monday night game that he invited me to, so that made it even more fun. National game. Mike: Oh, yeah. Makes for a late evening getting home, that's for sure. Dave: It does. And so I just have to warn you, Julio was a guest on the podcast about three or four years ago, so he set the bar pretty high, so no pressure my Mike: Oh, yeah, none at all. But I Dave: Know being a former athlete, you're probably a little bit competitive, so I'm sure you'll want to point out to Julio that you think you did a better job. Mike: Yeah, just a little bit, Julio, and we spend a lot of time together. We were together yesterday in Fort Lauderdale at an event with a great mix of clients and we're real competitive from a business aspect, obviously wouldn't be great for our clients. He was a wrestler in his younger days. That was also a wrestler, really just to stay in shape for baseball. I was a baseball player. I think you had asked me before, I always keep a couple baseballs around my desk. I like to futz with them when I'm working here in the office, but think about the different strategies, whether you need to throw the curve ball or the fast ball or the riser, whatever it is. I think about just those different grips and strategies. So yes, I'm a bit competitive, to say the least. Dave: Sure. I know the firm has grown. What's your elevator pitch today? When people ask who ETS done, who ETS is and who do they serve? Mike: Well, engineered Tax and Advisory had the advisory portion of it as well, because that's engineered tax services been around a long time. We're really good at doing the specific engineering based services that the CPAs or the property owners need to get the bonus depreciation or the energy credits and incentives onto the tax return. So that's doing the cost segregation study as a licensed professional engineering and specialty tax firm, we've been doing those for going on 24 years or doing the energy analysis or helping with, like you do, calculate the construction costs, the transfer costs, the sales tax, the property tax. That's what engineered tax services is excellent at doing as that specialist as that. Dave: I'm sorry, that's more than just cost segregation though, right? Mike: Oh, yeah. Yeah. There's cost segregation and bonus depreciation available on real estate, new construction purchases, renovations. So we're very involved. We do hundreds and hundreds of cross segregation studies a week across the country on all different types of assets from smaller single family investment properties and VRBO to manufacturing facilities and multifamily and apartments and hospitality and everything you could imagine up to different sports and recreation stadiums. But that's one subset of what engineered tax does that. Then there's the energy incentives and credits, the 1 79 D, the 45 L, the investment tax credits for renewables like wind and solar and geothermal and turbines and other types of things. But on the advisory side, we work it backwards. That's more the consultative approach with the clients to figure out what is the need. Maybe there's a liquidity event with a business owner that's selling a business. Maybe there's a capital need from an acquisitions point of view or an expansion point of view where some of the IC disc strategies might come in. Maybe they're wondering about opportunity zones or enterprise zones or historic tax credits or preservation and conservation type strategies, or buying equipment or a jet and aviation strategies. Because all of those things that I just mentioned, there's either a specialty tax component with bonus depreciation or section 1 79 or an actual tax credit, like research and development tax credits. We help bring it all together as a very experienced and comprehensive specialist around the tax code, anything available, federal, state, local incentives, credits, rebates, working with the CPAs, working with professionals like you, working with the high net worth or the company owner. That's what we pride ourselves in, is being very comprehensive depending on what the opportunity and the need is for the client. Dave: Okay, and speaking of clients, do you think of the CPA firm as your client or the actual end user or both? I think because done a really good job cultivating those CPA firm relationships. Mike: Yeah, Dave, that's a good question. I first and foremost see the CPAs as our client, but also our strategic partner because remember, we're a specialist. We don't do the full accounting audit and tax filing work for the client. We sit in the specialist seat. I explain it all the time to my friends and new clients when they're trying to figure out what we do. If I was in the medical profession, we would be a brain surgeon or a heart surgeon or some other type of specialist within medicine that works together with the general practitioners and others in medicine on the tax code and helping with the tax literacy, the tax strategy, the specialty credits and incentives like icdisc. How do we bring up those types of situations and opportunities? Usually it's working with that CPA firm to identify the client need and then being comprehensive and entrepreneurial with that client. So long-winded answer to that is both. I see the CPAs as both our client and our strategic partner in situations, but definitely once I work with the company owner or the investor, they're also ultimately our client. So I need to deliver at a high level to both the CPA and both the client, or if I meet the client directly and you are the company owner that's asking us questions about a situation or a strategy, we push to be introduced to the CPA to make sure that we're collaborative, attacking that strategy from the beginning and become a great compliment to the CPA service so they can focus on what they do best, the accounting audit or tax type or bookkeeping type work that they do, and then just like you really helping to layer in that specialty strategy that maybe they're not as familiar with or really just need some help from a bandwidth perspective. Dave: Sure. I've come across other firms that do some of the same services you all do. And what do your clients and CPA firms tell you that makes ETS different and why they have chosen to partner with ETS over another firm? Mike: First of all, I think about that all the time. That's a question that comes up often. When we started 24, 25 years ago, there was very few firms that were doing some of the things that we do there. There were CPA firms that did cost segregation studies, but usually that was the higher level firms, the Deloitte, the KM KPMGs, the E and Ys, excellent high level firms, but they were really only doing it for their higher level corporate type clients as we democratize the tax code and brought that tax strategy to middle market type businesses, entrepreneurs and investors, the strategy there was really to work as comprehensively with different types of as possible. And the difference to me is first of all, our longevity and our professionalism and our diversity of the type of services that we're doing uniquely as a licensed professional engineering firm that also does specialty tax credits and incentives. That's one of the biggest differentiators to me is we are a licensed professional engineering firm. The type of engineering that we do is cost engineering, looking at the cost of an acquisition, the cost of a purchase, the cost of a new construction of a property, and be able to break that down into accounting and tax format that the CPAs can then use. So that's where the hybrid of the engineering expertise and specialty tax expertise, so that unique structure of our firm, that unique ability to do multiple things and also have the energy incentives team in-house where if it's a new construction of a property or a big value add, repositioning, not only can we do that cost segregation study, we can comprehensively do that energy tax credit and incentive analysis. We have to do energy modeling. That's pure engineering type work, doing the energy incentive modeling to see what the energy efficiency of those components are. Or on a renewable energy project. We have a client that's building a really big mixed use project that has some geothermal investment tax credits there. Those are pure engineering and energy efficiency type knowledge that we're able to bring comprehensively. So it's really the comprehensive approach of bringing engineering specialty tax energy incentives and credits. We also have an insurance division, which is very unique for our industry because I knew years ago that the second biggest painful point for our clients after tax figuring out tax minimization strategies is how do they lower costs and make sure they're protected from an insurance standpoint? And we do have a part of our firm that is engineered insurance services to compliment engineered tax services. We already have all the, Dave: Yeah, tell me about the insurance company because I'm less familiar with that, and when did you start it? Are you licensed in all the states? Mike: Yeah, we are. We've been quietly developing that over the last couple of years. I said, my background's from Cleveland, Ohio. Coincidentally, the firm that we partnered with is based in Cleveland, Ohio. When we formed a new entity together, engineered insurance services, went back to all the different carriers and got relicensed with all the top national carriers, all the names that folks would know well. So now as a nationally licensed insurance agency and brokerage firm, we focus on property casualty liability, cyber risk, flood, E and O, D and O, all the things that every company and every property owner needs. But we can do it comprehensively and uniquely because we're already doing the cost segregation studies on a lot of these properties. So we know what the cost basis is, we know what kind of roof it is, we know where it's located. We know the age of the electrical system and all the situations with the property, and also that owner, how they operate that property. That's what, just like the IRS with cost segregation study, they want to see the details and then yes, you can capture the benefits of bonus depreciation. The insurance carriers, they want to write insurance policies at very competitive rates, but they want to see it in detail. They want to understand that building. They just don't want an estimate that a broker submits to them. So we've had amazing success over the last year and a half of rolling out that program, doing it comprehensively with what we're already doing for that client. Dave: That's really, Mike: That's the other reason that we're very unique compared because there are some great firms that do cost segregation or that might do an energy analysis or that might do a research and development tax credit study, but very few firms, if any, that know about really take that comprehensive approach to be able to do tax energy insurance and the specialty consulting with engineered advisory with what we're doing, And it resonates. It really resonates with clients because I feel like they really need someone that is, first of all, thinking entrepreneurially like them, because sometimes they're not getting it from maybe their legal team or their CPA team or their other advisors that they're working about taking that entrepreneurial approach, taking that proactive approach before the end of the year or before that renewal term for that insurance policy or before that building gets purchased or before the renovation happens, what should they be thinking about? And that's what I really try to work on with our team and our clients is be very proactive, be very transparent of the good, the bad, the ugly of different situations that clients should consider and then always be thinking entrepreneurially like our clients do because they appreciate it with your business and what you do with IC disc. Sometimes folks just haven't heard about it or they don't understand it, or they didn't do something proactively and now they're trying to unwind a situation, but I'm really excited about what we do. If you can't tell, I think, No, it definitely comes, the future is very strong, especially with the passage in July of Trump's, I call it the big beautiful bonus depreciation tax bill because bonus depreciation and section 1 79 enhancements for equipment and other things and other things that will be, I think, expanded with opportunity zones and research and development tax credits. The way that they also just enhanced that program as well. Many folks don't understand it yet because there was a requirement to amortize some of the expenses of r and d over five years, but now you get the research and development tax credit plus a hundred percent of the qualifying expenses being able to be captured year one, so that's very powerful for US companies. Dave: Yeah, no, that is great. And one of the other things that I appreciate about you all is that you all really stay in your lane. I feel like on the tax side, there's other firms that do cost and r and d that have just broadened their tax focus even more broadly, pick up things like the IC disc. So it's hard for me to get excited about referring a cost segregation study to a firm that does IC disc, so I've always, Mike: Yeah, it's a bit of a competitive overlap in those situations. Dave: Yeah, yeah. It's a less comfortable introduction. Mike: We have a saying within our organization, we call it habu, right? Highest and best use, what is my highest and best use? What should I be focused on doing for that client? My highest and best use is not trying to understand and replicate your service around icdisc. The best situation is for me to recognize opportunities and then bring in David and his team to implement a strategy for the client and the CPAs like that as well, because we're not trying to do what they do. We're just trying to compliment different situations, be a specialist at what we're really good at, and in our engineered advisory platform. That's where I can bring in you for the IC disc. I might have someone else that I'm working with if that client's buying an aircraft, for example, of how to legally structure it correctly, how to maximize the tax benefits, and I want to be an amazing, whether you want to call it an offensive coordinator or quarterback, that I might be throwing the ball sometimes. Other times I might be passing it off to somebody else, but I want to build a great team so that we're successful at the end for the client. Dave: Sure. No, that's certainly been my experience with you guys. What do you love most or enjoy most about your current role with ETS? What really gets you excited? Mike: Well, my title, I'm not big on titles, but it's managing Director of Engineered Tax and Advisory. So technically what that title means is I direct and I manage, I direct high level client relationships and strategic partnerships and strategies and new product development. I also help manage our, I work together with our executive team to help manage our executives across the country, either if they're in business development, some of them obviously are in engineering or other specialties within our firm or the legal team that does some structuring work for clients, but that's what I do. My favorite part of what I do is the relationships that I'm building with the clients. It might be a brand new relationship. It might be one from 15, 20 years ago, but it's watching that. Yeah, it's watching that CPA firm grow or helping that CPA firm grow and expand or diversify their services or meeting that entrepreneur that has a business and they're trying to understand the tax code, how to lower taxes, how do I increase cashflow? What are the risks or pitfalls, and really working with that entrepreneur or that business owner together with that ccp. That is my most favorite part of what I do, because I'm an entrepreneur at heart. I got it from my family, my mom and dad. Were always very entrepreneurial, but it's hard. You can't do it yourself. It takes a great team. I mentioned a couple of mentors that I worked with. I hope that one day I can be a mentor to some of these people that we've worked with over the years, and maybe it is the specialty tax or the energy incentives or the structuring or strategy, but also personally, we learn a lot about our clients and we share a lot personally with them. But that's absolutely my most favorite is the relationships that we've built, the stories and the journeys that we've had together. And if we do a good job, we actually do very little marketing and advertising out there. Of course, I speak at some events and do some sessions around the country, but largely our business has expanded very successfully because of those relationships and those referrals and that organic growth. Like, Hey, have you heard about engineered tax? And do you know what Mike does? You should give him a call. I watch my emails every day, and that's what makes me so happy is I remember that relationship. I remember that Miami Dolphins game, whoever it was, or the dinner that we might've had, or the beer that we might have shared somewhere where we personally built that relationship, And that's something that I'm even more so focused on right now because our world is now moving very fast in terms of technology and ai, and I think that's great, and we are a tech enabled company that we utilize those things to deliver our services and strategies as efficiently as possible for the client. But I think even more so right now, it's all about, hi again, human intelligence. We want to talk, just like you and I are doing right now, folks want to meet, yes, they want tech enabled strategies and AI to help us do things better. I think that's great, but I have, and we have a renewed focus on the human intelligence, the human relationship, the human strategy together, because I think we can do so much more if we get back to the old school relationship building strategy, building together at the human level, and then of course we'll utilize technology to make that better, faster, stronger. Dave: Yeah, no, and that's certainly that. Those relationships are certainly my favorite part of the business. The clients, the CPA firms, the other advisors, lawyers, you guys. So man, I can't believe how the time has flown by. So as we're rounding the home stretch, I have just a couple more questions. Mike: All right. Dave: If you could go back in time and give advice to your 25-year-old self, what advice might you give? Mike: Continue to surround myself with people much smarter than me. As I look back, the biggest opportunities that I had was being in what I thought at the time was uncomfortable situations with people that like, wow, this person really knows what they're doing with real estate, or This person really knows what they're doing with finance. But now looking back those situations of surrounding myself with really smart or savvy people or someone much more experienced than I was, that's where I really learned the opportunities around real estate development, around relationship building, around strategy, and structuring. Those mentors that I spent time with. I would tap myself on the shoulder and say, do more of that. Do more of that. If there's people that are wasting my time or going down avenues that really aren't good for me professionally or personally, don't waste time with that. Put myself in the room at the table in uncomfortable situations with people much smarter than myself. And even today, I try to do that every day is with some of the new technologies around AI or crypto or finance or strategy or real estate. Who are the innovators? Who are the people that really seem to be leading? I try to put myself in those situations, so that's what I would remind my young self is to take advantage of mentors, because you can really learn, and sometimes it's not until years later that you realized what you learned. Dave: Yeah. I think that's great advice, not only for your 25-year-old self, but any 25-year-old and probably any business professional who's still trying to learn and grow. Mike: Yeah. One other thing. Dave: Yeah, Mike: One more thing. As Steve Jobs used to say, don't focus on, I would tell myself not to focus on what I think the path is at that point, because the path is going to change the strategy, the job course of action, the winds are going to change. Ebb and flow, I always say is my personal mantra. The tide comes in, the tide comes out, but you can always learn to surf. You can't stop the waves, but you can always learn to surf. So don't try to be too tactful in the direction that you're going, because things will change. Companies will change and expect that change is what I'm trying to say. So expect the change that will continue to happen in our lives. Dave: Okay. Well, yeah, I like that. Thank you very much. So as we wrap up, I really just have one more question, and that is, is there anything I didn't ask you that you wish I had asked V? Anything we didn't talk about that we should have? Mike: You asked some really good questions. It sounds like we could talk all afternoon if we wanted to. The only thing you didn't ask me is about my family, and actually the thing I'm most proud of, I mentioned I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. My wife Laura, has been an amazing force in our relationship for stability and really helping me to do what I do because being on the road, it's very challenging. But my son Rocco and my daughter Lucia, are getting old and driving now as later stage teenagers. It's having those rocks behind me that really help with this ability to allow me to do what I do with our clients nationally. So I really appreciate them, and that's my other, that is my most favorite accomplishment in life of what I've been able to achieve with my family and do this professionally with engineered tech services and advisory. Dave: Yeah, understood. Yeah, because ultimately it's about relationships, both professional and personal at the end of the day. Well, anything else we didn't cover or shall we go ahead and wrap it up? Mike: I think we covered enough for now. I think we might have more to talk about. Again, I have some other ideas of topics we should talk about coming up here in the fall. There'll be some new things that we're doing. Dave: Let's do that. We'll have you back, not too distant. Future for a part two. Mike: All right. Dave: Well, Mike, I really, really appreciate the opportunity to work with you and the whole team, and you guys have taken great care of our clients. We really appreciate that and we appreciate the trust you all have placed in us to serve some of your clients as Mike: Well. Thanks, Dave. I appreciate you. Special Guest: Mike D'Onofrio.
Likefolio's Andy Swan shares sentiment data around Airbnb (ABNB), arguing that it is “lagging peers and under pressure.” The novelty has “worn off” for Airbnb and it has a “long way to go before any sort of turnaround is complete,” he adds. Fees, inconsistent experiences, and other factors are pushing travelers to hotels, while rivals like Vrbo take market share.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about
In this week's episode, I'm joined by my husband, Zane, for a candid Q&A where we answer your questions! I asked my Instagram followers on my IG Story to submit their biggest questions, and together we're covering it all: faith, marriage, parenting, grandparenting, finances, business, and even menopause. If you've ever wondered what life, marriage, and faith look like behind the scenes for us, this conversation is full of practical wisdom, honest reflections, and even a laugh or two. QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE: Why did Zane convert to Catholicism? Do Catholics really believe it's Jesus plus works that save you? What's the pricing on our family's VRBO? Looking back, what would we do differently in our marriage? What did we do well? How did we navigate and nurture our marriage with little kids? What's it like stepping into grandparenthood? How do we handle arguments (and what has changed over the years)? What keeps a husband happy day-to-day? How do you find a trusted financial advisor? What's the best way to retire when you own a business with a partner? How can you encourage strong relationships with adult children? How can a husband support his wife through menopause? What does a “perfect marriage” really look like? LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Retreat at Marble Valley officially launches this weekend! Once it's live, I'll update the show notes with a direct link so you can check it out and book your stay. In the meantime, be sure to follow along on Instagram @retreatatmarblevalley for updates and a first look at all the details. The Spirit of Wealth Preservation by Ken Polk Outfit Details: Necklace: The Pearl Source White Baroque Freshwater Pearl Necklace - Use code JAMIE15 for a special discount! Dress: Brochu Walker's Kate Crepe Belted Dress ZANE'S LIST OF QUESTIONS TO ASK A WEALTH MANAGER 1. How do you get paid, and what is your total compensation structure? 2. Are you a fiduciary at all times, and how do you ensure my interests come first? 3. What is your investment philosophy, and how do you tailor it to someone in my stage of life, goals, and risk tolerance? 4. What does your ideal client look like, and how many clients like me do you currently serve? 5. How do you measure success for clients, and what reporting/communication can I expect? 6. What resources, team members, or specialists will I have access to beyond you? 7. Can you share a story of how you helped a client navigate a major market downturn or significant life transition? WHERE TO LISTEN The SavvyCast is available on all podcasting platforms and YouTube. One of the best ways to support the show is by leaving a rating and review—I so appreciate you sharing your thoughts, my friends! ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! My Husband Converted to Catholicism: How We Navigate Faith Differences in Marriage Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Watch on YouTube Jamie & Zane: Impactful Quotes We Love & Live By Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Watch on YouTube
Where have all the benches gone? Deputy Opinion Editor Mark Lasswell reflects on the causes and consequences of the “defensive architecture” replacing seating in public spaces. Plus, contributing columnist Rick Reilly shares just how hard it's become to find an Airbnb or VRBO that doesn't feel like the inside of a Target.Additional reading by our columnists:Mark Lasswell: This punctuation mark is semi-dead. People have thoughts.Rick Reilly: I have decided never to go outside againSubscribe to The Washington Post here.
Taylor sits down with Alex, co-founder of Whimstay - the OTA built to fill your unsold gap nights inside 30 days. Alex shares his journey from theater to Yelp to startup life, why Whimstay is “HotelTonight for STRs,” and how hosts can add revenue without stealing a single booking from Airbnb or Vrbo.In this episode:Incremental revenue, not cannibalization: Why Whimstay targets 0–30 days to capture mid-week, shoulder-season, and last-minute demand.Host economics: 5% host commission + traveler fee (≈5–7%); you set a last-minute discount and keep bookings from going to zero.Supply → demand flywheel: Early focus on PMS integrations (Guesty, Escapia, Streamline, etc.) and larger PMs; now expanding with an independent host portal.Who books last-minute: Gen Z/Millennial “next-gen” travelers, digital nomads, and retirees seeking value and spontaneity.Distribution strategy reality check: Don't “work for one OTA.” Diversify to reach different booking windows and traveler segments.Growth levers: Google Vacation Rentals partnership, organic community buzz, and a ramped marketing push.Vision: Make last-minute STRs ubiquitous - hosts list on Airbnb/Vrbo and Whimstay to clear expiring inventory.If you've got unbooked Tuesdays or shoulder-season gaps, this convo will show you how to turn them into found money - no new cleaners, no new systems, just smarter distribution.Explore Whimstay: whimstay.comNew episodes every Friday + Monday Market Report___Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Vrbo will begin enforcing 100% penalties on U.S. hosts starting October 1 if guests are denied access to booked homes, with fines equal to the reservation amount and potential suspensions, as part of broader crackdowns by Vrbo and Airbnb on poor host service. Accor is consolidating its regional subscription cards under the global All Accor+ brand, extending discounts and perks across more than 4,000 properties in 100 countries (e.g., Asia Pacific cardholders now get 15% off worldwide). Meanwhile, although 93% of European tourism boards have experimented with AI, most lack formal strategies or expertise, with interest strongest in translation and other content tasks. Vrbo Cracks Down on Bad Hosts: 100% Penalty for Stranding Guests Europe's Tourism Agencies Report High AI Interest But Low Use: Exclusive Accor Goes Global With Subscription Cards to Boost Hotel Loyalty Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
The boys are back after an impromptu break, and barely remember how to do this! Things are loose and goofy as the fellas get back in the swing of things with 1996's In Love and War, starring Sandy B. There's not a lot to goof about in this WWI flick, but topics do include: Rum tum tuggin', Tape Beard rides again, praying for a Vrbo, Woof Woof Entertainment, thumb privileges, and always a Richard -- never a David!
Welcome to another episode of Founders Club! On this episode we'll be talking to John Bianchi about Short Term Rental Real Estate. Connect with Founders Club Host Oliver Graf on Instagram: @OliverGraf360 In this episode of Founders Club, host Oliver Graf sits down with John Bianchi, famously known as The Airbnb Data Guy. John has helped investors acquire over 206 cash-flowing short-term rentals worth more than $100 million—with a 100% success rate. He breaks down his data-driven formula for finding the most profitable STR markets, how to analyze deals with precision, avoid costly mistakes, and build a short-term rental business that prints cash. Do me a solid and… Leave a 5 star review! Find me on Instagram: @OliverGraf360 Founders Club TikTok: @FoundersClubPodcast Subscribe to my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/OliverGrafTV Get on my VIP email list and get new episodes of Founders Club straight to you inbox: http://eepurl.com/g_L2Ev Book me to speak: https://olivergraf.tv/speaking Book a 1-on1 coaching session: https://calendly.com/olivergraf360/vip ► JOIN OUR NATIONWIDE REAL ESTATE TEAM: https://www.100commissionrealestate.com
This week on the Hosting Hotline, we're answering Renee's question about buying a property that's already operating as a short-term rental—and what to do about the future bookings that come with it.If you've ever considered purchasing an “active STR,” you'll quickly find out there's a lot more to it than inheriting a calendar full of reservations. Sarah and Annette explain why listings follow the host (not the property), what that means for your ability to transfer bookings, and the negotiations you'll need to have with the seller before closing.You'll learn:Why STR listings and reviews don't automatically transfer with a property sale.How to negotiate booking transfers, co-hosting arrangements, or guest rebookings.The tax, payout, and guest experience factors you need to consider.How to involve OTAs (Airbnb, VRBO) in a booking transition.Why getting everything in writing is non-negotiable.If you're thinking about buying a short-term rental, this episode will help you navigate the booking handoff process and avoid the pitfalls that can derail a smooth transition.Mentioned in this episode:Make More Money This Year! Join us for a Boot Camp!Make More Money This Year! Join us for a Boot Camp!Make More Money This Year! Join us for a Boot Camp!
#559 If you've ever dreamed of owning an Airbnb or glamping getaway, this episode is your crash course in how to make it happen! Host Brien Gearin is joined by Garrett Brown, short-term rental investor and glamping expert at BiggerPockets, to break down the business of hosting — from buying your first property to optimizing your listing and maximizing profitability. Garrett shares his personal journey, practical advice for first-timers, and insider strategies for managing operations, choosing the right market, avoiding costly mistakes, and leveraging tools to automate and scale. Whether you're starting with a small condo or aiming for a luxury lakefront cabin, this episode is packed with actionable insights to launch and grow your short-term rental business! What we discuss with Garrett: + Garrett's journey into short-term rentals + Why he pivoted from traditional real estate + The reality of managing Airbnbs + The 60/30/10 market selection rule + Glamping and unique stays explained + Best property sizes for STR success + Must-use tools like PriceLabs and HostBuddy + Airbnb vs. VRBO pros and cons + Listing optimization tips for more bookings + When (and why) to self-manage your rental Thank you, Garrett! Check out Cameron Ranch Glamping at CameronRanchGlamping.com. Follow Garrett on Instagram and YouTube. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley and Jamie Lane dive into the latest shifts shaping short-term rentals and travel. Vrbo's new guest cancellation policy aims to increase flexibility and bookings but raises concerns from hosts about risk and revenue stability. Tripadvisor faces investor pressure to spin off Viator, signaling how tours and experiences are becoming central to the travel ecosystem. Meanwhile, Casago doubles down on its franchise model, taking over hundreds of former Vacasa properties to push a localized, service-driven approach. Join us as we break down what these moves mean for hosts, managers, and the future of the STR industry. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Real Estate Pros podcast, Humberto Marquez, founder of Surge, shares his journey into real estate, transitioning from logistics to becoming a successful broker and short-term rental manager. He discusses the challenges faced with national property management companies and how Surge aims to provide a higher quality of service. Humberto also delves into strategies for maximizing rental performance, sourcing properties, and furnishing them to meet client expectations, emphasizing the importance of customization in property management. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
Think buying a short-term rental is the fast track to homeownership? In this episode, David Sidoni unpacks the real math behind Airbnb investing — and why it might be the wrong move if you're still renting.With affordability at an all-time low, many first-time homebuyers are exploring creative ways to get into real estate. One trend gaining popularity: buying a short-term rental like an Airbnb in a cheaper market instead of purchasing a primary residence. But in this brutally honest episode, David Sidoni reveals why that plan could backfire.David breaks down the 2025 short-term rental landscape, explaining how increased competition, regulations, and declining profits have changed the game. More importantly, he highlights the financial risks renters take when they try to become investors before becoming homeowners.This episode dives into the math, the mindset, and the myths — showing you why owning your own home first is the smartest play. If you're tempted by Airbnb hype, you need to hear this before making a costly mistake.Quote: "The golden goose of Airbnb is losing its feathers and turning into a turkey super quick."Highlights:Why short-term rental investing isn't what it used to be in 2025The financial danger of skipping rent replacementHow tax laws, maintenance, and financing make STRs riskier than they lookA breakdown of real costs vs. projected incomeWhat first-time buyers should do instead of chasing Airbnb profitsConnect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHomeInstagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcastTik Tok @HowToBuyAHomeVisit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer. Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!
This Monday, the GMH Short-Term Rental Crew, with Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane dive into the latest moves shaping the STR and travel landscape. Airbnb rolls out its new “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option, signaling a shift toward more flexible booking terms that could boost conversions for longer stays. BNPL trends are expanding across airlines, hotels, and cruises, raising questions about guest spending habits and potential adoption in vacation rentals. Expedia Group makes a strategic design hire with Rachel Been as SVP, underscoring the power of user experience in driving loyalty. Sonder faces a leadership shake-up with the departure of CFO Michael Hughes, while Vrbo's WeatherPromise program offers automatic payouts for rain-affected stays—no claims required—hinting at new ways to protect and reassure travelers. The hosts unpack what these changes mean for operators, platforms, and guests, and explore how innovation, design, and traveler trust are becoming critical in the competition for bookings. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kim dives into the growing tension around short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, highlighting recent local incidents—including a St. Louis party-turned-shooting—and new restrictions making hosting less appealing. The conversation shifts to Clayton's fresh ordinance allowing limited short-term rentals in select older buildings, meant to fill long-vacant downtown spaces, with tight rules on building age, size, and minimum stay. Marc and Kim debate whether such controls will prevent abuse or inevitably lead to revoked permits, while noting other cities like St. Charles have also wrestled with bans and caps. They connect the topic to urban crime rates, with Marc criticizing political spin that blames “red states” instead of local city policies, and arguing that DC's crime drop should pressure St. Louis leaders to address staffing shortages, outdated juvenile justice rules, and lax enforcement.
Welcome to another season of our connected culture, this one focused on unmasking the past to imagine better futures. Join us in the coming days and weeks to explore how we can learn from hard human history while growing the community we need to grow a kinder world together. We are kicking off this season with audio from “Imagining a Better American Future: From Abolition to Science Fiction, and beyond,” an event we hosted with Rockbridge Regional Libraries on March 13, 2025 that featured many of our Spring fellows. That fellowship cohort included author Paul Park – who listeners may remember from our first season as a peer and close friend of the late Terry Bisson – who helped us with the future and fiction-focused elements of the conversation. Plus, the fellows were also joined by local black history scholar Dr. Nneka Dennie – an expert on abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a key figure in the MidMountain produced folk opera “Save from Oblivion” that we'll discuss more at length later in this season. Also, speaking of community: if you're listening to this as it's being released you can join us in person for our MidMountain Masquerade on October 25 from 2pm through 10pm! There'll be opportunities to make your own masks and marionettes, a harvest potluck to share meals, a masquerade with costume contest, live music, and more. Find out more at midmountain.org/masquerade. As a reminder, Our Connected Culture is a production of MidMountain, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, arts collective, and agricultural project operating out of MidMountain Retreat, a five acre riverfront arts space in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Natural Bridge, Virginia. You can check our community calendar for upcoming events or other opportunities to visit, like residencies where we offer discounted stays for folks who want to work on creative projects. Plus, MidMountain Retreat is also available for rent out on Airbnb and VRBO for non-art stays!
Welcome to another season of our connected culture, this one focused on unmasking the past to imagine better futures. Join us in the coming days and weeks to explore how we can learn from hard human history while growing the community we need to grow a kinder world together. We are again returning to Rockbridge Regional Libraries, which joined us in hosting a screening of documentary the indelible Appalachians and a virtual conversion with filmmaker Frederick Murphy. The film explores the history, present, and future of Black identity in Appalachia – and we're sharing our conversation with Murphy where we explore both the content of the film and his experience as a creative documenting difficult history related to slavery in the American South. That fellowship cohort included author Paul Park – who listeners may remember from our first season as a peer and close friend of the late Terry Bisson – who helped us with the future and fiction-focused elements of the conversation. Plus, the fellows were also joined by local black history scholar Dr. Nneka Dennie – an expert on abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a key figure in the MidMountain produced folk opera “Save from Oblivion” that we'll discuss more at length later in this season. Also, speaking of community: if you're listening to this as it's being released you can join us in person for our MidMountain Masquerade on October 25 from 2pm through 10pm! There'll be opportunities to make your own masks and marionettes, a harvest potluck to share meals, a masquerade with costume contest, live music, and more. Find out more at midmountain.org/masquerade. As a reminder, Our Connected Culture is a production of MidMountain, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, arts collective, and agricultural project operating out of MidMountain Retreat, a five acre riverfront arts space in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Natural Bridge, Virginia. You can check our community calendar for upcoming events or other opportunities to visit, like residencies where we offer discounted stays for folks who want to work on creative projects. Plus, MidMountain Retreat is also available for rent out on Airbnb and VRBO for non-art stays!
Welcome to another season of our connected culture, this one focused on unmasking the past to imagine better futures. I'm MidMountain Curator Andy “River Peterson inviting you to join us in the coming days and weeks to explore how we can learn from hard human history while growing the community we need to grow a kinder world together. Today we are going even more local in our history, exploring the history of Rockbridge County, our holler of Arnolds Valley, and even aspects of this specific property. Also, speaking of community: if you're listening to this as it's being released you can join us in person for our MidMountain Masquerade on October 25 from 2pm through 10pm! There'll be opportunities to make your own masks and marionettes, a harvest potluck to share meals, a masquerade with costume contest, live music, and more. Find out more at midmountain.org/masquerade. As a reminder, Our Connected Culture is a production of MidMountain, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, arts collective, and agricultural project operating out of MidMountain Retreat, a five acre riverfront arts space in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Natural Bridge, Virginia. You can check our community calendar for upcoming events or other opportunities to visit, like residencies where we offer discounted stays for folks who want to work on creative projects. Plus, MidMountain Retreat is also available for rent out on Airbnb and VRBO for non-art stays!
This week on Thanks for Visiting, we're diving deep into a topic no host wants to deal with—but every host needs to understand: chargebacks.Whether you've faced one before or you're hearing the term for the first time, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to protect your business from costly disputes. We're breaking down what a chargeback is, why it happens, and the difference between when an OTA is the merchant of record and when you are.We'll share:Real-world scenarios where chargebacks occur (including Sarah's firsthand story)9 practical prevention strategies to deter fraud and false disputesHow to set up guest agreements, SOPs, and red-flag awarenessThe reality of winning a chargeback—and why you should always tryWhy this shouldn't stop you from diversifying your booking platformsFrom spotting last-minute fraud attempts to resolving guest conflicts before they escalate, this episode is your playbook for keeping more of your hard-earned revenue where it belongs—in your pocket.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Stripe – Payment processor used for direct bookings and OTAs like Vrbo and Furnished Finder.Furnished Finder – A popular platform for finding mid-term tenants.Mentioned in this episode:Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!Booked & Profitable Boot Camp | Get on the waitlist now at thanksforvisiting.com/waitlistBooked & Profitable Boot Camp | Get on the waitlist now at thanksforvisiting.com/waitlistBooked & Profitable Boot Camp | Get on the waitlist now at thanksforvisiting.com/waitlist
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Neel Parekh, the Founder and CEO of MaidThis® & MaidThis® Franchise, which helps homeowners and short-term rental hosts (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) with their cleaner needs. I'm usually curious about two kinds of immigrants; second-gen immigrants because I am trying to understand some of the challenges my kids might face, and immigrants who migrate from the Global West to the Global South. Neel ticks both boxes. His parents moved from India to the United States in the early 80s. And then after seven years of backpacking and running his cleaning business remotely, Neel decided to settle down in Rwanda for a bit. Neel and I chat about the differences between the Western “go go go” culture and Rwanda's pace where nothing feels as urgent. We also explore:* Falling in love with Rwanda* Building community as an immigrant* Growing up in an immigrant household and now understanding his parents better* Why he's thinking of splitting his time between East Africa and Los AngelesDozie's NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week's conversation:* I wish I spent more time trying to learn or at least have an idea of Canada's communication style before I moved. Neel talks about moving from America's low-context culture (direct, literal communication) to Rwanda's high-context culture (implied meanings, indirect answers) and the friction it came with. I suspect that a lot of the frustrations we encounter early-on in a new country are usually miscommunication issues.* Maybe it's time to accept that most people are never going to understand the immigrant experience until they've lived through it. I'm saying this because part of why I launched this publication was to also help non-immigrants sorta understand their immigrant neighbours better. But I guess experience is the best teacher in most situations, immigration included.Official Links✅ Connect with Neel Parekh on Twitter✅ Chat with Neel about franchising One AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Real Estate Pros podcast, Kristen Knapp interviews Erik Lopez of JNT Construction, who shares his journey from being a firefighter to becoming a construction expert. Erik discusses the multifaceted approach of JNT Construction, which operates in various states and focuses on both construction and investment in multifamily developments. He emphasizes the importance of transparency with investors, navigating unexpected challenges, and the significance of choosing the right contractor. Erik also expresses optimism about the multifamily market and his desire to give back by coaching new investors. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
This week the generations chat about why they suddenly love Japanese culture. Also, trip highlights from Ceci and Ellie's trip, and VRBO struggle-bus stories. Enjoy!
We're diving into a busy week across the OTA landscape. Booking.com just launched its first U.S. credit card in partnership with Visa and Imprint, and we unpack what this means for direct bookings, loyalty, and whether it can really compete with the big travel cards already in your wallet. We also break down Expedia Group's Q2 earnings, where strong B2B ad performance and international travel lifted their guidance, but Vrbo's continued silence raises some questions. Then we shift to Airbnb's latest financials since rolling out their new services bundle — early check-in, luggage storage, and more — and talk through what kind of platform Airbnb is becoming. Plus, we share our predictions on who Airbnb might acquire next and why as they gear up to deploy their warchest of cash. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! You can join us at GuestyVal in Mexico City by getting your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/gWnfp-Re Follow the Hosts: Wil Slickers – LinkedIn Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Investor Fuel podcast, host Q Edmonds speaks with Corey D'Agostino, an experienced real estate investor specializing in short-term rentals. Corey shares his journey in the real estate market, emphasizing the importance of proper property management, pricing strategies, and professional photography. He discusses the challenges faced in the industry and the significance of networking and building relationships. Corey also introduces his coaching program, designed to help aspiring investors navigate the complexities of short-term rentals without upfront costs. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of the real estate market and the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
In this episode of Vacation Rentals with John, we dive deep into one of the most frustrating parts of running a short-term rental business: getting paid for guest damages.We're talking about AirCover, Booking.com, and VRBO — the platforms that promise protection but often leave you covering the bill. I break down:Why your payout is often only 20–50% of the actual damageWhy cleaning fees, unauthorized pet charges, and late checkout penalties rarely get coveredWhat documentation you must collect (and when)The real story of a guest swapping out TVs and STILL not getting reimbursedStep-by-step action plan to protect your profit when the platforms fail youIf your wear and tear costs are higher than your profits, you're not in business — you're bleeding cash. Learn how to fight back smart, protect your margins, and run a tighter operation.Quick asks to help grow the show and community:✅ Like my Facebook page → facebook.com/thejohnandrew — I drop free tips and content there every week.
Description: Hey there! In this episode, we're diving into the chaos and fun of a bachelorette trip that almost didn't happen. Imagine finding the perfect mountain cabin with your friends, only to have the booking fall through last minute – VRBO nightmare, right? But don't worry, we got lucky with a backup plan that was even better! Join us as we recount our themed nights, from Disco Rodeo to Romance Book Club, and the ridiculous fun that followed – think tattoos, dance-offs, and unexpected dragonfly romances. Plus, we have a hilarious white elephant romance novel exchange that brought out some wild picks. Who knew romance reads could get so...unusual? Let's toast to friendships, unexpected twists, and the joy of shared adventures. Can't wait to hear about your own bachelorette adventures and outrageous romance novel finds. Enjoy the laughs and cheers to more crazy memories!
Top Travel Deals to Alaska, the Caribbean & Last-Minute Summer Getaways - This Week's Best Cruise Offers, Resort Sales & Vacation Deals If you're anything like us and you love a great travel deal, welcome to Travel Deals Thursday—your weekly roundup of the best vacation deals, cruise sales, flight discounts, resort promotions, all-inclusive vacation packages, and so much more. Each week, we dig through hundreds of travel newsletters, alerts, and booking sites to find real, bookable deals you can actually use. From Alaska cruise specials and Mediterranean getaways to cheap all-inclusive resorts and bundle savings on flight + hotel packages, we spotlight travel offers that help you save big, without sacrificing experience.
Emily and Shane are in Tahoe at a beautiful Vrbo! They’re giving the latest updates on the gruesome Idaho murders, the Menendez brother’s potential release and Blake Lively’s withdrawn subpoenas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
State lawmakers have been quick out of the gate to file bills to address the July 4 floods that have killed at least 135 people in Texas' Hill Country. Gov. Greg Abbott said addressing the floods is his top priority for a special legislative session that began Monday. In other news, 67-year-old Rebecca Phillips faces a felony terroristic threat charge after part of Dallas Love Field was closed Tuesday evening. Police were called to Love Field at about 6:35 p.m. ; a state appeals court says Dallas still can't enforce rules that restrict where short-term rental properties listed on Airbnb, Vrbo and other platforms can operate in the city, doubling down on a similar opinion from February; nd Texans looking for work could receive additional support under new state laws designed to reinforce the career training that has positioned Texas as a leader in workforce development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
✅ FREE tool and training to find your own Super Property: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader
Send us a message!In this episode, we're joined by Lorraine Woodward, CEO of Becoming rentABLE, to explore how property managers and hosts can make their vacation rentals more accessible without needing a full renovation or massive investment.Drawing from her lived experience navigating life with muscular dystrophy and raising two sons with the same condition, Lorraine shares practical, real-world advice for designing spaces that serve a broader range of guests. From small, low-cost additions to rethinking how properties are marketed, she breaks down what accessibility really means and why it matters now more than ever.We dive into:1️⃣ Common myths and misconceptions about accessibility in short-term rentals2️⃣ Simple updates that can make a big impact (and boost bookings)3️⃣ The importance of inclusive language, photos, and listing descriptions4️⃣ Insights from Becoming Rentable's collaboration with Vrbo and Expedia5️⃣ The long-term opportunity of serving the accessible travel marketNo matter the size of your portfolio, this episode will help you see your properties through a more inclusive lens and show you how small changes can make a big difference for guests who are too often left out of the travel experience.Connect with Lorraine:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorrainebwoodward/ Website: https://www.becomingrentable.com/✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:Get a free market assessment from Track with 3 to 5 actionable insights tailored to your business. (valued at $400)You will meet one-on-one with an expert to help evaluate your market, identify opportunities, and build a strategy to help you stand out.
In this episode of Global Treasures, we cover the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak. Established as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979, this tomb contains Bulgaria's best-preserved paintings from the Hellenistic period. Join us as we discuss the history, travel tips for visiting and more. Support our sponsors and affiliates at no extra cost to you! VRBO: https://vrbo.tp.st/AKq4ZWwl Trip.com (Find hotels, tickets and more!): https://trip.tp.st/ixxm3MN6 Plannin: https://plannin.com/en/search/stay?googlePlace=Thracian+Tomb+of+Kazanlak&googleResult=ChIJ7ypqDxBUqEARGv9ip_hOer0&refId=globaltreasures Barvita: https://barvita.co/?ref=ABIGAILVACCA (Use code ABIGAILVACCA for 15% off!) Follow Global Treasures on Social Media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093258132336 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@globaltreasurespodcast
Furnished Finder's CEO Jeff joins us to break down why thousands of hosts are moving away from Airbnb and into the booming midterm rental space.In this episode: • Jeff's journey from VRBO and Expedia to Furnished Finder • Why monthly rentals are the most underserved niche in real estate • How to price your MTR listings for max profit • The 3 types of hosts who thrive on Furnished Finder • Tech upgrades, new guest demographics, and the future of midterms • Why most Airbnb hosts still don't understand real returnsWhether you're a casual host or a pro operator, this episode will help you rethink your strategy, lower your fees, and build a more resilient rental business.Guest Bio:Jeff Hurst is the President and CEO of Furnished Finder, a role he assumed in November 2023 at the invitation of the company's founders. Prior to that, Hurst was the Chief Operating Officer of Expedia Brands and Co-Lead of Expedia Group Marketing. Before that, he was the President of Vrbo and Chief Strategy Officer of HomeAway, where he oversaw the company's successful sale to Expedia, Inc. Before venturing into the vacation rental industry, Hurst worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, collaborating with consumer brands on corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and pricing strategies. Hurst received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and BA from the University of Texas at Austin.00:05:00 - Game-Changing Insights: Luxury Brands in Vacation Rentals 00:10:00 - Unstoppable Leaders: CEOs Who Shaped My Philosophy 00:15:00 - Winning Balance: How I Prioritize Family, CEO Role, & Life 00:20:00 - Bold Moves: Why I Chose Furnish Finder Over Other CEO Jobs 00:25:00 - Secret Advantage: Choosing the Right City & Team First 00:30:00 - Proven Blueprint: Advice to My Son on Career & Leadership 00:35:00 - Power Tip: Best Way to Reconnect with Furnish Finder 00:40:00 - Ultimate Secret: #1 Tip for Short Term Rental Success 00:45:00 - Smart Hack: How Hosts Save Money by Reverse-Engineering Airbnb Guest Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hurst-atxGet FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:https://group.strsecrets.com
MOAT Method episode reference link Want to be a guest on the show? APPLY HERE! It's that simple. Side hustles can be your ticket to securing those elusive down payments for a home or even landing a full-time job by starting small. So, how do you seize these opportunities that others overlook? Aaron Mann will dive into unconventional summer side hustles, equipped with insights from his own successful ventures and research. In this episode, you'll discover inventive ways to turn labor into lucrative side hustles. Learn how to transform knocking on doors into profitable haul-away jobs and unleash the power of a pressure washer for more than just cleaning. Discover smart strategies on tapping into Airbnb markets to offer much-needed services. Turning manual labor into profitable haul-away side hustles Using a pressure washer to create a cleaning service business Offering garbage removal services to Airbnb and VRBO owners Building a business from seasonal side hustles Amplifying hustle efforts using the MOAT method Marketing strategies through direct outreach and social media Creative storytelling in business ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap! LOVE ISLAND USA IS BACK BABY!!! And we could not be more excited. We welcome comedian, Trey Kennedy, to get into bombshells entering the villa, steamy makeouts, and more! Meanwhile, we get into the most recent episode of The Valley where Nick shares his experience of Jasmine on his season of The Bachelor, and the premiere of Next Gen NYC. Is it the next Vanderpump Rules? The spiritual successor to HBO's Girls, even? We discuss. Also, Nick and Natalie start off the episode with their nightmare experience with Vrbo. You certainly will not want to miss this one… “It feels like summer is here when the islanders show up!” Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter OUT NOW! Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff. Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896 Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/ Please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to asknick@theviallfiles.com to be a part of our Monday episodes. Follow us on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheViallFiles Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w To Order Nick's Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to asknick@theviallfiles.com with “Texting Office Hours” in the subject line! To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Mack Weldon - Give your closet a breath of fresh air for spring. Go to https://mackweldon.com and get 25% off your first order of $125 or more, with promo code VIALL. Wayfair - Don't wait! Make your outdoor space your dream oasis TODAY with Wayfair, and enjoy it all summer long. Head to https://wayfair.com right now to shop a huge outdoor selection. Mint Mobile - This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at https://mintmobile.com/viall Tonal - For a limited time, go to https://tonal.com to get FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OFF your Tonal purchase plus a FREE FOUR-YEAR WARRANTY. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (10:20) - Horror Story (20:43) - Daily Dilemma (27:39) - Household Headlines (38:31) - Mormon Wives Takes with Trey (43:28) - Love Island Recap (01:07:43) - The Valley (01:26:15) - Next Gen NYC (01:30:50) - Outro Episode Socials: @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @treynkennedy @ciaracrobinson @justinkaphillips @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell