The Vacation Rental Show

Inhabit
  • 5.0 (25)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Vacation Rental Show where we dive into the latest hot topics, technology and strategies, to help you take the vacation rental world by storm. Hosted by industry veteran, Lynell Gordon.

  1. Entrepreneurship Lessons from 14 Businesses with Sébastien Grosjean

    1D AGO

    Entrepreneurship Lessons from 14 Businesses with Sébastien Grosjean

    Sébastien Grosjean has built 14 businesses over two decades, including launching the industry's first channel manager. With a family legacy spanning four decades in vacation rentals, he brings hard-earned wisdom on what actually drives business growth. In this episode, Sébastien breaks down the ego paradox every entrepreneur faces, explains why 90 percent of listings lose 10 to 20 percent of revenue unnecessarily, and shares the difference between working in your business versus on your business. He reveals why cross-pollinating with other industries creates breakthrough innovations, how to navigate the two critical delegation challenges, and why your best executor often makes your worst manager. From his personal journey through mental health challenges to building multiple successful companies, Sébastien offers a holistic perspective on business that goes beyond tactics to address the fundamental principles of entrepreneurship, learning, and purpose. This episode is sponsored by Bluetent.

    33 min
  2. Building Guest Loyalty Through Cleanliness and Communication with Ann Marie O’Rourke

    FEB 11

    Building Guest Loyalty Through Cleanliness and Communication with Ann Marie O’Rourke

    Ann Marie O'Rourke transformed Sandpiper Management from the ground up by focusing on what matters most: cleanliness, communication, and customized service. As owner of this boutique property management company serving Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island near Charleston, Ann Marie has built a business model that balances exceptional guest experiences with unwavering owner loyalty. In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show, hosted by Lynell Gordon, Ann Marie reveals the bold decision that changed everything: replacing her entire cleaning team and paying staff more to ensure five-star cleanliness standards. She shares how handwritten notes, local recommendations, and personal touches create repeat guests who eventually become property owners themselves. Ann Marie discusses the challenges of balancing owner and guest needs, the importance of transparent communication, and why treating each property as a unique investment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach has become her competitive advantage. This episode is sponsored by Lynbrook Group.

    24 min
  3. Preparing for Major Events and AI Strategy with Sofia Rossato

    FEB 3

    Preparing for Major Events and AI Strategy with Sofia Rossato

    Sofia Rossato, Executive Vice President at Inhabit, joins The Vacation Rental Show to share strategic insights on capturing event-driven revenue and implementing AI tools that actually work. With experience managing billion-dollar divisions in fintech and proptech, Sofia brings a unique perspective to property management challenges. Sofia reveals how property managers can prepare for the 2026 World Cup and other major events to capture 55% average rate increases and up to 90% for premium located units. She breaks down the 300 mile zone strategy for attracting tournament attendees and shares the tactical steps for implementing AI in your business starting today. Sofia also discusses 2026 market trends showing RevPAR 16% higher for operators using Inhabit products and Streamline, the importance of strategic thinking time versus tactical firefighting, and her leadership framework using IDS to bring teams along in problem solving. This episode is sponsored by Streamline.

    21 min
  4. Start Small, Grow Smart with Shervin Jamshidpour

    JAN 27

    Start Small, Grow Smart with Shervin Jamshidpour

    Most property managers chase growth by signing every property they can find and treating bookings as transactional revenue opportunities. Shervin Jamshidpour built RestNest differently - starting with one friend's house in Kelowna, British Columbia, leveraging guest inquiries he couldn't accommodate to onboard new properties, and growing to 26 ultra-high-end vacation rentals by prioritizing relationships over rapid expansion. His first booking was $40,000 direct. Four years later, 99% of bookings still come direct with average nightly rates around $4,000. He doesn't chase mid-range properties or rely on OTAs. He actively caps growth between 30-50 homes because anything beyond would compromise the personalized service defining RestNest's competitive advantage. Shervin maintains year-round relationships with guests who text him for real estate advice - not just vacation bookings. He showed up at foreclosure court to pitch property management to auction winners. And he discovered luxury guests are actually easier to serve than budget travelers because they own high-end homes themselves and understand that expensive systems sometimes break. This episode is sponsored by Streamline.

    28 min
  5. Creating Lasting Brand Impressions with Steve Zimmerman of Beach House Logos

    JAN 20

    Creating Lasting Brand Impressions with Steve Zimmerman of Beach House Logos

    Creating memorable vacation rental experiences goes far beyond clean properties and smooth check-ins. The small branded details you leave in guests' hands become lasting impressions that keep your name top-of-mind long after checkout, and drive rebookings year after year. Steve Zimmerman, CEO and owner of Beach House Logos, has spent 25 years helping vacation rental managers create these strategic brand touchpoints. From custom spices that travel home to guests' kitchens to hand-drawn destination map tote bags that spark conversations, Steve reveals how functional, beautiful branded items build emotional connections that generic marketing can't replicate. He shares strategies for homeowner acquisition gifts that actually get attention in crowded markets, the "oops gift" approach that turns service failures into loyalty wins, and why a property manager in Oregon built a 200-home portfolio focusing exclusively on pet-friendly branding. Steve also discusses working with marketing teams, choosing products with lasting impact, and why consistency matters more than flash when building vacation rental brand recognition. This episode is sponsored by Bluetent.

    38 min
  6. How to Scale Your Vacation Rental Business Across Multiple Markets with Smart Growth Strategy

    JAN 13

    How to Scale Your Vacation Rental Business Across Multiple Markets with Smart Growth Strategy

    Scaling a vacation rental business beyond your first market requires more than ambition—it demands strategy, systems, and the right partnerships. In this episode recorded at Streamline Summit, Lynell sits down with three industry leaders who reveal what it really takes to grow successfully. Koen Roelens scaled from a hotel industry side hustle to 600 properties across Florida by admitting he's terrible at operations and hiring accordingly. Larry Hoffer from Z-Point helps property managers use data to target the right properties before competitors do, with access to all 125 million residential properties in the United States. And Mishan Andre runs luxury properties in Cabo using Streamline's automation to free up time for actual growth. Together, they share hard-won insights on when to invest in operational infrastructure, how to enter new markets strategically, why communication is the foundation of everything, and how to choose technology partners who actually show up when you need them. This episode is sponsored by Streamline.

    25 min
  7. RevMax’s Full-Service Model with Jason Gann - Vacation Rental Show

    JAN 6

    RevMax’s Full-Service Model with Jason Gann - Vacation Rental Show

    Jason Gann, Account Executive at RevMax, shares his surprising discovery after transitioning from competing revenue management platforms to Inhabit's comprehensive solution. With a decade of industry experience, Jason reveals why RevMax goes far beyond basic dynamic pricing—offering length-of-stay pricing automation, comp set analysis, maximum yield optimization, and professional revenue manager support. The conversation explores how property managers can capture hidden revenue through premium lift strategies, maintain compliance while maximizing bookings, and access fractional CRO expertise for a fraction of traditional hiring costs. This episode is sponsored by RevMax.

    13 min
  8. From Tech to Vacation Rentals Doubling a Business Through Automation with Jay Sudowski - Vacation Rental Show

    12/31/2025

    From Tech to Vacation Rentals Doubling a Business Through Automation with Jay Sudowski - Vacation Rental Show

    Jay Sudowski brought an unconventional background to vacation rental management: running critical IT infrastructure for Denver's transportation system and school districts. In 2022, he bought Beachside HHI in Hilton Head, South Carolina with just thirteen properties while simultaneously selling his tech company and training for a half Ironman. Three years later, he's nearly doubled the portfolio to thirty properties while maintaining an ultra-lean team of three full-time staff. In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show hosted by Lynell Gordon, Jay shares why managing vacation rentals feels easier than keeping payment processing systems running for hundreds of thousands of transit users, how his three-bedroom property 0.6 miles from the beach grosses one hundred ninety thousand dollars annually, and the hard lesson he learned about firing homeowners who don't align with brand standards regardless of their revenue potential. Jay discusses achieving forty-five percent direct bookings in Hilton Head's traditionally Saturday-to-Saturday market, why inland properties dramatically outperform oceanfront homes on ROI, and his systematic approach to growing slowly enough to maintain quality with current tools and team. This episode is sponsored by Streamline.

    19 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Welcome to The Vacation Rental Show where we dive into the latest hot topics, technology and strategies, to help you take the vacation rental world by storm. Hosted by industry veteran, Lynell Gordon.

Information

  • Creator
    Inhabit
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyrights © 2024 All Rights Reserved by Local Social, Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Vacation Rental Show