The Hospitality Edge

Buying your way into the short-term rental industry might sound easier than starting from scratch — but it comes with a whole different set of challenges. In this episode, we sit down with someone who didn’t just start a vacation rental company… he acquired two of them without any industry experience.

Gene Triplett, Owner of Easy Vacation Services & Breathe Easy Rentals, dives into what it really takes to buy and grow an STR bus...

Most short-term rental operators hit a wall around 50 units. Scaling beyond that? It’s where quality starts slipping, operations break, and owners walk away.

But not this time.

In this episode, we dive with Steven Chrobak, Owner of Myrtle Beach Destinations, into the playbook of an operator who built a 100+ unit portfolio in under two years — without ever living in the market he manages.

From military precision to guest-first thinkin...

What happens when a seasoned Wall Street portfolio manager enters the short-term rental game? In this episode, we sit down with Andy Newman, CEO of Newman Hospitality, to unpack the surprising parallels between financial portfolio management and building a successful STR (short-term rental) business.

With over a decade of experience in both banking and vacation rentals, Andy shares what most STR operators overlook — and how appl...

What does it really take to grow a short-term rental business from one unit to over 100 listings—without raising a single dollar from outside investors? In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Hatter, CEO of Curated Vacation Properties and Founding Director of KEYS Collective, who did exactly that.

From building a property management company during COVID to acquiring boutique hotels and navigating commercial financing, this con...

Scaling a vacation rental business is one thing — staying in control while managing 200+ properties is another.

In this episode, we dive deep with Philip Wilburn, Co-Founder & CEO of Hoste, into what it actually takes to grow to 200+ vacation rentals without letting quality, operations, or your sanity fall apart. You'll hear real lessons from someone who's done it — including the mistakes that almost broke the busine...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Heidie Henriksen, Executive Director of VRNation and Co-Founder of ASTRHO, to dive deep into the evolving landscape of the vacation rental industry — and why bridging the gap between rental owners (RBOs) and professional property managers is more critical than ever.

Heidie shares how VRNation is leading a movement to unite the industry, elevate standards, and support host...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Dunniela Kaufman, CEO of Sojourn DC, to explore the behind-the-scenes journey of growing a hospitality brand into a full-service property management company. Starting from managing a single building on Capitol Hill to operating over 320 properties, Dunniela shares candid insights on how Sojourn scaled organically without outside funding, navigated COVID-19, and pioneered a f...

Handling unhappy clients is one of the hardest challenges in any business—but what if you could turn frustration into loyalty? In this episode, we dive deep into the strategies that transform conflict into long-term trust and repeat business.

Luke Rzepiennik, Co-Founder and Director of Sales & Marketing of Renjoy, shares real-life experiences from scaling a short-term rental business, revealing hard-earned lessons on managing cl...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Jacob Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Renjoy, a property management company that’s grown to manage nearly 200 properties. Jacob shares the key lessons he's learned in scaling a business quickly, from managing a huge volume of transactions to navigating the complexities of financial systems and operational efficiency. He also opens up about the challenges of maintaining qualit...

Scaling a short-term rental business from one guest house to 150+ properties in just a few years is no small feat. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Vialpando, Co-Founder & CTO of Renjoy, to uncover the strategies, challenges, and technology that fueled their rapid growth.

Michael shares his journey from house hacking and DIY property management to building a fully systematized, tech-driven STR business. We also dive dee...

Scaling a hospitality business isn’t just about taking on more properties—it’s about building systems, automating processes, and knowing when to let go. In this episode, we sit down with Gianrene Padilla, managing partner at HMG Hospitality Management Group and co-founder of Viva Puerto Rico Shorter Rental Alliance, to explore how he transformed a one-property hustle into a scalable hospitality operation.

Gianrene shares his rea...

Scaling a hospitality business isn’t just about taking on more properties—it’s about building systems, automating processes, and knowing when to let go. In this episode, we sit down with Gianrene Padilla, managing partner at HMG Hospitality Management Group and co-founder of Viva Puerto Rico Shorter Rental Alliance, to explore how he transformed a one-property hustle into a scalable hospitality operation.

Gianrene shares his rea...

How do you go from a high-paying corporate job to building a thriving vacation rental business? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon St.Val, the founder of Elevate Vacation Rentals, who shares her journey from finance and consulting to scaling a multi-million dollar short-term rental operation.

Shannon reveals how she made $80,000 passively in her first year, navigated strict New York City regulations, and survived the fina...

How do you go from a high-paying corporate job to building a thriving vacation rental business? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon St. Val, the founder of Elevate Vacation Rentals, who shares her journey from finance and consulting to scaling a multi-million dollar short-term rental operation.

Shannon reveals how she made $80,000 passively in her first year, navigated strict New York City regulations, and survived the f...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Labno, the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Vacay Mama and a seasoned real estate broker based in Destin, Florida. Taylor shares her journey from California's retail management to becoming a leader in the short-term rental (STR) industry in Florida. She explores the essential aspects of owner education and financing strategies that are crucial...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Labno, the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Vacay Mama and a seasoned real estate broker based in Destin, Florida. Taylor shares her journey from California's retail management to becoming a leader in the short-term rental (STR) industry in Florida. She explores the essential aspects of owner education and financing strategies that are crucial for...

In this episode of The Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Hunter Harrelson, owner of Beach Ball Properties, to uncover the secrets behind his impressive success in managing and scaling over 350 vacation rental properties. Hunter shares his journey from acquiring a small property management business to building a thriving company that prioritizes owner retention and operational excellence.

Whether you're just starting in vacatio...

In this episode ofThe Hospitality Edge, we sit down with Hunter Harrelson, owner of Beach Ball Properties, to uncover the secrets behind his impressive success in managing and scaling over 350 vacation rental properties. Hunter shares his journey from acquiring a small property management business to building a thriving company that prioritizes owner retention and operational excellence.

Whether you're just starting in vacation ...

In this compelling episode of The Hospitality Edge podcast, we sit down with Nick Falcone, CEO of NDM Hospitality, to explore the dynamic journey of building a successful multifaceted hospitality business. From humble beginnings as founding franchisees of BurgerFi to pioneering branded vacation rental resorts, Nick shares invaluable insights into strategic business model evolution, technological innovation, and effective revenue ma...