Behind the Stays (Zach Busekrus)

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	Pub. Date	Title	Duration
	30 Apr 2024	How He Created the UK's Most Popular Glamping Site — The Story Behind Secret Garden Glamping	00:55:05
Meet Derry Green — the creator and visionary behind The Secret Garden Glamping — the UK's most booked, most wished-listed, and most viewed glamping site with a 2+ year waiting list. Derry has always loved the outdoors – growing up, he and his family were avid campers. Some of his childhood memories involved playing in the woods with his brother and sitting around the campfire telling stories. When Covid hit, Derry and his children were, like most of us, stuck inside a lot. On one particular day when his kids were going a bit stir crazy, Derry asked if they wanted to camp in their garden. His kids were ecstatic and he began building them a fort. And while he didn’t know it at the time, building this fort would give him an idea that would change the course of his life forever. You see Derry and his kids loved the experience so much that they decided to build an experiential glamping stay for the whole world to enjoy. Tune in to hear Derry and I discuss: How he landed on Dragon’s Den (the UK’s version of Shark Tank) to pitch his idea How he’s leveraged influencers and creator partnerships to amass a 2+ year waitlist with thousands of booking requests every week Why he’s bullish on building an experience that prioritizes outdoor amenities rather than obsessing over the unit design What he’s learned about leveraging content and social media to build a brand How he’s thinking about franchising his brand to expand internationally And so much more Visit the Secret Garden Glamping Website Follow Secret Garden Glamping on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully. Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is. Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour. Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one. Learn more here! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee
	08 Aug 2023	How They Founded, Built, and Scaled ’Thanks for Visiting’	00:56:50
Meet Annette Grant and Sarah Karakain from Thanks for Visiting — one of the most popular, if not THE most popular short-term rental podcasts out there. Sarah is an actress by trade and was hustling on Broadway when Airbnb first became available in NYC. She somehow convinced her husband to let her list their basement on Airbnb and, well, it wasn’t long before Sarah traded securing auditions for home acquisitions that she’d transform into short-term rentals. Annette is an entrepreneur by trade who has helped launch and scale multi-million dollar businesses in and around Columbus, Ohio. Today, she partners with real estate investors to help them launch and scale their short-term rental portfolios. In the episode you’ll hear the story of how Sarah and Annette met, the founding story of Thanks for Visiting, their thoughts on building a brand, and everything you can expect from their event TFVCON happening in Columbus, Ohio Sept 24th - 26th. Annette and Sarah were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event. I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level.
	19 May 2023	How He Acquired, Designed, and Developed Over 200 Airbnbs in Portland, Oregon — Meet Hayden Laverty	00:56:41
Meet Hayden Laverty, Founder of CHJ Development, a real-estate developer in Portland, Oregon focused on acquiring, designing, and constructing the city’s most significant short-term-rental residences. Hayden learned pretty early on in life that he wasn’t cut out for the traditional 9 - 5. After working at two internships during his junior and senior years of college at Intel and Price Water Cooper, Hayden realized that he loved working hard, pushing the envelope of convention, and didn’t have much patience for bureaucratic friction. So, after graduating from Arizona State University, Hayden decided to shoot his shot by starting his own business. Follow Hayden on Twitter Connect with Hayden on LinkedIn In this episode of Behind the Stays, Hayden shares: 1. The story behind the opportunity he saw in the short-term rental real estate development and management game 2. How he’s scaled his business to over 200 units under management 3. Why he thinks OTAs like Airbnb should charge hots more 4. What he’s learned as a young entrepreneur about the importance of focus, grit, and differentiation. This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors. You’ve seen them all over Instagram… You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine…. And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs. DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others. I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast. And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans. By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	28 Mar 2023	They Left NYC’s Fashion Industry to Build the Next Great Hospitality Brand — Meet the Creators of Casa Nevana	00:46:07
Meet Jen and Michael Penchansky, the creators of Casa Nevana, the first short-term rental in the couple’s newly founded portfolio, Nevana Properties. Michael and Jen met while working in the fashion industry in New York City. Michael founded a software company in fashion tech and Jen was employee number one, so the couple know a thing or ten about how to work together. Michael grew up going to Hunter, New York in the Catskills with his family and always had an appreciation for the reprieve the mountains offered from life in the city. So, when Michael and Jen began dreaming about starting a boutique hospitality brand centered around building a collection of luxurious, but accessible, short-term rentals, the couple new that the first home in their collection just had to be in Hunter. Tune in to hear the story of how Michael and Jen leveraged the local community to build their home in record time, the careful consideration that went into the founding of their hospitality brand, and what they have planned next. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Michael and Jen. Book Your Stay at Casa Nevana This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	03 Nov 2022	How Vacation Rental Managers Can Leverage AI and Machine Learning Like the Big OTAs Do	00:51:40
In just a moment you’ll meet Evan Dolgow, Head of Predictive Hospitality at Jarvis ML. Jarvis ML was founded by the guys over at Google who built the machine learning platforms powering Google Ads and Payments. Evan and his team have a vision of democratizing the data and technology that OTAs have and making these tools and insights accessible to short-term and vacation-rental hosts in order to increase direct bookings. Tune in to discover what short-term rental and vacation rental hosts can learn from the ecommerce space about building independent brands and moats. Learn more about Jarvis ML here Connect with Evan on LinkedIn This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts. One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System. Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries. That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why: 1. Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. 2. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review. 3. It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings. 4. And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout. Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts. Try Guesty for Hosts for Free. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	28 Apr 2023	How She Turned Her Side Hustle into a Thriving Hospitality Brand	01:02:25
Meet Chelsea Dunckley — the Founder of Digs Co, a hospitality company that specializes in creating elevated vacation rentals in Central Washington and the Greater Phoenix area. Chelsea and her husband Luke have always loved real estate. After getting married, you’d often find the couple working on nights and weekends flipping homes while discussing the latest trends in design, real estate, and hospitality. But it wasn’t until Chelsea received some unexpected news from the tech company she worked at that she and her entire unit were to be let go that she decided to try her hand at transforming Digs Co from a fun side hustle into her full time gig. In this conversation, Chelsea and I discuss the power and importance of brand building, why Chelsea is so discerning about the properties she chooses to manage for clients within the context of the Digs Co. brand, how and why she’s structured her portfolio into thematic collections, and much more. Book a Stay at Digs Co. Follow Digs Co. on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan. If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting. Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	03 Nov 2023	He’s Built Businesses in Energy, Tech, and Media — Now He’s Building a Next-Generation Resort in Broken Bow	01:01:39
Meet Max Gagliardi — founder of Mountain Fork Resort, a 140-acre waterfront development in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Max is an entrepreneur who builds businesses across energy, real estate, & technology — he has a knack for finding opportunities in places others are convinced no opportunity exists. After stumbling upon an incredible piece of land in Broken Bow, one of the hottest up and coming vacation destinations in the southeast, Max began dreaming about how he could build a next generation resort that would become a destination in and of itself. In this episode, Max and I discuss: What inspired him to start a hospitality brand Some unpopular opinions he has about the current state of the short-term rental industry The biggest opportunities you see to build thriving businesses in the space And what’s he learned by hosting a popular entrepreneurship podcast called “Always Be Building” Connect with Max on LinkedIn Follow Max on X/Twitter This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here. Recent episodes you might enjoy: The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	09 Jul 2024	How to Build a Nationally Recognized Vacation Rental Management Company (That Actually Works)	01:02:13
Meet Ashley Ching, co-founder of Inhaven, a trailblazing company with ambitious plans to set new standards in the vacation rental industry. If you've ever booked a vacation rental and found it lacking in comfort or consistency, you'll understand the frustration that led Ashley to start Inhaven. With a background in merchandising and a deep understanding of the hospitality sector, Ashley is on a mission to professionalize vacation rentals by focusing on the essential aspects of a stay: bed, bath, and kitchen. In this conversion, Ashley shares her insights on why standardizing these elements can elevate the entire vacation rental experience, drawing parallels to the evolution of the hotel industry. Discover how Inhaven is partnering with local property managers to implement these standards and ensure that every guest enjoys a reliably excellent stay, no matter where they book. Ashley also dives into the challenges of scaling a vacation rental management company and why local expertise is crucial for delivering exceptional hospitality. Whether you're a property manager looking to enhance your offerings or a traveler seeking a more predictable vacation rental experience, this episode is packed with valuable insights and innovative ideas. Tune in to learn how Inhaven is paving the way for a new era in vacation rentals, where comfort and quality are no longer a luxury but a standard. It’s a tall order, but, if she and the Inhaven team can do it, they’ll be the first company in the space to truly build the Marriott for Vacation Rentals. Access the PDF Connect with Ashley This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach? Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch. StayWatch brings you the best deals on stays across Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com that align with your travel preferences. Planning a beach trip for the fam in a couple of months? Create a Trip on StayWatch and get a curated list of deals that match your criteria sent to you every day. Perhaps you just want to be notified anytime there’s a great deal on a stay in San Diego, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bali, or the Texas Hill Country? Watch a Destination on StayWatch and get the coolest deals on stays that match what you’re looking for every day, every week, or every month! Oh, and you know that Airbnb you’ve been following on Instagram that’s like always booked? With StayWatch, you can Follow a Specific Stay and get notified if that stay ever becomes available. The best part? It’s all free. You’ll never overpay for an Airbnb again if you start your search at StayWatch.ai. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	30 Aug 2024	How Four Unique Stays in New England Came Together to Launch an Epic Creator Marketing Campaign	00:49:02
Meet Kerri Gibson, the founder of Chalets Hygge, a collection Scandinavian-style cottages located in the heart of Quebec's Eastern Townships. In this episode, Kerri and I discuss an amazing collaboration that's reshaping how boutique hospitality entrepreneurs can market their properties. Kerri, along with Monique DeLorenzo from The Vermont A-Frame, have worked together to organize a strategic alliance of creators and hosts across New England for a Fall Creator Road Trip. Kerri takes us behind the scenes of this innovative project, where talented creators Maddie and Will from Guest House Creative hit the road, capturing stunning content across multiple short-term rentals and local businesses. Kerri shares invaluable insights on the power of intentionality in partnerships and how aligning with the right creators can elevate your brand without breaking the bank. We dive into detail around: What the goals of the project are How all participants in the roadshow — the creators, Kerri, Monique, as well as the incredible entrepreneurs at Lumen Camps and The Maine A-Frames will share and collaborate on content post-campaign What the big audience growth strategy of a MAJOR giveaway will look like Ideas for how other hospitality entrepreneurs might replicate something like this in their own market And so much more Follow along on this exciting journey by via the Instagram handles below: https://www.instagram.com/will_zimm_/ https://www.instagram.com/maddie_brandon/ https://www.instagram.com/guesthousecreativestudio/ https://www.instagram.com/maineaframe/ https://www.instagram.com/lumencamps/ https://www.instagram.com/thevermontaframe/ https://www.instagram.com/chalets_hygge/ This episode is brought to you by The Content House If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully. What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special. Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with… The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations… Follow The Content House on Instagram Dunlap Hollow Reel Live Oak Lake Reel FLOHOM Reel Villa Stay Texas Ree About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	20 Jun 2023	Meet the Guy Airbnb Doesn’t Want You to Know About	01:09:02
This episode is brought to you by StayFi! StayFi makes it easy to collect data from and market to every single person staying in your short-term rental. StayFi lets you create a custom branded WiFi splash page similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop. This means you can collect the name, email address, and phone number from every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need to use the WiFi. Learn more about StayFi at StayFi.com and be sure to use the code “BTS” at checkout for 50% off your first 3 months. Meet Mark Simpson — the founder and CEO of Boostly, the leading direct booking website builder for STR and vacation rental hosts. Mark literally grew up immersed in the hospitality industry. His family lived on a 200 acre farm in Scarborough, England where they ran a bed and breakfast and farm-to-table restaurant for folks around the UK looking for a relaxing getaway from the city. After a career as a football, or as we call it here in the states, soccer coach, Mark wound up returning to the farm to help usher the family business into the 21st Century. And while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this move would wind up laying the groundwork for Mark to become one of the most trusted and inspirational voices in hospitality. Tune in to hear the story of how Mark recognized a massive opportunity to help STR owners and operators build and scale their businesses, reduce their reliance on OTAs like Airbnb, and increase their portfolio’s revenue. In this episode we talk about: How Tim Ferris’ 4-Hour Work Week inspired Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit Why he bought a billboard in Times Square with has face on it and the words “I’m the guy Airbnb doesn’t want you to know about” His content marketing playbook which has garnered him tens of thousands of followers across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram His hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality Discover Boostly Follow Mark on Instagram Learn more about StayFi Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
	07 Mar 2023	He’s Building the Ritz-Carlton of Short-Term Rentals — Meet Jonah Hanig, Founder of Rove	00:46:39
Meet Jonah Hanig, Founder and CEO of Rove — a premium portfolio of luxury Airbnbs designed for discerning travelers. Jonah grew up in the Chicago suburbs and always had a knack for tinkering with business ideas. After going to school in New York, Jonah decided to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and was fortunate enough to get accepted to Y Combinator — the most prestigious of start-up accelerators in the world. Fun fact — Airbnb is a YC company! Soon after being accepted to YC covid hit…and, well, Jonah’s startup wasn’t immune to the disruption that all of us felt in those early days. But it wasn’t long before Jonah had another idea…and that idea was to offer a Ritz-Carlton-like experience within the context of a collection of highly-curated short-term rentals. Tune in to hear the story of: Where the idea for Rove came from How Rove is building the Ritz-Carlton of STRs Why Rove is also building a Zillow for STR investors How Rove has thought about differentiation in an increasingly-crowded marketplace This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	17 Nov 2023	How a Former Airbnb Employee is Reimagining How to Buy a Vacation Home — This is the Story of Summer	01:06:19
Meet Paul Kromidas, an industry trailblazer who transitioned from a strategic role at Airbnb to founding Summer, a company revolutionizing the vacation rental space. This episode delves into Paul's insights on the shifting dynamics of property management and his innovative approach to vacation home ownership. Tune in as we explore: Paul's key learnings from his tenure at Airbnb and their influence on Summer's vision. The concept behind Summer: Empowering aspiring vacation home owners with a risk-free trial of property ownership. The unique 'gradual ownership' model: A gateway for hesitant investors to step into the vacation rental market. How Summer addresses the quality versus quantity debate in property management. The challenge of balancing brand consistency with local uniqueness in vacation rentals. The future of vacation rental management: Predictions and strategies from a seasoned insider. Learn more about Summer Connect with Paul on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Summer. Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home. What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb” Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works: You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental. Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy. When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment. Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one. So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	18 Oct 2024	How to Leave Your 9-5 And Go All In on Building Unique Airbnbs: In Conversation with Zoey Berghoff	00:58:43
Meet Zoey Berghoff, the entrepreneur and visionary who's transforming the short-term rental landscape by creating unique, unforgettable stays—and teaching others how to do the same. Zoey is an entrepreneur, an adventurer, and a mom who travels full-time—all while building an incredible community on Instagram. She's dedicated to helping others leave their 9-to-5 jobs and dive into entrepreneurial ventures in the hospitality space, especially focusing on unique and memorable stays. In this conversation, we dive deep into Zoey's remarkable journey—from leaving her corporate job to becoming a full-time entrepreneur and influencer in the short-term rental world. Tune in to hear: Where the idea of renting out a yurt, her first unique stay, came from The challenges and triumphs of scaling unique stays in remote locations The power of building a personal brand on social media and how it amplifies business growth Why Zoey believes that offering out-of-the-ordinary experiences is the future of hospitality How she balances entrepreneurship and motherhood while traveling full-time with her family Her insights on the next big opportunities in the unique stays and boutique hotel space And so much more. Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Zoey. Connect with Zoey on Instagram This episode is brought to you by The Content House If you listen to this podcast, you likely care a lot about your brand. You care about building it thoughtfully and purposefully. What I love about Nate and the team at The Content House is that they truly understand this. They care about getting to know your style, your approach, and the unique quirks and features that make your collection of stays special. Their service is full end-to-end social media management and content creation. From shooting stunning videos and photos to editing, posting, and even sourcing influencers to partner with… The Content House specializes in working with hospitality entrepreneurs building well-branded, boutique collections, often in exotic or extra-special locations… Follow The Content House on Instagram Dunlap Hollow Reel Live Oak Lake Reel FLOHOM Reel Villa Stay Texas Reel About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	17 May 2024	How They Built an Airbnb into the Side of a Mountain (And a Waterfall Too!) — The Story of the River Rock House	00:53:38
Meet Justin and Rebecca Rush, the creators of the River Rock Cabin on the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Justin and Rebecca are real estate photographers who had always dreamed of one day building their very own Airbnb…long after they had built their primary dream home, of course. One day Justin got a text from one of his clients about a piece of land that was for sale along the Toccoa River. Justin assumed the call was a request to go take pictures of the lot, but his client asked him if HE wanted to buy it…he knew how much Justin and Rebecca loved the area… Once Justin figured out he wasn’t joking he immediately said, “yes”... There was only one problem — the home was only permitted for a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom which was too small for the primary residence they were hoping to build. But the land was WAY too beautiful to pass up and that’s when the idea of building a unique cabin into the side of the mountain that overlooks 300 feet of private river frontage was born. In this conversation, you’ll discover: How Rebecca and Justin build a stunning cabin on the side of a mountain during COVID How they got inspiration from Levi Kelly’s YouTube channel for their build — and the story behind how Levi wound up coming to the cabin the month after it opened How they financed the build Their honest thoughts on the cons of direct booking Some ideas they have for modernizing RV parks as a next project And so much more Book a stay at the River Rock House Follow the River Rock House on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA. Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region. Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand. AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life. Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	22 Jun 2022	He’s a Serial Entrepreneur And His Latest Venture is an Off-Grid Housing Technology Company — Meet Jeff Wilson, Founder of Jupe	00:55:12
Meet Jeff Wilson, the founder and CEO of Jupe. Jeff is a serial entrepreneur in the real estate technology industry. If you were to have asked Jeff as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would have either said a “garbage man”, “a doctor”, or “a builder of solar-powered cars” — so, yes, his interests have always been quite varied. Before founding Jupe, Jeff founded the award-winning micro housing company Kasita, which was named one of Inc’s 25 most disruptive companies in the World (alongside the likes of SoFi and Hyperloop). Jeff is also known as ‘Professor Dumpster.’ He lived in a 33 sq. ft. modified trash dumpster for a year as part of a minimalist living and housing experiment during his time as a professor in the University of Texas System. In this interview, you’ll learn how Jeff sees the world, why he’s so passionate about using Jupe as a vehicle to make offgrid living accessible and enjoyable, and how STR hosts can join the Jupe platform and design unforgettable, soul-enriching experiences for their guests by placing a Jupe on their property. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Jeff Wilson. Learn more about Jupe Stay in a Jupe Follow Jupe on Twitter Follow Jupe on Instagram Connect with Jeff on Twitter This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts. Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay. The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more. Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year." Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
	05 Jul 2022	Is Home Swapping the Future of Travel? Justine Palefsky Thinks So. Meet the Co-Founder of Kindred.	00:56:17
In just a moment, you’ll meet Justine Palefsky, co-founder of Kindred — a members-only community for home swapping. Growing up, Justine loved to read, ideate, and create. Her parents originally moved to San Francisco to follow the Grateful Dead and encouraged Justine to dream big and take bold risks even if others didn’t quite get it. Justine has always loved to travel. When COVID hit, Justine, like many folks, started dreaming about what it would look like to live in different cities throughout the year. She started looking into buying short term rentals in markets like Tahoe, but soon realized that, for her, it was less about owning real estate, and more about having the ability to live and work in different locations throughout the year. And it was this revelation that sparked the initial idea which would become Kindred. Follow Justine on Twitter here. Learn more about Kindred by visiting their website. This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available. Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available. Here’s how it works. Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available. Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available. In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available. And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses. Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
	10 Oct 2023	A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived	01:09:59
Meet John Andrew Entwistle, Founder and CEO of Wander, Sief Khafagi, Co-Founder and CEO of Techvestor, and Cameron Wu, VP of Investments at Arrived. I invited these incredible gentlemen onto the podcast for a panel discussion on the future of fundraising, portfolio building, and passive investing in short-term rentals. I’ve been curious, as I’m sure many of you all have been, how these short-term rental funds, REITs, and other forms of fractional ownership of vacation rentals businesses are panning out, and thought I’d bring some of the finest folks in the arena to share their stories and insight with you all. In this vibrant chat you’ll learn: How these business overlap and how they are distinct How the strategies for each business have evolved given the changes we’ve seen in macro economic environments over the past year Why today’s consumers are ready for altgernative forms of real estate investment What exit strategies for each of these companies might look like And loads more Moderating discussions with such incredible people is always so hard — and while we didn’t get to half of the questions I had hoped to because of time, I believe there’s so much value to be garnered from this discussion around how the industry as a whole is evolving and what these entrepreneurs believe the future of travel, hospitality, and vacation rental investing, just might look like. Learn more about Wander Learn more about Techvestor Learn more about Arrived This episode is brought to you by Minoan! Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. Like this episode? Here are a few others you'll love: How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences How to Build a Franchise-Worthy Hospitality Brand — The Story of Casiola How AI Will Enable Hospitality Entrepreneurs to Scale Their Brands (and Portfolios) Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	14 Mar 2023	How ”Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and Twitter Help Him Build a Portfolio of Airbnbs Remotely	01:01:11
Meet Michael Albaum — a professional remote real estate investor, Airbnb superhost, and fellow podcaster. After getting an engineering degree and moving to the Bay Area, Michael stumbled upon a book that would forever shift his perspective on work and wealth…and that book was Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad. In this episode of Behind the Stays, Michael shares candidly about how he’s been able to grow a portfolio of short-term and longer-term rentals that are mostly remote — as in, he doesn’t live in close proximity to his properties. Michael and I chat about: the pros and cons of using a property manager the importance of balancing perspectives and decisions from both an investment and hospitality lens the future of OTAs like Airbnb how to get a crash course on real estate investment on Twitter and much more. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	03 Jan 2023	How a Flower Farmer Built Vermont’s Most Wish-Listed Airbnb — The Story of The Tanglebloom Cabin	00:57:42
About the Episode: Meet Melissa Hessney Masters — the founder of Tanglebloom and the creator of the Tanglebloom Cabin. Melissa has always been creative. Growing up in the fingerlakes region of New York, she found herself mesmerized by natural beauty — whether it be wildflowers or waterfalls, Melissa was transfixed by the innate purity of the natural world. She started her first business when she was in high school, selling hand-sewn clothes on the internet and in the parking lots of Phish concerts. And while she couldn’t have guessed it then, this was the first stepping stone in her journey to become a flower farmer and short-term-rental entrepreneur. Tune in to hear the enthralling story of how Melissa brought her wedding and event flower business, Tanglebloom, as well as Vermont’s most wish-listed Airbnb, to life. Book a Stay at the Tanglebloom Cabin Follow the Tanglebloom Cabin on Instagram Follow Melissa on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA. I receive questions ALL the time from listeners who want to get started in STR investing and or who want to scale their portfolio on what resources I recommend they tap into. Here are three reasons I always recommend an AirDNA subscription: 1. AirDNA offers the most accurate data platform in the industry and is trusted by small- and large-scale investors across the globe. 2. Their easy-to-use tools unlock access to millions of data points on any property, anywhere, so you can start your journey to financial freedom with confidence. 3. You can even enter any address in the world to find out how much it’d earn as a vacation rental — how cool is that? If you’re interested in getting into the STR game or taking your game a bit more seriously, I’ve got some exciting news for you. AirDNA is giving Behind the Stays listeners 20% off their first 3 months of any MarketMinder subscription or an additional 20% off any annual MarketMinder subscription. Use the discount code BTS20 at checkout! Behind the Stays Subscriber Survey — please take 5 minutes to complete this survey so that we know how we can make the show even better! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	19 Jan 2024	How They're Building the Hottest New Tiny Home: The Story of ÖÖD Mirror House	00:50:01
Meet Antonio Gonzalez, President of ÖÖD House — the company behind the instagram famous mirror houses. Antonio is an engineer by trade, but always had a heart for entrepreneurship… So, when the opportunity to co-found Jupe along with past-podcast guest Jeff Wilson and take it through Y Combinator, the world’s most prestigious of startup accelerators, came about, he took it. Antonio learned SO much from the accelerator where the Airbnb founders also graduated from and had an incredible couple of years at Jupe before realizing that his heart was really in hospitality. Tune in to hear the story of how ÖÖD House, founded in Estonia, came to be, what their game plan for expanding in the US in 2024 and 2025 looks like, and the kind of hospitality entrepreneurs they are looking to partner with to make this happen. Learn more about ÖÖD House here. Follow ÖÖD on Instagram Connect with Antonio on LinkedIn here. This episode is brought to you by our friends at StayFi. StayFi is enables you to create a custom branded WiFi splash page for your short-term rental’s WiFi — similar to what you might experience when logging onto the WiFi network at your favorite coffee shop. StayFi enables you to collect the contact info of every guest staying with you, not just the one who booked…because who doesn’t need the wifi? So if you want a frictionless way to capture guest contact info and empower your direct booking strategy with more data, sign up for StayFi at StayFi.com and use the discount code “BTS” for 20% off of your first year… If you chat with the team there, be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way! Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	18 Jun 2024	From Family Gap Year to Glamping Pioneers: How a 14,000-Mile Bus Trip Changed Their Lives	00:51:08
Meet Ruth Wimpory — the entrepreneur behind Skoolie Stays and The Vacationist, two of the UK’s favorite off-grid escapes. In 2019, Ruth and her husband, Guy, along with their two young children, decided to take a year off from their “normal” lives in Brighton in the UK, to embark on an adventurous year-long journey across the United States in a converted school bus. What started as a quest for a new perspective and family bonding turned into a 14,000-mile odyssey through national parks, homeschooling on the road, and navigating the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to hear Ruth recount the highlights of their trip, from the breathtaking solitude of Montana's wilderness to the bustling streets of San Francisco. Discover how their travels inspired them to create Skoolie Stays and the Eco Glamping Club, offering unique off-grid stays that blend sustainability with luxury. Ruth shares invaluable insights into the world of glamping, from the complexities of land regulations in the UK to the innovative use of recycled materials in their eco-cabin project. Learn about the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Ruth and Guy to build one-of-a-kind experiences, and how their story has inspired others to rethink conventional lifestyles. Whether you're a travel enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration for a family adventure, this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and insights you won't want to miss. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach? Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	28 Jun 2024	Exploring the Huge Potential of Hostels: How They're Bridging Affordability and Experiential Hospitality in Hawaii (And Beyond)	00:52:05
Meet Nathan and Michael, the founders of Howzit Hostels, who are revolutionizing the hostel experience in Hawaii today, and across the rest of the US tomorrow. Nathan and Michael, broadcasting live from the beautiful island of Maui, share their journey from real estate sales to creating upscale hostels that blend affordability with a boutique hotel feel. They dive into the origins of their business, explaining how the local greeting "Howzit" inspired their brand name and how an unexpected listing led them to explore the untapped potential of hostels in the U.S. Nathan, Michael, and I discuss: The massive opportunities that exist in reimaging hostels — especially for younger travelers who are in the market for more experiential stays Their innovative use of AI for dynamic pricing which helps them generate around $200,000 in monthly revenue from their two properties. The unique staffing opportunities hostels enable with traveler work exchanges The vast growth potential in the U.S. hostel market, particularly in converting underutilized urban buildings into vibrant communal spaces. What they’ve got planned next and how you might be able to join them in expanding their vision across the states Explore Howzit Hostels Discover Vortex Maui Connect with Nathan and Michael on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach? Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	10 May 2023	The Current State of Short-Term Rentals — Insights from 150+ Owners and Operators	00:41:25
Download the full free report . Oh, and be sure to start your 14-day free trial of Uplisting at at https://www.uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout. Welcome to a special 3-part podcast series on The State of the Short-Term Rental Industry brought to you by my friends at Uplisting — one of the most powerful property management systems on the market. Over the next three weeks, join Vinny Breslin, Co-Founder and CEO of Uplisitng, and yours truly, Zach Busekrus from Behind the Stays, as we unpack Uplisting’s latest trends report . Airbnb hosts and short-term rental operators often work independently without much intel as to how their peers are marketing their properties, increasing their booking rates, and how much money folks are actually making from their portfolios. In order to address this issue, the Uplisting team took it upon themselves to collect and analyze data from their own customers as well as hundreds of other STR owners and operators in the industry. This special podcast series will unveil some of the more interesting findings from this report and equip you with insight into how your business compares to others. Uplisting invites you to download the full, free report via the link in the show notes below. Alright folks, without further ado, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite evening cocktail and settle in for an informative and timely 3-part conversation. This episode and 3-part series is brought you to by Uplisting. Whether you have a single property or hundreds of properties, Uplisting is designed to help you accelerate growth with incredible reliability, critical marketing automation and the most powerful direct booking engine on the market. Start your 14-day free trial at uplisting.io/bts-podcast and, once you’ve fallen in love with all that this platform has to offer, get 20% off of your first year of Uplisting when you use the code BTS20 at checkout — but act fast, because this offer expires on June 30th, 2023 at midnight!
	17 Aug 2022	Meet Chad Ludeman — The Engineer Turned Entrepreneur Building Design-Driven Hotels and STRs	00:55:18
Meet Chad Ludeman, Co-Founder of Post Green Homes and Lokal Hotel. Chad moved around a lot as a kid, but spent high school in upstate New York. He’s an engineer by trade, but an entrepreneur at heart. Courtney, Chad’s wife and business partner, was Chad’s most critical sounding board — she shot down most of his business ideas until he started talking about real estate. There was one idea, in particular, that Chad and Courtney both agreed was worth pursuing and that was to build a 1,000 square foot house for $100k. This project was the birth of the couple’s first business, Post Green Homes. And while they learned a lot through this venture, they realized that their hearts were really in the hospitality space. And it was this realization that ultimately led them to found Lokal Hotel — a collection of design driven boutique luxury hotels. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Chad and Courtney built their brand and their first three hotels. Book your stay at a Lokal Hotel Follow Chad on Twitter Follow Lokal Hotel on Instagram This week's episode is brought to you by Wander. In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths. While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths. And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths. Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander. Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion. Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander. Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue. If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to www.sponstayneous.com
	27 Jun 2023	The Past, Present, and Future of Vacation Rental Software — Insights from OwnerRez Co-Founder, Paul Waldschmidt	01:02:23
Meet Paul Waldschmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of OwnerRez — one of the industry’s most beloved property management platforms. Paul is a software developer through and through. He has always loved leveraging technology to solve problems. So, when he and his business partner Chris began experiencing problems with their property manager on their recently purchased vacation rental in the Blue Ridge mountains, the technical duo saw an opportunity. Tune in to hear the story of how Paul and Chris bootstrapped the creation of one of the most respected, loved, and powerful PMSes for STR owners and property managers. In this episode, Paul and I discuss: The history of PMSes in the vacation rental space Why Airbnb invests tens of millions of dollars each year on UX/UI design Why so many direct booking websites suck The opportunities that exist to build new software and tooling in the industry And much more. Finally, Paul and his team have generously offered a 30% discount for new customers for their first 3 months. Just mention Behind the Stays after booking a call or requesting more information from their team. Learn more about OwnerRez here. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
	22 Oct 2024	Held at Gunpoint, 96 Acres, and a Sabbatical That Changed Everything: The Story of Missing Hotel	00:59:46
Meet Stephen and Sam Hopkins — the founders of Missing Hotel, a one-of-a-kind retreat nestled in the Texas Hill Country. With 96 acres bordering a nature preserve and uniquely designed domes and villas, the property offers more than just a place to stay—it’s an invitation to disconnect and reconnect with what matters most. We dive deep into their founding story, from working corporate jobs in the energy sector to making the bold decision to take a year-long sabbatical that transformed their lives and careers. Their passion for creating experiences stems from their own love of travel, and with Missing Hotel, they’ve crafted a stay that combines surprise, spontaneity, and simplicity to create meaningful moments for guests. Tune in to hear: How the inspiration for Missing Hotel struck during a sabbatical and a few bottles of rum in Australia The challenges (and a few wild stories) of building unique structures during COVID, including being held at gunpoint over $3,000 Why Stephen and Sam believe in keeping elements of mystery and surprise throughout their guests’ stays Their approach to creating spaces that offer a mental reset through digital detox and immersive, experiential hospitality Their exciting plans to expand Missing Hotel into new states and wilder ideas in the next five years This conversation is packed with insights into creating unforgettable guest experiences, the power of brand storytelling, and the future of experiential hospitality. Discover Missing Hotel Follow Missing Hotel on Instagram Apply for the Experiential Hospitality Community This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option. If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special. And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	20 Jan 2022	How to Buy and Build Airbnbs Thousands of Miles Away from Where You Live	00:55:56
In just a moment you’ll meet Kelly Cronin — the creator of Cronin's Castles, which is a new collection of unique short-term rentals. Kelly has always loved to travel and refers to herself as a professional travel hacker — she once scored an $11 Southwest flight from Wisconsin to Puerto Rico! By the time she visited all 50 states, Kelly had fallen in love with too many places…and she began to brainstorm ideas for how she might ensure that she return to some of her favorites. And that’s when she started seriously looking into acquiring unique tiny homes that she could transform into short-term rentals. And before long, she bought a home in Vieques, Puerto Rico…and then one in Alaska…and then another in Utah…oh, and this was all over the course of one year…while she was still living thousands of miles away from all locations in Wisconsin. Tune in to hear the delightful story of how Kelly transformed her dream of owning a little part of the places she loves most into a reality — a reality which guests from around the world can also enjoy. Learn more about Kelly's vision — and book one of her stays — by visiting the links below: www.croninscastles.com https://www.facebook.com/croninscastlerentals ig -@croninscastles https://www.instagram.com/croninscastles/ https://www.facebook.com/Viequesseahouse https://www.facebook.com/elevatedsolitudeutah https://www.facebook.com/Innanutshellalaska/ Interested in learning more about how to buy, build, and manage Airbnbs remotely? Check out Kelly's course on Short Term Rental Success.This is a one-stop-shop class for selecting, funding, starting and running a short-term rental profitably!
	01 Mar 2024	He Buys RV Parks: Predictions on the Future of Camping and Outdoor Hospitality	00:45:09
Meet Matt Whitermore, a hospitality entrepreneur who buys, builds, and manages RV parks. In this engaging conversation, Matt shares how he got started buying RV parks and why he believes there’s huge opportunity to disrupt and reimagine this category of travel and real estate investment. Tune in to hear: - The lessons Matt learned after buying his first RV park - How he see experiential hospitality and RV parks intersecting in the near future - Why camping is getting younger and cooler and the opportunity this presents for folks who want to build cool brands and businesses in the space - And so much more This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	02 Feb 2022	How (and Why) a Tech Entrepreneur Built an Off Grid Eco-Hotel: The Story of Safa Farms	00:55:25
In just a moment you’ll meet Navid Safabakhsh, the creator of Safa Farms — a boutique eco-hotel featuring a collection of cabins outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. Navid is a serial entrepreneur. He founded an agency that helped build products for companies like eBay, Comcast, and LinkedIn before founding a company called Placeit which was a design and mockup tool for creatives that he’d eventually sell to Envato — the leading marketplace for creative assets. After spending several years building his various businesses, Navid wanted to work on a different kind of project — a project that felt more like play and less like work and somehow conjoined hospitality with sustainability. Tune in to hear the impressive story of how Navid designed an adventurous farm escape in harmony with the environment and ecosystem around it. You can book your stay at Safa Farms here and follow them on Instagram here. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
	31 Oct 2023	Vacation Rental Secrets: Lessons Learned from 50 STR Experts (with Brooke Pfautz)	00:52:45
Meet Brooke Pfautz, founder and CEO of Vintory, the only sales and marketing platform on the planet exclusively dedicated to helping professional vacation rental managers grow their inventory. Brooke is one of the industry's most respected experts, so it was an honor to get him back on the podcast to discuss his new book, Vacation Rental Secrets, which is a collection of the short-term rental industry’s top experts disclosing their biggest mistakes and sharing their hard-earned wisdom. Brooke and I discuss some of the most meaningful lessons garnered from these interviews, some unpopular opinions he has about the current state of the industry, the opportunity he sees for entrepreneurs to build new businesses in and around hospitality, and some hot takes he has on the future of the industry. Connect with Brooke on LinkedIn Buy Brooke's book on Amazon Learn more about Vintory This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here. Recent episodes you might enjoy: The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	15 Mar 2024	How Growing Up in the Amish Community Helped Him Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur	00:55:04
Meet Elam King — founder and CEO of Kingly Vacation Renta;s, a collection of short-term rentals and soon to be motels located across Pennsylvania and Maryland. Elam grew up in the Amish community and it was here that he learned the importance of discipline, hard work and craftsmanship. After leaving the Amish community as a young adult, Elam began to learn everything he could about real estate investing. Elam has a knack for dilapidated homes that others have looked over and being able to see how to transform a piece of crap into a piece of gold. This skillet has served him incredibly well as he’s grown his portfolio of short-term rentals from 5 to 10, to over 15 over the last few years. Tune in to hear the story behind how Elam got into hospitality, the metrics he uses to determine whether or not a fixer upper can be renovated into something truly valuable, why he just bought a motel, and so much more more. Connect with Elam: https://www.facebook.com/elamzking https://www.linkedin.com/in/elamzking/ http://www.rewonder.com This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	23 Jan 2024	How He's Reimagining Outdoor Hospitality Through the Restoration of 970 acres of Texas Hill Country	00:42:10
Meet Dylan Barahona, General Manager at Canyon of the Eagles, a nature resort and preserve on 940 acres of land, located just 1.5 Hours from Austin, Texas. If you were to have asked Dylan at ten-years-old what he wanted to be when he grew up, he’d tell you either a professional baseball player or a chef. And while neither of those dreams quite panned out, the latter, dream set him on path to pursue a career in hospitality, and, over the last decade, Dylan has become a highly-regarded and respect voice in outdoor hospitality. In this episode, Dylan and I discuss: How he’s reimagining outdoor hospitality through the restoration of 970 acres of Texas Hill Country The importance of building an event strategy at your glamping resort The future of fine dining in the glamping space The opportunities he sees for hospitality entrepreneurs in the space And so much more Learn more about Canyon of the Eagles Follow Canyon one the Eagles on Instagram Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	19 Jul 2022	How to Upsell Amenities at Your Airbnb — Ideas from Madison Rifkin, Founder of Mount	00:47:23
Meet Madison Rifikin — Founder and CEO of Mount, a platform designed to help short term rental hosts upsell their guests. Madison has always been a tinkerer. In 5th grade, she had the opportunity to enroll in an innovation program…and she was pretty much hooked on building things after that. One of the first products she built was a smart bike lock, which she’d go on to sell to some of the most well-known scooter brands in the industry. Tune in to hear the fantastic story of how selling locks to the Bird’s and Lime’s of the world led to Madison building a platform for STR hosts to turn just about anything into a rentable amenity. Learn more about Mount by visiting their website. Connect with Madison on LinkedIn This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available. Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available. Here’s how it works. Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available. Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available. In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available. And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses. Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
	22 Sep 2023	Why She Left Her Successful Career in Accounting to Build a Hospitality Brand in the North Carolina Mountains	00:56:48
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. Meet Catherine Morris, the creator of Edenwod — a 6-acre oasis in the North Carolina mountains just 45 minutes outside of Asheville. Catherine is an accountant by trade and spent nearly two decades climbing the corporate ladder taking on big roles in both finance and human resources. And she loved the work she did. But, when COVID hit, and her 9-year-old son was stuck at home doing school virtually, Catherine realized that it might be time for her family to make a change. She and her husband had always loved hosting people for dinner, and the two of them had recently discussed extending their love of hospitality into other arenas when the pandemic hit. Once it became clear that life wasn’t going to return to normal anytime soon, Catherine decided to take an idea she had been noodling on, of creating a unique getaway for folks looking to reconnect with a loved one and nature, into reality. Tune in to hear the story of how Catherine found the perfect plot of land through cold calling, how she worked with a local architect to build a one-of-a-kind barn and treehouse, and how she hopes to fully replace her former salary with revenue from Edenwood over the next year. Book Your Stay at Edenwood Follow the Edenwood Treehouse on Sponstayneous Follow the Edenwood Barn on Sponstayneous Follow Edenwood on Instagram Have you signed up for Minoan yet? In this episode we feature a Minoan customer review from Alyson, the founder of SmartStays — discover what she loves most about Minoan and how Minoan has helped her save thousands of dollars setting up her short term rentals. Create your totally free Minoan account here. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	03 Mar 2023	How to Get The Industry’s Best Discounts on Everything You Need for Your Short-Term Rental Business	00:59:20
Meet Jeff Iloulian — Founder and CEO of HostGPO, a buying group for the short term rental industry. After graduating with a degree in Economics from Columbia, Jeff thought he wanted to be an attorney, so went to Law School. But after practicing law for a few years, Jeff was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug so he founded a real estate and technology investment company called Winthorpe Valentine which grew to manage over 250 short-term rentals. Managing more than 250 properties meant that Jeff spent a lot of time buying furniture and other furnishings for his homes. While the homes he managed certainly varied in style and size, Jeff often found himself buying 100 of the same broom or 50 of the same bookshelf all at retail price. And that’s when the idea, which would eventually become HostGPO was born. Tune in to hear the story of how Jeff founded HostGPO and scaled it to be the largest buying group of short-term rental hosts in the country. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	28 Jul 2023	From Vacation Rental Manager, to Wall Street Attorney, to Boutique Hotelier	01:06:56
Please give a quick thank you to our sponsor for today’s episode, OwnerRez — the most loved and trusted property management software by professional vacation rental managers on the market. Some of my best friends in the industry swear by OwnerRez so I’d highly encourage you to check them out and be sure to tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you their way and they’ll give you an exclusive discount when you decide to purchase their software. Meet Kevin Reardon, founder of The Shore House Hotel — a beachside lifestyle retreat built from a mid-century motel in North Wildwood, NJ. Kevin grew up in a blue collar family. His idea of “success” looked like working on Wall Street, become a doctor, or becoming a lawyer, so after graduating from undergrad, he decided to pursue law and wound up getting his JD from the University of Pennsylvania. After a couple of years working at a very prestigious firm, Kevin decided that what he really wanted to do was get into hospitality…becoming a hotelier was what he’d dream about on nights and weekends in-between very late nights at his firm’s office. And then an opportunity to buy a fairly rundown motel on the Jersey shore presented itself. And there was something about this particular motel that seemed to speak to Kevin…so, he raised a little bit of money from friends and family and decided to take the plunge. Tune in to hear the story of how Kevin build The Shore House Hotel, why he thinks STR owners and operators can make great hoteliers, and what his hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality look like. Follow The Shore House Hotel on Instagram About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	12 Sep 2023	How He Launched a Boutique Hotel for Bourbon Lovers — And Why He’s Bullish on Building for Niche Audiences.	00:52:21
Meet Eric Carrico — founder of the The Woodford Hotel, a boutique invisible service hotel in Versailles, Kentucky. Eric is a civil and environmental engineer by trade and has spent his career solving complex civil engineering problems for some of the largest heavy industrial earthwork construction projects in the country. After the housing crisis in 2008, Eric had the opportunity to buy a couple of properties and start his real estate investing journey. Eric’s investment journey was quite traditional until this little known start-up at the time, which we now all know as Airbnb, began expanding into the south east and the midwest. Eric being the early adopter that he is, decided to test it out…and, well, that would ultimately lead him to grow a meaningful portfolio of STRs in the great Louisville area which he’d then wind up parlaying into an experiential boutique hotel for Bourbon aficionados. Tune in to hear the dynamic story of the unique approach Eric took to launching this boutique hotel and why he believes other hospitality entrepreneurs should get bullish on hospitality offerings catered to niche audiences. Follow Eric on Twitter Follow Eric on Instagram Follow The Woodford Hotel on Instagram Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com Meet Zach in Person! Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event. Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	07 May 2024	He's Transformed 600 Homes into Airbnbs — Here's What Matters (And What Doesn't) When Renovating a Short-Term Rental	00:46:32
Meet Mark Lumpkin from STR Cribs — the leading one-stop-shop for renovating, designing, and fully-furnishing a short-term rental. Mark is an innovative entrepreneur who has worked on nearly 600 renovations transforming run-of-the-mill homes into bespoke, scroll-stopping stays. In this conversation, Mark and I discuss How thematic short-term rentals can be a great way to compete against unique stays when your STR is a condo or single-family home Why more hospitality entrepreneurs should create experiential stays for families not just couples The most impactful and least impactful renovations you can do when getting your home ready to list on Airbnb The most under-rated markets for thematic stays Hot takes on AI and the role it should and shouldn’t play in hospitality And loads more Connect with Mark This episode is brought to you by Posh Outdoors. Posh Outdoors supplies owners of iconic properties and stunning land with high-end glamping accommodations and backend support, at no up-front cost to the landowner — and the way they make their money is through an attractive revenue share model once your unit is ready for hosting. Posh Outdoors is doing something really revolutionary — they are making it easy for you to invest in luxury glamping as an entire asset class rather than an individual glamping resort. As a Behind the Stays listener, you can become an early investor in this company for as little as $100. You can learn more about Posh and all the deets surrounding this early investment opportunity by visiting https://posh.dealpage.io or sending an email to nick@posh-outdoors.com. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	30 Jan 2024	How She Designed a Luxury Haven in the Blue Ridge Mountains That Got Wander's Attention	00:45:29
Meet Taylor Bates, the creator of The Afton House — a stunning, luxury home made for gathering and nestled in the heart of Virginia wine country. Growing up, Taylor wanted to be an architect or a Fortune 500 CEO — she’s always loved the intersection of marketing, design, and business. After working in a few marketing management and nonprofit leadership roles, Taylor wound up starting her own boutique interior design firm focusing on residential and commercial projects. And it was around this time when the idea of building a luxury short-term rental that was conducive to multi-family stays, first began to percolate. Tune in to here the story behind: How Taylor designed a truly unforgettable stay in Afton, Virginia Her process for approaching a design project — the room she loves designing most and the room she loves designing least Getting approached by Wander about joining the Wander network, Wander’s new managed service option And so much more… Book The Afton House Follow The Afton House on Instagram Connect with Taylor on Instagram This episode is brought to you by Summer. Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home. What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb” Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works: You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental. Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy. When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment. Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one. So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	21 May 2024	From Theatre to Travel Tech: How He's Building the Hotel Tonight for Vacation Rentals	00:56:04
Meet Alex Alioto, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Whimstay, the Hotel Tonight for Vacation Rentals. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alex had dreamed of being a wide receiver for the 49ers — he was the kind of kid you’d find walking around the grocery store sporting a helmet and a jersey even when it wasn’t game day. While his dreams of playing in the NFL never came to fruition, Alex did wind up playing in another arena — he studied theatre at the University of Michigan and spent nearly a decade as an actor in New York City. And, believe it or not, this was all a precursor to Alex finding his way back to the Bay area to work at early-stage, high-growth startups. After 7 years of helping Yelp become a household name, Alex met his cofounder, Ben Jamshahi, and the duo began building Whimstay. In this conversation, Alex and I discuss: The massive market that exists for last-minute travel The locations that Whimstay sees the most spontaneous travel to The biggest differences between Whimstay and other OTAs like Airbnb and Vrbo How Whimstay negotiates exclusive discounts with professional property managers What the next generation of travelers is looking for from travel brands And so much more Learn more about Whimstay Connect with Alex on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by our friends at Can Monkey — the Uber for Trash Service for your Short-Term Rentals. Can Monkey ensures that the trash cans at your Airbnbs are moved to the curb and back promptly on collection day so that if you’ve got a same-day turnover your new guest arrives to a clean and empty trash bin. And for those unexpected situations, like a guest leaving behind excess trash or an unexpected mid-week turnover, their OnDemand trash removal enables you to book a CanRunner (cool name huh?) to immediately come and remedy the situation. For just $49/month per property, Can Monkey will pick up and return both your trash and recycling cans on your home’s pick up days No hidden costs. You are never locked into a contract. And whether you’ve got one property or 100, Can Monkey can have you up and running within a week. To learn more about why hosts love this Uber for trash solution, head on over to CanMonkey.com and submit the form on the home page to get more information about how Can Monkey can help you. Oh, and if you do, be sure to mention that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way and you’ll qualify for an exclusive discount off of your first month of using Can Monkey. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	07 Apr 2022	He’s Worked at Fairmont, Sonder, and Airbnb — Now He’s Pioneering The Next Big Thing in Hospitality	00:46:40
In just a moment you’ll meet Ryan Killeen — General Manager of The Annex Hotel. You might call Ryan a child of the hospitality industry. He grew up traveling the world with his mom who worked in the luxury hotel space, and had the privilege of encountering a diverse set of cultures and experiences all around the world. Ryan studied hotel management in college, and while in school, he started cleaning bathrooms and making beds with the housekeeping team at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, which was considered Vancouver’s definitive luxury hotel. His hard work paid off, and when an opportunity to join the opening team in Dubai at Fairmont the Palm arose, Ryan took it! After a couple of years, Ryan became interested in the budding space of short-term rentals, so he took jobs at both Sonder and Airbnb. But Ryan has always been entrepreneurial so when a new opportunity to join a hospitality start up came his way, he took it. Tune in to hear the story behind The Annex — a new hospitality concept marrying the best of boutique hotels, Airbnb and cutting edge technology that Ryan and his team are developing. Book Your Stay at The Annex Hotel Here. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn Here. This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts. It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic. You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all. After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?" The answer? They use Guesty For Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again. Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay. The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more. Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year." Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
	14 May 2024	How to Interview the Land (And Other Tips on Building Unique Stays) with Mike Hicks from Wander Chatt	00:52:55
Mike Hicks, the founder of Wander Chatt, a collection of unique stays across Chattanooga, TN and beyond. Mike started his entrepreneurial journey at just 19 years old after dropping out of college to learn how to work for himself. Mike got a job with a real estate developer helping to clear lots and doing an array of labor-intensive construction tasks. Mike worked long hard days for this developer but after work Mike and the rest of the crew would be invited out to go fishing. And it was during these moments that he started asking questions…how do you determine a good deal? What should you look for when purchasing a lot? Etc. In this conversation Mike and I discuss: How he bought his first house as a 19 year old Why he moved into short-term rentals after nearly two decades of buying, renovating, and renting traditional long-term rentals Why he pivoted away from traditional vacation rentals and went all in on unique stays when founding Wander Chatt How he “interviews the land” before buying a lot His thoughts on the biggest opportunities for hospitality entrepreneurs today And so much more Book a stay at Wander Chatt Follow Wander Chatt on Instagram Connect with Mike on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	03 Jun 2021	Fourth Generation Dairy Farmers, First Generation Airbnb Empresses — Meet the Brodt’s.	00:37:46
The idea was born on a road trip from Waco, Texas to Ferndale, California. Merritt Brodt and her daughter, Callie Alexandre, had gone to the Lone Star State to source antiques for their artisan shop, The Farmer’s Daughter, in downtown Ferndale. Callie, whose husband's married family owns and operates Alexandre Farms (one of the few organic dairies to produce A2/A2 milk AND secure coveted shelf space at Whole Foods’ across the country) had the idea. “What if we renovated the barn and turned it into an Airbnb?” Merritt, mother of 3, grandmother of 4, owner of 500 cows, and founder of The Farmer's Daughter, was skeptical at first. She had a pretty full plate already! Upon arriving back home in their lush, almost Ireland-like town just a few hours north of San Francisco, Callie was able to convince Merrit and her husband Brian to give it a shot...and the whole family got to work. Their mission? To create a piece of heaven on Earth. Tune in to hear Merritt and her daughter-in-law Amanda share the inspiring story of how the family came together to bring The Farm Stay at the Bluff to life. To book your stay at the Bluff, or to connect with the Brodt family, visit the links below! Oh, and the next time you're at the grocery store and pick up a delicious block of Rumiano's Cheese or a pint of Humboldt Creamery's ice cream, say a little "thank you" to Merritt and the Brodt family...chances are, the milk came from one of their cows! Book Your Stay Follow Merritt on Instagram Follow Amanda on Instagram Follow Callie on Instagram Follow the FarmStay on Instagram Follow The Famer's Daughter on Instagram Follow Rumiano Cheese Follow Humboldt Creamery If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat! Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully-curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in! So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
	13 Jul 2022	How to Design Highly-Experiential Stays for the Next Generation of Travelers	00:59:17
Meet Jack Buck — a hospitality entrepreneur working on his first luxe vacation rental concepts in Sedona, New Orleans, and The Boulders in Arizona. Buck fell in love with travel after taking a motorcycle trip across Vietnam a few years ago. The beauty and adventure the country offered, coupled with the community he found while traveling, inspired him to work on projects in and the travel industry. Discover his thoughts on the democratizing of hospitality brand building, why he thinks the future of travel will be communal, and how he’s designing highly-experiential stays for the next generation of travelers. Follow Buck on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/buckshotio This week's episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by Ping — the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available. Ping is a simple widget that lives on your website (or direct booking site) and allows your fans and followers to sign up to be notified if their preferred dates become available. Here’s how it works. Jimmy sees that you’re booked the whole month of October, but he wants to be notified if any 3-night window in the month becomes available. Jen is a returning guest and wants to be notified if any week in June, July, or August becomes available. In a matter of seconds, Jimmy and Jen fill out the simple form and will be Pinged if their requested dates become available. And as a host, you will immediately get pinged via email with Jimmy and Jen’s contact information and requested dates enabling you to build up your own database of guest email addresses. Ping — it's what the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up for free at www.bnbping.com Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
	30 Jul 2024	From Air Force Officer to Hospitality Entrepreneur: Why Blake Dailey Thinks More Airbnb Hosts Should Become Boutique Hoteliers	01:05:45
Meet Blake Dailey — a former Air Force officer turned boutique hotel entrepreneur. Growing up, Blake dreamed of being in the NFL. And while that never came to fruition, his love for sports instilled in him a sense of discipline and determination that would later fuel his entrepreneurial spirit. After a stint playing college football, Blake's interests shifted toward business, eventually leading him to discover his passion for real estate and hospitality. In this episode, Blake and I delve into his incredible journey from serving in the Air Force to becoming a successful hospitality entrepreneur. We explore how his initial investments in real estate and short-term rentals laid the foundation for his entry into the boutique hotel space. In this conversation you’ll learn: How Blake's early investments and entrepreneurial mindset led him to the boutique hotel industry. The biggest differences between owning and operating short-term rentals and owning and operating boutique hotels The massive opportunity that exists to reimagine outdated motels and transform them into boutique hotels Why entrepreneurs who’ve figured out how to host well shouldn’t be scared of graduating from STRs to boutique hotels Blake's views on the emerging trends in hospitality and the advantages of a regional focus for portfolio development And so much more. Follow Blake on Instagram Learn more about Boutique Hotel Con This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option. If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special. And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz. Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach? Send him an email directly at zach@staywatch.ai or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	04 Nov 2021	How to Build a Modern Mountain Home That Stands Out on Airbnb	00:46:44
In just a moment, you’ll meet Andrew and Bianca — founders of the Serenity Hill Group, a growing collection of luxury Airbnb escapes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Andrew and Bianca live in Boston, and while they love all that the city has to offer, their hearts have always found peace in the mountains. Andrew grew up hiking, skiing, and vacationing in the White Mountains and dreamed of one day buying his own home in the area. As luck would have it, one day, the seemingly perfect opportunity presented itself — a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home tucked away on a private 2-acre lot surrounded by tall pines and the crisp White Mountain air. But, the home needed a lot of work. So Andrew, Bianca, and their families spent the next year transforming the home into an incredibly beautiful, modern escape from the city. And while the couple had intended to make this place their permanent home, their circumstances changed and they decided to list the space on Airbnb. Tune in to hear the story of how Andrew and Bianca learned how to build, design, and furnish Serenity Hill House and how they decided when it was time to open up their SECOND Airbnb, The Rosewood, just a couple of towns away. Book your stay at the Serenity Hill House or The Rosewood! You can also follow Serenity Hill Group on Instagram @SerenityHillGroup. If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at zach@sponstayneous.com and we’ll chat! Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous —a carefully curated weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. It’s sort of like Scott’s Cheap Flights, but for Airbnb! You can sign up for free at sponstayneous.com Last, but certainly not least...I didn’t believe in Marie Kondo’s whole “spark joy” mantra until I started podcasting...now, my joy is sparked every time I see a new subscriber roll in! So please, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode...and so you add a lil' spark to my joy fire today.
	12 Jan 2022	From HGTV Producer to STR-Tech Start Up Founder — Meet Annie Sloan	00:41:38
In just a moment, you’ll meet Annie Sloane — Co-Founder and CEO of The Host Co. Have you ever been in an Airbnb and wished you could buy one of the coffee mugs, rugs, or pieces of artwork from the home? Or perhaps wished you could order some groceries ahead of time so that you arrive to a fully-stocked fridge upon check-in? Well, thanks to The Host Co., you now can! Annie was an early adopter of Airbnb — she remembers when you used to have to hand cash to your host upon arrival to pay for your stay! After working as a writer for Lucasfilm, a producer for HGTV, and a creative director at both Facebook and Twitter, Annie began thinking about doing something new. Around this time, she reconnected with Mikel Hubbard, a former colleague from HGTV. Annie and Mikel helped launch and direct a myriad of popular HGTV shows like Curb Appeal, Landscape Smart, Color Splash, Find Your Style, and Design to Sell — so they knew a thing or two about real estate. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Annie and Mikel are building the mini-bar, concierge, and gift shop for your Airbnb. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Annie Sloane. Learn more about The Host Co. by visiting their website at www.TheHost.co or by following them on Instagram @thehostcompany. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
	11 Apr 2023	How to Build the Marriott of Vacation Rentals — Meet the Founders of The 100 Collection	00:55:44
Meet Travis Wilburn and Rebecca Lombardo — the founders of The 100 Collection, a curation of the best properties from trusted vacation rental brands on a mission to set the gold standard for hospitality. Travis has built and run companies in travel and hospitality for well over a decade. His working knowledge spans every level of his organizations, from operations to business development, to maintenance. And Rebecca is seasoned marketing executive with 15 years of experience developing brands and content for travel publications like Yahoo Travel and Orlando Magazine as well as several Fortune 100 companies. In this episode, this dynamic duo unpack their vision for a new era and standard of hospitality for the short-term and vacation rental markets and discuss crucial topics like: How to build a loyalty program in the vacation rental market How to fight back against the market-share owned by OTAs like Airbnb How to grow a meaningful, consumer-facing hospitality brand And much more Discover the 100 Collection Connect with Travis and Rebecca on LinkedIn. This episode is brought to you by DEN Outdoors. You’ve seen them all over Instagram… You may have also seen them in Dwell Magazine…. And if you love design, travel, and hospitality, chances are you’ve even dreamed about what it would be like to build your very own A-Frames, Cabins, or Barnhouse with their designs. DEN Outdoors began because its founders knew that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes how you live, and sharing a cabin changes how you engage with others. I’ve met so many incredible hosts in the short-term-rental community who have used DEN designs to build their bespoke escapes, many of whom have been guests on this podcast. And now, it brings me SO much joy to announce that we’ve partnered with DEN to bring you an exclusive discount on their digital design plans. By using the discount code SPONSTAY50 at checkout, you can get ANY of DEN’s digital plans for 50% off…that’s right…5-0. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	06 Dec 2024	Netflix Fame, Rock-Star Roots, and a Treehouse Empire: The Bolt Farm Story	00:54:37
Meet Tori Bolt — Co-Founder of Bolt Farm, a celebrated nature retreat in Whitwell Tennessee, offering 23 meticulously designed villas. In 2016, Tori and Seth Bolt embarked on a bold adventure, building their first luxury treehouse—an intimate project that began as a handcrafted wedding gift. What they didn’t know then was that this creative labor of love would spark a new era in experiential hospitality. Long before the surge in unique stays and experiential accommodations, the Bolts were leading the way, crafting spaces that balanced the serenity of nature with the sophistication of high-end design. It wasn’t long before their work caught the attention of Netflix’s The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, a feature that helped position Bolt Farm as a pioneer in the luxury glamping space. Seth Bolt, a longtime member of the Grammy-nominated band Needtobreathe, brought a unique perspective to the design process. Years of touring and experiencing hospitality across the spectrum informed the couple’s meticulous approach to guest experience. The result? A collection of stays where every detail, from heated marble floors to handcrafted interiors, is intentional, offering guests a haven for rest, connection, and inspiration. In this episode, we explore: How their first luxury treehouse laid the foundation for Bolt Farm’s success. What it meant to be featured on Netflix and how the exposure transformed their brand. The journey from a small collection of unique stays to a full-fledged wellness resort with a seven-day-a-week spa and curated dining options. The couple’s vision for expansion, including discussions around franchising and strategic partnerships that maintain their signature level of quality and charm. Lessons from balancing bold creativity with operational excellence as they scale. Tori and Seth’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and innovation. From their first treehouse to their plans for nationwide expansion, this episode is a testament to what’s possible when you dream big and create with intention. Connect with Seth and Tori Follow Bolt Farm on Instagram This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN! Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space. It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. You can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami! Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
	24 Dec 2024	Why Curated Villas Will Dominate the Next Decade of Luxury Travel	00:58:48
Meet Steve Lassman, Vice President of Villas of Distinction—a luxury villa company that’s been curating remarkable vacation homes since the 1980s. Steve’s story runs three generations deep in the travel industry, and he’s worn just about every hat you can imagine—from airline sales to hotel operations—before finding his calling in the world of private villa experiences. In this episode, Steve reveals why Villas of Distinction is all about quality over quantity, and how they’ve nurtured enduring partnerships with top travel advisors around the world. Their approach to vetting every villa (from hot water pressure checks to wine glass counts) is anything but casual, ensuring that each stay meets their lofty “five-star” criteria. And when things get tough—like after a major hurricane—they’ve proven they’ll put the guest experience above everything else. Tune in to hear: How a legacy family business and decades of travel shaped Steve’s hospitality mindset Why a curated portfolio of villas (not 30,000 listings) guarantees the best guest experience Real-life stories of turning “fixer-upper” villas back into five-star stunners The magic of working with a travel advisor—and why it won’t cost you extra Predictions on the next big trends in luxury villa travel (hint: it’s all about experiences) From private island getaways to truffle hunts in Tuscany, Steve’s passion for personalized service is palpable. If you’ve ever dreamed of a tailor-made stay that blends home comforts with high-end indulgence, this conversation is for you. Connect with Steve Explore Villas of Distinction Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
	13 Mar 2024	He Left Banking to Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur — Here's What He's Learned Building a Collection of 100+ Airbnbs	00:48:13
Meet Fred Boothby, Founder of Enjoy Unique Stays, a collection of 100 short-term rentals across Chattanooga, Michigan, North Carolina, and North Georgia. Fred was a banker — it seemed like a safe and stable way to build a nice life for his family. But there was something about the “safe way” that never felt quite right to Fred. One day he got a call from a friend who was looking for someone to help scale a landscaping business in Central Florida. And while he didn’t know it at the time, that call would change the trajectory of his entire life. Tune in to hear the story of how Fred scaled and sold this landscaping business and how it enabled him to pursue his dream of buying, building, and managing vacation rentals. In this conversation Fred and I discuss: Whether or not his unique properties out perform his more traditional cabin stays The future of vacation rental communities and the opportunity that exists here for entrepreneurs The emergence of soft brands in the vacation rental space and what the value this provides to both guests and management companies Why he loves hospitality and hosts in his own home along with his 7 children And so much more Connect with Fred on LinkedIn Explore Enjoy Unique Stays This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils? You can do so in AirDNA. Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort? AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region. Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market? You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand. AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life. Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	05 Sep 2023	How to Build a Franchise-Worthy Hospitality Brand — The Story of Casiola	00:56:22
Meet Dennis Goedheid, founder and CEO of Casiola — one of the hottest vacation rental management companies in the short-term rental space. Dennis is no stranger to entrepreneurship — he started and sold two companies in his native Belgium before moving to Silicon Valley to find inspiration for his next big thing. And while he couldn’t have known it at the time, that next big thing would be a vacation rental management company based in Orlando, Florida that is helping to write the book, in real time, on how to build such an exceptional hospitality brand that short-term rental managers from around the world want to franchise. In this episode, Dennis and I discuss: Why Casiola builds their own software in-house Why Casiola is quick to grow regionally, but slow to grow nationally Why he’s bullish on franchising in the STR and vacation rental spaces The entrepreneurial opportunities he sees for founders in the hospitality industry Learn more about Casiola Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way! Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com Meet Zach in Person! Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event. Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	07 Apr 2023	How (and Why) He Bought a Roadside Attraction and Transformed it Into a Hospitality Experience	00:53:39
In just a moment you’ll meet Doug Heestand, the owner of the Desert of Maine, a unique and intriguing roadside attraction located in Freeport, Maine. In this podcast interview, Doug shares his journey of transforming the Desert of Maine from a simple tourist attraction to a thriving hospitality company. We explore the origins of the Desert of Maine, its unique geological features, and the challenges Doug faced when taking over the business. He shares how he implemented innovative strategies and creative ideas to rebrand the attraction and turn it into a destination that offers a range of exciting activities and experiences for visitors. Throughout the conversation, Doug emphasizes the importance of taking risks, embracing change, and following your passion when pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams. Doug's inspiring story and valuable insights will leave you feeling motivated and inspired to pursue your own entrepreneurial dreams and make a positive impact on the world. Discover the Desert of Maine Book a Stay at the Desert of Maine Follow the Desert of Maine on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	09 Jun 2023	Housekeeping: Exciting Updates from Sponstayneous and Behind the Stays	00:14:17
So there’s been a LOT happening over the last couple of months and I wanted to give you all a quick update on some exciting happenings at Sponstayneous and Behind the Stays... Say hi to Minoan Sign up for Minoan Subscribe to Behind the Stays on YouTube Follow Behind the Stays on Instagram Say hi to DEN Outdoors Join the Sponstayneous Host Partner Program Subscribe to Sponstayneous Say hi to Uplisting ’m going to call this episode and future episodes like it “housekeeping” so if you’re just here for the guests I bring onto the show and don’t care too much about what we’re building at Sponstayneous or the community we’re cultivating through Behind the Stays, I am not offended, just ignore these episodes when they pop-up into your feed. But, if you ARE cheering us on and curious about what’s been happening behind the scenes of Behind the Stays, then lend me your ears for the next few minutes On the agenda for today: New ways for y’all to stay connected to Behind the Stays A big update to Sponstayneous How hosts are using our Ping product to increase their nightly rates The expansion of our host partner program About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	12 Nov 2024	Build Fewer, Spend More: A Round Table on The New Formula for Experiential Hospitality with Ben Wolff and Isaac French	01:20:04
In this special crossover episode of Behind the Stays and The Unique Hospitality Podcast, hosted by my friend Nick Purslow, we bring together two of the most innovative names in experiential hospitality—Ben Wolff of Onera and Isaac French of Live Oak Lake. Known for creating standout micro-resorts and unique stays, Ben and Isaac are veterans of the podcast scene, but this time, they’re answering some questions they’ve never been asked before. Tune in for unfiltered insights on what it takes to create deeply personal, experiential stays that go beyond just beautiful design. Our conversation dives into Ben’s big-vision approach with projects like Onera Wimberley, where scale meets seamless guest experience, and contrasts it with Isaac’s preference for smaller, more intimate stays—designed to immerse guests fully in nature and unparalleled design. We also explore how shifts in consumer spending and a growing preference for authenticity and personalization are reshaping the hospitality landscape and why consumers are looking beyond the traditional, finding luxury in boutique, nature-centric stays that prioritize immersive moments over cookie-cutter amenities. You’ll get Ben and Isaac’s takes on: How Instagram and tech-centric tools are transforming hospitality, enabling small brands to capture attention, build loyalty, and reach consumers at scale, just like industry giants. Why scaling across multiple properties, brand differentiation, and why personal brand-building can be a game-changer in boutique hospitality. Why “build fewer, spend more” is becoming the motto for unique stays, and how these one-of-a-kind locations are meeting consumer demand for high-quality, memorable escapes. Predictions for the future of boutique hotels, from decentralized hospitality chains to collaborative, local-first models. And so much more Listen to The Unique Hospitality Podcast Follow Behind the Stays on Instagram Follow Isaac on Twitter/X or Instagram Follow Ben on Twitter/X or Instagram Learn more about Posh Outdoors Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
	30 Jun 2023	Google Flight Alerts but for Airbnbs, a Community of Professional Guests, and other Sponstayneous Updates	00:30:07
In this episode Zach shares some exciting new updates on what we're building at Sponstayneous and asks for feedback from listeners on how to improve Behind the Stays. Got ideas for Zach? Reach out to him direct at zach@sponstayneous.com or find him on Twitter @zboozee or on LinkedIn at @zacharybusekrus. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	24 Sep 2024	How to Build a Hospitality Empire in Rural America: Motels, Contactless Boutique Hotels, Wedding Venues, and More	00:57:49
Meet Austin Phippen, a hospitality entrepreneur balancing the demands of multiple ventures in the heart of Chama, New Mexico. Austin and his wife Karlee are redefining what it means to build a rural hospitality empire, managing everything from a boutique motel to an event venue and even vacation rentals. Tune in as Austin shares his journey from construction to hospitality, how his family’s legacy property sparked a wedding venue business, and the surprising lessons he’s learned about running a motel in one of the most remote, yet scenic, areas of the country. Discover how Austin transformed a family cabin into a top wedding destination, navigated the complexities of managing a motel, and how seasonal challenges shape his business strategy. If you’re curious about what it takes to run multiple hospitality ventures in a small town or how to grow a business with little initial experience, this episode is packed with insights for you. Austin and I also discuss the power of organic growth, the balance between low-touch and high-touch hospitality, and why Austin believes hands-on interaction is key to guest satisfaction. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in rural tourism, family-run hospitality businesses, or those dreaming of building their own legacy in the industry. Learn more about Chama Trails This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully. Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests? Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play. This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line. But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	27 Aug 2024	3 Lessons the Next Generation of Hospitality Entrepreneurs Should Learn From the Founder of Four Seasons	00:32:52
In this episode, Zach shares three ideas inspired by Isadore Sharp, Founder of Four Seasons that today's hospitality entrepreneurs can and should take note of as they build their businesses. This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option. If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special. And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	01 Nov 2022	How They’re Building Canada’s Premier Luxury Treehouse Company	00:59:00
Meet Lauren and Cam Green, the founders of The Fort Treehouse Company — Canada’s premier luxury treehouse company. Cam and Lauren met at summer camp. They were a part of the same friend group for more than 15 years before they started dating, but once they did, it was clear that they were a perfect match. Both Lauren and Cam are quite entrepreneurial. Lauren tends to have the big ideas and Cam is incredible at finding ways to bring them to life. While working on staff at the camp that he and Lauren met at, Cam discovered a sustainable treehouse design and build program in Vermont. And it was this moment where Cam first realized that what he really wanted to do was build beautiful escapes in the trees! Tune in to hear the remarkable story of how Cam and Lauren brought their first treehouse to life and what the couple has planned next for The Fort Treehouse Co. Learn more about The Fort Treehouse Co. Follow The Fort Treehouse Co. on Instagram This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts. One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System. Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries. That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why: 1. Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. 2. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review. 3. It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings. 4. And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout. Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts. Try Guesty for Hosts for Free. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	07 Nov 2023	The Business of Bill Faeth: A Look at His Content Business, STR Portfolio, and Events Company	01:06:34
Meet Bill Faeth — one of the most popular and well-respected voices in the short-term rental industry. Bill Faeth has been involved in real estate for almost 25 years with both commercial and residential investing. In 2015, he switched the majority of his residential portfolio to short term rentals from long term after seeing an opportunity to increase profit and reduce risk. Bill currently has a multi-million dollar portfolio of short term rental properties primarily located in vacation rental markets with a focus on beach, lake, and mountain properties. In addition to his own portfolio, he hosts the popular STR Unfiltered podcast and he’s the co-producer of STR WealthCon, one of the hottest industry events for vacation rental entrepreneurs. In this episode Bill and I discuss: The story behind how he traveled to golf tournaments with Tiger Woods How he built, scaled, and sold his first businesses How much money he makes off of his content vs. his portfolio How much money the STR Wealthcon makes and what the long term vision for the event is What he’s recently changed his mind about And so much more This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here. Recent episodes you might enjoy: The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President A Panel Discussion on the Future of Short-Term Rental Investing with Wander, Techvestor, and Arrived How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	26 Jan 2024	He Dreamed of Being a Farmer, But Wound Up An Entrepreneur: The Story of Back Forty Glamping	00:48:55
Meet Scott McIntosh, Co-Founder of Back Forty Glamping, a luxurious glamping oasis on 26 acres of land in Meaford, Ontario. Growing up, Scott wanted to be a farmer — he loved being outdoors and the notion that you could make a life from tilling fields and harvesting crops was incredibly attractive to him. And while Scott wound up pursuing a career as an educator instead, a few years ago he and his brother Ben had an idea which would enable Scott to trade the classroom for the great outdoors… And that idea? Well, it was to build a glamping resort featuring luxury domes just 2 hours outside of Toronto, Canada. Tune in to hear the story of how: Scott and the team worked through loads of red tape to get Back Forty Glamping approved by their local municipality Why they decided on domes as their unique stay structure of choice What it actually cost to bring the first 5 domes to life Why investing in the right infrastructure and building the right product from the beginning is crucial for success. How they’re thinking about franchising the Back Forty Glamping brand And so much more Book a Stay at Back Forty Glamping Follow Back Forty Glamping on Instagram Connect with the Back Forty Team This episode is brought to you by our friends at Valcove Hospitality. Valcove Hospitality enables you to have a dedicated assistant available 24/7 who can help with everything from email comms to responding to Karen — and they make this all possible at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee. Whether you’re managing 10 properties or scaling up to 150, Valcove's experienced team is ready to help you streamline your operations. Say goodbye to the endless cycle of hiring and training staff, and say hello to seamless efficiency. With flexible partnership options tailored to your needs, Valcove offers 24/7 support, or a custom schedule that fits your business. And with a straightforward hourly rate of just $9.95/hour for your entire portfolio, you always know what to expect on your bill - no surprises, just dependable, transparent service. The team at Valcove is offering 'Behind the Stays' listeners, like you, an exclusive offer. Use the code BEHINDTHESTAYS50 to get 50% off your first month with Valcove Hospitality. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	07 Feb 2023	How to Design an A-Frame on a Budget (That Still Gets Featured by HGTV)	00:57:55
Meet Whitney and Andrew Bradberry, the creators of the Front Range A-Frame in Bailey, Colorado, just an hour outside of Denver. Whitney is a freelancer marketer by trade, and her husband Andrew is a firefighter paramedic. Given their non-traditional jobs, the couple has always enjoyed tinkering on creative projects together. Whitney’s father loved Colorado and it’s because of him that she fell in love with the mountains. So, when he passed away unexpectedly after a battle with cancer, the couple thought it would be fitting to honor his legacy by creating a space for others to enjoy in a place that meant so much to him. In this episode of Behind the Stays Whitney and Andrew discuss: The best YouTube channels to tap into for DIY projects The affordable design decisions they made that landed them a feature by HGTV How to build a simple, but website for your Airbnb that aligns with the brand strategy of your home This episode is brought to you by Guest Guru. Everyone’s talking about ChatGPT, but there’s a new AI tool that just hit the market that short-term rental hosts should care more about. Meet Guest Guru — the first, fully automated, AI-powered conversational tool for guest communications. Guest Guru integrates with your Airbnb or VRBO listing and automatically answers those questions like “what's the wifi password/", “where can I find the lockbox?”, and “can I bring my dog”, so you don’t have to. But get this…it does so by matching the tone and communication style of your guest. If they use emojis, Guest Guru will use emojis too. If they are a four-exclamation-points-per-sentence kinda person, well, Guest Guru will match or beat their enthusiasm. Now, you might be thinking this is to good to be true…or that Guest Guru can only answer BASIC questions…but that, friends, is where you’d be wrong. Guest Guru learns with every message you exchange with a guest or prospective guest. And once you answer a question like “what’s the best place near you to score all-you-can-eat breadsticks that isn’t Olive Garden?” once, Guest Guru will remember this query and be able to answer it, without pinging you, the next time one of your guests is a restaurant-chain hater. Anytime Guest Guru doesn’t know the answer to something, you’ll immediately receive an email and/or SMS text inviting you to jump into the conversation. Guest Guru is offering Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous Host Members their first property TOTALLY free when you sign up at GuestGuru.ai and mention that you heard about them from us. Discover how AI can help alleviate you from answering the same dozen questions every guest asks so you can have more time to better your guest experience in other, more productive and rewarding ways. Sign up at GuestGuru.ai. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	30 Mar 2022	They Left It All Behind to Build a Luxury Micro-Resort in Highlands, North Carolina: The Story of Flat Mountain Farm	00:44:55
Meet Margaret Shutze — the creator and owner of Flat Mountain Farm, a luxury escape and events venue in the Appalachian Mountains of Highlands, North Carolina. Margaret has helped design some of the world’s most incredible luxury hotels working on projects for The Ritz Carlton, Belmond, Waldorf Astoria, and the Four Seasons. And it was her love for design and hospitality that inspired her and her husband Chris to take a risk and build a couple of Airbnb’s and a micro-events venue on the 3 acre lot they lived on in Colorado. To their surprise, it was a hit! So much so that they began to dream of something even bigger… Tune in to hear the story behind how Margaret and Chris bought a magical, rustic, 28-acre plot of land and transformed it into a haven that they call Flat Mountain Farm. Book your stay at Flat Mountain Farm Follow Flat Mountain Farm on Instagram This week's episode is brought to you Guesty for Hosts — the bestie of top-rated Airbnb hosts. It’s 11:32 pm on a Thursday night and you wake up in a panic. You forgot to send your guests the custom lockbox combination for your Airbnb, and you missed the 17 messages they sent saying they couldn’t get in because you enabled “sleep mode” on your iPhone — you know, to try and cut down on screen time before bed and all. After apologizing profusely and sending them a bottle of bubbly — in hopes they won’t leave you a 1-star review — you think to yourself, “how do other hosts stay on top of guest communications?" The answer? They use Guesty For Hosts — an easy to use rental management platform. With features like Automated Messages that send important communications to guests at the exact right times…you'll never have to jeopardize your beauty sleep again. Guesty For Hosts allows short-term rental hosts to manage listings from Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com in one calendar and send a series of automated messages before, during, and after their stay. The platform also has features that help you manage cleanings, build a custom booking website, and so much more. Start your 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. While getting started, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year." Behind the Stays is brought to you each week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com
	15 Sep 2023	How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills	00:54:39
Meet Stephen Pellicano — a hospitality entrepreneur in the Catskills focused on building simple glamping structures with everything you need and nothing that you don’t! Stephen is a graphic designer by trade and fell in love with travel and hospitality after winning not one, but two free, round-trip tickets to Europe on British Airways as a part of a giveaway they were running back in the late 90s to promote the Concorde. This trip abroad would inspire Stephen to spend the next decade living, working, and traveling across Europe. It was during this time abroad where Stephen had his first encounter with Airbnb and while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this experience would ultimately inspire him to start a glamping hospitality business a decade later in the Catskill Mountains in New York. Follow Stephen on YouTube Follow Stephen on Instagram Elena's Cosmetics & Essential Oils Store Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com Meet Zach in Person! Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite Zach to come speak at TFVCONon SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and he can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event. Zach would love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	24 Oct 2023	The Future of Vacation Rental Management Companies — Stories and Ideas from a Former VRMA President	01:08:43
Meet Mike Harrington, a true legend among vacation rental managers. Mike’s career in hospitality started by accident. After graduating from business school, Mike received a call from a recruiter to join a vacation rental management company on Hatteras Island. He learned the ropes of the industry at this first gig, grew to love the art of the business, and eventually decided that what he really wanted was to own and operate his own vacation rental management company. After working at one of the largest vacation rental managers in the Outer Banks, Mike decided to take the leap and founded Carolina Retreats, a vacation rental management firm that would grow to serve nearly 400 properties across the state of North Carolina. Along the way he’d answer the call to serve his colleagues in the industry by becoming the president of VRMA, the largest professional trade association for vacation rental managers, and serving in that role for over 6 years. While Mike had no intention of selling his business, in 2021 he got an offer from V Trips, one of the world’s most respected vacation rental management brands, that he just couldn’t refuse. Tune in to hear the stories, lessons and insights Mike has garnered throughout his career and get an inside look at the company he’s building next. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Hostlabs — Say goodbye to the daily hassle of running your short-term rental business. Free up your time and watch your business thrive with Hostlabs. Learn more and qualify for an exclusive discount here. Recent episodes you might enjoy: How British Airways and an Airbnb in Istanbul Inspired Him to Build a Glamping Destination in the Catskills Forget Vacation Destinations — He Builds Collections of Branded Airbnbs Near College Campuses He Was Airbnb’s 13th Employee — And Here’s What He Thinks the Future of the Hospitality Industry Will Look Like Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	16 Apr 2024	"Hotel Brands Won't Matter in 10 Years" — And Other Hot Hospitality Takes with Peter Fabor	00:51:35
Meet Peter Fabor, an entrepreneur building a portfolio of niche hospitality businesses from marketplaces to industry newsletters. Peter is a product designer by trade and has spent his career working in and around hospitality and technology companies. In this conversation, Peter shares hot takes he has on the relevancy (or lack therefor) of hotel brands over the next decade, how he built a marketplace for company off-sites and corporate retreats, why the best hospitality entrepreneurs can run both hotels and vacation rental portfolios, the future of loyalty programs in the travel industry, and so much more. Visit Peter's Website Connect with Peter on LinkedIn Connect with Peter on Twitter This episode is brought to you by our friends at Can Monkey — the Uber for Trash Service for your Short-Term Rentals. Can Monkey ensures that the trash cans at your Airbnbs are moved to the curb and back promptly on collection day so that if you’ve got a same-day turnover your new guest arrives to a clean and empty trash bin. And for those unexpected situations, like a guest leaving behind excess trash or an unexpected mid-week turnover, their OnDemand trash removal enables you to book a CanRunner (cool name huh?) to immediately come and remedy the situation. For just $49/month per property, Can Monkey will pick up and return both your trash and recycling cans on your home’s pick up days No hidden costs. You are never locked into a contract. And whether you’ve got one property or 100, Can Monkey can have you up and running within a week. To learn more about why hosts love this Uber for trash solution, head on over to CanMonkey.com and submit the form on the home page to get more information about how Can Monkey can help you. Oh, and if you do, be sure to mention that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way and you’ll qualify for an exclusive discount off of your first month of using Can Monkey. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	05 Jan 2022	How They Built a Luxurious, Eco-Friendly Escape in the Canadian Forest — The Hinter Story.	00:53:39
In just a moment, you’ll meet Emily Padan — co-creator and co-owner of Hinter Company. A few years ago, Emily left her career as a school teacher in Montreal to pursue entrepreneurship full time with her now husband, Mauricio. The creative couple had a vision for building a luxurious, eco-friendly escape in the Canadian forest. Over the next couple of years, Emily and Mauricio wrestled tirelessly with the question “what would it look like to create spaces that integrate art, nature, community, and sustainability?” Their answer to that question proved to be Hinter. Hinter spaces are inspired by cabins in the Norwegian mountains. They use Japanese design cues and a minimalist philosophy, so, yes, they are absolutely stunning. Every interior space is carefully crafted with a strong emphasis on what matters most to Emily and Mauricio - comfort and nature. Tune in to hear how these entrepreneurs first brought Hinter to life in 2018, how they’ve scaled to one of the most desirable places to stay in North America, and get a sneak peak for what they have in store next. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Emily Padan. You can book your stay at Hinter here and follow Hinter Company on Instagram here. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a weekly newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, here.
	28 Nov 2023	From Apple Intern to Hospitality Tech Entrepreneur: How Margot Schmorak Built Hostfully	01:00:57
Meet Margot Schmorak, Co-Founder and CEO of Hostfully — one of the hospitality industry’s leading technology companies. Margot started her career working in marketing at Apple during one of the company's most pivotal eras. She remembers the launch of the very first iPhone quite vividly since she was the only person on the marketing team to NOT receive a phone since she was just an intern at the time. In this conversation, Margot and I discuss: The lessons she learned about marketing, startups, and company culture during her time at Apple Where the idea for Hostfully first came from How Hostfully grew from a digital guidebook to a full-fledged property management platform How much money Hosttfully has raised so far Why she started a community for venture-backed founders who are also moms The gaps she seems in the hospitality tech space And so much more… Learn more about Hostfully here Listen to Margot's Episodes of The Pitch Podcast This episode is brought to you by Summer. Summer takes the headache out of owning a vacation rental by taking care of sourcing, designing, furnishing and managing your home. What makes Summer especially unique is the pathway to ownership that they offer — think of this as an option to “try before you actually buy an Airbnb” Here’s how Summer’s Gradual Ownership model works: You work with Summer to find the perfect vacation rental — one that’s in a market that you want to vacation to and also in a market that makes sense for a vacation rental. Summer guides you through the whole discernment process of where, when and what kind of home to buy. When you find the right home, put down a downpayment of 15+% but Summer buys the home for you and holds it for up to two years — during this time you can buy back the home from them any time you are ready or, after the two year period you can decide you DON’T want the home and get a full refund of your down payment. Also, Summer covers all of the closing costs and fees for the upfront purchase on the home, as well as furnishing and design. This means you pay far less out of pocket than you would if you bought the home yourself from day one. So if you’ve been looking for a way to beta test the whole Airbnb game, this is your sign. Go and chat with my new friends at Summer and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	17 Oct 2023	How They’re Building a New Hotel Brand from Scratch	01:04:31
Meet Tanner Cummings — Co-founder and Owner of Thin Spaces, a new hotel brand that’s building its first micro-resort called Cypress at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Jasper, Georgia. Tanner has always loved finding issues and solving problems, which is why he spent most of his professional career working in quality assurance engineering for software companies like Calendly. But in 2021, Tanner was bit by the entrepreneurial bug and decided to join the e-commerce start up his wife Melissa founded called, Cedar and Ink. And while the couple couldn’t have know it at the time, this venture would ultimately inspire them to dream bigger. Tune in to hear the exciting story of why Tanner and Melissa decided to go all in on building a brand new hotel brand and what their first project, Cypress, a remarkably intentional micro-resort with luxurious and unexpected amenities will look like when it launches next year. Connect with Tanner on LinkedIn Follow Cypress on Instagram Follow Tanner on Instagram This episode is brought to you by Minoan! Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. If you liked this episode, you might also like: 1. He’s An Accountant, Artist, and Airbnb Superhost — Meet Isaac French the Creator of Live Oak Lake 2. How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	09 Aug 2022	How to Build a Bespoke Hotel Brand and Management Company in 2022	00:58:23
Meet Dylan Petrich — Co-Founder of Wilder Ways, a Texas-based hotel brand and management company. Dylan was born in Paris but grew up in London. After graduating from university he went to work in finance and split his time between London and New York. While finance was fascinating, Dylan grew tired of just looking at numbers — he wanted to get into the game of business and be an operator. So, when an opportunity presented itself to move into the hospitality space by joining a new startup, The Guild, Dylan took it. After a couple of years of learning a lot about hospitality, real estate, and startups the entrepreneurship bug bit Dylan…and he wondered what it would look like to start his OWN hospitality brand and business. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Dylan built Wilder Ways. This week's episode is brought to you by Wander. In every marketplace, there are the Davids and Goliaths. While it’s hard to fathom now, Amazon was a David when Borders and Barnes and Noble were the bookstore Goliaths. And don’t forget that Apple was a David when Xerox, IBM, and Motorola were consumer technology Goliaths. Today, I want to introduce you to the David of short-term-rental platforms — a company called Wander. Whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, planning a getaway with friends, yearning for a workcation, or organizing a company offsite, there is a Wander for every occasion. Wanders aren't vacation homes, they're better. Inspiring views, modern workstations, restful beds, hotel-grade cleaning and 24/7 concierge service are just a few of the guarantees that come when you stay with Wander. Wander is in search of high-end vacation homes in incredible locations around the US (think national parks, beaches, mountains…) with proven annual revenue. If you are a short-term rental owner looking to sell your property to someone who will appreciate what you’ve built, send the Wander team an email with all the important deets (like monthly rev, monthly expenses, yada yada) to www.sponstayneous.com
	06 Sep 2024	Unlocking the Future of Hospitality: Tech Gaps, AI, and Upsell Secrets with Francois Gouelo	00:49:31
Meet Francois Gouelo, the founder of Enso Connect, a guest engagement platform that’s reshaping the short-term rental space. The story behind the founding of Enso Connect starts with a $5,000 mishap during a stay at a vacation rental stay — you’ll have to listen to the full pod for the deets. During our conversation, Francois argues that there's still a major gap in tech innovation in hospitality despite the proliferation of property management systems, guest experience tools, and smart locks. We also discuss: The importance of integrating technology to automate guest interactions, allowing hosts to focus only on solving real issues like complaints, which in turn lead to happier guests. Francois’ breakdown of upsell opportunities that property managers often leave on the table—like early check-ins, late check-outs, and local experiences—which can generate substantial extra revenue with the right timing and approach. The value of focusing on deep, high-quality integrations with a few key platforms rather than trying to be everywhere at once. And his vision for the future of AI in hospitality, This episode is packed with insights for anyone curious about the future of hospitality, from tech-savvy property managers to newcomers looking to scale their vacation rental operations. This episode is brought to you by Enso Connect My new friends at Enso Connect have created a tool that’s putting AI to work in a way that’s saving hospitality pros countless hours every week. Here’s how it works: Enso Connect’s Guest Messaging Insights tool dives into your guest messages across all booking platforms. Using AI, it analyzes these interactions and pulls out hidden opportunities that you might be missing. And the best part? It’s FREE, and you’ll get your personalized report in just 72 hours. Here’s what this AI-powered report will do for you: Analyze your message volume so you can see exactly where your time is going. Break down common guest questions, giving you the info you need to improve your property listings and FAQs. Provide sentiment analysis to understand how guests feel and spot potential issues before they escalate. Offer personalized recommendations that highlight upselling opportunities you might have overlooked, allowing you to tailor your services more effectively. Get the report About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	05 Oct 2022	How to Go from Zero to One as an STR Entrepreneur	00:55:38
Meet Bryce Garcia. Bryce works in sales for a SaaS company by day and is building his own collection of STRs by night. When Bryce’s mom found out he had bought a condo in Austin, site unseen, during the middle of the pandemic, and planned to live in one room and rent out the other on Airbnb she thought he had gone NUTS. But when Bryce made enough money over one holiday weekend to pay his mortgage for the month, she told Bryce’s father, “maybe the kid is on to something.” In this episode, Bryce and I talk about: How to get into the game as a new STR investor The tech stack you need from 0 - 3 properties How to use Twitter to grow your brand and business as an STR entrepreneur The best people to follow on Twitter for tips on STR investing and business building And lots more. Follow Bryce on Twitter This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts. One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System. Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries. That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why: 1. Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. 2. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review. 3. It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings. 4. And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout. Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts. Try Guesty for Hosts for Free. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	29 Oct 2024	Transforming Landscapes into Luxury Stays: The Future of Glamping with Edward Haynes	00:50:48
Meet Edward Haynes — a visionary entrepreneur with roots in the event rental industry, now revolutionizing the luxury glamping space. What started as a pivot during the pandemic has become a mission to help landowners transform beautiful landscapes into high-end, profitable escapes. Edward’s journey reflects the intersection of innovation, craftsmanship, and hospitality, blending unique structures with unforgettable guest experiences. His company EJH Distribution sources and distributes premium accommodations—from safari tents to stunning glass “Tubo” structures—while Posh Outdoors empowers landowners to build luxury stays through profit-sharing partnerships. For Edward, success is more than just unique units; it’s about crafting experiences that make the first and last impressions unforgettable. Tune in to hear: How Edward pivoted from events to hospitality in response to the pandemic The rise of luxury glamping and why travelers are turning away from conventional hotels Posh Outdoors’ unique business model, helping landowners monetize with minimal upfront costs Why Edward believes ski resorts and vineyards will become the next big hubs for luxury stays The challenge of balancing prefab solutions with customization to maintain uniqueness How Posh’s first site in Sky Ridge, Canada will set a new standard for luxury glamping F&B innovations for remote resorts and the power of shared spaces in hospitality Edward’s deep understanding of both events and hospitality means no detail is overlooked, from on-site amenities to the guest journey itself. Whether you’re curious about starting your own micro-resort or fascinated by the latest glamping trends, this conversation offers insights into the future of luxury hospitality. Alright, friends—without further ado, get ready to meet Edward. Learn more about EJH Distribution Learn more about Posh Outdoors Connect with Edward on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully. Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests? Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play. This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line. But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	18 Jul 2023	How He Built the MIT of Vacation Rental Communities — Meet Matt Landau	01:02:53
Meet Matt Landau, the founder of VRMB — a vacation rental marketing blog and community for the world’s most innovative vacation rental professionals. When Matt was a senior at the University of Richmond, he stumbled upon an alumni magazine that wound up changing his life. On the cover of this magazine was an alum sitting in a hammock while on a beach in Costa Rica. While Matt had no idea what this guy did that enabled him to chillax in such a pristine aesthetic, he made up his mind then and there that he wanted to do whatever it was that this guy did. And as it turned out, this guy had started the top luxury travel agency in Costa Rica. So Matt decided to shoot his shot and ask this guy to get together for a coffee next time he was in town…and, to Matt’s pleasant surprise, he did. This opportunity was Matt’s foray into travel and hospitality and, while he didn’t know it at the time, this job would enable him to buy his own vacation rental management agency and, eventually, build a prolific online platform and membership community that thousands of professional operators all around the world would one day come to learn from and be inspired by. This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the smartest property management software for vacation rental hosts. You can get a 30% discount on your first 3 months by mentioning Behind the Stays after booking a call or requesting more information from their team. Learn more about OwnerRez here. Connect with Matt on LinkedIn Learn more about the VRMB Community Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a carefully-curated newsletter that sends subscribers 150 of the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe for free at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus (@zboozee) — Co-Founder of Sponstayneous. If you know of an Airbnb host you think we should have on the show, please reach out directly to Zach at zach@sponstayneous.com and he'd be happy to talk with them.
	02 Apr 2024	He Dropped Out of School to Build a Short-Term Rental Portfolio — Here's What He's Learned So Far.	00:44:10
In just a moment you’ll meet Antonio Bafia, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who dropped out of college to pursue his dream of building hospitality businesses. Growing up, Antonio was a competitive hockey player — he dreamed of one day playing in the NHL. And while that dream never came to fruition, the discipline he learned playing hockey equipped him wonderfully for the exciting and taxing journey of being an entrepreneur. In this episode, Antonio and I discuss: how he built a portfolio of short-term rentals across the country in partnership with his dad why he’s so bullish on finding and then sticking to a niche why he believes that service is the next frontier of true competitiveness in the space his dreams over the next few years and so much more Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Antonio. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	18 Oct 2022	The Top Airbnb Secrets and Strategies from a Former Airbnb Employee	00:55:50
Meet Daniel Rusteen. Daniel is the self-proclaimed “world’s best at Airbnb.” And before you laugh or roll your eyes, he’s got a pretty solid case for why this title is fitting. Daniel worked at Airbnb for several years, launched his own Airbnb property management business, is building his own collection of luxe Airbnbs, has a plethora of courses, tools, and resources he’s developed for Airbnb hosts AND has spent more than 2,000 nights staying at Airbnbs! So, yeah, the dude knows a thing or two about the Airbnb ecosystem. Tune into a riveting conversation on how to optimize your Airbnb business and what Daniel thinks the future of travel and hospitality will look like over the next few years. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Daniel. Visit Daniel's Website Book a stay at Daniel's Airbnb Follow Daniel on Twitter This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts. One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System. Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries. That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why: 1. Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. 2. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review. 3. It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings. 4. And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout. Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts. Try Guesty for Hosts for Free. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	16 Aug 2023	Lessons Learned While Building a Portfolio of 100+ Airbnbs AFTER the COVID Boom — with Taylor Jones	00:59:54
Meet Taylor Jones, Head of Acquisition at Techvestor, one of my favorite STR thought leaders to follow on social media, and a good friend of the Behind the Stays podcast. After losing his sales job during COVID, Taylor spent hundreds of hours watching YouTube videos to learn all that he could about short-term rental real estate investing and the growing trend of experiential hospitality. Today, he leads acquisitions at Techvestor, and in our chat, Taylor talks about everything he and his team have learned while building a portfolio of over 100 Airbnbs over the last 17 months. Techvestor focuses on transforming run-of-the-mill single-family homes into unique, curated short-term rentals and Taylor shares the success they’ve found in sticking to and being bullish about this model. Follow Taylor on Twitter Connect with him on LinkedIn Learn more about Techvestor here. This episode is brought to you by OwnerRez — the property management software most-loved by professional vacation rental mangers. If you’re in the market for a better platform to help you manage your STR portfolio, OwnerRez is offering Behind the Stays listeners 30% off the first 3 months…all you gotta to is mention Behind the Stays when talking to a team member at OwnerRez! Also, in about 15 minutes from now, you’ll get to hear an exclusive chat I had with Tyann Marcink, an industry leader who LOVES OwnerRez. So head on over to ownerreservations.com and give OwnerRez a good lookover! I want to meet you all in person! Annette and Sarah from Thanks for Visiting were kind enough to invite me to come speak at TFVCON on SEO Strategy for STR Hosts and I can’t wait to participate in this dynamic event. I’d love to meet all you listeners in PERSON…so please consider coming to the event. You can use the discount code “BTS” as in “Behind the Stays” at checkout for $150 off any ticket level. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	16 May 2023	How to Keep Guests Coming Back — A Conversation on Loyalty Programs, Guest Experience, and Hospitality Branding with Robin Craigen	01:14:25
Meet Robin Craigen, Co-Founder and CEO of Moving Mountains —a luxury collection of lodging properties in Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek, Vail, and Breckenridge, Colorado. Robin began his hospitality entrepreneurship journey alongside his wife Heather at sea. Yes, you heard that right, the Craigens ran a luxury yacht charter business around the British Virgin Islands. And while sailing the stunning waters of the BVI was nothing short of a dream, Robin and Heather had higher aspirations. The couple moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and decided to open up a ski chalet business. And that business? Well they called it Moving Mountains and today, they manage more than 200 properties across in Colorado’s most desirable ski towns. In this conversation, Robin shares: - His musings on the current state of the vacation rental industry - His thoughts on how to best leverage OTAs - How he’s scaled a team to manage 200+ properties with the kind of service and attention to detail of a 5-start resort - Why he thinks Moving Mountains generates so many returning guests - How he’s thinking about growing in other vacation destinations with his soon-to-be-launched sub-brands Moving Beaches and Moving Oceans. Book your stay at a Moving Mountains property. Connect with Robin on LinkedIn. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan. If you have more than one short-term-rental, chances are you use a system for your property management — something like Guesty or Uplisting. Well, Minoan is a TOTALLY FREE system that hosts use for furnishing and refreshing their homes. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	26 Nov 2024	Scaling Soulfully: The Story of The Archer Hotel and The Rise of Boutique Business Travel	00:56:56
In just a moment you'll meet Peter Triolo, the General Manager of Archer Hotel Tysons, a standout boutique hotel that's redefining hospitality in Virginia. With over eight years at Archer, Peter has been a driving force behind the brand's growth—from his beginnings at the Archer Hotel Napa to the expansion of unique properties across the country. His journey is all about creating genuine, memorable experiences that resonate with every guest. Archer Hotels are more than just places to stay; they're immersive environments that reflect the soul of their local communities. Each hotel is thoughtfully designed with local inspiration—from the peach murals honoring Tysons' history as a former peach field to daily treats and cocktails that celebrate regional flavors. Tune in to hear: How Archer Hotels craft unique yet consistently welcoming experiences across different locations The brand's philosophy of being playful, careful, and thoughtful in every guest interaction Stories of personalized touches, like handwritten notes and special surprises that make stays unforgettable Peter's insights on maintaining a boutique feel while the brand grows The importance of community connections and supporting local artisans And so much more Discover The Archer Hotel Connect with Peter on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN! Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space. It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. Don’t miss out – the super early bird rate expires Friday November 22nd and you can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami! Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
	04 Oct 2024	How They're Reimagining Affordable Experiential Travel by Building a National Hostel Brand	00:26:09
Meet Nathan St Cyr, the co-founder of Howzit Hostels, a next-generation travel brand transforming hostel stays in the U.S. Nathan and his co-founder Michael have been on the pod before, but Nathan joined us at the recent Unique Stays Summit that Ben Woldff and I hosted so I wanted to bring him back on to share some more details on what he’s building. In this episode, Nathan shares the bold and inspiring journey behind building Howzit—a hospitality brand focused on creating affordable, community-driven, and experiential stays that challenge the traditional hostel model. Nathan and I discuss: How his team recognized the gap in the U.S. hostel market, with over 300,000 hotels but only 309 hostels, and the vision for Howzit Hostels to fill that void. Their mission to grow into a $400 million company while maintaining responsible growth and delivering unforgettable guest experiences. The surprising fulfillment Nathan and his team have found in cultivating the hostel community, which initially started as a pure financial opportunity. The challenges and opportunities in scaling their brand in cities like Austin, Boston, and Denver, and why they focus on underappreciated real estate assets. What sets Howzit Hostels apart from other experiential brands like Selena, and how Nathan's unique approach to hostel development is fueling growth. Tune in to hear Nathan’s thoughtful insights on what it takes to build a large-scale hostel brand in an overlooked market and why Howzit Hostels is perfectly positioned to shape the future of affordable experiential travel in the U.S. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully. Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests? Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play. This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line. But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	21 Jul 2023	How She Built a Private Club for Hosts Who’ve Mastered the Art of Hospitality	01:00:49
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Minoan. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Create your free account here and be sure to tell the team that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way! Meet Samantha Pike, founder of The Hosting Societe — a private club for hosts who have mastered the art of experiential accommodations. Back in 2018, Samantha launched her first vacation rental in Ontario — she had poured so much love and intention into the space that when she opened her calendar it booked out for 6 months almost immediately. Samantha was stunned by the response and began wondering whether she had scratched an itch that the next generations of guests had for highly-curated short-term stays. Sam started posting about her approach to hosting on Instagram and, before she knew it, folks with a similar heart for elevated hospitality began asking her to swap ideas and connect to share stories. And it really was these requests that got Sam thinking about what it might look like to design a space where these exceptional creators of some of the world’s most beloved stays could come together. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Sam built The Hosting Societe and what she thinks the future of travel and hospitality just might look like… Learn more about The Hosting Societe Connect with Samantha on Instagram About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	30 Sep 2022	How to Make Your Airbnb Instaworthy — Ideas from an Award-Winning STR Photographer	00:48:50
Meet Jon Kreye — an award-winning Airbnb and VRBO photographer. Growing up, you’d often find Jon in the backyard snapping photos of trees, flowers, and wildlife — he has always been moved by the beauty nature offers. Jon dreamed of being able to do photography full-time, but was sober to the fact that making it as a full-time photographer is super difficult. One day, while traveling in Minnesota, Jon posted photos of the cabin he was staying at on Instagram — and while he didn’t know it at the time, this decision would change the course of his life forever. Tune in to hear the story of how the success of those first posts on Instagram inspired Jon to focus his photography business around the short term travel space. Follow Jon on Instagram. This episode is brought to you by BuildUp Bookings. SEO. Paid Search. Email Marketing. You know they are the marketing trifecta needed to build your brand and increase direct bookings to your properties... But, outside of watching a couple of YouTube videos and listening to a few STR podcasts, you haven’t had the time to really understand how Google ranks content or what subject line and preview text combo are the best when sending an email to your list about last-minute availability. If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re not just any run of the mill STR or vacation rental host — you’re an entrepreneur who wants to see their portfolio of homes and the brand that encompasses grow. And this week’s podcast sponsor, BuildUp Bookings, can help you do just that. BuildUp Bookings is the digital marketing team that some of the best players in the game use to scale their businesses. I had their founder, Conrad O’Connell on Episode 44 of the podcast...and let me tell you — this guys know his stuff! In just the last 12 months, BuildUp Bookingshas helped their clients earn over $48 million in direct bookings. If 90% of your bookings are coming via the Airbnbs and VRBOs of the world, it might be time to audit and augment your direct booking strategy — and Conrad and his team have set up a special landing page for Behind the Stays listeners chock-full of free resources to help you do so. Head on over to www.BuildUpBookings.com/BTS to learn more. And be sure to request a free marketing strategy session with Conrad and tell him Zach from Behind the Stays sent you his way! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	11 Oct 2022	Hot Takes on the Future of Travel and Hospitality with Nate Ritter, Co-Founder of Room Steals	01:05:06
Meet Nate Ritter — founder of Room Steals, a travel membership that provides customers with incredible deals on hotel rooms. Nate is a technology executive who has started, bought, and sold companies and who has also consulted for companies like Microsoft and Land Rover. Fun fact — Nate also popularized the use of the hashtag on Twitter…pretty cool, huh? In this episode, we talk about: Where the idea for Room Steals came from and how it compares to Expedia and other OTAs How to build a productized experience for your STR collection Hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality What it’s like to live full time in an RV as a family of 5 Sign up for Room Steals Follow Nate on Twitter Get to Know More About Nate on His Website This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts. One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System. Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries. That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why: 1. Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. 2. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review. 3. It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings. 4. And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout. Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts. Try Guesty for Hosts for Free. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	01 Oct 2024	How a Land Blunder Turned into the Most Instagrammable Stay in the Mountains of Quebec: The Story of LD Cabin	00:57:59
Meet Melissa and Sacha Leclair, the dynamic duo behind LD Cabin, an awe-inspiring modern cabin retreat nestled in the stunning mountains of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. In this episode, Melissa and Sacha share the inspiring journey of how they transformed their love for design and nature into a hospitality brand that allows guests to experience relaxation in its purest form. Melissa, Sacha, and I discuss: The story of how their personal escapism adventures led to building LD Cabin. The wild twists during construction, including accidentally designing for the wrong lot and powering the entire build with a generator for a year. How Instagram and their design aesthetic have played a pivotal role in shaping the cabin’s brand, turning their followers into an active, engaged community that helped influence decisions during the build. The unique partnerships that brought the cabin to life, with everything from custom-built cornhole boards to brand collaborations with KitchenAid and Blackwood Siding. Tune in to hear Melissa and Sacha’s thoughtful approach to designing experiences that not only captivate guests but also immerse them in nature, inspiring repeat visits and creating lasting memories. If you're passionate about unique stays, design, and creating unforgettable guest experiences, this episode is packed with ideas and insights that will leave you inspired. Book a stay at LD Cabin Follow Melissa and Sacha on Instagram Follow LD Cabin on Instagram This episode is brought to you by Enso Connect: My new friends at Enso Connect have created a tool that’s putting AI to work in a way that’s saving hospitality pros countless hours every week. Here’s how it works: Enso Connect’s Guest Messaging Insights tool dives into your guest messages across all booking platforms. Using AI, it analyzes these interactions and pulls out hidden opportunities that you might be missing. And the best part? It’s FREE, and you’ll get your personalized report in just 72 hours. Here’s what this AI-powered report will do for you: Analyze your message volume so you can see exactly where your time is going. Break down common guest questions, giving you the info you need to improve your property listings and FAQs. Provide sentiment analysis to understand how guests feel and spot potential issues before they escalate. Offer personalized recommendations that highlight upselling opportunities you might have overlooked, allowing you to tailor your services more effectively. Get the report This episode is also brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio: This episode is brought to you by Hudson Creative Studio — the leading web design agency for vacation rental managers. Hudson Creative is offering a special deal for Behind the Stays listeners. When you mention Behind the Stays during your discovery call, you’ll get 10% off any service level option. If you’re serious about taking your hospitality brand to the next level, head over to HudsonCreativeStudio.com/behindthestays. Trust me, Eli and his team will make your website something truly special. And don’t forget to listen to our series, "Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Hospitality Websites," which we’ll link in the show notes below, for a deep dive into what makes these guys the best in the biz. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	24 Feb 2023	How WeWork, Jimmy Kimmel, and Instagram Helped Him Build DEN Outdoors	01:01:42
Meet Michael Romanowicz, the founder and CEO of DEN Outdoors. Mike is a software designer by trade, but has always had a love for the natural world. So, when he wasn’t busy leading the product team at Conductor, which was a content marketing platform owned by WeWork, Mike was tinkering with some designs for a minimalist, beautiful cabin he could build in the woods one day. After sharing his designs with some buddies and seeing their positive reactions he thought that there might be an opportunity to sell these plans to others. And, well, an opportunity there sure was. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how: How Mike bootstrapped DEN Outdoors to seven figures of revenue How Instagram fueled DEN’s growth and inspired Mike to leave his day job How he landed Jimmy Kimmel as an Angel Investor And the exciting new offerings DEN is building for the next generation of builders and hospitality entrepreneurs. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	13 Dec 2022	How an Instagram Post Landed Their Airbnb in Vogue — Meet the Creators of The Kingdom A-Frame	01:11:12
Meet Alexis and Skeeter — the creators of The Kingdom A-Frame, a quintessential New England escape in Burke, Vermont. Alexis and Skeeter love mountain biking and have traveled to Northeastern Vermont to traverse the Kingdom Trails for years! These trails are known as the crown jewel of East Coast mountain biking. Alexis and Skeeter have three dogs and struggled to find an Airbnb that both allowed dogs and offered an inspirational aesthetic. After doing some back-of-the-napkin math, the couple realized that, given the frequency of their travels to Burke, they might actually be better off buying a place then continuing to book stays on Airbnb. Tune in to hear the fun story of: How Alexis and Skeeter found and refurbished The Kingdom A-Frame How an instagram post landed their A-Frame in Vogue How they’ve balanced increasing their nightly rate (as their insta-fame has grown) with their original mission of creating a beautiful, accessible, and unique escape for all Follow The Kingdom A-Frame on Instagram Book Your Stay at The Kingdom A-Frame This episode of Behind the Stays is brought to you by our friends at Touch Stay. Touch Stay enables hosts to build beautiful, digital guidebooks in a matter of minutes… And enhances the guest experience by packaging your recommendations for coffee, wine bars, artisan bakeries, and Michelin star restaurants in a single online location. Guests can access everything through a simple link — and yes, it works WITHOUT a wifi connection. Touch Stay allows you to customize your guidebook to match your brand — pick the colors, fonts, and images that best align with your STR. Learn more about a plethora of other features they have, and start your free trail at touchstay.com/bts (as in, Behind the Stays). If you liked this episode, you're going to love some of our other recent conversations: How She Built an Insta-Famous Airbnb — The Story Behind the Cozy Rock Cabin. She Left Her Law Career to Become a Hospitality Entrepreneur — Meet the Creator of Field and Lake From Serving in Afghanistan to Hosting on Airbnb: Meet the Founders of Seasons‘ Yield Farm About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	04 Apr 2023	Budgeting for Your A-Frame Airbnb Build: Tips from The Back Country A-Frame Creator	00:57:19
Meet Janice Stitzer, the creator of The Back Country A-Frame in Kremmling, Colorado. One afternoon Janice was flipping through a Dwell magazine when she stumbled upon a piece about a new start-up called DEN, which was selling plans for some of the most beautiful cabins she had ever seen. Janice was so impressed by the gorgeous DEN designs, particularly their designs for A-Frames, that right then and there she decided it was time to put her dream of building a short-term-rental from the ground up to life. In this podcast, Janice shares her journey of how she was first inspired to build an A-Frame Airbnb, the challenges she faced during the process and we delve deep into the topic of budgeting for a new A-Frame build and discuss the actual cost of building an A-Frame near Rocky Mountain National Park. Follow the Back Country A-Frame on Instagram Stay at the Back Country A-Frame This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	13 Oct 2021	How They Built Bespoke Airbnbs to Help Fund Their Goat Dairy: The Story Behind Big Picture Farm	00:38:06
In just a moment you’ll meet Louisa Conrad, Co-Founder of Big Picture Farm. Big Picture Farm is a Vermont farmstead goat dairy and confectionery whose award-winning caramels have won over a dozen national awards...and while these candies are undeniably decadent, there is more to Big Picture than just the goat dairy… After leaving their careers in academia, Louisa and her husband Lucas founded the farm in 2010. Their vision was to help their customers understand the rich context that surrounds the milk, cheese, and candies produced on the farm. They aspired to tell consumers the story behind the food in hopes that they might, well, understand the “big picture” of how, what, and who made the treats they consumed. But Lousia and Lucas dreamed of taking things a step further...what if they could invite folks to experience the dairy? Could this be a vehicle through which they might expand their mission and help underwrite the cost of their Animal-Welfare-Approved farm? Tune in to hear the story behind how Louisa and her husband Lucas built three bespoke residences on the farm that they now rent out on Airbnb.
	26 Apr 2024	How They Built a Micro Nature Resort in the White Mountains — The Story of Lumen	00:51:55
Meet Boris Mordkovich, who created Lumen Nature Retreat — a luxury waterfront glamping resort nestled in the heart of New Hampshite’s White Mountains — in partnership with his wife Susan. The idea for Lumen was born while Boris and Susan traveled from Boston to Argentina over a 6-month road trip for an extended honeymoon. During this trip, their Toyota Land Cruiser car had a rooftop tent that allowed them to camp at some of the most spectacular places — from bush camping in the middle of the salt flats and next to volcanoes to little campgrounds and campsites all over North, Central and South America. Upon their return, they dreamed of being able to offer a nature-immersive experience that enabled folks in their hometown, Boston, to escape the city for a long weekend retreat. And, while they couldn’t have known how it would all work out at the time, that dream wound up becoming Lumen. In this conversation, Boris and I discuss: How they found the perfect 20-acre plot of land for Lumen How they decided on the types of units they’d offer at Lumen Which of their unit types perform best and why Lessons learned when building a luxury product offering in a shared space How they’ve differentiated themselves from other offerings in the market What they’re planning next And so much more Alright friends, without further ado, get ready to meet Boris. Follow Lumen on Instagram Book a Stay at Lumen This episode is brought to you by our friends at Can Monkey — the Uber for Trash Service for your Short-Term Rentals. Can Monkey ensures that the trash cans at your Airbnbs are moved to the curb and back promptly on collection day so that if you’ve got a same-day turnover your new guest arrives to a clean and empty trash bin. And for those unexpected situations, like a guest leaving behind excess trash or an unexpected mid-week turnover, their OnDemand trash removal enables you to book a CanRunner (cool name huh?) to immediately come and remedy the situation. For just $49/month per property, Can Monkey will pick up and return both your trash and recycling cans on your home’s pick up days No hidden costs. You are never locked into a contract. And whether you’ve got one property or 100, Can Monkey can have you up and running within a week. To learn more about why hosts love this Uber for trash solution, head on over to CanMonkey.com and submit the form on the home page to get more information about how Can Monkey can help you. Oh, and if you do, be sure to mention that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way and you’ll qualify for an exclusive discount off of your first month of using Can Monkey. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	28 Jul 2021	How to Design a Luxury Airbnb in Harmony with Nature	01:00:52
In just a moment you’ll meet Laura Gentry and Carollani Sandberg — the creators of The Sagecliff Satori, a luxurious Airbnb cabin in Quincy, Washington. Laura and Carollani are what you might call “experience optimizers”. They love to travel, try new restaurants, and explore off the beaten paths, but can’t help but do so with a critical eye. They often ask each other, “what would you do differently if you owned this space?” or “how might you enhance this experience to make it even more memorable?” Carollani had decided that it was time to sell her townhouse and explore the possibility of a new rental property -- one that she and her family could use for short term rentals. One afternoon, Laura and Carollani were having lunch with a few friends who worked in real estate investments and the bunch started chatting about up and coming neighborhoods in and around the greater Seattle area, but none of these areas particularly compelled Laura and Carollani. Right before lunch wrapped up, one of their friends casually mentioned a new development out in Quincy, Washington — about 2.5 hours east of Seattle. This development was to feature a collective of luxury condos that overlooked the Columbia River Gorge. And, while they didn’t know it at the time, that moment was the genesis of what would become The Sagecliffe Satori. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Laura and Carollani brought one of the most incredible and magical stays available on the Airbnb platform to life. Book Your Stay: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/34682157 Follow the Stay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecliffesatori Follow the Stay on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagecliffe/
	25 Oct 2022	How to Inspire the Next Generation of Real Estate Investors — Meet Ali Nichols, Co-Founder of Getaway	00:53:09
Meet Ali Nichols — Co-Founder of Getaway. Getaway is on a mission to make vacation rental real estate accessible to the next generations of investors and to reimagine travel memberships by allowing investors to stay in the premier homes they own. Ali has been interested in real estate since she was a young child. She’d come home on Sunday mornings after church and circle listings in the newspaper with open houses she wanted to visit. After working for technology companies like Uber and Bungalow, Ali was bit by that entrepreneurial bug and began desiring to start her own company. Tune in to hear the story behind where the idea of Getaway came from and what her goals are for the company over the next 12 months. Discover Getaway Connect with Ali on LinkedIn This week's episode is brought to you by Guesty for Hosts. One of the questions I get asked a lot from listeners is what they should look for in a PMS or Property Management System. Now, we’re lucky — there are a lot of great options in the market, which can’t be said for software platforms in all industries. That said, I always encourage them to take a good look at Guesty for Hosts — and here’s why: 1. Guesty’s Channel Manager helps you centralize data across the major booking platforms and stay on top of all activity on your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. 2. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to ensure you connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. You can make custom messages for a variety of situations, from a response to an initial inquiry to a post check-out follow up encouraging your guests to leave a review. 3. It includes a Website Builder feature that allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your listing’s brand value and increase your direct bookings. 4. And finally, Guesty just raised over $170 million dollars which means they got some serious cash to continue to seriously invest in their product! So here’s the deal. If you’re a STR host without a PMS system or a host looking to explore a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers 20% off of their first year when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” at checkout. Get started with a 14 day free trial today — no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Once your 14 day free trial is up, use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” for 20% off of your first year. Guesty for Hosts — it’s the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts. Try Guesty for Hosts for Free. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	12 Apr 2024	Building the Extraordinary: How to Design Getaways for the Next Generations	00:54:07
Meet Louis Thompson — Founder and CEO of Nomadic Resorts, a consultancy that designs and builds some of the world’s most innovative and unique hotels and homes. Growing up, Louis wanted to be a chef — and while he never pursued his culinary aspirations he did wind up designing some of the world’s most memorable restaurants. In this conversation, Louis and I discuss how he thinks about designing luxury, unique stays, how he predicts short-term rental collections and hotel brands will partner in the coming years, the unique opportunities that exist in Europe to lease land from estates to build unique structures on them, and so much more. Explore Nomadic Resorts Connect with Louis on LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	28 Feb 2023	He Spent $500k Building a Massive Airbnb Container Home — Meet The Pacific Bin by Devon Loerop	01:04:38
Meet Devon Loerop, the creator of The Pacific Bin — a luxurious escape made of 5 shipping containers, just an hour outside of Seattle. Devon grew up in the midwest but was born with a New York City mindset — from the time he was young, he hustled hard, and enjoyed proving people wrong when they said “he couldn’t, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t” do something. Devon is a mechanical engineer by trade, but after being bored out of his mind during his first job after college, he decided to try his hand as a creative and became obsessed with photography and videography. And, while he didn’t know it at the time, this decision would quite literally change the course of his life. Tune in to hear the story of how Devon: Left the Chicago suburbs and moved to Seattle on a whim Invested his entire life savings into Tesla stock at the perfect moment Learned how to weld so that he could build a unique Airbnb by himself Spent $500,000 building a one-of-a-kind, category-re-defining container home in the Cascade Mountains of Washington Grew an Instagram following from 0 to 750k in one year This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guesty for Hosts... Will you send them a quick message thanking them for being a sponsor? You can email them here or DM them on social media here! While there are many property management softwares on the market, I always encourage our listeners to check out Guesty For Hosts. Guesty's channel manager centralizes reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to stay on top of your listings without having to hop back and forth between channels. Guesty’s automation tools enable you to connect with guests in a meaningful, creative, and instant fashion. Guesty’s new and improved Website Builder allows you to create your own branded booking website in just minutes…allowing you to grow your brand and increase your direct bookings. And finally, Guesty is positioned well to grow with you. As your business grows, you can grow with Guesty For Pros, unlocking new features and offerings designed for larger portfolios. So here’s the deal. If you’re an. STR host without a PMS system or a host looking at exploring a new one, I’ve got a treat for you. The team at Guesty is giving Behind the Stays listeners and Sponstayneous subscribers $20 off an annual or monthly plan of Guesty For Hosts when they use the discount code “SPONSTAYNEOUS” when signing up for a free 14 day trial - no credit card, set up fee, or commitment required — and cancel anytime if you don't love it. Guesty For Hosts — they’re the bestie of top-rated STR super hosts! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	14 Jan 2025	Building the Next Generation of Luxury Hotels: Dan Flannery on Launching EDITION and His New Vision for Loews Hotels	00:58:35
Meet Dan Flannery, a hospitality leader with an extraordinary career, has spent decades redefining luxury travel. From his early days at Marriott to helping launch the Edition brand with Ian Schrager, and now leading operations at Loews Hotels, Dan’s journey is a masterclass in blending vision with execution. Guided by a belief that true luxury lies in refinement and authenticity, Dan’s approach to hospitality is both rooted in tradition and forward-thinking. His story is one of passion, precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. In this episode, Zach sits down with Dan to explore his remarkable career and gain a deeper understanding of the trends shaping luxury hospitality today. Tune in to hear how... Dan collaborated with Ian Schrager to launch Edition, crafting a luxury lifestyle brand rooted in creativity and obsessive attention to detail. The definition of modern luxury is evolving, with today’s travelers seeking unexpected, authentic, and deeply personal experiences. Lowe’s Hotels is carving its niche by focusing on destination-driven properties that combine immersive experiences with group events. Independent hoteliers can differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape by building brands with a singular, uncompromising vision. Thoughtful design, from the quality of a room’s olive oil to the flow of a restaurant space, plays a pivotal role in creating unforgettable guest experiences. Dan’s story is a powerful reminder that great hospitality starts with visionaries who aren’t afraid to push boundaries. Whether you’re dreaming of opening a single boutique property or building a brand that scales globally, this conversation offers invaluable lessons from one of the industry’s brightest minds. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.
	25 Oct 2024	How an HGTV Director and Executive Chef Brought Two Luxury Inns to Life: The Story of The Lost Fox Inn and Foxfire Mountain House	00:57:38
Meet Eliza Clark, the Co-Founder of Foxfire Mountain House and The Lost Fox Inn, two remarkable boutique hotels in New York and Connecticut. Eliza is an inspiring storyteller turned hospitality entrepreneur who grew up outside of Toronto. From her beginnings as a novelist and TV director for HGTV, to co-founding two breathtaking inn Eliza’s journey is all about crafting immersive experiences that bring people together. The story of Eliza’s journey into hospitality entrepreneurship is really a love story — after a hard divorce, she met now-husband Tim, an executive American chef. It was their romance that ultimately inspired Eliza to take a leap from television to hospitality. Together, they’ve created boutique properties that seamlessly blend history, design, and unforgettable food and beverage experiences. Their hotels aren’t just places to stay; they’re curated environments built with heart, imagination, and a whole lot of hard work. Tune in to hear: How Eliza’s storytelling background influences every aspect of her properties The challenges and joys of running a hospitality business as a family The creative process behind transforming a bioluminescent fungus into a brand story (you won’t want to miss this one!) Lessons from balancing beautifully designed spaces with Tim’s world-class food and beverage programs Why Eliza believes boutique hospitality is about offering personalized, “indie” travel experiences And so much more Alright, friends, without further ado, let’s jump in with Eliza Clark. Book a Stay at Lost Fox Inn Book a Stay at Foxfire Mountain House Follow Lost Fox on Instagram Follow Byrd Studio on Instagram This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully. Upselling sounds great in theory, but how do you actually do it? How do you know what to offer, and how do you make it seamless for your guests? Well, that’s where Hostfully’s latest eBook comes into play. This isn’t just another generic guide; it’s a goldmine of insights drawn from real transaction data collected from June 2023 to June 2024. We’re talking about the most popular upsells that guests actually buy — from early check-ins to premium amenity access — and how these can significantly enhance your bottom line. But here’s the best part: this eBook doesn’t just leave you with data; it gives you practical advice and checklists to help you start implementing these upsells right away. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple upsell or looking to expand your offerings, Hostfully has you covered. About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.
	29 Dec 2021	How They Built a Tiny Cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains	00:45:32
In just a moment, you’ll meet Tim and Cindi Spaulding — the builders, designers, and hosts of Salamander Ridge — a charming tiny cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Tim and Cindi, along with their three children, love the outdoors — the Spaulding family are avid campers, hikers, creek walkers, and trail runners. One afternoon, after Cindi had contracted a bad case of poison ivy, the family decided to go on a creek walk in the Blue Ridge Mountains right near the Appalachian Trail. While wading through the stream, the couple noticed a property for sale up on the mountainside. The 2.5 acre lot was stunning, but upon further investigation they realized that a sale was already pending. Being the optimists they are, Tim and Cindi decided to call the realtor to see if there was any chance the seller might entertain another offer…and, as luck would have it, the seller was interested. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Tim and Cindi brought Salamander Ridge, one of Airbnb’s highest-rated escapes for outdoor enthusiasts, to life. You can book The Salamander Ridge on Airbnb and follow them on Instagram here.
	26 Sep 2023	How to Build a Portfolio of 100 Single-Family Airbnbs and Transform Them into Unique Experiences	00:58:33
Want to save 30-40% off West Elm purchase for your Airbnb? Or hundreds off of instagram famous mattresses from Bear or Purple? Then you'll want to create your free account with our partner Minoan. Minoan provides hosts with a one-stop-shop to get hundreds of discounts on the world’s leading brands, and a system where you can manage all of the ordering, tracking, returns, etc. in one place. Saving you time and money! Sign up and tell them that Zach from Behind the Stays sent you there way. Meet Sief Khafagi, Co-Founder of Techvestor — one of the hottest new services that allows folks to passively invest in short-term rentals. Sief has spent his entire career working in tech, and helped scale one of Facebook’s largest engineering organizations from a couple hundred to thousands across the world. It was during his time at Facebook where he met his now Co-Founder Sabrina who owned a couple of Airbnbs. Sief was shocked by how successful her short-term rentals were that he asked Sabrina if he could just give her money to go buy and operate his own STRs. And, while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this ask would be the seed of the idea which would ultimately blossom into Techvestor. Today, Techvestor owns and operates nearly 100 short-term rentals in some of the country’s most desirable vacation markets. Tune in to hear: - the story of how Sief helped build Techvestor - why Techvestor is bullish on single-family homes - what their secret sauce to sourcing, designing, and launching STRs looks like - the opportunities he sees to build new tech and new businesses in the space, and his hot takes on the future of travel and hospitality. Learn more about Techvestor here Have you signed up for Minoan yet? In this episode we feature a Minoan customer review from Alyson, the founder of SmartStays — discover what she loves most about Minoan and how Minoan has helped her save thousands of dollars setting up her short term rentals. Create your totally free Minoan account here. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	08 Dec 2023	They Sold Their Auto Body Shop — Then Built the Country’s Most Wish-Listed Summer Escape on Airbnb	00:45:52
Meet Ashley and Andy — the creators of The Glass Treehouse, a stunning couple’s stay in Banner Elk, North Carolina close to downtown Boone. Andy is a mechanic by trade. After spending years working in the airline industry, he decided to open up his own auto body shop in Charlotte, North Carolina. While Ashely and Andy loved the benefits that came with owning a small business, the couple dreamed of one day leaving Charlotte to move to the mountains. One day while scrolling through Zillow, Andy stumbled upon a house that had been on the market for 3 years…and, while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this dilapidated home that had been passed over hundreds of times would one day become one of Airbnb’s most wish-listed stays in the entire United States. Follow The Glass Treehouse on Instagram Book a Stay at The Glass Treehouse This episode is brought to yo buy our friends at Booklee. Booklee like a Linktree designed exclusively for Airbnb hosts and STR property managers. If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you’re a hospitality entrepreneur that cares about building a brand for your Airbnb/STR business and that’s why many of you invest so much time into building your presence on Instagram. Knowing where to direct your Instagram followers to is always a challenge: Should you send them to your Airbnb listing directly to show off your incredible reviews? Or to your direct booking site which is a little clunky to navigate on mobile but will save you 10-15% if your follower books direct? Or maybe you’re testing out VRBO and Booking.com Well, what’s amazing about Booklee is that you don’t have to decide. Booklee allows you to create a stunning link-in-bio page that showcases everything about your property across all platforms. Booklee pulls in and aggregates your reviews across Airbnb, VRBO, and other OTAs, and invites guests to book via your direct booking site or their preferred OTA. Get 20% off your first year of Booklee when you reference Behind the Stays at checkout. Have you signed up for Ping yet? Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings. Sign up today at bnbping.com About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	06 Feb 2023	Marketing Mondays: How to Best Leverage Influencers to Promote Your Airbnb (The Do’s and Don’ts)	00:25:48
Welcome to Marketing Mondays — a new, weekly segment on the Behind the Stays podcast that covers specific marketing strategies and tactics that Airbnb hosts and hospitality entrepreneurs can immediately use to promote their stays. On the first episode of this new Behind the Stays segment, Zach covers: Why you should work with creators A framework for how to discern who to work with and how to work with them How creators can help you increase direct bookings Ideas for how to partner with creators in unique ways Let us know what you think about this new segment by sending us a DM on Instagram @sponstayneous, shooting our founder a DM on Twitter, or sending him an email at zach@sponstayneous.com Before we dive in, I want to quickly plug a product my team and I recently moved out of beta, called Ping, because I think a lot of y’all tuning into this chat will get real value from it! Ping is a simple plugin that lives on your website or direct booking site and integrates with you Airbnb calendar and notifies your fans and followers the minute there is a match between your home’s availability and their desired travel dates. Ping was designed specifically for hosts with unique stays that typically have limited availability. The insta stories y’all post about last minute cancellations is a great start, but what it you could also automatically Ping folks who’ve already expressed interest in the very dates that just opened up?! And that’s exactly what Ping does. All prospective guest data collected in Ping is available to you and if you purchase a premium plan you can integrate Ping directly with you Mail Chimp or Constant Contact accounts! Learn more at BnBping.com or shoot our founder Zach an email at zach@sponstayneous.com if you've got questions! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
	30 May 2024	The Dark Side of Airbnb: How One Host Lost Everything in a Day	01:12:35
In this episode of "Behind the Stays," we bring you a special and urgent conversation with a guest who's no stranger to the show, Elam King — we featured his story on Episode 180 of the podcast. Elam's story is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in the Amish community, he transitioned into a successful hospitality entrepreneur, building an impressive portfolio of short-term rentals. However, just a few days ago, Elam faced a devastating blow—Airbnb kicked him off their platform, leading to a loss of over $200K in bookings. As the host of this podcast, I have a deep respect and admiration for Airbnb. The platform has revolutionized the hospitality industry, providing incredible opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world. This podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories of some of the most inspiring and innovative hospitality entrepreneurs in the space. But it’s also important to share the hard stories—stories that hold Airbnb accountable to their promise of supporting hosts. This is one of those stories. In this gripping conversation, Elam shares the shocking events that led to his account suspension, the challenges of being overly reliant on a single booking platform, and the emotional toll of questioning his own integrity and business practices. We delve into the specifics of how a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings spiraled into a full account ban, impacting not just Elam but also his family and business associates. This episode is not just a cautionary tale but also a story of resilience and determination. Elam opens up about his plans moving forward, his faith, and the support he's received from his community. Whether you're a seasoned host or new to the short-term rental space, Elam's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of diversification and the unpredictable nature of the hospitality business. Without further ado, get ready to hear one of the most compelling and eye-opening stories we've ever shared on "Behind the Stays." Connect with Elam About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee

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