Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals

Alex and Annie

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. 1d ago ·  Video

    SEO Isn’t Dead: How AI Is Changing Vacation Rental Search with Vanessa Humes and Jill McGee of ICND

    Vacation rental search is changing fast. Organic traffic is declining, AI Overviews are taking up more space in Google, and travelers are increasingly using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to research where to stay. For property managers, that creates a new challenge: how do you stay visible when the way people search is no longer as straightforward as ranking on page one of Google? In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by Vanessa Humes, VP of Sales and Marketing at ICND, and Jill McGee, Senior Digital Marketing Specialist, to unpack what this shift means for vacation rental brands and their direct booking strategies. They explore why SEO is still very much alive, how AI is changing the path travelers take before reaching a website, and why the fundamentals of trust, authority, useful content, and strong website structure may matter more than ever. The conversation also looks at what operators should actually be paying attention to as new terms like AEO and GEO enter the marketing vocabulary, whether emerging AI optimization tactics are worth the hype, and how the metrics used to measure digital marketing success may need to evolve along with search. In this episode, we discuss: 06:45 - Why declining organic traffic does not mean SEO is losing its value 07:33 - How AI is changing the way travelers research and discover vacation rentals 26:14 - What SEO, AEO, and GEO mean for vacation rental marketers 10:32 - Why trust, reviews, structured data, and strong content still matter 36:27 - How property managers can create content with stronger booking intent 23:41 - Why AI-driven traffic may be smaller but more qualified 29:00 - Which new AI optimization tactics deserve attention and which may be more hype than substance 48:20 - How operators should think about search visibility heading into 2027 If you are trying to understand where SEO fits in an AI-driven search landscape and what your vacation rental brand should be doing now to stay discoverable, this episode is worth a listen. Connect with Vanessa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-humes-549b528/  Connect with Jill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-highsmith-mcgee-940908179/ Connect with ICND: Website: https://bit.ly/3THIq8J  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intercoastal-net-designs/  Free Resource from ICND: Download ICND’s AI Visibility Case Study to learn how vacation rental companies can adapt to AI-driven search. 👉 https://bit.ly/4qu6Df3 ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  Reach more direct-booking travelers with Savvy. List your professionally managed properties for free. 👉 Get started here: https://savvy.com/list Thinking about the next chapter for your vacation rental business?  Connect with Monarch Collective to explore what growth could look like with the right platform behind you. 👉 Learn more: https://gomonarch.com/partnerships/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #directbookings Send us a message!

    SEO Isn’t Dead: How AI Is Changing Vacation Rental Search with Vanessa Humes and Jill McGee of ICND

  2. Aug 5 ·  Video

    Ready to Sell Your Vacation Rental Business? What Buyers Look For and What Happens Next, with Igor Simkin of Monarch Collective

    What makes a vacation rental business attractive to a buyer? Door count may get attention, but it does not tell the full story. Sustainable growth, clean financials, a trusted local brand, strong employees, and direct booking performance can all influence how a business is evaluated. In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Igor Simkin, CEO of Monarch Collective, for a candid look at what owners should understand before exploring a sale. Igor shares what Monarch looks for in a company, where sellers are often unprepared, and why the conversation should begin long before an owner is ready to step away. They also explore what happens after the transaction, from protecting the local brand and retaining employees to helping founders choose the role they want in the company’s next chapter. Episode Chapters:  05:22 - Why Monarch Collective was created and the opportunity it saw in the market  08:07 - Preserving local brands, teams, and community relationships  11:12 - Anchor acquisitions versus tuck-in acquisitions  11:51 - The qualities Monarch looks for in an established business  13:57 - When owners should begin preparing for a potential sale  16:14 - Creating a transition plan around the founder’s goals  22:16 - The performance indicators buyers consider  25:03 - Financial readiness, valuation, and common seller blind spots  28:04 - Building a shared data layer across different technology platforms  33:43 - How Monarch is approaching AI across operations and marketing  38:13 - What an acquisition can mean for employees and local leadership  46:48 - How owners can get feedback before they are ready to sell Connect with Igor: Email: isimkin@gomonarch.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igor-simkin-4902993/  Connect with Monarch Collective: Website: https://gomonarch.com/ Thinking about the next chapter for your vacation rental business? Connect with Monarch Collective to explore what your options could look like and how to prepare before the time comes. 👉 Learn more: https://gomonarch.com/partnerships/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  Reach more direct-booking travelers with Savvy. List your professionally managed properties for free. 👉 Get started here: https://savvy.com/list Automate your short-term rental operations with Hospitable. Start a 14-day free trial and get 25% off your bill for the first 6 months. 👉 Get started: https://hospitable.com/partners/alex-annie  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #propertymanagement #businessvaluation #mergersandacquisitions Send us a message!

    Ready to Sell Your Vacation Rental Business? What Buyers Look For and What Happens Next, with Igor Simkin of Monarch Collective

  3. Aug 1 ·  Video

    1st of the Month Wrangle: How Direct-to-Consumer Thinking Can Shape Vacation Rental Marketing with Orlie Benjamin and Patti Ziegler

    In this third episode of First of the Month Wrangle, presented by Lasoh, we are joined by Orlie Benjamin, Founder and CEO of Lasoh, and Patti Ziegler, Orlie’s longtime mentor and former leader at Scotts Miracle-Gro. Before building Lasoh, Orlie worked with Patti across direct-to-consumer marketing, brand building, innovation, and partnerships. That experience shaped how she thinks about customer relationships, distribution, and the value of knowing the people behind each purchase. That same thinking applies in vacation rentals. OTAs may help bring guests in, but operators still need a way to understand who those guests are, stay connected, and create reasons for them to book again. Orlie and Patti also share the mentorship behind that journey, including what it means to take a chance on someone, recognize when a role is no longer the right fit, and support a person as they move toward something bigger. We discuss: 00:51 - Meet Patti Ziegler and learn how she worked with Orlie 02:04 - Building a direct-to-consumer brand from zero to one 03:19 - How established brands create new pathways to the customer 08:39 - What retail distribution can teach operators about OTAs and direct bookings 11:50 - How direct-to-consumer thinking shaped Lasoh 13:36 - The mentorship behind Orlie’s move into entrepreneurship 21:46 - How a career pivot brought Orlie closer to her purpose 28:33 - What vacation rental operators can learn from full-funnel marketing 30:46 - Why awareness, conversion, and guest loyalty all need attention 36:23 - Building a business in a way that still supports people 40:22 - Why the guest experience is central to Orlie’s work in vacation rentals Learn more about Lasoh: Website: https://tinyurl.com/52nvyw8t LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lasoh/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lasohio/61575721958679/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasoh.io Connect with Orlie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orliebenjamin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585160391720 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orlie.benjamin/  Connect with Patti: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patti-ziegler-4649173/  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  Turn every guest interaction into more revenue with Lasoh. Apply to become a Founding Member and/or get 20% off Lasoh products with code AlexandAnnie. Valid through September 30, 2026. 👉 Learn more: https://explore.lasoh.io/alex-annie #vacationrentals #vacationrentalmarketing #directbookings Send us a message!

    1st of the Month Wrangle: How Direct-to-Consumer Thinking Can Shape Vacation Rental Marketing with Orlie Benjamin and Patti Ziegler

  4. Jul 29 ·  Video

    Mid-Year Recap: Big Changes, New Chapters and What’s Next for Alex & Annie (and Jinnie!)

    Nearly 300 episodes in, the Alex & Annie Podcast is entering one of its most exciting chapters yet. In this special mid-year episode, Alex & Annie are joined by Jinnie Randolph, who has been working behind the scenes to help shape the show’s content, partnerships, strategy, and future growth. Jinnie shares her journey through vacation rental marketing, technology, and operations, along with the full-circle story of how she went from longtime listener and sponsor partner to becoming an important part of the Alex & Annie team. Together, Alex, Annie, and Jinnie reflect on the conversations and industry themes that have defined 2026 so far. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI, the continued importance of human connection, and why intentional growth, consistency, and education have become increasingly important across the vacation rental industry. They also take listeners behind the scenes of the show’s evolution into Aha Moments Media. Alex & Annie share how the Growth Blueprint has shaped this year’s content and how new recurring series, roundtables, on-site interviews, private podcasts, and thought leadership opportunities are helping the platform grow beyond its original format. Episode Chapters: 04:19 – How Jinnie became part of the Alex & Annie Podcast team 11:24 – The industry themes shaping the first seven months of 2026 16:14 – How AI and human connection are evolving together 22:25 – Why smaller operators need better access to credible education 15:56 – The Growth Blueprint behind this year’s podcast content 13:11 – How the show is expanding into Aha Moments Media 27:30 – New series, roundtables, partnerships, and storytelling formats 31:31 – What nearly 300 episodes have taught Alex and Annie about consistency 36:46 – Alex’s decision to dedicate more time to the podcast 38:49 – Annie’s work with Booking.com and smaller vacation rental operators 49:00 – What the team is building for the rest of 2026 and beyond Tune in for a candid look at where the show has been, what is changing, and why the second half of 2026 could be its most exciting yet.  Enjoying the Alex & Annie Podcast? Leave a rating to help more vacation rental professionals discover the show: https://alexandanniepodcast.com/review ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  Reach more direct-booking travelers with Savvy. List your professionally managed properties for free. 👉 Get started here: https://savvy.com/list Automate your short-term rental operations with Hospitable. Start a 14-day free trial and get 25% off your bill for the first 6 months. 👉 Get started: https://hospitable.com/partners/alex-annie  Thinking about the next chapter for your vacation rental business?  Connect with Monarch Collective to explore what growth could look like with the right platform behind you. 👉 Learn more: https://gomonarch.com/partnerships/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #hospitality Send us a message!

    Mid-Year Recap: Big Changes, New Chapters and What’s Next for Alex & Annie (and Jinnie!)

  5. Jul 22 ·  Video

    67 Years and Counting: How Elliott Realty Built a Vacation Rental Business That Lasts

    What does it take to build a vacation rental company that can grow, evolve, and remain successful for nearly seven decades?  In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Rick Elliott and Brandon Cox of Elliott Realty to explore the people, systems, leadership decisions, and business fundamentals behind the company’s longevity.  Elliott Realty has been part of the Myrtle Beach vacation rental industry since 1959. Over those 67 years, the company has navigated new technology, changing traveler behavior, higher homeowner expectations, and an increasingly complex distribution landscape.  Rick and Brandon share why long-term success requires a willingness to evolve, strong systems, careful attention to detail, and people who can grow with the organization. They also discuss Elliott Realty’s approach to homeowner relationships, property standards, direct bookings, OTA distribution, brand development, and local tourism advocacy.  Episode Chapters: 06:42 - How Elliott Realty Has Evolved Since 1959 07:15 - Why Strong People and Systems Matter More Than Technology Alone 12:20 - Hiring Intentionally and Promoting Future Leaders From Within 15:59 - Understanding Individual Homeowner Goals and Expectations 19:05 - Maintaining Property Quality Across a Large Portfolio 27:52 - Balancing Direct Bookings With OTA Distribution 35:56 - The Importance of Local Advocacy and Community Involvement 48:00 - Why Investing in Your Brand Creates Long-Term Value 48:47 - How Founders Can Step Back and Empower Their Leadership Team  For vacation rental leaders thinking about the future of their business, this episode offers practical lessons on building a company that can adapt, develop new leaders, and remain strong for generations.  Connect with Rick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-elliott-192aba11/  Connect with Brandon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-cox-87930a56/  Connect with Elliott Realty: Website: https://www.elliottbeachrentals.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliottrealty  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliottbeachrentals?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elliott-beach-rentals/about/  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  List your professionally managed properties on VacationFinder.com with no listing fees or booking commissions. Join through the link below for a chance at featured launch placement and a $250 Amazon Gift Card. Drawing August 15, 2026. 👉 Get started: https://partners.vacationfinder.com/alexandannie Automate your short-term rental operations with Hospitable. Start a 14-day free trial and get 25% off your bill for the first 6 months. 👉 Get started: https://hospitable.com/partners/alex-annie  Thinking about the next chapter for your vacation rental business?  Connect with Monarch Collective to explore what growth could look like with the right platform behind you. 👉 Learn more: https://gomonarch.com/partnerships/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #directbookings Send us a message!

    67 Years and Counting: How Elliott Realty Built a Vacation Rental Business That Lasts

  6. Jul 15 ·  Video

    From Fighting Regulations to Shaping Better Policy with Tyann Marcink Hammond

    Advocacy often stays on the back burner until a regulation directly threatens the business. For Tyann Marcink Hammond, that moment came when vacation rentals in parts of Missouri were reclassified from residential to commercial properties, causing some tax bills to rise dramatically. In this episode, Tyann returns to share how that experience pulled her deeper into vacation rental advocacy and showed her why operators need to get involved before policy decisions are finalized. She explains how relationships with local officials, Realtors, tourism organizations, legislators, and fellow property managers can help shape clearer, more reasonable regulations. Tyann also shares how collaboration in Missouri has supported progress on state legislation and the development of a model short-term rental ordinance. The conversation also covers Kansas City’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including how vacation rentals helped address the city’s lodging needs and the resources created to help new hosts operate responsibly. We discuss: 03:31 - Why vacation rental operators need to pay attention to local policy 04:46 - How property tax changes affected Missouri vacation rentals 14:05 - Why relationships are essential to effective advocacy 20:28 - How operators can get involved in shaping local regulations 25:51 - What Kansas City’s World Cup preparations can teach other destinations 36:43 - How last-minute bookings are changing operational planning  42:16 - Why human connection still plays an important role in vacation rental marketing  If you want to better understand how local decisions are made and how operators can have a meaningful voice in the process, this episode is for you. Connect with Tyann: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyannmarcink/  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  Reach more direct-booking travelers with Savvy. List your professionally managed properties for free. 👉 Get started here: https://savvy.com/list Automate your short-term rental operations with Hospitable. Start a 14-day free trial and get 25% off your bill for the first 6 months. 👉 Get started: https://hospitable.com/partners/alex-annie  Thinking about the next chapter for your vacation rental business?  Connect with Monarch Collective to explore what growth could look like with the right platform behind you. 👉 Learn more: https://gomonarch.com/partnerships/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #regulations Send us a message!

    From Fighting Regulations to Shaping Better Policy with Tyann Marcink Hammond

  7. Jul 8 ·  Video

    The Direct Booking Movement Has a Discovery Problem, with Eric Goldreyer of Savvy

    Direct booking has been part of the vacation rental conversation for years, but one challenge remains hard to solve. Travelers are not always searching that way. In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Eric Goldreyer, CEO and founder of Savvy, to talk about why direct booking has struggled to become a consumer habit and what needs to change for travelers to find, trust, and use it more easily. Eric shares how Savvy evolved from BNB Finder into a book-direct marketplace for professional property managers. The conversation gets into why lower fees alone are not enough to change booking behavior, how OTAs have shaped traveler expectations, and why direct booking needs a better discovery path if it is going to scale. Episode Chapters: 06:21 - How professional property managers can build stronger guest relationships 06:53 - Why repeat business starts with owning guest data 07:56 - Why direct booking has struggled to reach the consumer 09:04 - How traveler behavior has been shaped by OTAs 18:16 - Why property managers still need OTAs while building a stronger direct strategy 20:55 - How destination content can support discovery and conversion 27:05 - Why property managers cannot rely on direct booking websites alone 33:28 - How trust, reviews, verification, and clear pricing influence conversion 34:18 - Why saving money is not always enough to win the booking 42:00 - What AI and structured data could mean for the future of travel search If you are a vacation rental operator trying to reduce OTA dependency, build more repeat business, or understand how travelers are discovering and booking stays today, this episode is for you. Connect with Eric LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericgoldreyer/  Connect with Savvy: Website: https://www.savvy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stay-savvy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savvy_stay Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvystays  ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:  Reach more direct-booking travelers with Savvy. List your professionally managed properties for free. 👉 Get started here: https://savvy.com/list Automate your short-term rental operations with Hospitable. Start a 14-day free trial and get 25% off your bill for the first 6 months. 👉 Get started: https://hospitable.com/partners/alex-annie  Thinking about the next chapter for your vacation rental business?  Connect with Monarch Collective to explore what growth could look like with the right platform behind you. 👉 Learn more: https://gomonarch.com/partnerships/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #directbookings Send us a message!

    The Direct Booking Movement Has a Discovery Problem, with Eric Goldreyer of Savvy

  8. Jul 1 ·  Video

    Revenue Reality Check: What to Do When Revenue Plans Do Not Go as Planned with Julie Brinkman of Beyond

    Revenue strategy always starts with a plan, but the market does not always follow it. A major event may not pace the way it did last year, certain property types may start falling behind, owners may get nervous about open dates, and new channel updates can quickly add more complexity to an already busy season. In this episode of Revenue Reality Check, presented by Beyond, Alex & Annie are joined once again by Julie Brinkman, CEO of Beyond, for a practical conversation about what vacation rental operators should do when revenue plans do not go as expected. Julie breaks down how property managers can respond to soft pacing, underperforming inventory, owner pressure, cancellation policy changes, paid placement opportunities, and shifting demand without jumping straight into reactive pricing decisions. Julie also answers real revenue questions from operators in Nashville, Myrtle Beach, and Park City, covering what to do when a major event underperforms, how to handle inventory that is telling two different stories, and how to help owners understand the strategy when they want rates lowered too soon. We discuss: 01:30 - Why revenue backup plans matter during a busy season 02:24 - Airbnb cancellation policy changes and what flexibility means for operators 05:38 - Direct bookings, OTA visibility, and finding the right channel mix 11:24 - VRBO paid placement and why marketing needs to align with revenue 16:39 - When a major event weekend does not pace as expected 23:46 - When part of the portfolio is falling behind 31:28 - Helping nervous owners understand the pricing strategy 37:51 -Stop, Start, and Scale: building more proactive revenue plans Tune in for this episode of Revenue Reality Check, brought to you by Beyond, and learn how to build better revenue backup plans for the moments when the market does not go according to plan. Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrbrinkman/  Connect with Beyond: Website: https://beyondpricing.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-pricing/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondpricing/  Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-pricing/  #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #strindustry Send us a message!

    Revenue Reality Check: What to Do When Revenue Plans Do Not Go as Planned with Julie Brinkman of Beyond
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5
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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.

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