STR Data Lab™ by AirDNA

Vanessa Aguirre, founder of The Femme House, creates unforgettable bachelorette experiences through themed short-term rentals. She discusses the power of niche targeting, revealing how focusing on specific traveler types can lead to significantly higher occupancy and revenue. Vanessa highlights the importance of designing functional, Instagrammable spaces, like beauty bars and mini golf, over mere aesthetics. With many bachelorette groups booking far in advance, she emphasizes effective communication and strategic planning to enhance guest satisfaction and relations with neighbors.

Rohit Bezewada, CEO of AirDNA and Uplisting, shares insights shaped by his roles at Uber and J.P. Morgan. He emphasizes the importance of data-driven decisions in the short-term rental industry. Rohit discusses the evolution of AirDNA from analytics to offering operational tools, aiming to better serve individual hosts. He reveals plans for AI-powered assistants and strategies targeting the long tail of hosts. Expect a future where revenue management is simplified and trust in data is paramount, as well as a glimpse into Rohit’s personal journey buying a short-term rental.

Explore how AI tools are transforming guest experiences and communication in the short-term rental space. Discover the '4.7 Rule,' revealing that property managers with lower review scores face higher client churn rates. Learn why local co-hosts are outpacing national brands in success, driven by proximity and personal touch. Insights into current market trends show muted summer demand and a surprising 40% surge in New Year’s bookings. Don’t miss the important PSA for Airbnb hosts using property management systems!

What if scaling your vacation rental business could actually hurt your bottom line? This week, Jamie Lane sits down with Ashley Ching, founder and CEO of Inhaven, to unpack her research on why national hospitality management companies—from Vacasa to Ambridge—have repeatedly failed to scale successfully. Together, they dive into the structural challenges of the short-term rental industry and uncover why “bigger” doesn’t always mean “better.”Ashley shares insights from hundreds of executive interviews across hotels, restaurants, and vacation rentals, revealing five key pillars that separate thriving, sustainable property managers from those that crumble under complexity. From the myth of economies of scale to the power of local operations and curated portfolios, this episode is a must-listen for any STR professional who wants to grow smarter—not just larger.Whether you manage 10 homes or 1,000, this conversation reframes how you think about profitability, service, and scale—and what true success in hospitality really looks like. You don’t want to miss this episode.Key TakeawaysBigger isn’t better: Hospitality is a labor-driven business, not a production line—growth often brings higher costs and lower margins.Curate your portfolio: The most successful managers focus on quality over quantity, offboarding “bad” properties that drain time and profit.Stay local: Empowering on-the-ground teams and decision-makers leads to stronger operations and better guest experiences.Choose owners wisely: Aligning with the right owners is as crucial as choosing the right homes.Pick your focus: You can prioritize service, scale, or profitability—but not all three at once.   Sign up for AirDNA for FREE 👇https://bit.ly/411Sk5J—————Connect with Jamie on social mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane—————Connect with Scott on social mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott—————Connect with AirDNA on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdnaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co—————Episode 154Key Takeaways

The vacation rental landscape is evolving fast — and Vrbo’s taking bold steps to redefine what “success” means in this new era. In this episode, Jamie Lane sits down with Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group, to explore how Vrbo is prioritizing quality over quantity, building stronger demand through Expedia’s massive network, and integrating cutting-edge AI tools to improve the booking journey for guests and hosts alike.Tim shares an inside look at Vrbo’s journey from HomeAway’s early subscription days to today’s global platform, explaining how the industry’s supply boom has reshaped what travelers expect — and what property managers need to deliver. From AI-powered review summaries to the “One Key” loyalty program bridging hotels and vacation rentals, this conversation unpacks the biggest levers shaping the next phase of STR growth.Whether you’re managing one property or a thousand, you’ll walk away with insights to future-proof your business in an increasingly competitive market.Don’t miss this one — it’s packed with an insider's perspective you won’t find anywhere else. Key Takeaways 🏠 Quality is the new growth metric: Vrbo is focusing less on adding listings and more on ensuring consistent, high-quality guest experiences.🌍 Expedia integration is expanding demand: Vacation rentals are now surfacing across Expedia’s B2B and brand ecosystem, from Delta to AmEx Travel.💳 Vrbo Payments opens new opportunities: Opting in allows hosts to tap into global distribution networks while simplifying transactions.🤖 AI is transforming the traveler journey: From review summaries to search partnerships with Perplexity, AI is boosting discovery and conversion.💡 Loyalty meets vacation rentals: The One Key program connects hotel and STR bookings, attracting new guests who can “burn” points on vacation homes.Sign up for AirDNA for FREE 👇https://bit.ly/45enjOz—————Connect with Jamie on social mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane—————Connect with Scott on social mediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott—————Connect with AirDNA on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdnaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co—————Episode 153

Brittany Magsig, the founder of Mountain Mama Cabins and a social media creator, discusses her journey of turning a pandemic purchase into a thriving short-term rental business. She shares how she grew her social media presence to drive over 60% of bookings directly. Brittany reveals the types of content that truly attract guests, emphasizing the importance of authenticity over polished images. She also offers practical advice for hosts on balancing their influencer persona with guest interactions and building trust through transparency.

Explore the fast-evolving short-term rental landscape as experts discuss cutting-edge innovations like AI-powered guest review summaries and a new distribution strategy with Expedia. Find out how Vrbo's focus on quality may reshape listings, while the Fed's interest rate changes pose challenges for mortgage costs. Delve into summer performance metrics, where luxury markets thrive even as budget listings struggle. Gain insights into the demand outlook for fall 2025, with a hopeful perspective on improving market conditions.

Join James Savier, Senior VP at CBRE Hotels with deep expertise in boutique hotel acquisitions, as he dives into the evolving landscape of hospitality investment. Discover why many short-term rental operators are shifting focus to boutique hotels and how their skills translate. Learn about unique valuation techniques and financing options tailored for hotels. James shares invaluable insights on branding, guest experience, and common pitfalls to avoid. If you're considering a move into boutique hotels, this conversation is a treasure trove of wisdom!

Eric Breon, CEO of Fairly and former founder of Vacasa, dives into the pivotal role of reviews in short-term rentals. He argues that a stellar review average can significantly boost revenue and visibility. Join him as he shares insights on combining centralized tech with local care to enhance guest experiences. Breon also reveals how AI can streamline operations while maintaining crucial human touchpoints. Discover his strategies for optimizing yield management and building strong relationships with guests and real estate agents.

France is the world’s most-visited country—and one of the hottest STR markets. In this episode of the STR Data Lab, Jamie Lane sits down with Louis Andrews, Director and President of OVO Network, to unpack how the French market works today and where it’s headed next.Louis explains OVO’s software-first model (their own PMS + direct booking platform) and why 75–80% of their bookings come direct. We dig into how they maintain a 4.8+ review score at scale without handling on-the-ground ops, what makes French demand unique (heavy domestic travel, car and rail trips, repeat family holidays), and how new regulations are reshaping urban vs. leisure destinations. Louis also shares the economics behind OVO’s approach (a distribution fee on direct bookings), the curation bar for five-star chalets, and the biggest competitive threat he sees on the horizon: increasingly automated PMS tools.What you’ll learnHow France books: A culture of domestic, family, drive-to travel—and why mountains keep winning.Direct booking at scale: OVO’s tech stack, SEO/digital strategy, and the data advantages of owning the funnel.Quality > quantity: Curating only five-star-worthy homes and training local concierges to protect guest experience.Profit model: Why charging a distribution fee on direct reservations changes the unit economics.Market outlook: Supply saturation post-COVID, tighter rules in cities, and why PMS automation may disrupt PMs.This episode is for hosts, PMs, and investors eyeing Europe—especially anyone curious how to drive direct bookings, keep reviews high, and navigate France’s evolving regulatory landscape.You don’t want to miss this episode!~~~~Signup for AirDNA for FREE👇https://bit.ly/45sRDUh~~~~Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn and Twitter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ~~~~Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott~~~~Connect with AirDNA on LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co Episode 148