From aerospace engineer to acquiring four boutique hotels in just 12 months—Harshad Lalan's journey proves that systems thinking and strategic boldness can transform your short-term rental business.

In this episode of the Booked Solid podcast, Harshad shares how he and his wife Ishita scaled from zero properties to a thriving portfolio by combining her design brilliance with his analytical systems approach. He reveals how they jumped from less than 1% direct bookings last year to over 30% this year, his framework for using AI to streamline everything from listing creation to hotel underwriting, and why surrounding yourself with the right people accelerates growth faster than any spreadsheet analysis ever could.

Whether you're just getting started or ready to scale aggressively, Harshad's honest take on overcoming "analysis paralysis" and building delegatable systems will give you a new perspective on what's possible.

Connect with Harshad:

• Instagram: @harshad.lalan

• Company: 5 Seasons Homestays
• Ishita Interiors: @ishita.interiors