Behind the Stays Sponstayneous

Meet Philip Kennard — Founder and CEO of Futurestay.
Growing up, Philip loved video games.  And for Philip, video games were about so much more than the playing experience…he loved the art, the logic, and the business behind creating worlds. 
This love sparked his entrepreneurial spirit and led him to work in game development for Sega, one of the world’s leading game design companies, and, eventually, would lead to the founding of FutureStay.
In this conversation, Philip and I explore the evolution of the vacation rental market, discussing the critical role that small-scale rentalpreneurs play in driving innovation. Learn why he believes the future of hospitality lies in the hands of passionate individuals creating unique, memorable stays rather than large-scale professional managers.
You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how FutureStay helps rentalpreneurs optimize their listings, secure direct bookings, and protect their investments with AI-powered tools and strategic partnerships like Google Vacation Rentals.
Some key takeaways from our conversation include:
The importance of diversifying your booking channels to mitigate risks and maximize profits.
How technology, such as AI and automation, can level the playing field for small rental operators.
Why delivering exceptional guest experiences is crucial for standing out in a crowded market.
Philip's vision for the future of short-term rentals and how Futurestay plans to support rentalpreneurs in achieving their goals.
If you're passionate about short-term rentals and eager to learn how to succeed in this competitive space, this episode is a must-listen.
This episode is brought to you by STR Search! 
STR Search helps you find and buy and Airbnb that’ll be profitable from Day 1. Co-Founding by John Bianchi and Taylor Jones, two of the best data nerds and underwriters in the industry, have partnered together to bring this new service to life. 
While tools like AirDNA are awesome, they’re just tools. 
Not everyone has the time or expertise to sift through all the data and find the perfect deal, especially with today’s interest rates. STR Search does all the legwork for you. They’ll present you with options that not only meet your criteria but will actually cash flow.
Learn more here — and mention Behind the Stays when you book a call for an exclusive discount!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.

Meet Annie Holcombe, a seasoned hospitality industry expert with a passion for vacation rentals and an impressive track record at major travel tech companies.
Annie's journey in the vacation rental industry is nothing short of inspiring. Starting from property management, she moved on to pivotal roles at Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott, gaining invaluable insights into the world of travel and hospitality.
In this episode, Annie dives into the current state of the industry, emphasizing the importance of standardization and safety in vacation rentals. She shares her thoughts on how new entrants can navigate the complexities of regulations and market demands and offers practical advice on building a brand that stands out in a crowded market.
We'll explore the challenges and opportunities facing vacation rental managers today, discuss the role of OTAs in the evolving landscape, and consider the potential for loyalty programs within the industry.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.

Meet Yvonna and Darren Grandfield, a dynamic duo who’ve turned their passion for real estate into a thriving business of unique and stunning short-term rentals.
Growing up, Yvonna and Darren never imagined they’d one day be the proud owners of a collection of charming properties, but a chance encounter at an Ace Hardware store set them on a path they couldn’t have anticipated — who’d a thought they’d date, start a business, and then ultimately get married and have kids together?!  
In this episode, Yvonna and Darren share the story of their first renovation project—a quaint bungalow in Berkeley—and how that experience sparked their love for transforming spaces. You’ll hear about the challenges and triumphs of renovating properties while moving frequently for work, and how they ultimately built a luxury A-frame cabin, the Haute Haus, in the highest incorporated town in North America, which, if you didn’t know, is in Alma, Colorado.
We’ll dive into their recent partnership with Wander, a company known for its high-end vacation rentals, and discuss the sweat equity, creative visions, and personal touches that make their stays truly special.
Follow Haute Haus on Instagram
Book a Stay at Haute Haus 
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. 
Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. 
Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. 
Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.
Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. 
Have you signed up for Ping yet?
Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.
Sign up today at bnbping.com
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. 
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
 

Meet Josh Luttrell, the innovative entrepreneur behind Home Theme Orlando, a company transforming vacation rentals into immersive themed experiences.
As a kid, Josh dreamed of being a basketball player, but life had other plans. However, he took his competitive spirit and he channeled it into real estate, eventually carving out a niche in Orlando's short -term rental market by creating uniquely themed homes.
From Marvel superheroes to Disney princesses, Josh's properties are designed to captivate and delight, ensuring unforgettable stays for families visiting the magic of Disney.
In this episode, Josh and Zach discuss:
- How he started in real estate and discovered the profitability of themed vacation rentals
- The unique aspects of the Orlando market that make it perfect for themed homes
- The process of selecting and designing themes to create immersive experiences that kids and their parents love
- The financial benefits and higher occupancy rates that come with investing in themed properties, insights into how upcoming attractions like Universal's Epic Universe will influence the market
- Whether or not these themed homes could perform in other markets, and so much more.
Learn more about Home Theme Orlando
Connect with Josh on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at AirDNA
Want to see if a Treehouse resort in Dubai pencils?  You can do so in AirDNA.
Want to buy land in Ontario to build a Glamping resort?  AirDNA will show you how other, comparable products are performing in the region.
Or maybe you’ve already got your stay up and running and you want a better understanding of how your Airbnb compares to others in the market?  You can connect your listing to AirDNA and get accurate nightly pricing recommendations based on real-world, real-time demand.
AirDNA is the key you need to unlock the insight behind what it’s going to take to bring those big dreams you have to life.
Pay just $25/month and access ANY market in the world — AirDNA is cheaper, faster, better, and stronger to use than ever before. 
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. 
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.
 

In this episode of "Behind the Stays," we bring you a special and urgent conversation with a guest who's no stranger to the show, Elam King — we featured his story on Episode 180 of the podcast.  
Elam's story is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in the Amish community, he transitioned into a successful hospitality entrepreneur, building an impressive portfolio of short-term rentals. However, just a few days ago, Elam faced a devastating blow—Airbnb kicked him off their platform, leading to a loss of over $200K in bookings.
As the host of this podcast, I have a deep respect and admiration for Airbnb. The platform has revolutionized the hospitality industry, providing incredible opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world. This podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories of some of the most inspiring and innovative hospitality entrepreneurs in the space. But it’s also important to share the hard stories—stories that hold Airbnb accountable to their promise of supporting hosts. This is one of those stories.
In this gripping conversation, Elam shares the shocking events that led to his account suspension, the challenges of being overly reliant on a single booking platform, and the emotional toll of questioning his own integrity and business practices. We delve into the specifics of how a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings spiraled into a full account ban, impacting not just Elam but also his family and business associates.
This episode is not just a cautionary tale but also a story of resilience and determination. Elam opens up about his plans moving forward, his faith, and the support he's received from his community. Whether you're a seasoned host or new to the short-term rental space, Elam's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of diversification and the unpredictable nature of the hospitality business.
Without further ado, get ready to hear one of the most compelling and eye-opening stories we've ever shared on "Behind the Stays."
Connect with Elam
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee

Meet Cody Watson, the entrepreneur behind Explorely, a groundbreaking platform poised to revolutionize outdoor travel planning and experiences. 
Growing up, Cody dreamed of being an inventor. And while he didn't end up creating the next big gadget, he did channel that inventive spirit into the entrepreneurial world, ultimately founding Explorely — a platform designed to be the Kayak.com for outdoor travel.
Explorely simplifies the often fragmented process of finding and booking RV rentals, campsites, and glamping spots. 
In this episode, Cody and I discuss:
 The inspiration behind Explorally and how it evolved from his experiences at RVZ, a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace
The challenges and opportunities in aggregating outdoor accommodations and building partnerships in a highly fragmented industry
The impact of technology, including AI and machine learning on the future of travel businesses
Why building a strong brand is more critical than ever in this digital age 
And so much more. 
Explore Explorely
Connect with Cody on LinkedIn
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully.
Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is.
Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour.
Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you’ve got dozens of properties and just can’t afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one.
Learn more here!
Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?
Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!
About the Show
Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.
You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com.
Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee