STR Global Unlocked with Simon Lehmann: Unfiltered knowledge for the short term rental industry
The short-term rental industry is evolving fast, and Simon Lehmann isn’t afraid to say what others won’t.
STR Global Unlocked is where property managers, STR tech founders, vacation rental investors, and hospitality leaders get real about the business. Each episode breaks down what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s coming next: property management operations, direct bookings, vacation rental software, pricing strategies, mergers and acquisitions in real estate, professional host challenges, and the future of automation, AI, and tech stacks.
Hosted by Simon Lehmann, CEO of AJL Atelier and one of the most trusted voices in the global STR space, the show delivers unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the industry. Simon has decades of experience in vacation rentals, travel tech, and hospitality, including leadership roles at Vacasa Europe, PhocusWright and HomeAway.
If you’re scaling a property management company, building short-term rental technology, investing in vacation rentals, or entering this fast-moving market, this podcast is your seat at the table.
STR Global Unlocked with Simon Lehmann: Unfiltered knowledge for the short term rental industry
001: 6 Hot Takes on the Future and Growing Pains of Short-Term Rentals with Simon Lehmann
“Short-term rental is mainstream hospitality. It makes up 14% of global hospitality.
And mainstream industries must operate by a different set of rules.”
— Simon Lehmann
The short-term rental industry is at a turning point. Regulation is tightening, OTAs are shifting power, and owners are demanding more transparency. Technology and AI promise efficiency but raise new risks. Safety sits at the center of it all. This is the roadmap industry leaders will be referencing all year.
Simon Lehmann, your host, has more than 20 years of hands-on experience shaping STR worldwide. He is the founder of AJL Atelier, where he and his team have advised more than 100 companies across the sector. A board member, investor, and trusted voice at global industry events, Simon has seen every side of the market. His perspective comes from years in the field, guiding operators, tech founders, and investors through growth and disruption.
The 6 Hot Topics Shaping STR in 2025 and beyond:
- Regulation – What new rules mean for growth and compliance.
- OTAs – How platform dynamics will impact supply and demand.
- Owners – Rising expectations from those who hold the keys.
- Tech – Tools that will decide who scales and who stalls.
- AI – Where intelligence meets disruption in STR.
- Safety – Why trust remains the industry’s most valuable currency.
If you found this episode valuable, we encourage you to share it with colleagues or stakeholders in your network who are navigating the future of short-term rentals.
Resources
- AJL Atelier – Global STR Consulting helping professional hosts, property managers, and investors succeed in the short-term rental industry [https://www.ajlatelier.com].
- Connect with Simon Lehmann on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-lehmann-8375753b/]
Stay connected:
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/str-global-unlocked-with-simon-lehmann-unfiltered/id1842946960
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kke4wOx0tNv0duq9MMWtO
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWVkmUOkmhSHcFjzi28AhaQNR98vaG65O
- Website: https://www.ajlatelier.com/podcasts
- Newsletter: https://str-global-unlocked.beehiiv.com/