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
018: Where Real Estate Models Are Converging: Lavanda CEO Fred Lerche-Lerchenborg on Flexible Living, STR, and Multifamily
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In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann speaks with Fred Lerche-Lerchenborg, CEO of Lavanda, about how short-term rentals, mid-term stays, and multifamily are converging inside the same assets.
This is not a tech pitch. It is a practical discussion on institutional real estate, operating risk, and why flexible living is becoming a core strategy for owners and investors.
Fred breaks down why legacy long-term rental systems fail at daily pricing and mixed inventory, why lease-arbitrage collapsed at scale, and how investor psychology, cap rates, compliance, and risk transfer shape real decisions.
The conversation also explores why Europe is moving faster than the US in flexible living, and what operators must get right before blending STR into multifamily creates value instead of backlash.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Why residential real estate systems were never designed for flexibility, and how changing living patterns are forcing new operating models.
- Where traditional PMS platforms fail when short-term, mid-term, and long-term stays coexist in the same building.
- Why institutional capital evaluates flexible living through asset value protection, not revenue upside alone.
- How lease arbitrage broke down at scale, and when selective leasing can still work for smaller STR operators.
- What flexible living unlocks for student housing, build-to-rent, and urban development in regulated markets.
- Why risk, liability, insurance, and guest vetting become non-negotiable when STR enters multifamily environments.
Explore more:
Connect with Fred Lerche-Lerchenborg on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-lerche-lerchenborg] to learn more about Lavanda [http://getlavanda.com]
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Podcast supported by Breezeway.
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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/