Branded & Booked

A question I was asked recently stopped me in my tracks: “Steph, where does your willpower come from?”

It made me reflect on my story—and here’s what I realized: you don’t need everything perfectly lined up to create the life and business you want. I didn’t have financial support for college. I didn’t have a mic for 200+ podcast episodes. I didn’t have a clear, linear path into entrepreneurship. But I show...

If you run a boutique hotel, micro resort, short-term rental, or property management company, your Instagram can lead to bookings — but only if you’re using it strategically. In this episode, I’m sharing why most hospitality brands miss the mark and exactly how to change that.

We’ll cover:

• The one account setup mistake that instantly split...
  

If you've ever wondered what co-hosting really looks like — the wins, the hard lessons, and everything in between — this is the episode for you. I'm pulling back the curtain on how we've grown our boutique co-hosting business, the boundaries we’ve had to draw, and the challenges that have shaped the way we operate today.

Here’s...

Let’s be honest—building a co-hosting business sounds easier than it is.

You think: I’ve got systems, I’ve got listings…now where are the bookings? Or worse—you get the bookings and then spend your nights cleaning up after guests who clearly missed the “no parties” line in your house rules.

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Punith Upadhya, who went from managing two properties to twelve in under s...

In this special solo episode, I get personal and share a raw behind-the-scenes look at where my heart, head, and business are at right now.

From influencer beginnings in 2016 to a (game-changing!) pivot into coaching and consulting in 2020, and then again into the world of short-term rentals—this episode takes you through the honest evolution of what it means to build a business and a life that’s in true a...

If you’re still doing everything yourself in your short-term rental business, this episode is the sign you need to stop.

I sat down with Marisa Grover—a systems + operations expert for STR owners—and we’re diving deep into the exact ways you can streamline, delegate, and actually get your time back.

Whether you’re overwhelmed with guest communication, hiring cleaners, or just tired of being in...

In this episode of Branded and Booked, I’m pulling back the curtain on our biggest project to date—Cabins on the Cumberland. I’ve been getting two questions over and over again:

1️⃣ “What would you do differently?”
2️⃣ “Would you ever do this again?”

Spoiler alert: Yes, I would. But there are definitely things I’d change next time.

I’m walking you through:

• <...

Why Influencer Marketing Still Works—But Only If You Do It Right

Influencer marketing isn’t dead—it’s just misunderstood. In this episode, you’ll get the 411 on what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to influencer strategy for boutique hotels, short-term rentals, and hospitality brands. You’ll also hear behind-the-scenes stories from recent campaigns (including one that turned a $0 stay into $7,000 ...

This week on Branded and Booked, I’m sharing how Cabins on the Cumberland (our micro-resort) brought in 50% direct bookings in May—and the exact strategy behind it.

Even while the property is still under construction, we created a marketing plan powered by storytelling, strategy, and a whole lot of intention. In this episode, you’ll learn:

Airbnb’s latest updates aren’t just platform tweaks—they’re a strategic move to keep hosts (and their guests) locked into Airbnb.

From limiting outside links in communication to discouraging direct bookings, these changes could seriously impact how you grow YOUR business, build guest relationships, and maintain control over your brand.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what the changes mean, why they’re ...

In today’s episode of Branded & Booked, I’m handing the mic to three incredible short-term rental business owners who went through my last round of STR Marketing Bootcamp—April, Cathleen, and Jess. Each of them has a different business model, different challenges, and different results, and you’ll hear firsthand how this 12-week live coaching program helped them build a powerful brand and marketing system that leads to...

Be honest: Have you ever said “Oh, I own an Airbnb,” when asked what you do?

Now imagine the difference between that and saying something like “I run a short-term destination for young couples.”.

The difference? Branding.

In this episode, we dive into what makes an Airbnb (or any business) go from just another option to a must-experience destination. Because let’s be real—every industry is saturated, and...

Some short-term rentals offer a place to stay, but some create an unforgettable experience…

The Asheville Affair offers a trip guests will never forget.

In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of how we designed, branded, and launched a short-term rental built for bachelor and bachelorette groups—and how you can apply these strategies to make your own rental stand out.

You’ll lear...