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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
010: The Midterm Rental Shift with Furnished Finder’s Jeff Hurst and Cami Narino
Cami Narino, Chief Operating Officer, and Jeff Hurst, Chief Executive Officer at Furnished Finder, join Simon Lehmann to analyze one of the most important shifts happening in housing and hospitality today: the rise of midterm rentals. Over the past decade, Furnished Finder has grown from zero to more than 300,000 listings, powered by independent landlords, changing mobility patterns and a growing need for flexible housing across the United States.
In this episode, Cami and Jeff explain why midterm rentals are gaining momentum, what supply looks like in practice and how the needs of monthly renters differ from short-term guests. They break down the economics of the category, the operational cadence behind longer stays and the technology required to screen guests, reduce fraud and deliver safer outcomes for both sides of the marketplace.
This conversation shows how midterm rentals are evolving, what is driving demand and why operators and landlords should pay attention as the category matures.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Why midterm rentals are becoming a meaningful category in housing and hospitality and how demand has shifted beyond short stays.
- How independent landlords drive the majority of midterm rental supply and why their inventory behaves differently from STR.
- What sets midterm rentals apart from short-term stays, including operational cadence, guest expectations and pricing stability.
- How Furnished Finder scaled from 20,000 to more than 300,000 listings and why the marketplace model, not instant booking, works for monthly stays.
- How screening, verification and trust and safety have become essential to creating safer outcomes for guests and property owners.
- How regulation, supply trends and capital cycles are shaping the future of midterm rentals as the category matures.
Explore more:
- Connect with CEO Jeff Hurst [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hurst-atx/] and COO Cami Narino on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cami-narino/] to learn more about Furnished Finder [www.furnishedfinder.com].
- Exclusive offer for STR Global Unlocked listeners: Use code UNLOCKED10 for 10 percent off a new Furnished Finder listing through 12/31/2025.
Resources
- AJL Atelier – Global STR Consulting [https://www.ajlatelier.com]. Led by our host Simon Lehmann, AJL Atelier is a boutique advisory firm helping professional hosts, property managers, and investors succeed in the short-term rental industry.
- 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/