Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals
With more than 35 years of combined experience in vacation rentals, Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe have teamed up to connect the dots between inspiration and opportunity, seeking to find the one story, idea, strategy or decision that led to their guests big A-HA moment. Join them, as they highlight the REAL stories behind the people and brands that have built vacation rentals into the 100 BILLION dollar industry it is today.
Episodes
266 episodes
The Realities of Operating in a Legacy Vacation Rental Market, with Tom Stewart of Resort Realty
In this episode, Tom Stewart, COO of Resort Realty, joins Alex & Annie to talk about the realities of running a vacation rental business in the Outer Banks, one of the most established and distinctive markets in the industry. They get into ...
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Episode 271
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1:02:27
How Booking.com and It’s A Penalty Are Addressing Human Trafficking in Hospitality
Human trafficking is a complex and often misunderstood issue, and one that exists across communities, including within hospitality.In this episode, we’re joined by Betsy Steckler, Regional Director of Partner Services at Booking.com
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Episode 270
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50:02
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London Calling: A Preview of the Short Stay Summit with Leo Walton & Sarah Nan DuPre
In this episode, we’re joined by Leo Walton, Co-founder of Truvi, and Sarah Nan DuPre, Strategic Partnerships Director at AirDNA. Leo and Sarah are also the co-hosts of The Check-In Podcast, and they join us for a conversation abo...
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Episode 269
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41:07
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The Future of Vacation Rental Distribution with Blake Warner of BookingPal
Distribution in the vacation rental industry has never been more complex. Property managers today are balancing major OTAs, niche platforms, emerging luxury channels, and an increasingly layered tech stack, all while trying to deliver exception...
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Episode 268
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42:51
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1st of the Month Bonus: Intentional Growth in a Rapidly Evolving STR Market with Carly Traub
Growth in short-term rentals often gets framed as a numbers game. More properties, more markets, more tech, and more scale.But what if growth isn’t about doing more but choosing better?In this 1st of the Month Bonus episode, Alex ...
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Episode 267
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48:56
The Virtual Property Management Model Explained with Tim Hubbard of Corzly
In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Tim Hubbard, CEO of Corzly, to break down how a virtual property management model actually works and what it takes to make it successful.Tim started in long-term rental investing before shi...
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Episode 266
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35:20
Boss Lady Energy: How Krista Goodrich and Kymberlee Nguyen Built Salty Dog Vacations
In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Krista Goodrich and Kymberlee Nguyen, the duo behind Salty Dog Vacations, to talk about what it really takes to build a vacation rental company that guests remember and a team that is proud to be ...
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Episode 265
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48:08
Jeff Hurst on Why Midterm Rentals Are Gaining Ground in a Mature STR Market
Midterm rentals are moving from a side option to a real strategy. In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder and former HomeAway and Expedia Group leader, to explain why 30+ day stays are gaining tractio...
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Episode 264
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50:17
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Are DMOs and Vacation Rentals Finally Ready to Work Together? with Stuart Butler and Adam Stoker
Destination marketing is in a pressure test.Short-term rentals have become a major part of how people travel, yet many DMOs still struggle with how (or whether) to include them. At the same time, AI is speeding up the research-to-bookin...
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Episode 263
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1:04:09
1st of the Month Bonus: Bridging the Gap Between Resorts and Vacation Rental Channels with Jetstream CEO Emmanuel Lavoie
Condo-hotels and resort-style properties sit in a tricky middle ground. They are not traditional hotels, but they are not quite vacation rentals either. Many still run on hotel tech stacks, charge hotel-style commissions, and operate with hotel...
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Episode 262
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48:55
Behind the Sheets: Operational Considerations Behind Linen Choices in STRs
In this episode, we are joined by Deepak Mehrotra, founder and CEO of California Design Den, for a practical discussion on how linen decisions affect short-term rental operations over time.Drawing from more than 20 years in textile manuf...
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Episode 261
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36:43
Stop Calling It Luxury: Setting the Standard in Vacation Rentals with Nir Maimon
Last week with Moriya Rockman, we explored luxury through the lens of growth, relationships, and what it takes to scale a high-end portfolio without losing the hospitality at the center. This week, Nir Maimon brings the conversation to the defi...
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Episode 260
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46:18
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From One Swiss Chalet to a Global Luxury Portfolio with Moriya Rockman of Smiling House Luxury
In this episode, we sit down with Moriya Rockman, founder of Smiling House Luxury, to explore how a single personal vacation home in the Swiss Alps became the starting point for a global luxury vacation rental portfolio.Moriya shares her...
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Episode 259
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40:19
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Culture Over Features: Building a Human-First Tech Company with Frank Bosi of Hostfully
In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Frank Bosi, Senior Director of Partnerships at Hostfully, to unpack what it really takes to build a tech company that people trust.Frank’s journey began in luxury hotels long ...
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Episode 258
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53:51
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1st of the Year Special Episode: Charging into 2026 — The Year of the Horse
Welcome to the 1st of the year special episode. Alex & Annie are kicking off 2026 by looking back at the moments that shaped 2025, the lessons they’re carrying forward, and the intentions guiding the year ahead.They share how the pod...
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Episode 257
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54:18
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From Rocks to Remarkable: The Making of Destin Dreamers, with Arlen Busenitz
In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Arlen Busenitz to talk about his unconventional path from a Kansas farm to pastoring a small-town church, volunteering as an EMT, working with NASA through a defense contractor, and ultimately bec...
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Episode 256
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52:55
Sarah Bradford Unfiltered: Fix These Vacation Rental Mistakes Before 2026
In this unfiltered conversation, Sarah Bradford joins us once again to break down the most common and costly mistakes she sees vacation rental operators still making today.Drawing from more than two decades in the industry and her...
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Episode 255
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59:25
DARM 2025 Fireside Chats: What the Industry Is Finally Saying Out Loud
This episode was recorded live at DARM 2025, right in the middle of the event, while the conversations were still unfolding and the energy was still fresh. Alex & Annie sit down for two fireside chats with Alex Cisneros (StayTer...
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Episode 254
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44:22
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Reinventing the Backend: Jim Devos Debuts VRWorks
In this episode, we are joined by Jim DeVos, industry veteran, former co-owner of Best Beach Getaways, for the first public reveal of VR Works — the backend system he spent years building to fix the operational pain points ...
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Episode 253
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36:55
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The Guest-First Strategy: How Brandon Hall Built a Scalable Vacation Rental Brand
In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Hall, Founder and CEO of Hallson Hospitality, to explore how a guest-first philosophy can become a true engine for growth in the vacation rental industry.Brandon’s journey into hosp...
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Episode 252
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36:10
It’s About DARM Time: Amy Hinote Sets the Stage for This Year’s DARM Conference
DARM week is almost here, and we’re kicking things off with the person behind it all — Amy Hinote, Founder of VRM Intel and creator of the industry’s most conversation-packed event.In this episode, Amy gives a behind-the-...
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56:06
After the Applause: Real Takeaways from VRMA 2025 with Tim Rosolio, Ela Mezhiborsky, and Jessica Gillingham
VRMA International 2025 is in the books and if you were there, you probably felt it too: this year hit differently.More people, deeper conversations, and a sense that the vacation rental industry is entering a new chapter. But wha...
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Episode 250
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53:53
Chillin' with Dylan: How to Build a People-First Culture in a Competitive Vacation Rental Market
In this episode, Alex & Annie head to Florida’s scenic 30A to sit down with Dylan Bozarth, General Manager of 30A Escapes, for a real conversation about leadership, culture, and what it takes to build a team that truly lasts in the f...
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Episode 249
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27:39
Finding Strength in the Ashes: Angie Leone’s Story of Resilience after the Lahaina Wildfires
When everything you’ve built disappears overnight, how do you begin again?In this episode, we sit down with Angela “Angie” Leone, founder of Coconut Condos in Maui, to share a story of loss, faith, and rebirth after the devastating Lahai...
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Episode 248
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56:00
1st of the Month Bonus: Boom Founders Announce $12.7M Funding Raise, Plus Agentic AI for STR
Big news to kick off the month! 🚀In this first-of-the-month bonus episode, Alex & Annie sit down with the Boom founders, Moran, Shahar, and Alon Goldboim, to talk about Boom’s recent $12.7 million fundin...
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Episode 247
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52:12
