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
021: Is Luxury Short-Term Rental Really Resilient? - Luxury STR Roundtable with Emerald Stay, Le Collectionist, The Luxe Nomad and Nocturne Luxury Villas
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Luxury short-term rental has long been viewed as the most resilient segment of the STR industry.
But resilience does not mean immunity.
Rising interest rates, tighter capital, geopolitical instability, regulatory scrutiny, and growing operational costs are reshaping the landscape. Demand remains strong, yet it is more selective, more price-sensitive, and less forgiving than in previous cycles.
In this special roundtable episode of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann convenes four global founders and CEOs operating at the forefront of luxury short-term rentals across Europe, Asia, and the United States:
- Maxime Friess, Founder & CEO, Emerald Stay
- Max Aniort, Founder & CEO, Le Collectionist
- Stephanie Chai, Founder & CEO, The Luxe Nomad
- Scott Wiseman, CEO, Nocturne Luxury Villas
Each represents a distinct operating model and market dynamic within the high-end STR ecosystem.
In this conversation, they explore with Simon Lehmann:
- Whether luxury demand is structurally resilient or simply slower to absorb macroeconomic pressure
- How pricing has shifted from a revenue lever to a demand signal, and why overpricing can damage long-term competitiveness
- The margin realities of high-touch hospitality, including staffing, fixed costs, and why operational discipline now outweighs topline growth
- Who truly owns the guest relationship in a fragmented distribution ecosystem, and what separates repeat bookings from genuine brand loyalty
- How regulation, insurance scrutiny, and safety standards are accelerating the professionalization of luxury STR
- Whether scale strengthens or dilutes luxury positioning, and what it takes to build a globally recognized luxury STR brand
Connect with the panelists on LinkedIn:
- Maxime Friess: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxime-friess/
- Stephanie Chai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stchai/
- Scott Wiseman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottfwiseman/
- Max Aniort: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxaniort/
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/