Send us a message!

Welcome to the 1st of the year special episode. Alex & Annie are kicking off 2026 by looking back at the moments that shaped 2025, the lessons they’re carrying forward, and the intentions guiding the year ahead.

They share how the podcast evolved over the past year, including more on site recordings and conference conversations than ever, plus why storytelling is becoming a bigger advantage for vacation rental brands right now. You’ll also hear Alex’s personal announcement, perfectly timed for the Year of the Horse, and the top episodes of 2025 that listeners loved most.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the First Episode of 2026  
01:05 Why This Annual Episode Matters  
02:45 Reflecting on the Moments That Defined 2025  
06:10 Taking the Podcast On Site and Into Conferences  
08:50 Travel Stories, Italy, and Unexpected Highlights  
13:20 What’s Coming in 2026 for the Podcast  
16:45 Words of the Year and Personal Intentions  
27:30 Alex’ Personal Announcement and New Chapter  
35:50 The Top Episodes of 2025  
52:10 Gratitude, Community, and Looking Ahead

What’s your Word of the Year for 2026? Send Alex and Annie a message on LinkedIn. They genuinely want to hear what you’re focusing on this year.

✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:

Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully.

Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value).

👉 Click here to get started: https://cal.mixmax.com/frankbosi/demo

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #strindustry

Send us a message!

In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Arlen Busenitz to talk about his unconventional path from a Kansas farm to pastoring a small-town church, volunteering as an EMT, working with NASA through a defense contractor, and ultimately becoming CEO of Destin Dreamers. 

Before he was running a luxury vacation rental company on Florida's Emerald Coast, Arlen was hauling 500-pound rocks in a 1976 Jeep pickup to pay for college. It's an unlikely origin story but one that laid the foundation for everything he's built since.

Packed with practical frameworks, hard-won wisdom, and what Annie coins "Arlenisms," this is the story of how grit, perspective, and a relationship-first philosophy built a standout brand in one of the most competitive vacation rental markets in the country.

We cover:

1️⃣ Why people do not buy stays, but experiences, outcomes, and peace of mind
2️⃣ How calm leadership changes the way teams, guests, and owners respond under pressure
3️⃣ Why simplifying operations is the real foundation for scalable growth
4️⃣ How to identify owner fit and why saying no protects your team and your culture
5️⃣ Practical frameworks for preventing issues and responding clearly when they arise
6️⃣ How Destin Dreamers balances systems, structure, and human judgment
7️⃣ Where AI fits in guest communication and where it should not

8️⃣ What it means to lead in a competitive market without panic or burnout

Connect with Arlen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abflorida/
Website:https://www.destindreamers.com/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #propertymanagement

Send us a message!

In this unfiltered conversation, Sarah Bradford joins us once again to break down the most common and costly mistakes she sees vacation rental operators still making today.

Drawing from more than two decades in the industry and her experience building, scaling, and ultimately selling two successful vacation rental companies, Sarah revisits pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, operations, and decision-making. 

This episode is practical, direct, and rooted in real situations. From financial missteps and weak owner communication to outdated technology, unhealthy competition mindsets, and tolerating the wrong homeowners, Sarah shares what she would fix immediately if she were starting again today.

As the industry heads into 2026, this conversation offers a timely reality check on what needs to change and what operators can no longer afford to ignore.

We cover:

1️⃣ The financial habits that quietly put operators at risk
2️⃣ Why trust accounting, budgeting, and clean books are non-negotiable
3️⃣ Common owner relationship mistakes that lead to unnecessary churn
4️⃣ How silence from homeowners can signal problems long before complaints
5️⃣ Why competing on commission is rarely the right move
6️⃣ The danger of delaying technology and PMS upgrades
7️⃣ How weak company culture shows up in performance and retention
8️⃣ When to say no to homeowners
9️⃣ Why outdated homes hurt your brand more than you think
🔟 What operators should fix now to stay competitive heading into 2026

Connect with Sarah:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-bradford-032129b1/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #propertymanagement

Send us a message!

This episode was recorded live at DARM 2025, right in the middle of the event, while the conversations were still unfolding and the energy was still fresh. 

Alex & Annie sit down for two fireside chats with Alex Cisneros (StayTerra) and Dennis Goedheid (Casiola) to talk through what’s showing up in the industry right now, and what operators are being asked to decide even when the path forward is not perfectly clear. 

If you were at DARM, this conversation will likely put words to what you were feeling. And if you weren’t, it offers a clear window into the discussions that mattered most this year.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
1️⃣ Why StayTerra targets reputable, community‑rooted operators
2️⃣ Where centralization helps, and where local teams must stay empowered.
3️⃣ Why multi-brand scale starts with getting data into one place
4️⃣ Why loyalty is still tough to crack in vacation rentals.
5️⃣ A more grounded take on luxury: less formality, more ease.
6️⃣ How Casiola is building growth through partnerships and ambassadors.
7️⃣ AI guest service that anticipates needs and raises expectations fast.
8️⃣ The next challenge: being discovered when AI gives only a few options. 

Connect with Alex Cisneros:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexjcisneros/
Website: https://stayterravaca.com/ 

Connect with Dennis Goedheid:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisgoedheid/
Website: https://www.casiola.com/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #DARM2025

Send us a message!

In this episode, we are joined by Jim DeVos, industry veteran, former co-owner of Best Beach Getaways, for the first public reveal of VR Works — the backend system he spent years building to fix the operational pain points he couldn’t ignore.

Jim breaks down how VR Works evolved from an internal solution into a fully integrated platform, how it nearly doubled their profit, and why an operator-first mindset shaped every design decision. He also explains the onboarding and pricing philosophy behind VR Works, and why he believes now is the right moment to introduce it to the wider industry.

If you’re curious how seasoned operators who have lived every operational pain point design systems that make teams faster, owners happier, and scaling far less chaotic, this conversation is a must listen.

We Discuss:

1️⃣ The operational challenges that sparked VR Works

2️⃣ How building internally led to faster, clearer workflows

3️⃣ The specific efficiencies that nearly doubled their net profit

4️⃣ Why an operator-first mindset shaped every design choice

5️⃣ Reducing migration pain through smarter data import and onboarding

6️⃣ Why he’s introducing VR Works now

7️⃣  Updates on Swanky Vacay and his continued operator journey

Connect with Jim:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-devos-35254912/ 

VRWorks: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vrworks-llc/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

Considering an exit strategy?

Discover how Nocturne Luxury Villas helps vacation rental founders protect their legacy while unlocking new opportunities.

👉 Contact [email protected] 

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #hospitalitytech

Send us a message!

In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Hall, Founder and CEO of Hallson Hospitality, to explore how a guest-first philosophy can become a true engine for growth in the vacation rental industry.

Brandon’s journey into hospitality began long before he managed homes. After co-founding OneHope Wine and spending 15 years growing a nationally recognized brand, he developed a deep understanding of customer experience, brand building, and emotional connection. Those principles shaped the DNA of Hallson Hospitality and helped him grow from three homes to eighty while keeping hospitality at the center.

That approach earned Hallson Hospitality national recognition, including being named 2024 Vacation Rental Management Company of the Year by VRMA - a clear testament to the power of guest-first thinking at scale.

Across this conversation, Brandon shares the mindset, touchpoints, systems, and leadership decisions that allowed him to scale without losing the heart of his brand.

We cover:
1️⃣ How a guest-first philosophy creates long-term scalability
2️⃣ The role of brand standards in building a portfolio that performs
3️⃣ Why he turns away owners who don’t align with the guest-first model
4️⃣ Small touches that create big loyalty
5️⃣ How team culture supports hospitality at scale
6️⃣ The tech stack behind the scenes
7️⃣ His approach to responsible scaling in 2026

Connect with Brandon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonhall/
Website: https://hallson.co/

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

Considering an exit strategy?

Discover how Nocturne Luxury Villas helps vacation rental founders protect their legacy while unlocking new opportunities.

👉 Contact [email protected] 

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #guestexperience

Send us a message!

DARM week is almost here, and we’re kicking things off with the person behind it all — Amy Hinote, Founder of VRM Intel and creator of the industry’s most conversation-packed event.

In this episode, Amy gives a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming to DARM Conference 2025, from the surge of AI-driven innovation to the sessions, speakers, and tech reveals everyone will be talking about. The industry is moving fast, and Amy walks us through why this year’s conference is shaping up to be one of the most important gatherings for operators, tech leaders, and anyone keeping an eye on where short-term rentals are headed.

If you’re gearing up for DARM or want to feel the buzz from afar, this episode sets the tone for an exciting week ahead.

We discuss:
1️⃣ The excitement building going into DARM 2025
2️⃣ Why AI and agentic tools will take center stage across sessions
3️⃣ The tech battleground and the new products expected to debut
4️⃣ How operators are influencing roadmaps more directly than ever
5️⃣ Big themes shaping this year’s discussions: consolidation, agility, and industry evolution
6️⃣ The growing divide and opportunity between legacy operators and fast-moving emerging managers
7️⃣ Environmental and destination challenges that are becoming impossible to ignore
8️⃣ The trends and insights expected to define the next 12–18 months

Connect with Amy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymutual/ 

DARM Website: https://vrdarm.com/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

Considering an exit strategy?

Discover how Nocturne Luxury Villas helps vacation rental founders protect their legacy while unlocking new opportunities.

👉 Contact [email protected] 

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #DARM2025

Send us a message!

VRMA International 2025 is in the books and if you were there, you probably felt it too: this year hit differently.

More people, deeper conversations, and a sense that the vacation rental industry is entering a new chapter. But what actually stuck after the applause faded?

In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Tim Rosolio, Ela Mezhiborsky, and Jessica Gillingham to reflect on what stood out most, not just from the sessions, but from the conversations around the show. 

From global distribution shifts and OTA quality standards to how AI is reshaping operations, trust, and discoverability, this is a candid look at what’s changing and what it means for property managers on the ground.

We discuss:
1️⃣ The state of global distribution with Tim Rosolio
2️⃣ Trust, verification, and real-world AI risks with Ela Mezhiborsky
3️⃣ Marketing visibility and the future of discoverability with Jessica Gillingham

Whether you joined the crowd in Vegas or followed along from afar, this conversation will catch you up on the bigger picture.

Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-rosolio-434b2a98/

Connect with Ela:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elamezhiborsky/ 

Connect with Jessica:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

Considering an exit strategy? 

Discover how Nocturne Luxury Villas helps vacation rental founders protect their legacy while unlocking new opportunities.

👉 Contact [email protected] 

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #vrma2025

Send us a message!

In this episode, Alex & Annie head to Florida’s scenic 30A to sit down with Dylan Bozarth, General Manager of 30A Escapes, for a real conversation about leadership, culture, and what it takes to build a team that truly lasts in the fast-paced vacation rental world.

Dylan shares how his decade-long journey at 30A Escapes has shaped a people-first approach to property management. One that values work-life balance, communication, and genuine hospitality as the keys to long-term success.

We discuss:
1️⃣ The challenges of managing vacation rentals along the 30A corridor
2️⃣ How leadership and team structure can prevent burnout
3️⃣ Creative ways to engage and communicate with homeowners
4️⃣ Why defining core values transforms company culture
5️⃣ The importance of collaboration among local property managers
6️⃣ Insights on market shifts post-2021 and preparing for sustainable growth

This episode is a reminder that growth starts with your people and that sustainable success in hospitality is built from the inside out.

Connect with Dylan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-bozarth-6225b8338/

Website: https://www.30aescapes.com/ 

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

Considering an exit strategy? 

Discover how Nocturne Luxury Villas helps vacation rental founders protect their legacy while unlocking new opportunities.

👉 Contact [email protected] 

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #culture

Send us a message!

When everything you’ve built disappears overnight, how do you begin again?

In this episode, we sit down with Angela “Angie” Leone, founder of Coconut Condos in Maui, to share a story of loss, faith, and rebirth after the devastating Lahaina wildfires.

Just days after finding a buyer for her thriving vacation rental company, Angie’s world changed forever. The wildfires destroyed her office, her vehicles, and 45 of the 50 homes she managed — a lifetime of work gone in an instant.

But what followed wasn’t the end of her story.

Through faith, family, and community, Angie found a way forward, creating new meaning, new strength, and a renewed sense of purpose in the ashes.

She opens up about:

1️⃣ The day Lahaina burned  and how her family faced unimaginable loss together

2️⃣ The “5 Fs” that became her foundation for resilience: Faith, Family, Fitness, Friends, and Focus

3️⃣ The healing power of cold plunges, saunas, and daily routines

4️⃣ Building the Lahaina Dreamers Cohort:  a community helping women rediscover purpose after tragedy

5️⃣The power of faith, perseverance, and post-traumatic growth

Connect with Angie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-leone-549295a4/ 

Website: https://www.coconutcondos.com/ 

Exclusive Offers for Alex & Annie Listeners:

Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).

👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.

Considering an exit strategy? 

Discover how Nocturne Luxury Villas helps vacation rental founders protect their legacy while unlocking new opportunities.

👉 Contact [email protected] 

#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #hospitality