Branded & Booked

Steph Weber
  • 4.9 (66)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you ready to stand out in the crowded world of short-term rentals and boutique hotels? Branded & Booked is the podcast for ambitious hosts and property owners who want to create rave-worthy brands and stay consistently booked. Hosted by Steph Weber, an expert in branding and marketing for STRs, this podcast is packed with actionable advice, inspiring stories, and behind-the-scenes insights to help you elevate your property and attract your best guests. Tune in every week to learn how to market your property, create a guest experience they'll rave about, and build a hospitality business.

  1. 2D AGO

    EP 230: The Parts of Boutique Hospitality No One Talks About with Beata Lornic

    I need you to hear this story. A stay-at-home mom with a traveling husband hit a breaking point with suburban life and said, "If I'm doing this, I might as well be at the beach." Her husband agreed to buying a beach house only if it made financial sense. So she made it work. Ninety days later, they closed on their first short-term rental on the coast of North Carolina. It performed not because she followed a guru or a playbook, but because she designed the experience the way she wanted to vacation. That mom is Beata Lornic, and this episode of Branded & Booked is one of the most grounded conversations I've had about what actually works in short-term rentals. Her early success led to rapid growth, and then the hard stuff hit. Hurricanes destroyed properties. STR bans and neighbor pushback followed. Markets stopped being forgiving. Instead of quitting, she rebuilt, shifted inland, refined her model, and focused on intentional, high-confidence properties that fit her life and risk tolerance. If you take one thing from this episode, let it be this: the hosts who are still winning aren't doing more. They're being more intentional. If you're overwhelmed by the noise or wondering what still works in 2026, this conversation will ground you. Connect with Steph: @theweberco Connect with Beata: theboutiquepm.com

    47 min

  2. FEB 3

    EP 229: 5-Star Hotel Principles Every STR & Boutique Hotel Owner Should Know with Katie Cline

    The moment a guest opens your door, you're no longer just a real estate investor, you're running a hospitality business.   In this episode, I'm sitting down with my friend Katie to talk about something a lot of hosts say they care about, but don't always know how to execute: true hospitality. Katie spent years in global PR and communications for brands like W Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Le Méridien, and more, and now owns and operates three short-term rentals while co-hosting a fourth. She's lived on both sides of the industry, and she has a very grounded perspective on what it really means to move from "real estate investor" to "host." We talk about the moment you open your doors and how, from that point on, you are running a hospitality business, not just holding an asset. Katie shares a hotel study that found the first ten minutes of a guest's arrival sets the tone for their entire stay, and we unpack what that looks like inside an STR: clear directions, lights that actually come on, intentional amenities, and those small, thoughtful touches that make guests feel seen instead of nickel-and-dimed. We also get into bachelorette groups, kids and pets, and why welcoming every member of the family changes how people experience your space and how they talk about it later. Katie walks us through her own portfolio in Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Finger Lakes, and how staying in a destination as a guest shaped what she looked for as an owner. We talk about design gaps, experience gaps, and why she's now exploring boutique motels and hotels with the same heart for hospitality she brings to her STRs. If you've ever felt the tension between automation, profit, and genuinely caring for the people in your homes, this conversation will feel like a reset and a reminder of why this work matters. Connect with Steph: @theweberco Theweberco.com Connect with Katie:  @bykatiecline

    43 min

  3. JAN 27

    EP 228: What Actually Built Our Wealth (And What Didn't)

    In this episode, I'm talking honestly about wealth, real estate, and the parts of the journey that usually get left out online. The "we went from nothing to millions" stories can make it feel like you're behind, when in reality, a lot of those results were shaped by timing, market conditions, and decisions that can't be duplicated today. Colin and I walk through our actual financial path, from student loan debt and modest incomes to buying and selling homes, paying off debt, and building equity in ways we never could have predicted. I share what worked, what I would do differently, and why I'm much more cautious about short-term rentals in today's market, with more focus now on long-term strategy, boutique hotels, and micro-resorts. We also talk through our upcoming camper life decision and what that really looks like financially. This is all about intentional choices, clear boundaries, and understanding risk. If you've ever questioned your progress or felt behind because of what you see online, this episode is meant to bring perspective, not pressure. Connect with me: 📸 @theweberco 🌐 theweberco.com

    27 min

  4. JAN 21

    EP 227: $300K Revenue Increase Breakdown: How Marketing Assets Impact Revenue and Valuation

    In this episode, I'm breaking down the real ROI of marketing for boutique hotels, micro resorts, and short-term rental owners, and I'm doing it with actual numbers, not fluffy marketing talk. One of the biggest questions I hear from owners is, "What's my ROI on marketing?" And the truth is, most hospitality businesses are looking at marketing the wrong way. It's not an expense you justify month to month. It's an income-producing asset that impacts revenue, margins, and the long-term value of the business you're building. I walk through a realistic boutique hotel example and show how marketing assets like branding, email marketing, social media, and a direct booking ecosystem can conservatively add around $300,000 per year in revenue, and potentially $800K to $1M in valuation when it comes time to sell. No unicorn assumptions. No perfect markets. Just simple math and strategy that most owners are (unfortunately) not leveraging. We talk about what marketing assets actually are, why relying solely on OTAs leaves you with no leverage, and how things like pricing power, owned demand, and direct bookings give you more control over your business. I also break down why social media is not just about visibility, but credibility and conversion, and why an email list is one of the most overlooked assets in hospitality. This episode also covers what to realistically expect from a marketing agency, how to evaluate ROI beyond just "new bookings," and why sometimes the biggest win is reclaiming profit you're currently giving away in OTA fees. If you're building a boutique hotel, micro resort, STR portfolio, or even a single high-performing property and you care about long-term growth, cash flow, and exit value, this conversation will help you rethink how marketing fits into the bigger picture of your business. Connect with me: 📸 @theweberco 🌐 theweberco.com

    31 min

  5. JAN 14

    EP 226: How Personal Branding Drives Trust, Bookings, and Growth in Hospitality

    In this episode, I'm diving into why personal branding in 2026 is no longer optional, especially if you're in boutique hospitality. If you're building short-term rentals, a co-hosting or property management business, a boutique hotel, or a micro resort, your personal brand is becoming one of the biggest drivers of trust, connection, and bookings. We talk through what a personal brand actually is (and how it's different from your property or business brand), why people connect to people (not logos), and how personal story builds trust long before a booking ever happens. I share real examples from my own journey building The Weber Co. and Cabins on the Cumberland, including how showing up online consistently helped us find partners, grow our audience, and create deeper loyalty with guests. I also break down what I've observed from brands in the hospitality space that are doing this well, why we're in a trust recession, and how human connection is becoming a major differentiator in a crowded market. This episode is for anyone who feels hesitant about showing up online, unsure what to share, or worried about blending personal and business in a way that still feels aligned. If you want to grow bookings, attract the right guests or owners, and build something that lasts beyond algorithms and trends, this conversation will help you rethink how your personal brand fits into the bigger picture. Connect with me: 📸 @theweberco 🌐 theweberco.com

    23 min

  6. JAN 6

    EP 225: Camper Life in 2026: Our 1-Year RV Plan

    We're kicking off 2026 with a decision that has nothing to do with quarterly goals and everything to do with the kind of life we want to live. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on why our family is planning a full year of camper life — how the idea started, what finally pushed us to commit, and why this felt like a now-or-never moment. I share a glimpse into the planning process, the routes we're dreaming about, and the realities of doing this with two kids, two businesses, and a lot of unknowns. I also talk honestly about the tension that comes with choosing something outside the "normal" path — especially when your decisions shape your kids' childhoods. The excitement, the fear, the opinions, and the very real questions that come up when you step away from routine in pursuit of more freedom, flexibility, and presence. This episode isn't about RV hacks or minimalism. It's about lifestyle design, making bold choices before life makes them for you, and asking the hard question: why are we working so hard if we're not actually living the life we want? If you've ever felt that itch for something different — this one's for you. Connect with me: 📸 @theweberco 🌐 theweberco.com

    26 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    EP 224: What I Outgrew in 2025: Business Growth, Family-First Decisions, and Redefining Success as an Entrepreneur

    This final episode of Branded and Booked is a year-end reflection on what I outgrew in 2025 and what I'm intentionally carrying into 2026. I talk about finishing a 12-cabin micro-resort and what it really feels like to build something big when the risk is real and personal. I share lessons from growing The Weber Co. and Hosted by the Webers, including getting clearer on alignment, pricing our expertise with confidence, and saying no to opportunities that don't fit. A major theme of this episode is family-first decision making. I share how becoming more present with my kids reshaped my goals, my pace, and even who I look to as role models. I'm still ambitious — but I'm no longer chasing growth that competes with the life we want. I also reflect on what I deprioritized this year, including my health and marriage, and what I'm recommitting to moving forward. This episode is about choosing alignment over comparison, staying rooted in your own definition of success, and giving yourself permission to celebrate how far you've come. If you're closing out the year questioning what still fits and what you're ready to release, this episode will resonate. Connect with me: 📸 @theweberco 🌐 theweberco.com

    26 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    EP 223: We Built a 12-Cabin Micro Resort: Here's What It Really Took

    It's done. Cabins on the Cumberland is officially complete. In this episode, I'm sharing what it really took to build a 12-cabin micro resort with an event venue, game center, and year-round amenities — from construction milestones and financing lessons to direct bookings, full buyouts, and what's next. We talk through: How the build unfolded over 2.5 years What I'd do differently with underwriting and reserves How we've maintained 30–50% direct bookings Why full property buyouts (weddings, retreats, church groups) are the future The unglamorous realities no one posts about — dead season, cash flow, and learning as you go This is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at building a destination property — not just something that looks good online, but something designed to last. If you're building, scaling, or dreaming about a micro resort or event-driven STR, this episode will give you real context, not theory. Connect with me: 📸 @theweberco 🌐 theweberco.com

    20 min
See All (199)

4.9
out of 5
66 Ratings

About

Are you ready to stand out in the crowded world of short-term rentals and boutique hotels? Branded & Booked is the podcast for ambitious hosts and property owners who want to create rave-worthy brands and stay consistently booked. Hosted by Steph Weber, an expert in branding and marketing for STRs, this podcast is packed with actionable advice, inspiring stories, and behind-the-scenes insights to help you elevate your property and attract your best guests. Tune in every week to learn how to market your property, create a guest experience they'll rave about, and build a hospitality business.

Information

  • Creator
    Steph Weber
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    199
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Weber Co
  • Show Website
    Branded & Booked

You Might Also Like