STR Investing, The Podcast
Welcome to STR Investing, The Podcast, where hosts Taylor Jones & Mark Lumpkin reveal the keys to financial freedom through short-term rental investing. Whether you're taking your first step into this lucrative market or looking to expand your portfolio, this podcast is your ultimate resource for success.
Taylor, who has successfully acquired over 200+ properties, brings not only his personal experiences but also sits down with industry experts to share insights and stories from every corner of the STR world. From sharing insights of building 9 figures of STR businesses, to staying on top of the latest trends in acquiring, designing, furnishing, and operating profitable short-term rentals, he covers it all.
But that's not all. We're also lifting the veil on the challenges and triumphs of entering the industry, offering invaluable advice that you won't find anywhere else. Whether it's navigating regulatory changes or finding the perfect property, STR Investing, The Podcast is your trusted guide at every stage.
Join Taylor & Mark as he shows you how short-term rental investing can lead to financial freedom. Don't just dream about it - make it a reality with STR Investing, The Podcast today.
STR Investing, The Podcast
Revolutionary Rewards Program For Short Term Rentals
In this episode, Taylor sits down with Zach Busekrus, growth marketer and co-founder of Journey, a game-changing loyalty platform designed for STR operators and independent boutique hotels. Zach shares how his winding path from higher ed marketing and podcasting to nomadic Airbnb living during COVID ultimately led to Journey: a mission-driven platform curating “stays with soul” and giving operators a powerful new way to increase repeat bookings, monetize guest loyalty, and gather data, all without giving 15–30% to the OTAs.
You’ll learn:
- How Zach turned a side project newsletter into a startup acquisition
- The behind-the-scenes story of Journey’s creation and its big-name backers
- Why loyalty programs work and why most independent hosts haven’t had access to them
- How Journey helps guests earn and redeem points across a curated network of high-quality stays
- Why operators benefit from better guest insights, brand credibility, and additional revenue streams
- What it really takes to get early adopter traction in the hospitality space
- Journey’s vision for becoming the “soulful” alternative to chain hotel loyalty systems
Whether you're managing four vacation rentals in Joshua Tree or scaling a boutique hospitality brand, this episode is packed with strategic insights on how to turn direct bookings and guest loyalty into real growth, without relying solely on Instagram or the OTAs.
Apply to the Journey Alliance: alliance.journey.com
Download the app or learn more at: journey.com
Contact Zach: zach@journey.com
Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search
STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 255 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
