Sean Breuner is the Founder and CEO of AvantStay, one of the most ambitious hospitality brands in the short-term rental industry. Since launching in 2017, AvantStay has raised significant capital, expanded across the United States, and set out to define what a national hospitality brand could look like in STR.

In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Sean for an open conversation on scale, brand building, operational reality, and the tough decisions required to grow during one of the most volatile periods in the industry’s history. 

Sean shares the thinking behind AvantStay’s proprietary tech platform, its “Hotel in a Home” thesis, and what it takes to deliver consistency at scale in a horizontal operating model.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why AvantStay was built around group travel and a “Hotel in a Home” experience.
• How brand, technology, and operational tooling came together to create a vertical hospitality platform.
• Why AvantStay invested in proprietary tech and what it takes to maintain quality across dispersed markets.
• How the company navigated rapid expansion, macroeconomic shifts, and multiple rounds of layoffs.
• Why alignment with homeowners matters more than ever and why asset-light models continue to win.
• How regulation, consolidation, and shifting distribution dynamics will shape the future of STR.

 Explore more:

• Connect with Sean Breuner on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbreuner/] to learn more about AvantStay [https://www.avantstay.com].  

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/

Cliff Johnson is the former Co-Founder of Vacasa, one of the largest short-term rental management companies in the United States, and now serves as President of PadSplit, a fast-growing affordable housing marketplace. His journey from startup founder to industry veteran gives him a rare perspective on how far the STR sector has come (and what still holds it back).

In this episode, Simon Lehmann sits down with Cliff to trace Vacasa’s early days, the decisions that shaped its rise, and the lessons learned from scaling too fast. Cliff also shares how his mission-driven approach now guides his work at PadSplit, tackling housing accessibility through a completely different model.

This is an inside look at the human side of growth, leadership, and what the industry can learn from both its successes and its missteps.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Cliff Johnson and Eric Breon founded Vacasa during the 2008 recession and built it into a national brand.
• Why Vacasa’s focus shifted from mission and quality to growth at all costs—and what that change revealed about the industry.
• The challenges of raising capital and why positioning as a “tech company” mattered to investors.
• Lessons from Vacasa’s global expansion and what went wrong in scaling internationally.
• Why operational quality and human capital still define long-term success in short-term rentals.
• How today’s property managers can balance owner expectations, guest experience, and sustainable profitability.

Learn more about our guest:

Connect with Cliff Johnson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsoncliff] to learn more about PadSplit [https://www.padsplit.com/], the USA’s largest coliving marketplace. 

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/

Two systems drive every property management company: revenue and operations. For years, they’ve worked in silos. But what happens when they finally connect?

In this episode, Simon Lehmann brings together Jeremy Gall, Founder and CEO at Breezeway, and Richie Khandelwal, Co-founder at PriceLabs, to explore how smarter data, clearer demand signals, and integrated tools can redefine how professional operators run their businesses. 

The discussion uncovers why market fragmentation continues to challenge scalability, which technologies may be overhyped, and how real profitability depends on linking pricing with operational execution.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why revenue and operations are the two pillars every short-term rental business must align.
• How market fragmentation and slow tech adoption continue to define the STR landscape.
• Which parts of the STR tech stack are consolidating and why some tools will stay specialized.
• How understanding demand signals helps operators plan resources and boost profitability.
• Why AI’s influence in short-term rentals is real but still developing.
• What a smarter, more connected tech stack means for professional property managers today.

Learn more about our guests:

• Connect with Jeremy Gall on LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/jeremiahgall] to learn more about Breezeway [breezeway.io].  
• Connect with Richie Khandelwal on LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/richiekhandelwal] to learn more about PriceLabs [hello.pricelabs.co].  

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/

Amiad Soto is the co-founder and CEO of Guesty, one of the most recognized property management software platforms in the short-term rental industry. His journey started in Tel Aviv, where he and his brother Koby launched the company more than a decade ago, before taking it through Y Combinator in Silicon Valley. Under his leadership, Guesty has grown into a global player, shaping the way property managers and hosts scale their businesses across markets worldwide.

Our conversation dives into Guesty’s growth story, the lessons learned along the way, and what’s next for the short-term rental industry.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Amiad Soto’s journey from a side project with his twin brother in Tel Aviv to scaling Guesty into a global property management platform.
• Key lessons from Guesty’s time at Y Combinator and how that experience shaped the company’s growth.
• Why short-term rentals are a core part of hospitality and how the industry has evolved over the past decade.
• The challenges of scaling technology across fragmented, international markets and Guesty’s approach to solving them.
• How Guesty builds tech for real-world operators, from streamlining daily operations to enabling smarter, data-driven decisions.
• Amiad’s perspective on leading through change while building customer trust and strong team culture.

 Explore more:

• Guesty Property Management Platform [https://www.guesty.com]. Explore how Guesty supports property managers with end-to-end solutions.
• Connect with Amiad Soto, Co-founder & CEO of Guesty, on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiadsoto].

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/

Carl Shepherd is the Co-Founder of HomeAway, the marketplace that helped define the modern short-term rental industry. Before Airbnb became a household name, Carl and his co-founder Brian Sharples built HomeAway into a global platform that changed how people rent and manage vacation homes. The company went public in 2011 and was later acquired by Expedia for $3.9 billion.

If you want to understand how today’s OTA landscape was built, and where it’s breaking, this episode is essential listening. Carl shares how HomeAway scaled through acquisitions, why the industry lost its uniqueness, and what professional property managers must do to stay relevant in a platform-dominated market.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Carl and Brian turned an information business into a $3.9B global marketplace
• Why HomeAway’s original model changed the future of short-term rentals
• What Expedia got wrong after acquiring HomeAway and how it reshaped the OTA model
• Carl’s view on Airbnb’s fee structure shift and its long-term effects on hosts and managers
• Why professional property management must evolve toward a franchise model
• What tech-enabled PMs often misunderstand about software, service, and brand consistency
• Why the next phase of STR growth depends on quality control and trust

Explore more:

• Connect with Carl Shepherd on LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/carl-shepherd-1152924/]. 

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/

Every major player in short-term rentals has chased the idea of building a truly global operator. None have cracked it.

In this panel, Simon Lehmann brings together three leaders shaping the next phase of professionalization: Graham Donoghue (Forge Group, UK), Steve Schwab (Casago, US), and Quirin Schwaighofer (MadeComfy, Australia). Together they break down what it really takes to scale across borders and why local expertise still defines success.

This episode goes beyond theory. You’ll hear how operators balance growth with cultural nuance, how investors think about scale, and why the future of short-term rentals depends on blending technology with human judgment.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why no operator has cracked the code for a global STR brand and what makes each market uniquely difficult.
• How Casago’s decentralized franchise model builds community-level trust while scaling across the Americas.
• The MadeComfy playbook for partnering with real estate agents to grow fast and stay capital-light.
• How Forge Group uses technology, AI, and long-term planning to drive operational excellence through 2030.
• What private equity and strategic investors really measure when defining “value creation” in the STR sector.
• Why the next generation of operators will need both AI-driven systems and human talent to stay competitive.

 Learn more about our guests:

• Connect with Graham Donoghue on LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/grahamdonoghue] to learn more about Forge Holiday Group [forgeholidays.com]. 
• Connect with Steve Schwab on LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/sschwab] to learn more about Casago [casago.com]. 
• Connect with Quirin Schwaighofer on LinkedIn [linkedin.com/in/quirin-schwaighofer] to learn more about MadeComfy [madecomfy.com.au]. 

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/

Brian Egan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Evolve, a Denver-based hospitality company with a mission to become the most trusted brand in vacation rental. Since launching Evolve in 2011 alongside Adam Sherry, Brian has grown the company to support over 35,000 properties and more than $5 billion in rental revenue. 

If you're navigating the complexities of short-term rentals, this episode offers insights you won't find in a press release. Brian shares what it takes to build trust at scale, how to grow without losing your identity, and why consistency still beats tech when it comes to guest experience.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• What inspired Brian Egan to leave a career in law and launch a brand focused on rebuilding trust between guests, owners, and property managers
• How Evolve’s approach challenges the traditional property management model and redefines what it means to scale in a low trust category
• The early struggles of building Evolve and why Brian believes trust, not inventory, is the key to winning in vacation rental
• How the short-term rental industry lost its identity and what it takes to build a brand in a fragmented, tech dominated space
• What most founders miss about balancing owner expectations, guest satisfaction, and profitability at scale
• Why consistency, experience, and human connection, not just tech, are shaping the future of vacation rentals

Connect with Brian Egan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwegan/] to learn more about Evolve Vacation Rental [https://www.evolve.com]. 

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/

“Short-term rental is mainstream hospitality. It makes up 14% of global hospitality. 
And mainstream industries must operate by a different set of rules.” 

— Simon Lehmann

The short-term rental industry is at a turning point. Regulation is tightening, OTAs are shifting power, and owners are demanding more transparency. Technology and AI promise efficiency but raise new risks. Safety sits at the center of it all. This is the roadmap industry leaders will be referencing all year.

Simon Lehmann, your host, has more than 20 years of hands-on experience shaping STR worldwide. He is the founder of AJL Atelier, where he and his team have advised more than 100 companies across the sector. A board member, investor, and trusted voice at global industry events, Simon has seen every side of the market. His perspective comes from years in the field, guiding operators, tech founders, and investors through growth and disruption.

The 6 Hot Topics Shaping STR in 2025 and beyond:

• Regulation – What new rules mean for growth and compliance.
• OTAs – How platform dynamics will impact supply and demand.
• Owners – Rising expectations from those who hold the keys.
• Tech – Tools that will decide who scales and who stalls.
• AI – Where intelligence meets disruption in STR.
• Safety – Why trust remains the industry’s most valuable currency.

If you found this episode valuable, we encourage you to share it with colleagues or stakeholders in your network who are navigating the future of short-term rentals.

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/

STR Global Unlocked is the podcast built to say what others won’t. Hosted by Simon Lehmann, one of the most trusted voices in the global STR space, every episode takes on the hard questions shaping property management, STR tech, investment, and hospitality such as: Is regulation now existential for STR? Are OTAs making operators fragile? Will short-term rentals become just another hotel product?

The short-term rental industry is evolving fast, and this is where the unfiltered conversations begin. No PR fluff. Just real conversations, global insights, and the people who know what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s coming next.

👉 The first episode drops October 6. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts, so you don’t miss what’s coming.

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/