437. Why Your PMS is the Heartbeat of Your STR Business—A Conversation with Hostfully’s CEO

Why Your PMS is the Heartbeat of Your STR Business—A Conversation with Hostfully’s CEO

Your Property Management Software (PMS) is more than just a tool—it’s the heartbeat of your short-term rental business. But how do you know you’re using the right one? And are you truly optimizing it to save time, increase efficiency, and drive more revenue?

In this episode, we sit down with Margot Schmorak, CEO & Co-Founder of Hostfully, our preferred PMS partner, to talk about the must-have features of a PMS, the biggest mistakes hosts make when choosing or switching systems, and how to use a PMS to scale smarter—whether you have one property or 100+.

We also dive into:

• The number one mistake hosts make when selecting a PMS
• How a strong tech stack can make your hosting life easier
• Direct bookings: Is a PMS worth it if you only have one or two properties?
• The power of repeat guests and how a PMS can help you get more
• Why booking direct is one of the biggest opportunities for hosts in 2025
• How Hostfully’s AI-powered inbox is saving hosts three or more hours per day
• How midterm rentals are evolving—and what Hostfully is doing about it

Whether you’re shopping for a PMS, considering a switch, or just want to maximize the power of the one you have, this episode is packed with insights, strategy, and actionable tips to take your STR business to the next level.

More About Our Guest: Margot Schmorak

Margot is the CEO & Co-Founder of Hostfully, a leading PMS in the STR industry. Under her leadership, Hostfully has helped thousands of property managers streamline their operations, grow their portfolios, and embrace direct bookings as a key revenue driver.

Beyond Hostfully, Margot is also a mom, wife, and creative entrepreneur based in San Francisco. She’s passionate about supporting women, moms, and underrepresented groups in tech and hospitality, and she loves travel, design, and music.

Resources & Links from This Episode

• Listen to Margot’s first TFV Episode
• Exact Steps for Leaving a Negative Airbnb Guest Review | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Want to get your property featured on #STRShareSunday? | Submit your listing here: strsharesunday.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.

Fido | Visit getfido.com/tfv & get your first month free!

Extenteam | Receive 20% off the first 2 months with Tailwind!

Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!