Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals

Alex and Annie
  • 5.0 (34)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

With more than 35 years of combined experience in vacation rentals, Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe have teamed up to connect the dots between inspiration and opportunity, seeking to find the one story, idea, strategy or decision that led to their guests big A-HA moment. Join them, as they highlight the REAL stories behind the people and brands that have built vacation rentals into the 100 BILLION dollar industry it is today.

  1. Boss Lady Energy: How Krista Goodrich and Kymberlee Nguyen Built Salty Dog Vacations

    22H AGO

    Boss Lady Energy: How Krista Goodrich and Kymberlee Nguyen Built Salty Dog Vacations

    Send us a message! In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Krista Goodrich and Kymberlee Nguyen, the duo behind Salty Dog Vacations, to talk about what it really takes to build a vacation rental company that guests remember and a team that is proud to be part of it. They share how Salty Dog grew from early investing decisions in Daytona Beach into a full-scale operation, and how their approach to branding goes beyond design choices. It shows up in the details, the guest experience, and the way they protect their people. The conversation also expands into Krista’s work in local advocacy and zoning, their broader mission to help more women build wealth through real estate, and how their community has grown through retreats and education. Episode Chapters: 08:20 – How local rules, zoning, and community involvement shape what it takes to operate responsibly 15:07 – Building a brand guests remember: personality, pet-friendly touches, and guest joy 19:37 – Krista’s “Boss Lady Investor” work, and why real estate education needs to feel accessible 25:00 – How retreats and community experiences can become part of a bigger platform, not just a side project 33:32 – What it looks like to build a company culture where your team feels protected and respected 35:44 – The moment they fired an owner, and why that decision mattered for the business long term 40:25 – Why consistency matters more than “cute ideas,” especially once you are scaling If you’re trying to build a stronger guest experience and a business that holds up as you grow, this one’s worth a listen. Connect with Kym & Krista: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-goodrich-2823198/ Podcast: https://www.thebossladyinvestor.com/ Website: https://mysaltydogvacation.com/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #bossladyenergy

    48 min
  2. Jeff Hurst on Why Midterm Rentals Are Gaining Ground in a Mature STR Market

    FEB 11

    Jeff Hurst on Why Midterm Rentals Are Gaining Ground in a Mature STR Market

    Send us a message! Midterm rentals are moving from a side option to a real strategy. In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder and former HomeAway and Expedia Group leader, to explain why 30+ day stays are gaining traction as many STR markets move into a more mature phase. Jeff breaks down what makes midterm rentals different from short-term rentals, what demand is actually driven by, and why midterm can be a strong fit for operators looking for stability, fewer turnovers, and a guest profile rooted in real-life transitions. Episode Chapters: 01:04 – Jeff’s background and how he views category shifts in rentals 06:16 – What Furnished Finder is, and what “midterm” means in practice 07:24 – Why the category is still early, and what professionalization looks like 08:35 – Who midterm guests are and what they need from a stay 12:01 – How midterm works operationally: screening, leases, deposits, and payments 22:48 – “Return on furniture” and the investment logic behind midterm 26:58 – Regulation, market maturity, and why more operators are taking midterm seriously 32:15 – Why midterm is gaining ground in saturated (mature) STR markets 33:21 – What types of properties fit midterm demand, and what does not Connect with Jeff: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hurst-atx/ Website: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #MTR

    50 min
  3. Are DMOs and Vacation Rentals Finally Ready to Work Together? with Stuart Butler and Adam Stoker

    FEB 4

    Are DMOs and Vacation Rentals Finally Ready to Work Together? with Stuart Butler and Adam Stoker

    Send us a message! Destination marketing is in a pressure test. Short-term rentals have become a major part of how people travel, yet many DMOs still struggle with how (or whether) to include them. At the same time, AI is speeding up the research-to-booking journey and forcing destinations to rethink what “relevance” even means. In this episode, Alex and Annie sit down with Stuart Butler (President of Visit Myrtle Beach) and Adam Stoker (President of Brand Revolt) to unpack what’s getting in the way, what alignment can look like, and why the next version of destination marketing is going to require better coordination across the whole destination economy. You’ll hear practical takes on funding dynamics, stakeholder value, the “illusion of relevance” in reporting, and why the future may turn DMO websites into something closer to infrastructure than a traditional marketing channel. Episode Chapters: 00:54 – Stuart’s background and how he landed in destination work 02:27 – Adam’s background and how he sees the DMO landscape 05:37 – The “illusion of relevance,” metrics, and why DMOs feel behind 07:44 – The Indianapolis example, why some DMOs leave STRs out 09:28 – Can DMOs stay relevant without vacation rentals 11:53 – Why STRs need a seat at the table and what it takes to get one 14:34 – What STR operators can do in markets without big PM groups 19:16 – Funding reality, stakeholder influence, and how STRs earn attention 22:27 – Why getting involved with a DMO teaches you more than you expect 23:51 – The bigger DMO question, purpose, scope, and identity 30:31 – How performance reporting shaped destination websites 30:54 – Why the booking engine path can be a strategic dead end 36:49 – Stewardship, community trust, and what destinations are accountable for 50:06 – AI as a watershed moment for travel discovery and decision-making 57:59 – What destination content needs to look like in an AI-first world 1:02:21 – Closing thoughts on websites, infrastructure, and the road ahead Connect with Stuart: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-butler-50aaa45/ Website: http://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/ Connect with Adam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstoker/ Website: https://thebrandrevolt.com/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #DMO

    1h 4m
  4. 1st of the Month Bonus: Bridging the Gap Between Resorts and Vacation Rental Channels with Jetstream CEO Emmanuel Lavoie

    FEB 1

    1st of the Month Bonus: Bridging the Gap Between Resorts and Vacation Rental Channels with Jetstream CEO Emmanuel Lavoie

    Send us a message! Condo-hotels and resort-style properties sit in a tricky middle ground. They are not traditional hotels, but they are not quite vacation rentals either. Many still run on hotel tech stacks, charge hotel-style commissions, and operate with hotel mindsets. Meanwhile, guests are increasingly searching on vacation rental channels, homeowners are asking why they cannot find their units online, and off-site managers charging half the commission are pulling inventory away. In our February First-of-the-Month bonus episode, we sit down with Emmanuel Lavoie, CEO of Jetstream, to unpack why so many condo-hotels and resort operators still resist distribution on channels like Airbnb and Vrbo, what it really takes to service this category well, and how AI is starting to reshape channel management. Episode Chapters: 01:17 - Leaving a 10-year engineering career for travel tech 03:33 - How a Canadian OTA accidentally became a channel manager 9:43 - Why resorts still hesitate to embrace Airbnb and Vrbo 12:00 - What full-service channel management actually includes 13:42 - Why a $10 billion company chose service over cheaper tech 15:18 - Off-site managers are winning the homeowner battle 16:56 - The challenge of selling non-unique inventory on Airbnb 24:12 - Why one listing with 300 reviews beats 50 identical listings 30:42 - Building an AI-powered guest communication system 35:27 - Using AI for listing content creation at scale 38:21 - Empowering frontline teams as AI champions 42:09 - The human side of AI disruption 44:02 - Where Jetstream is heading next Connect with Emmanuel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-lavoie-5b89b924/ Website: https://jetstreamtech.io/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #distribution

    49 min
  5. Behind the Sheets: Operational Considerations Behind Linen Choices in STRs

    JAN 28

    Behind the Sheets: Operational Considerations Behind Linen Choices in STRs

    Send us a message! In this episode, we are joined by Deepak Mehrotra, founder and CEO of California Design Den, for a practical discussion on how linen decisions affect short-term rental operations over time. Drawing from more than 20 years in textile manufacturing, Deepak shares how California Design Den evolved from supplying major retailers to working directly with short-term rental operators. The conversation focuses on how linen choices shift as portfolios grow, and why decisions that seem straightforward early on can become more complex at scale. Rather than treating linens as a one-time purchase, this episode explores them as an operational system that touches guest experience, laundry workflows, replacement cycles, inventory planning, and cost control. Episode Chapters: 01:07 – Deepak’s background in textile manufacturing and direct-to-consumer bedding 04:55 – How and why STR operators became a core customer segment 16:45 – Cotton performance and durability in high-turnover environments 17:45 – Common reasons linens need replacement in STR operations 13:33 – Renting versus owning linens and how operators assess the tradeoffs 14:43 – Laundry considerations for in-house and outsourced models 25:31 – Inventory availability, fulfillment speed, and consistency at scale 31:56 – How linen strategy evolves as portfolios grow 28:09 – Operational simplicity when managing linens across multiple properties Connect with Deepak: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-mehrotra-9752682/ Connect with California Design Den: Website: https://www.californiadesignden.com/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Upgrade your guest sleep experience with California Design Den. Get 10% off with code AlexAnnie10OFF. Apply for California Design Den’s Linen VIP Club to access preferred pricing and dedicated hospitality support. 👉 Click here to get started: https://form.jotform.com/240328613238150 Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #linens

    37 min
  6. Stop Calling It Luxury: Setting the Standard in Vacation Rentals with Nir Maimon

    JAN 21

    Stop Calling It Luxury: Setting the Standard in Vacation Rentals with Nir Maimon

    Send us a message! Last week with Moriya Rockman, we explored luxury through the lens of growth, relationships, and what it takes to scale a high-end portfolio without losing the hospitality at the center. This week, Nir Maimon brings the conversation to the definition itself, what “luxury” should mean, how it should be verified, and why the category loses trust when the label gets used too loosely. “Luxury” has become one of the most overused words in vacation rentals, and that is exactly the problem. In this episode, Alex and Annie sit down with Nir Maimon, President and Co-Founder of The Maimon Group, to break down how he evaluates luxury with a practical framework that starts with the operator and ends with the asset. Nir shares why luxury cannot be treated as a marketing adjective, what happens when guest expectations fall short, and why platforms and operators need clearer standards if the category wants to keep its credibility. They also get into what verification can look like in practice, why Nir’s team says “no” far more than they say “yes,” and how their approach to service, personalization, and systems supports the level of trust luxury guests expect. Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals 01:11 – Nir’s background and what The Maimon Group does in ultra-luxury 02:18 – The core issue: “luxury” is being misused in vacation rentals 04:26 – Nir’s framework: luxury starts with the operator, then the asset 06:45 – How Nir scores luxury (location, layout, privacy, finishes, noise, access, amenities) 08:34 – The trust gap: what OTAs get wrong without verification 15:48 – LPMS and the travel advisor workflow (how trust gets protected in bookings) 24:02 – Big-event travel and why groups keep choosing homes 27:45 – Personalization at scale: CRM, surveys, and concierge ownership 31:10 – AI in hospitality: start with clean data, then layer automation with human validation 38:08 – Looking ahead to 2026: “deployment,” standards, and repeatable excellence Connect with Nir: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nir-maimon-59024595/ The Maimon Group: https://www.themaimongroup.com/  LPMS: https://thelpms.com/  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #luxuryvacationrentals

    46 min
  7. From One Swiss Chalet to a Global Luxury Portfolio with Moriya Rockman of Smiling House Luxury

    JAN 14

    From One Swiss Chalet to a Global Luxury Portfolio with Moriya Rockman of Smiling House Luxury

    Send us a message! In this episode, we sit down with Moriya Rockman, founder of Smiling House Luxury, to explore how a single personal vacation home in the Swiss Alps became the starting point for a global luxury vacation rental portfolio. Moriya shares her journey from accidental host to global founder, including why she and her husband chose to stay hands-on operators while scaling internationally. She explains how staying close to hospitality standards shaped every stage of growth, from property management to technology. The conversation also explores Villa Tracker, a B2B-to-C platform she founded that connects luxury homes with travel designers, concierges, and advisors booking on behalf of clients. Moriya breaks down why this channel matters, how it opens untapped demand beyond OTAs, and what it means for hosts and property managers looking to reach a different tier of traveler. We also dive into global luxury travel trends, emerging destinations, and why private homes continue to outperform hotels for group travel, longer stays, and experience-driven trips. This episode offers a grounded look at scaling thoughtfully, building through relationships, and creating long-term opportunity in luxury vacation rentals without losing sight of hospitality. Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals 01:18 – Turning a Swiss Chalet Into a Vacation Rental Business 03:25 – How to Scale a Luxury Vacation Rental Portfolio 06:57 – Building a Global Luxury Brand While Staying an Operator 09:49 – B2B Travel Bookings for Vacation Rentals Explained 12:30 – Beyond Airbnb and OTAs for Luxury Rentals 14:33 – How Luxury Travel Advisors Book Private Homes 18:57 – Working With Individual Hosts and Property Managers 22:59 – Technology Partnerships for Luxury Vacation Rentals 25:57 – Is Luxury Travel Recession-Proof? 28:10 – Why Groups and Multi-Generational Travel Choose Private Homes 30:33 – Emerging Luxury Travel Destinations to Watch 33:59 – Experiencing Luxury Properties in the Off-Season 38:19 – Women in Vacation Rental Leadership Connect with Moriya: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moriya-rockman-a3467a13a/  Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smiling-house/  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://cal.mixmax.com/frankbosi/demo  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #luxuryvacationrentals

    40 min
  8. Culture Over Features: Building a Human-First Tech Company with Frank Bosi of Hostfully

    JAN 7

    Culture Over Features: Building a Human-First Tech Company with Frank Bosi of Hostfully

    Send us a message! In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Frank Bosi, Senior Director of Partnerships at Hostfully, to unpack what it really takes to build a tech company that people trust. Frank’s journey began in luxury hotels long before short-term rentals became a professionalized industry. That hospitality foundation now shapes how he approaches partnerships, leadership, and growth inside one of the most culture-driven PMS brands in the space. This conversation explores why culture scales faster than software, how AI can actually bring hospitality back into operations, and what property managers should be focusing on as expectations rise across the industry. You’ll also hear a behind-the-scenes look at Hostfully’s approach to partnerships, onboarding, and product development, including how real user feedback influences what gets built next. Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals 05:00 – Frank Bosi’s role at Hostfully and his focus on partnerships, education, and industry visibility 09:40 – Frank reflects on his hotel background and why consistency, care, and service still define great guest experience 21:17 – Inside Hostfully’s day-to-day culture, trust, flexibility, and leadership principles 15:14 – Why Hostfully feels different to operators and how people shape the product experience 10:43 – Using AI intentionally to preserve brand voice, personalization, and hospitality 40:28 – The biggest challenges operators are trying to solve right now 16:36 – Collaboration, ecosystem thinking, and why relationships still matter in tech 36:28 – How Hostfully supports operators at every stage of growth 26:00 – Hostfully’s funding story and choosing partners aligned with long-term values Frank also shares his perspective on industry consolidation, rising professionalism among operators, and why modern property management systems have become the backbone of scalable operations. This conversation explores what happens when technology is built around people, not the other way around. Connect with Frank: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-bosi-375a5817/ Connect with Hostfully: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hostfully-inc-/ Website: https://www.hostfully.com/  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners: Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully. Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value). 👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #PMS

    54 min
See All (260)

5
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

With more than 35 years of combined experience in vacation rentals, Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe have teamed up to connect the dots between inspiration and opportunity, seeking to find the one story, idea, strategy or decision that led to their guests big A-HA moment. Join them, as they highlight the REAL stories behind the people and brands that have built vacation rentals into the 100 BILLION dollar industry it is today.

Information