DesignedVR & Casiola Announce a Game-Changing Partnership in STR
Send us a message!In this episode, we sit down with two industry powerhouses: Dennis Goedheid, CEO of Casiola, and Shahar Goldboim, CEO of Boom and founder of DesignedVR, to unpack the story behind their groundbreaking new partnership.As the vacation rental industry continues to mature, operators are finding new ways to grow that prioritize sustainability, clarity, and control. This conversation explores the revenue-sharing agreement between DesignedVR and Casiola, a creative alternative to the traditional franchise or acquisition model.Shahar shares his decision to step away from the day-to-day operations of DesignedVR to fully focus on growing Boom, the AI-powered property management system he built with his two brothers. Dennis explains how Casiola's clear focus on hospitality and operations made them the right partner to take over and grow the DesignedVR portfolio.Key Topics Discussed:1️⃣ Why Shahar chose to partner rather than sell or franchise2️⃣ How Dennis and Shahar aligned on values, leadership, and long-term vision3️⃣ What property managers can learn about letting go to grow4️⃣ The operational and cultural challenges of integrating a new team and brand5️⃣ How Casiola approaches expansion without sacrificing focus6️⃣ Why the traditional "do it all" mindset often leads to burnout in STR7️⃣ How Dennis views focus as a competitive advantage8️⃣ Why Shahar sees clarity as a form of leadership9️⃣ What role AI and automation will play as Boom continues to scaleYou'll also hear how Casiola is managing the integration of DesignedVR's team, technology, and properties, and why this move is about more than just operations. At its core, it's a partnership built on aligned values and a shared vision for what vacation rental businesses can become.Connect with Shahar:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahar-goldboim-80820b95/ Boom: https://www.boomnow.com/ Connect with Dennis:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisgoedheid/ Casiola: https://www.casiola.com/ Mention "Alex & Annie" when you sign up with Boom to get 50% off your onboarding fee and 1 month FREE: https://www.boomnow.com/Get a free Growth Hack Review and P&L Evaluation when you mention “Alex & Annie” during your discovery call with the Grand Welcome team: https://calendly.com/jessica-singer-grandwelcome/intro #vacationrentals #vacationrentalfranchising #STR
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32:50
Are We in a Travel Recession? AirDNA’s Jamie Lane Decodes the 2025 Market
Send us a message!Is the short-term rental industry on the edge of a travel recession, or just entering a new phase of normalization?In this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, AirDNA’s Chief Economist Jamie Lane joins us to explain what the data is revealing about the 2025 market. With demand softening among budget travelers, international bookings pulling back, and economic uncertainty on the rise, Jamie helps make sense of the mixed signals facing STR professionals today.Jamie also shares how AirDNA is evolving to better support property managers in this climate, with new tools, smarter comps, and deeper forecasting capabilities. Whether you're adjusting pricing strategies, watching booking windows shrink, or wondering what’s next for growth, this conversation provides the clarity and context you need.Key Topics Discussed:1️⃣ Are we in a travel recession? Early signals from airline and STR data2️⃣ Why summer 2025 bookings are slower, especially in budget and urban segments3️⃣ Hotels gaining share in cities as STR growth is restricted by regulation4️⃣ Supply growth slows across most markets and what that means for operators5️⃣ Signs of guests trading down, shortening trips, and delaying decisions6️⃣ The impact of fewer Canadian and European travelers this year7️⃣ Airbnb’s urban inventory problem and the increasing presence of hotels on OTAsJamie also shares his outlook for the rest of 2025 and why, despite current challenges, the long-term growth of short-term rentals remains strong.Connect with Jamie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/Mention "Alex & Annie" when you sign up with Boom to get 50% off your onboarding fee and 1 month FREE: https://www.boomnow.com/#vacationrentals #travelrecession #shorttermrentals
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Rebel in a Gown: Breaking the Rules We Never Agreed To - with Shelley Brown
Send us a message!In this empowering episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, Shelley Brown joins us to talk about how breaking outdated expectations and embracing your weird can lead to more authentic leadership and a deeper sense of belonging.As the original "Rebel in a Gown," Shelley brings her signature blend of authenticity, artistry, and humor to a conversation that challenges the status quo on leadership, burnout, and belonging.Shelley shares how an unexpected career detour and a serious spinal injury pushed her to redefine success. Not by how hard she could hustle, but by how deeply she could connect. That shift led her from hotel lobbies and sales calls to keynote stages, where she now helps teams rediscover purpose, vulnerability, and human connection.Key topics discussed:1️⃣ How Shelley’s WEIRD framework invites more inclusive and connected leadership2️⃣ Why outdated ideas of success often lead to burnout and disconnection3️⃣ What it means to “rebel” against norms without being loud about it4️⃣ The power of journaling, mindfulness, and small daily choices5️⃣ How to lead with legacy in mind and why it starts with youThis episode is an invitation for you to reconnect with the version of yourself that existed before the world told you who to be. And yes, we all wore gowns for it.Connect with Shelley:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleybbrown/ Website: https://shelleybrownofficial.com/ Mention "Alex & Annie" when you sign up with Boom to get 50% off your onboarding fee and 1 month FREE: https://www.boomnow.com/#vacationrentals #leadership #burnout
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52:50
Live from VRNation: Unpacking The Real Story
Send us a message!Alex & Annie bring you behind the scenes at VRNation 2025 to explore direct booking strategies, industry growth, tech innovation, and the evolving role of associations in vacation rentals.Recorded live in Austin, Texas, this special bonus episode captures real-time insights from the conference floor. Alex & Annie had on-the-spot conversations with some of the industry’s most influential voices and rising innovators to unpack the real story behind what’s shaping the vacation rental space today.In true Alex & Annie fashion, they also asked some of the conference participants one powerful question: “In one word, what’s the biggest problem in vacation rentals?” The answers reveal a lot about where the industry stands and where it's headed.Featuring interviews with:Heidie Henriksen – Executive Director of VRNationOrlie Benjamin – Founder of LasohDylan Bozarth – General Manager of 30A EscapesTera Lorimer – Founder of Luxury Getaways and VRNation Board MemberHeather Van Wie – Founder of Cottages on the Key and VRNation Board MemberNicholas Wegener & Roy Collins – Founders of SendSquaredAnne Gardner – Executive Director at VRMAWhether you were at VRNation or following the buzz afterward, this episode captures the energy and insight straight from Austin.Mention "Alex & Annie" when you sign up with Boom to get 50% off your onboarding fee and 1 month FREE: https://www.boomnow.com/ Get $50 credit and $0 onboarding fee when you sign up for Beyond, the leading dynamic pricing tool for vacation rentals: http://beyondpricing.info/alexandannie #vacationrentals #Shorttermrentals #VRNation2025
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43:34
Inside Booking.com’s Strategy to Become the Best Partner for Property Managers - with Ian Ackland
Send us a message!In this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we’re joined by Ian Ackland, Managing Director of the Americas at Booking.com, for a candid look at how one of the world's largest travel platforms is evolving its approach to better serve property managers.With more than 30 years in the travel industry and over a decade at Booking.com, Ian shares how the company is shifting from being just a distribution channel to becoming a true partner for vacation rental professionals. From reimagining payment systems and investing in connectivity, to expanding their U.S. market presence and leveraging AI, Ian walks us through the strategy behind Booking.com's efforts to reduce friction and drive more value for hosts at every stage of growth.Whether you’re a large enterprise or just getting started, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to work smarter, tap into new guest demand, and build a more effective tech stack through stronger partnerships.Key Topics Discussed:1️⃣ Ian’s background in hospitality and why hosting is personal to him2️⃣ The evolution of Booking.com's vacation rental strategy3️⃣ Why connectivity partners like NextPax play a key role in host success4️⃣ How Booking.com is supporting both enterprise and mid-sized property managers5️⃣ What makes listings convert: content, rate plans, and smart distribution6️⃣ The redesign of their payment system to solve real host pain points7️⃣ How generative AI is helping streamline guest communication8️⃣ Loyalty, trust, and the value of high-frequency guests9️⃣ The tools and resources Booking.com offers to support property managers at scaleConnect with Ian:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-ackland-1b3b444/ Mention "Alex & Annie" when you sign up with Boom to get 50% off your onboarding fee and 1 month FREE: https://www.boomnow.com/ Get $50 credit and $0 onboarding fee when you sign up for Beyond, the leading dynamic pricing tool for vacation rentals: http://beyondpricing.info/alexandannie #VacationRentals #ShortTermRentals #OTA
Sobre Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals
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.
Brasil