Behind the Stays

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.

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.

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.

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.

In just a moment you’ll meet Joel Holland, CEO of Harvest Hosts — an RV membership program that allows travelers to stay overnight at unique locations around the country including farms, wineries, breweries, and more. Joel is what you might call a creative hustler. As a young teenager, you could either find him selling DVDs and books on eBay or out and about shooting video. Joel loved capturing compelling video content. So much so in fact, that he launched a business called VideoBlocks, which was a marketplace for stock video footage. He grew the company now known as StoryBlocks and sold it back in 2020 — but not before spending a year RVing around the country with his wife. After taking some much deserved time off, Joel began looking for his next opportunity. And that’s when he stumbled upon Harvest Hosts. Tune in to hear the serendipitous story of how Joel discovered, bought, and scaled one of the travel industry’s most beloved brands. Explore Harvest Hosts Connect with Joel on Twitter or LinkedIn. 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.

Meet Tyann Marcink — the Queen of Guest Experience at Touch Stay, a digital guidebook platform for short-term and vacation rental hosts. Tyann has a knack for charting her own path. She’s a resilient creative who owns 2 rental management brands and has been active in the vacation rental industry since 2007. Discover Tyann’s hot takes about the future of the hospitality industry, hear the story behind how she bought a bank and turned it into a vacation rental in the Ozarks, and learn about how she ventured off on her entrepreneurial journey after losing a college scholarship in this episode of Behind the Stays. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Tyann. You can learn more about Touch Stay here. Explore Tyann's Vacation Rentals here. Connect with Tyann on Twitter here. 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 Bookings has 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.

Meet Marcus Rader — Founder and CEO of Hostaway. Marcus grew up in Finland. He was quite a curious kid, but struggled to develop any lasting hobbies as he was easily distracted. After flying for the first time as a six year old, Marcus’ dream was to become a pilot. Something about being at 30,000 feet was inspirational and invigorating. Sadly, Marcus was diagnosed with epilepsy just a few years later. And while he didn’t understand much about the disease as a kid, his soul was crushed when he learned he’d never be able to be a pilot. Tune in to hear the inspirational story of how Marcus turned this moment of despair into the pursuit of greatness and how he ultimately built one of the most valuable all-in-one tools for vacation rental property managers on the market. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Marcus. This episode is brought to you by Build Up 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, Build Up Bookings, can help you do just that. Build Up 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, Build Up Bookings has 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 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

Meet Marc Hostovsky, Founder and CEO of Minoan — a customizable, curated retail platform for short-term rental hosts. Marc is a self-proclaimed boutique geek and is passionate about the future of retail. After spending nearly 6 years working at Jet.com and then Walmart (acquired Jet.com), he quickly realized that the best product experiences don't happen on screens or shelves, they happen in real moments of use "in the wild". Marc founded Minoan to help hosts: create, and capitalize on, rich moments in their homes save money on everything they need to buy and spend a fraction of the time on the unsexy things that come along with ordering (tracking, routing, logistics, etc.) Tune in to discover the exciting story of the early days of Minoan and learn how you, as an STR host, can leverage Minoan for a current or future property. Explore the Minoan Experience Website Connect with Marc on LinkedIn 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 This week's episode is brought to you by Mount. A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego. The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right? There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay. We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not. Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences. Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses! With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds. Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking. Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you. Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at [email protected]

In just a moment you’ll meet Heather Bien and Adam Shapiro, the creators of Rosehill Cottage — a charming river house on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Heather works in marketing at a tech start-up by day and runs her lifestyle and travel blog by night, and Adam works for the federal government. While the couple lives in Washington DC, they thoroughly enjoy weekend escapes from the city. And it was on one of these weekend escapes that they fell in love with the charming Virginian towns along the Chesapeake Bay. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Heather and Adam found the perfect home in Locust Hill, Virginia and how they brought Rosehill Cottage to life. Book Rosehill Cottage on Airbnb. Visit the Rosehill Cottage Website. Follow Rosehill Cottage on Instagram. Follow Heather Bien on Instagram. Discover Heather's Lifestyle Blog. 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 This week's episode is brought to you by Mount. A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego. The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right? There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay. We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not. Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences. Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses! With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds. Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking. Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you. Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at [email protected]

In just a moment, you’ll meet Vinny Breslin, founder of Uplisting — one of the industry’s leading short-term rental software & channel manager platforms. Vinny was born and raised in Ireland. If you were to stumble into his room as a young kid, you might find Vinny taking apart a computer or a radio. When he was 14 years old, he started building websites and was pleasantly surprised when he learned that people would pay him to do such. He went to school for civil engineering and after graduation started working for a SaaS startup building products and services for the travel industry. And it was during this season in his life where he started thinking about starting his own company in the hospitality management space. Tune in to hear the entertaining story of how Vinny Breslin brought Uplisting to life. Explore Uplisting here. Follow Vinny on Twitter here. 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 This week's episode is brought to you by Mount. A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego. The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right? There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay. We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not. Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences. Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses! With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds. Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking. Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you. Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at [email protected]

Meet Arthur Colker, Founder and CEO of StayFi. Growing up, Arthur thought he wanted to be a politician. He was intrigued by how power and influence could move society forward. After going to school in DC and interning on The Hill, Arthur realized that while he loved following politics, working in it wasn’t quite for him. And while he couldn’t have known it at the time, this realization was the first major stepping stone in his journey to becoming an entrepreneur and in founding StayFi — a wifi portal for short term rentals that allows hosts to capture crucial data from their guests. Now you’re going to meet Arthur in JUST a second here, but, before you do so, I have a gift for you. Arthur has offered listeners of Behind the Stays 50% off their first 3 months of StayFi. So, if you’re inspired by what Arthur and his team are building and want to leverage their tools to grow your STR business, head on over to StayFi.com and use the discount code BTS50 at check out for 50% off the first 3 months of your subscription. You can connect with Arthur on Twitter or learn more about StayFi here. 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 This week's episode is brought to you by Mount. A few months ago, Gabby and I stayed at a quintessential beach cottage in San Diego. The home was just 3/4 of a mile from the beach — perfect biking distance, right? There was only one problem — the home didn’t come with bikes, and the nearest bike rental shop was fully committed throughout our stay. We really wanted bikes — so much so that we asked our host if she knew anyone personally that we might be able to rent bikes from. Alas, she did not. Today, I want to introduce you to a company who is solving for this very problem. Meet Mount — a platform that enables STR hosts to transform their homes into full-fledged vacation experiences. Mount let’s you rent just about anything to your guests — bikes, scooters, golf carts, kayaks, and even private chefs and masseuses! With the simple scan of a QR code, guests can explore all of the rental amenities you have to offer. Guests can browse, book, and access anything you make available in a matter of seconds. Mount makes it easy for guests to access anything additional they might need during their stay, and for STR hosts to increase their revenue per booking. Oh, and if you don’t have a bike or scooter to rent, no problem — Mount can provide one for you. Learn more about how you can earn more via your STR with Mount and get your first month free by emailing the Mount team at [email protected]

In just a moment you’ll meet Jason Neil — the creator of Golden Tiny Homes – a collection of minimalist short term rentals in Golden, British Columbia. Growing up, Jason liked working with his hands. He always had an eye for making things better and this perspective ultimately led him to become a builder — like his father before him. Jason has also always loved the outdoors — in fact he spends half the year surfing in Mexico and the other half snowboarding in British Columbia. One summer while surfing in Baja, Jason’s buddies started talking about the emerging Cannabis industry and the business opportunities that surrounded it. Tune in to hear the incredible story of how Jason built up a Cannabis business only to sell it and use the profits of his exit to start building Golden Tiny Homes. Alright, without further adieu, get ready to meet Jason. 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

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

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

Meet Conrad O'Connell (@conradoconnell), Founder and CEO at BuildUp Bookings, a digital marketing agency that helps STR hosts increase direct bookings & build their brands. Conrad was working at a marketing agency after college. This agency onboarded a new client in the boutique hotel space and Conrad was assigned to the account. Pretty instantly, Conrad fell in love with the hospitality space — so much so that he wound up leaving the agency to start a firm of his own. Tune in to hear Conrad share new ideas for how to market STRs, an overview of the most common marketing mistakes that STR hosts make, and how to know if/when it might be time to move off of Airbnb. 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

Meet Debbie Todd, creator of The Woodlands at Hocking Hill. Debbie is a physical therapist and mother of three by day, and an STR host by night. Debbie and her husband Jeff were looking for a vacation home that they could get away to a couple of weekends a month. The idea of renting it out wasn’t totally off the table, but certainly wasn’t a priority. Then one weekend, in the spring of 2020, the family decided to list the property on Airbnb. And, well, it instantly took off…so much so, in fact, that the Todd family was rarely able to stay there! This traction inspired Debbie and Jeff to start searching for another home in Hocking Hills. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Debbie and Jeff found the property which they’d transform into the Woodlands Lodge and how they’ve designed their budding STR business to give back to the community. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Debbie. Book The Woodlands at Hocking Hills. 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 [email protected]. If Wander makes an offer, you can count on it being all cash, quick and hassle-free. So if you’ve been thinking of selling, even remotely, why not start a conversation with our friends at Wander? Send them an email at [email protected]. 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

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

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

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

Meet Jami Jenkins — the creator of The Carpenter’s Cabin — a top-rated, luxe cabin stay in Southeastern Ohio's Scenic Wonderland - Hocking Hills. Jami has always had a knack for the creative. She remembers drawing up floor plans of beach cottages in elementary school and building furniture for her Barbies. A graphic designer and event planner by trade, Jami loves using design as a way to communicate the story behind a space, an idea, or an experience. So, when it was time to build the first cabin on the 32 acre plot that Jami and her husband Scott had purchased, Jami knew she wanted an eco-friendly escape that was truly special — that had a soul if you will. And that’s when the idea of building a space to honor the memory and legacy of her father, a lifelong carpenter, was sparked. Book your stay at The Carpenter's Cabin Follow The Carpenter's Cabin on Instagram 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

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

In just a moment, you’ll meet Billy Chu — owner of The Blue Bungalow, a chic escape in Palm Springs, California. Billy and his wife Becky are both doctors who live in Los Angeles and parents to young twin girls. A couple of years ago, Billy and Becky joined an online community of medical professionals who invest in real estate in order to learn more from their peers about the industry. In early 2021 they stepped into the longer-term rental game by purchasing a couple small multifamily properties. But the couple really wanted to try their hand at short term rentals and had been eyeing properties in Palm Springs. Here was the problem — getting into the short term rental game in the fall of 2021 when the real estate market was going bananas seemed all but impossible. But after consuming dozens of hours worth of STR podcasts, losing out on multiple bids, and almost throwing in the towel, they discovered the home which they now call theirs. Tune in to hear the story behind how Billy and Becky bought a 4 bed, 3 bath property 5 minutes from downtown Palm Springs and transformed it into The Blue Bungalow. Book your stay at The Blue Bungalow Book your stay at The Salty Saguaro 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

Meet Stephanie Hays and Peter Woolcock — winners of Airbnb’s Live Anywhere contest. Last summer, Airbnb announced that they were looking for 12 individuals who’d be willing to live full-time via stays booked on their platform for a year — and over 314,000 applicants from all around the world applied for this once in a lifetime opportunity. One of the 12 selected was Stephanie Hays. Stephanie and her husband Peter are no strangers to travel — in fact the couple first met each other in a bar in Shanghai! Since then, they’ve traveled to more than 70 countries and lived abroad on a number of occasions. Most recently, Steph and Pete were living in Chattanooga, Tennessee along with their toddler son, Hays. When she heard about the contest something told Stephanie that she just had to throw her hat into the ring. And, well, that something was right. Tune in to hear the incredible story behind what this young family has learned after 9 months of living around the globe on Airbnb. You can follow their travels on Instagram here You can watch their travel vlogs on YouTube here 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

Meet Isaac French, the creator of Live Oak Lake, a collection of seven stunning cabins nestled around a small lake in Waco, Texas. Isaac is what you might call a curious creator. He was homeschooled growing up and his parents enabled him the freedom to pursue a plethora of interests — from art, to architecture, and accounting to entrepreneurship. Isaac comes from a family of entrepreneurs and learned a lot about business, architectural design, and general contracting from his grandfather who built luxury homes all across the state of Texas. And it was this influence of his grandfather’s, in part, that emboldened Isaac to purchase an overgrown, 5 acre plot of land just outside of Waco, Texas and transform it into an Insta-worthy vacation destination. Tune in to hear the remarkable story of how Isaac brought Live Oak Lake to life. Book your stay at Live Oak Lake. Follow Live Oak Lake on Instagram. Follow Isaac 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

In just a moment you’ll meet Taylor Jones, Head of Acquisition at Superhost Labs. Taylor was working in sales when COVID hit. A few weeks after the world shut down, Taylor’s job was put on a two-month pause and he knew he had to start looking for a new frontier. Taylor had always dreamed of getting into real estate but had never quite known where to start. With newfound time on his hands, and with nowhere to go, he began Googling. After watching more than 200 hrs of YouTube videos, streaming a plethora of STR podcasts, and reading through dozens and dozens of blog articles, Taylor finally pulled the trigger on his first-ever short-term-rental. And while he didn’t know it at the time, this decision would ultimately upon up an entirely new career trajectory for Taylor. Tune in to hear the story behind how Taylor Jones became the Head of Acquisition at Superhost Labs, a short-term-rental investment startup, and became one of the leading voices on all things STRs on Twitter @MrJonesSTRs. 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

In just a moment, you will meet Katrina Kuhn and Kathy and Sayres Dudley — the dynamic trio who brought to life The Dwelling Place, a special, peaceful escape in Radford, Virginia. Kathy was the 12th child in her family and was born on the land that would become Iron Heart Vineyard in Southwestern Virginia. Kathy and Sayres met in college, married young, and have two sons. Today, Kathy and Sayres run an executive recruiting firm that specializes in the real estate space, but that’s only half of their story. The Dudleys have always had a heart for mission-driven entrepreneurship, and Kathy is the founder of four nonprofit charities and ministries, including Imani Bridges, an organization whose mission is to connect Christians from different denominations around the world to use their gifts, talents, and resources to become agents of transformation. Tune in to hear the incredible story of how and why Kathy and Sayres felt compelled to purchase a home in Southwestern Virginia and with the help of their co-host Katrina, transform it into a serene escape for the world to enjoy. Book your stay at The Dwelling Place Purchase Kathy's book, Bridges: Transforming Communities Together 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

In just a moment you’ll meet Hillary and Jason DeMeo — the creators of the IROX ONE, a Scandinavian modern retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. Hillary and Jason are serial entrepreneurs. A few years ago, the couple left their respective day jobs to go all in on an idea they had dreamed about for years. And that idea was to start We Are Curio — a creative studio built for explorers and innovators. Hillary and Jason have consulted with incredible brands like Disney, NASA, the Orlando Magic, and Chick-fil-A within the context of We Are Curio, but the couple always dreamed of expanding their work into the hospitality space. Tune in to hear the remarkable story of why this dynamic duo built the Irox Living brand and how they brought their first property, the IROX ONE to life. Book your stay at IROX ONE Discover Irox Living's Website Follow Irox Living on Instagram Learn More About We Are Curio 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

In just a moment, you’ll meet Megan and Darrin — the creators of the Lakeview Hilltop, a coastal-chic cottage on Claytor Lake in Radford, Virginia. Originally from the California Bay Area, and a graphic designer by trade, Megan has always had an awareness of the role space plays in inspiring new ideas and perspectives. Darrin, who grew up in the Southwestern Virginia area, had always dreamed of having a lake house. But with two young kids and demanding jobs the idea of acquiring a vacation home in this season of life seemed untenable. But then COVID hit. And within a matter of months, a charming home that overlooked one of Virginia’s most beautiful, and somewhat undiscovered lakes became available. Tune in to hear the story behind how Megan and Darrin acquired the home which they now call Lakeview Hilltop and brought it to life. Book Your Stay at the Lakeview Hilltop Follow Megan and Darrin on Instagram Visit the Lakeview Hilltop Website 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

In just a moment you’ll meet Andrew Hunter — the creator of Airstream Island, a mid-century, tropical hideaway in Atlanta, Georgia. Andrew is an actor. He will never forget the first time his mother took him to see Fiddler on the Roof. He was transfixed by the characters in the show, but more bewildered by the fact that you could make money pretending to be someone you weren’t! Fast forward a couple of decades and Andrew is pursuing his acting dream by day and Instagram influencing at night to help pay the bills. But after he meets the love of his life — and proposes to her just two months later — Andrew realizes that in order to continue his acting dream, he’s going to need some supplemental income to support his family. And that’s when the idea that would ultimately become Airstream Island was born. Tune in to hear the story behind how Andrew transformed his backyard into a tropical escape and how he grew it to become one of Atlanta’s top-rated Airbnbs. Book your stay at Airstream Island Follow Airstream Island on Instagram Follow Andrew Hunter 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

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

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

Meet Alex Breen, founder of BnB Buyer — a biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers a list of new Airbnb and other short term rentals that are for sale. Alex grew up vacationing in short term rentals — in fact his family was an early adopter of VRBO. One afternoon, while Alex was in Dublin, his parents were scouting out second homes around Lake Norman in North Carolina. They stumbled upon an incredible home for sale and, after speaking with the realtor, discovered that the home was being used as a short term rental. Knowing that there was a reputable history of bookings gave Alex’s family the confidence they needed to purchase the home. And it was this experience that sparked the idea for what would become BnB Buyer. You can subscribe to BnB Buyer for free 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

Meet Mike Belleme — the creator of The Nook, an obsessively handcrafted Airbnb just outside Asheville, NC. Growing up, Mike loved to skateboard — at one point he even thought he might go pro. But as he grew up, another craft he had dabbled in began to pique his interest even more. And that craft was photography. Mike’s incredible focus and unrelenting pursuit of perfection has landed him gigs with media companies like National Geographic, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. And while his passion has been, and continues to be, storytelling through the medium of still images, Mike recognizes that photography has its limits when it comes to evoking emotion and changing perspectives. And it was this recognition, in part, that inspired him to build a story in the form of a house, which became The Nook. Tune in to hear how Mike and his wife Kristen created a tiny home where Japanese aesthetic intersects with Anthropologie-esque accents and where everything from your coffee mug to the tile in the bathroom is handmade by a local artist. Book Your Stay at The Nook Follow The Nook on Instagram Visit Mike's Website 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

In just a moment you’ll meet Joshua Nunnally, the creator of The Shelltown Sanctuary in San Diego, California. Joshua is an artist. Originally from Fresno, Joshua moved to San Diego to go to architectural school. A few years afterwards, in late January of 2020, he stumbled upon a home in southeast San Diego that seemed almost too good to be true. When Joshua and his now husband bought the place, they had no intention of listing it on Airbnb. But after COVID hit, Joshua found himself with more time on his hands. And with it, he decided to transform his home into an artistic oasis complete with original art pieces, pottery, and more than 25 live plants. Once the rainforest master bathroom, speakeasy guest bathroom, and insta-worthy backyard space were all finished, Joshua knew this space was just too cool to not share with others. Tune in to hear the story behind how Joshua brought The Shelltown Sanctuary to life. Book you stay at The Shelltown Sanctuary Follow The Shelltown Sanctuary on Instagram Contact Josh at [email protected] View Josh's Etsy Store, Imperfect Ceramics 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

In just a moment you’ll meet Steven and Kylee Niederhauser, the founders of Arrivls, a boutique vacation rentals management company based in San Diego, California. Steven and Kylee have always loved to travel. They are the kind of people that would rather book a last-minute weekend getaway than wine and dine at California’s latest Michelin star restaurant. After traveling in Europe for four years, they decided to move to San Diego. They really wanted to live near Mission Beach but weren’t sure how to make it work financially…and that’s when the idea came to them. What if they bought a duplex and rented half of the house out as an Airbnb? And while they didn’t know it at the time, this idea would ultimately enable the couple to leave their jobs and build one of Southern California’s top-rated collections of short term rentals. You can: Check out the entire Arrivls collection on their website Follow the Rockaway House on Instagram Follow Arrivls on Instagram Subscribe to their YouTube Channel (launching soon)! 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

Get ready to meet Amy Corbett Co-Founder of All Belong Co — a collective of short term rentals based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Amy and her husband Marc have a rich story. The couple has been married for over twenty years and have two amazing children through the gift of adoption. After working in campus ministry for 17 years, they left salaries and financial stability and even their community behind in order to go “all in” on their life-long side hobby of renovating houses until they could figure out what was next. They started their first Airbnb in 2018 and the couple was instantly hooked. It became clear that creating these welcoming spaces where anyone could belong was not just a mission, but a calling for their family. They were made for this. Tune in to hear the inspiring story of how Amy and her family, who often feel as though there aren’t enough places where they truly “fit”, built a budding short-term-rental empire that focuses on crafting welcoming spaces not just where people can stay, but where they can truly belong. Learn more about Amy and the All Belong Co story by visiting their website or following her on Instagram. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Sponstayneous — a newsletter that brings you the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb twice a week. You can subscribe, for free, here.

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.

In just a moment you’ll meet Kayla Stormont — the creator of The Apex Cabin in Big Bear, California. When Kayla would go to a toy store or jewelry shop as a kid, and ask her mom for a trinket or a pair of earrings, her mom wouldn’t often say, “No, I’m not buying you that, you could make that yourself.” And while she didn’t know it at the time, this encouragement would serve her well as an adult. As a native of the Island of Hawaii, Kayla has always loved the mountains. So when she visited Big Bear for the first time after moving to LA, she knew she needed to find a way to acquire a mountain home. Tune in to hear the story of how Kayla went from cutting drywall in a Lowe's parking lot on a Friday night to transforming a historic, 1960s A-Frame into a contemporary modern escape. Book your stay at The Apex Cabin here and follow The Apex 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

In just a moment, you’ll meet Daniel and Fawn Shear, the founders of Seasons' Yield Farm. Daniel, like his father before him, served in the military after graduating from college. During his first deployment to Afghanistan, his wife Fawn mailed him a book by Chad Robertson titled Tartine — a book of sourdough bread baking and recipes, but also a compelling story of one couple’s journey building a business around their passion for bread. Daniel had always enjoyed baking, so after a second deployment, and long stretches of separation, Daniel and Fawn began seriously thinking about what it would look like to work together as a family, on a farm in a home-based food-service business. And it was this dream that ultimately led these entrepreneurs to start the budding empire that is Seasons' Yield Farm. Tune in to hear the enchanting story of how Daniel and Fawn started selling meat and veggies, then became a CSA, and ultimately chose to go all in on the bread and hospitality business…and yes, their gorgeous, top-rated Airbnb sits right above their bespoke, bakery and cafe. You can book your stay at The Bread Barn here.

In just a moment you’ll meet Michaela Carozza, the creator and host of one of Carmel Valley’s top-rated Airbnbs. Michaela had been in the market for a property in Carmel Valley for many years. She loved the diversity of beauty that the central California coast offered, but needed to find a place with both a main house and a second property that she could use as a rental for some supplementary income. So, in 2011, when a 5 acre plot of land with a house and a horse barn on top of a hill became available, Michaela knew she had to jump at the opportunity. Both properties needed a lot of work, but over the course of several years, Michaela and her partner Micha poured their blood, sweat, tears, and love into transforming the horse barn into an enchanting retreat...one they’ve now shared with over 300 guests from all around the world. Tune in to hear the story of how Michaela brought the rustic retreat that she calls the Valley Eden Barn to life. You can book your stay at Valley Eden Barn on Airbnb, or with Michaela and Micha directly on their website.

In just a moment you’ll meet Alla and Garrett Hohn — the creators of The Hohnstead, which is a mini-glamping resort featuring a collection of tiny cabins about 20 minutes from Missoula, Montana. Garrett’s father had always dreamed of buying a plot of land that the whole extended family could enjoy, so when he stumbled upon over 100 acres of untouched Montana forest for sale, he knew it was time to pull the trigger. So, he called Garrett and Alla who were living in South Korea and asked if they “were in” — and, “in” they were. The following summer, the couple built a small, rustic structure with recycled materials on the property that they dubbed “The Shanty”, and it wasn’t long before Alla asked Garrett and the rest of the family a question that would change their lives forever, “what if we listed the Shanty on Airbnb?” Everyone thought she was crazy! Tune in to hear the compelling story of how the Hohn family built an incredibly unique oasis of tiny cabins that hundreds of guests from all over the world have since come to enjoy. Book your stay at The Hohnstead here.

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 [email protected] 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.

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.

In just a moment you’ll meet Maris LeBlanc and JR Amantea, the creators of The Little House of Essex — a chic cottage near the Connecticut River in the most quintessential of quintessential New England towns. Maris has spent her career in real estate — mostly brokering luxury, waterfront homes along the Connecticut Shoreline. When she met her now husband, JR, he was living in New York working in finance, but his real passion lay in curating and managing classic and exotic cars. Maris encouraged JR to go all in on his passion and, soon after, he left New York, moved to Essex, Connecticut and started GT Motor Cars — a boutique vintage and exotic car dealership, and collection management company. And it was here in Essex where Maris and JR bought a beautiful, oversized ranch-style home which included a shed-like structure behind it. And while JR had hoped to transform this shed-like structure into a bachelor’s pad, Maris had bigger ambitions...tune in to hear the wonderful story behind the building of The Little House of Essex. You can book your stay at The Little House of Essex here. If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at [email protected] 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.

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/

On this episode of Behind the Stays, you’ll meet Eli Clark and Alexa Lang from Clark Family Silos. Eli grew up on a farm in Kalispell, Montana (about 30 minutes outside of Whitefish in the North-Western part of the state). After studying design in college, he moved to Carlsbad, California to work at a design firm where he got the opportunity to work on a couple of Addidas’ leading product lines. But Eli wasn’t satisfied with the 9-5…so he bought an Airstream and embraced the freelance, digital nomad life…before it was the cool thing — Instagram wasn’t even around yet, so you won’t find any of his posts in #wanderlust. About a decade later, Eli’s father, Brad, the Clark Family’s Farmer-in-Chief, was eyeing retirement. Over drinks in a local town pub one evening, Eli and his partner Alexa pitched an idea to Brad that would make stepping back from the farm a bit more possible…and that idea? It was to transform five grain silos into luxurious Airbnbs. The problem? Well, while Clark Family Farms had fields of canola, peas, and wheat, depending on the season, they didn’t own a single silo. Tune in to hear the exciting story of how Eli, Alexa, the Clark family, and ultimately the entire Kalispell community, came together to erect some of the most inspiring and unique stays on the Airbnb platform. You can book your stay at Clark Family Silos here — if you do, be sure to tell them that you discovered them through Behind the Stays! If you are an Airbnb host or know an Airbnb host, who’d like to come on the show, send me an email at [email protected] 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.