From corporate hustle to hospitality powerhouse, Janel’s story is the kind every host needs to hear.

In this episode, I sit down with the inspiring Janel Gallucci, who walked away from a high-pressure San Francisco career to build a short-term rental business on her own terms. What began with a single Lake Tahoe cabin quickly evolved into a thoughtfully scaled portfolio — each property designed with intention, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to delivering a true 5-star guest experience.

You’ll hear how Janel shifted from “one-property owner” to savvy portfolio builder, the systems and mindset she used to scale sustainably, and the decisions that helped her create guest-loved stays while protecting her time and energy. This conversation is a powerful reminder that a purpose-driven business can grow without sacrificing the life you’re building it for.

Janel shares:

1. The pivot point: How a moment of burnout prompted her and her husband to leave the corporate grind and dive head-first into STRs.
2. Taking control: Why early missteps with property managers forced her to self-manage—and how applying her corporate skills dramatically boosted her returns and created unforgettable stays.
3. Guest-Magnet Strategies: The exact systems she uses to turn listings into best-in-class properties, from leveraging market data and building local partnerships to offering dog-friendly welcome baskets and locally sourced amenities.
4. The Blueprint for Growth: Why defining your ideal guest and implementing robust systems is essential for managing properties confidently, whether they're nearby or across the country.

Janel’s story is a powerful blueprint for building a richer, more flexible life through short-term rentals. It's packed with actionable tips, mindset shifts, and the courage required to build an intentionally successful business. Tune in now to unlock the strategies for your own STR success!

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:15] A short introduction about our guest Janel Gallucci, and how she got into the short-term rental industry

[04:24] Janel reveals how miscommunication and poor property care pushed her to replace her property manager with direct self-management

[08:04] Janel’s approach to shifting into self-management to enhance confidence and control in her short-term rental

[11:02] How Janel handles tough guest situations to enhance satisfaction and protect reviews

[14:23] I share my experience at Airbnb headquarters and unpack why hosts have seen a dramatic shift in Airbnb’s willingness, and ability to remove unfair reviews

[17:12] Janel’s thoughts about the challenges of subjective guest ratings to highlight the flaws in Airbnb’s value and accuracy metrics

[20:12] Janel outlines her strategy for breaking past her revenue ceiling by elevating her property into the luxury tier

[22:06] How small luxury touches elevate the guest experience and reinforce premium positioning

[23:27] Janel outlines the intentional upgrades and guest-avatar strategy that fueled her jump from average earnings to six-figure revenue

[27:20] How low-cost, locally sourced, and thoughtfully branded welcome baskets enhance the guest experience while supporting efficiency and local partnerships

[31:54] The importance of building systems and delegating tasks to free up a host’s time and prevent burnout

[34:44] Janel explains how she found and acquired her second property—the number one most wish-listed property in the state

[42:03] How Janel’s Mississippi property became the most wish-listed in the state

[47:18] The value of sharing expertise and mentoring, regardless of portfolio size

[49:13] The lightning round

Golden Nuggets:

1. “If we just show up really compassionately and empathetically and try to understand what's going on, and like, make our best effort to fix that issue, people actually really appreciate that, and that can end up leading to a five star review.”
2. "If you talk to a rep at Airbnb and something doesn't seem right, or you feel like they don't have your back, just hang up and call again and get another rep, and then that ends up solving the problem.”
3. “We tripled our revenue. What led to that one? I think just me owning the full guest experience, and not having to pay a commission to a property manager obviously made a huge difference.”
4. “The systems are what give you freedom.”
5. “When you actually understand the value of your time, it makes it so much easier to delegate work and to make decisions.”
6. “Look at your own experience, your own knowledge, and look for opportunities to pay it forward, to help other people, because we learn so much by helping others.”

Let’s Connect:

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