Are you paying an "attention tax" on your business? Most of us rely on the "Set and Forget" model—paying tolls to OTAs and big tech ads just to get a guest through the door. But what if you could drop that spend to zero?

I sat down with Madison Rifkin to discuss the "$1 Million Ad-Spend Pivot." We dive into how a "Content Army" of organic creators can replace expensive advertising and why the traditional way of looking at social media is officially dead. If you've ever been frustrated by an influencer asking for a "free stay," this conversation will change your perspective on the creative resource you are actually missing out on.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The $1M Pivot: How to move from paid ads to organic growth.

The "Toll Road" Trap: Why relying on OTAs is a tax on your business.

The Content Army: Turning normal travellers into your best marketing team.

Algorithm Shifts: Why your followers don't matter as much as you think.

Market Expertise: Using the destination to sell the stay.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction: The "Set and Forget" Trap

02:15 - The $1 Million Ad-Spend Pivot

05:30 - What is a "Content Army"?

10:45 - Why Follower Counts are a Vanity Metric

15:20 - Negotiating for the "Raw Footage"

21:10 - The "Market Expert" Strategy for STRs

27:45 - Instagram vs. TikTok: Where to focus in 2026

32:00 - Getting started without a massive budget

HASHTAGS:

#ShortTermRentals #PropertyManagement #BookDirect #InfluencerMarketing #MadisonRifkin #TheAccommodationShow

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:

https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:

https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:

https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.

Affiliate Disclaimer:

This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.

This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. I believe in the products and services we link to and that you may benefit from them.

If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe!

When I was a kid, my favourite act at the circus was watching the clowns keep a dozen plates spinning at once. If you are an accommodation operator, you have probably accidentally mastered this exact same art in your business.

You tap the tasks you can control, accept the ones you can't, but underneath it all, there is a chaotic middle ground. It's the operations you should control, but haven't systemised yet.

A few months ago, I received an email from a company in Finland asking to sponsor STRive in Australia and New Zealand. I was blown away by the distance they were travelling, but that is the magic of STRive—bringing people together from across the globe to share their solutions to our shared struggles.

That company was Pacho. I invited its founder, Joonas Sipilä, onto the podcast. Joonas used to manage 100+ properties in Finland and hit this exact operational wall.

Instead of a software pitch, we sat down to dissect the fundamental mindset shifts required to fix the ground operations of hospitality.

📋 In this episode, we discuss:

00:00 – Introduction: The art of spinning plates

02:51 – Scaling from 1 to 100: Where the wheels fall off

05:51 – The fundamental flaw in hospitality CRMs

11:58 – The Paradigm Shift: Treating the property as the client

15:18 – Building a "Medical Record" for your physical assets

19:02 – Practical AI: Triage, photo analysis, and dispatch logistics

22:23 – Joonas's transition from the trenches to tech founder

26:20 – Why operations (not just pricing) dictate your profit margins

32:08 – Future-proofing your ground game for 2026

#PropertyManagement #Operations #ThoughtLeadership #STRive #AssetManagement

SHOW LINKS Pacho: https://pacho.app/

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:

https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:

https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:

https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.

Affiliate Disclaimer:

This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.

This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. I believe in the products and services we link to and that you may benefit from them.

If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe!This week, I did something a little unusual. I invited Mark Simpson (Founder of Boostly) onto the show.Technically, Mark and I are competitors. We both build high-converting Direct Booking websites. But we both agree on one critical truth: By relying on third-party listing sites, you aren't just paying commissions—you are leaving your most valuable asset on the table.It’s not just about the 15% fee. It’s about the Customer Data and Brand Equity you miss out on every time a guest books through an app instead of with you.I see Mark as a collaborator in a much bigger mission: helping you stop "renting" your customers and start building a cohesive marketing ecosystem that you actually own.We sat down to discuss the massive opportunity cost of ignoring your direct channel, specifically how it impacts your bottom line today, and your business valuation tomorrow.📋 In this episode, we discuss:00:00 – Introduction: Why I Invited My Competitor02:53 – Hotels vs Short-Term Rentals: The marketing gap05:10 – The Mistake: "Mona Lisa" Websites vs Functional Design08:59 – The Valuation Opportunity: How direct bookings increase exit price11:08 – Case Study: How a strong brand added millions to a sale15:02 – The Ecosystem: Connecting Email, Web, and Social18:40 – Content Strategy: Newsletters that actually get read22:25 – The Future: AI Search & The changing digital landscape30:16 – Collaboration over Competition#DirectBookings #HospitalityMarketing #BusinessStrategySHOW LINKSBoostly: https://boostly.co.ukBook Direct Playbook: https://amazon.comDon't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!📧 Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:https://www.ibooked.online/bart/🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:https://www.theaccommodationshow.com✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:https://www.striveconferences.com▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.Affiliate Disclaimer:This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.

Running one event is hard. Running 19 in a single year sounds impossible.

I sat down with Heidi Henrisken (Executive Director of VR Nation) to ask her how they are physically pulling this off.

This year, they are running a full National Conference in Denver plus an 18-city "Roadshow" where they drive a van across the US to host local workshops.

We break down the logistics of the "Tour Bus" model, why they decided to charge only $25 for tickets, and how they manage the workload without a massive staff.

📋 In this episode, we discuss:

00:00 – Introduction & The Rebrand to VR Nation

05:36 – Going National: The strategy behind the expansion

09:18 – The "Village" Model: Managing 40+ Volunteers

11:56 – The 5 Advisory Boards (and why they are Operators Only)

14:20 – Competitive Collaboration: Solving the advocacy crisis

17:47 – The Roadshow Logistics: Driving a van to 18 cities

25:13 – Building Culture: The Housekeeping Olympics & Golden Toilets

30:16 – Future plans for the VR Nation Academy

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:

https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:

https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:

https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.

Affiliate Disclaimer:

This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.

This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. I believe in the products and services we link to and that you may benefit from them.

If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!I find that everyone talks predominantly about Airbnb SEO. But I find it hard to find anyone talking about how to rank higher on Booking.com.For most Hotels, Motels, and Short Term Rentals, Booking.com is the engine room that drives the most consistent volume. Yet, most of us treat it as a "set and forget" channel. We feed the rates from our PMS and hope for the best.In this episode, I sit down with Miro Gospodinov, the founder of myDataValue, to reverse-engineer the Booking.com algorithm.Miro explains why the way most of us manage revenue—by lowering base rates in our PMS—is actually a "Silent Discount" that the algorithm ignores. He breaks down the exact strategy to trigger visibility boosts using the "Pyramid" method.📋 In this episode, we discuss:00:00 - Intro & Who is Miro?02:30 - Why Ranking #1 Matters (70% More Bookings) 06:00 - The Booking.com Algorithm: Pricing vs. Promotions 09:20 - The "Billboard Effect" & Genius Program 11:31 - The 30% Rule: How Price Impacts Rank 14:50 - The "Great Parity" Problem (95% Fail This) 17:00 - Promotions vs. PMS Discounts 20:13 - How to Track Your Ranking (The Spreadsheet Method) 23:00 - Why Hotels are Ahead of STRs in Revenue Management 26:30 - Future Trends: AI Agents & Search 28:00 - Summary & Final Tips#HospitalityLeadership #SystemiseToScale #STRGrowthSHOW LINKSGUEST LINKS: 🔹 myDataValue: https://mydatavalue.com 🔹 Connect with Miro: https://linkedin.com/in/miro-g?originalSubdomain=ukDon't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES! 📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources: https://www.ibooked.online/bart/🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here: https://www.theaccommodationshow.com✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE: https://www.striveconferences.com▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊 Need more direct bookings or a brand new website? The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results. 🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.Affiliate Disclaimer: This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links. This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. I believe in the products and services we link to and that you may benefit from them. If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.

JJ King thought he was starting a side hustle. Three years later, he has over 300 properties under management.In this episode, we break down exactly how Beachside Vacation Rentals went from zero to market leader in Florida in record time.We discuss the "Google Maps" strategy that allowed them to dominate local search, why they focus on "Donuts over Referral Fees" when talking to Real Estate Agents, and the crazy story of how they acquired 70 units in a single week when a competitor went bust.If you are looking to grow your inventory in 2026, this is the playbook.📋 In this episode, we discuss:00:00 - Intro: From Side Hustle to 300 Units 04:50 - The "Google Maps" Strategy (Ranking #1) 09:15 - How to Get Reviews on Google (Not just Airbnb) 3:20 - Real Estate Agents: Donuts vs. Referral Fees 18:40 - The "Lucky Break": Acquiring 70 Units in a Week 24:30 - Advice for Newbies: Go Work for Someone Else First 29:10 - Writing Content for AI (AEO Strategy) 32:45 - Using Zapier + OpenAI for Reviews#HospitalityLeadership #SystemiseToScale #STRGrowthSHOW LINKSSHOW LINKS: 🔹 Beachside Vacation Rentals: https://beachsidevr.com 🔹 Zapier: https://zapier.com 🔹 OpenAI: https://openai.com 🔹 Google Business Profile: https://google.com/businessDon't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES! 📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources: https://www.ibooked.online/bart/🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here: https://www.theaccommodationshow.com✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE: https://www.striveconferences.com▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊 Need more direct bookings or a brand new website? The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results. 🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.Affiliate Disclaimer: This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links. This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. I believe in the products and services we link to and that you may benefit from them. If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.

Are you running your accommodation business with 50 tabs open? One for pricing, one for cleaning, one for the PMS... it’s a recipe for burnout.

In this episode, we gather the leaders from Resly, PriceLabs, Operto, and Whizz—our key partners for the Strive Conference—to map out the future of hospitality technology.

We go beyond the buzzwords to find out what is actually working. We discuss the rise of "Agentic AI" (and how it’s already solving 66% of support tickets), why the era of "App Overload" is ending, and the specific tools these founders use to run their own companies.

If you want to future-proof your operations for 2026, this is your roadmap.

🎟️ MEET THESE TEAMS AT STRIVE 2026: Get your tickets for Melbourne & Auckland: https://strivetothrive.com.au

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

🚀 The 2026 Tech Trend: Why the industry is moving from "App Overload" to "Unified Ecosystems."

🤖 Real AI Utility: How Resly’s internal agent ("Frank") automates 66% of staff workload.

⚠️ The "User Trap": The #1 reason tech implementation fails (and how to fix it).

🧰 The Founder’s Stack: The specific AI tools these CEOs use to manage their inbox and meetings.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro & The 2026 Tech Landscape

01:55 - Why STR Adopts Tech Faster than Hotels

03:06 - The "50 Tabs" Nightmare (Tech Fatigue)

04:30 - "Agentic AI" vs. Basic Automation

06:37 - PriceLabs: Managing 600k Listings & Burnout

08:57 - Whizz: Moving Beyond Cleaning to Marketplaces

14:15 - The Debate: All-in-One vs. Best-in-Breed?

15:34 - The "User Trap": Why Tech Implementation Fails

18:01 - Stop Buying Software Your VAs Haven't Tested

21:30 - "Unreasonable Hospitality" in a Tech World

23:26 - When Should You Fire Your Software?

29:07 - The "Squeaky Wheel" Strategy (Getting Better Support)

30:10 - What Tools Do Tech Founders Actually Use?

31:28 - Meet "Frank": How Resly Automates 66% of Support

33:17 - How to Connect ChatGPT to Your Internal Data (Slack/Jira)

35:01 - Using Read.ai & Gemini for Meeting Notes

36:54 - Fixer AI: The "Inbox PA" That Drafts Your Emails

38:43 - ASPR AI for Sales Automation

40:00 - Strive Conference & Wrap Up

GUEST LINKS:

🔹 Resly: https://resly.com.au

🔹 PriceLabs: https://pricelabs.co

🔹 Operto: https://operto.com

🔹 Whizz: https://whizz.com.au

🔹 Fyxer (Inbox Assistant): https://fyxer.com

🔹 Read.ai: https://read.ai

ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATION SHOW: The Accommodation Show is the leading podcast for the accommodation industry, covering short-term rentals, hotels, and motels. We help you stay ahead of the curve with expert insights and actionable advice.

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:

https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:

https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:

https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.

In Part 2 of our 2026 Predictions series, we head to the ASTRA "Here to Stay" Conference to get a global perspective on the Short Term Rental industry.

For Episode 2 of Season 21, I grabbed the microphone at the ASTRA "Here to Stay" Conference to ask 14 of the smartest operators and executives in the APAC region the same question:

"What do operators need to look out for in 2026?"

It was fascinating to see the difference in focus between the two continents. While the conversation in the US was heavily focused on Acquisition (Search, SEO, AI Planning), the leaders in Australia went deep on Operations.

If last week was about "getting the booking," this week is about "delivering the experience."

In this episode, you will learn:

✅ The "Flight to Quality": Tim Rosolio (Expedia) explains why guests are looking for "no surprises" over "luxury."

✅ The China Rebound: Kevin Liu (Trip.com) reveals the data on the fastest-recovering market and how to capture it.

✅ Agentic AI: Ethan Brown (Hospitable) on why AI is about to start operating your business for you.

✅ Exit Strategy: Dan White (Canbnb) on how to target a 3-5x EBITDA multiple.

📋 In this episode, we discuss:

🎙️ FEATURED GUESTS & TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Tim Rosolio (Expedia): The Flight to Quality (Consistency - Luxury)

04:02 - Alex Ormerod (Luxico): Hyper-personalization at scale

10:14 - Billy Crock (Hometime): Quality metrics & retention

12:35 - Kevin Liu (Trip.com): The return of the China market & family travel

23:55 - Julie George (Million Dollar Host): Embracing youth for tech adoption 27:14 - Dan White (Canbnb): Direct bookings & Exit Multiples (3-5x EBITDA)

36:34 - Samuel Steel (Resly): AI for Operations & Predictive Maintenance

42:58 - Pete Smith (Weekenda): "Garbage In, Garbage Out" with AI

48:29 - Deepanshu Nihalani (PriceLabs): Pricing for the "Mid-Season" shift

54:26 - Chris de Closey (Switch Solutions): Shorter booking windows

56:15 - Ethan Brown (Hospitable): The rise of "Agentic AI"

01:02:12 - Dan de Witte (Moxxi): Branding is the core of AI success

01:10:04 - Georgia Smith (Hunter Holidays): Finding the right AI tools

01:14:31 - Alessio Famularo (AirKeeper): Culture & Training people behind the tech

#HospitalityLeadership #SystemiseToScale #STRGrowth

SHOW LINKS

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:

https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:

https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:

https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.

Affiliate Disclaimer:

This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.

In Part 2 of our 2026 Predictions series, we head to the ASTRA "Here to Stay" Conference to get a global perspective on the Short Term Rental industry.

For Episode 2 of Season 21, I grabbed the microphone at the ASTRA "Here to Stay" Conference to ask 14 of the smartest operators and executives in the APAC region the same question:

"What do operators need to look out for in 2026?"

It was fascinating to see the difference in focus between the two continents.

While the conversation in the US was heavily focused on Acquisition (Search, SEO, AI Planning), the leaders in Australia went deep on Operations.

If last week was about "getting the booking," this week is about "delivering the experience."

In this episode, you will learn:

✅ The "Flight to Quality": Tim Rosolio (Expedia) explains why guests are looking for "no surprises" over "luxury."

✅ The China Rebound: Kevin Liu (Trip.com) reveals the data on the fastest-recovering market and how to capture it.

✅ Agentic AI: Ethan Brown (Hospitable) on why AI is about to start operating your business for you.

✅ Exit Strategy: Dan White (Canbnb) on how to target a 3-5x EBITDA multiple.

📋 In this episode, we discuss:

🎙️ FEATURED GUESTS & TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Tim Rosolio (Expedia): The Flight to Quality (Consistency > Luxury)

04:02 - Alex Ormerod (Luxico): Hyper-personalization at scale

10:14 - Billy Crock (Hometime): Quality metrics & retention

12:35 - Kevin Liu (Trip.com): The return of the China market & family travel

23:55 - Julie George (Million Dollar Host): Embracing youth for tech adoption 27:14 - Dan White (Canbnb): Direct bookings & Exit Multiples (3-5x EBITDA)

36:34 - Samuel Steel (Resly): AI for Operations & Predictive Maintenance

42:58 - Pete Smith (Weekenda): "Garbage In, Garbage Out" with AI

48:29 - Deepanshu Nihalani (PriceLabs): Pricing for the "Mid-Season" shift

54:26 - Chris de Closey (Switch Solutions): Shorter booking windows

56:15 - Ethan Brown (Hospitable): The rise of "Agentic AI"

01:02:12 - Dan de Witte (Moxxi): Branding is the core of AI success

01:10:04 - Georgia Smith (Hunter Holidays): Finding the right AI tools

01:14:31 - Alessio Famularo (AirKeeper): Culture & Training people behind the tech

#HospitalityLeadership #SystemiseToScale #STRGrowth

SHOW LINKS

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍 Join the Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Community:

https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🔗 Connect with Bart Sobies for industry insights, tools, and resources:

https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Catch every episode of The Accommodation Show here:

https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

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🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

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Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.

Affiliate Disclaimer:

This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links.

How do you go from finding clients on Gumtree to selling a 145-property portfolio?

In this episode of Building It, I sit down with Hayden D'Arcy, co-founder of Home Hero. His journey is one of the most relatable and inspiring stories we've had on the show.

He started in 2015 with no clients. He drove a wrecked car to his first listing appointment (and hid it around the corner!). But through a relentless "Say Yes" strategy, he built a massive property management business on the Gold Coast, survived COVID, and recently achieved a successful exit.

We dive into the reality of running a service business alongside a tech company, how to value your business for a sale, and why buying a cleaning company was the key to solving his operational headaches.

#FromHustleToExit #ScaleWithSystems #AccommodationGrowth

ibooked.online Book Direct Websites

🌐 Website: https://www.ibooked.online

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibooked-online

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibookedonlinefb/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibooked.online

Strive Conferences

🌐 Website: https://www.striveconferencescom

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/striveconferences/

👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/striveconferences

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/striveconferences

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!

ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES!

📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/

🌍The Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity

🗨 Connect with Bart Sobies for more industry insight: https://www.ibooked.online/bart/

🎙 Subscribe to the podcast to listen later: https://www.theaccommodationshow.com

1. YouTube Chapters

This is a fantastic "Building It" episode. It has everything: a humble beginning (Gumtree!), a struggle phase, a tech spin-off (Home Hero), rapid growth during COVID, and finally, a successful exit.

The story about hiding the wrecked car around the corner is absolute gold—it's the perfect hook to show how far he came.

Here are the promotional assets for the episode with Hayden D'Arcy.

1. YouTube Chapters

00:00 - Intro: Selling a 145-Property Business

01:46 - The Humble Start: Getting Clients on Gumtree in 2015

03:04 - The "Wrecked Car" Story: Faking It 'Til You Make It

05:34 - Co-founding Home Hero & Annoying Airbnb for API Access

09:38 - The Reality of Running Two Businesses at Once (18-Hour Days)

12:11 - The COVID Pivot: How He Grew When Others Quit

16:21 - The "Say Yes" Strategy: Taking Opportunities Others Refused

19:05 - Solving the Ops Nightmare: Buying a Cleaning Company

20:32 - The Hardest Founder Lesson: Learning to Let Go

22:31 - The Exit: Why He Sold His Portfolio to Focus on Tech

25:41 - How to Prepare Your Business for Sale (Valuation Tips)

✨ Ready to take things up a level? Come to STRIVE:

https://www.striveconferences.com

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊

Need more direct bookings or a brand new website?

The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results.

🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.