AI is reshaping short-term rentals fast.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Shahar, founder of Boom, to break down how operators can use AI + automation to scale without adding chaos.

Shahar shares how he went from broker/investor to building a tech-enabled property management company (managing roughly $150M of property)—then spinning the technology out into Boom as a standalone platform built for operators running at scale.

What you’ll learn:

• How Shahar validated his first Airbnb using staged “virtual design” photos before furnishing
• Why “market fit” matters more than building a great product—and how his first tech product struggled to monetize
• The real operational pain that forces software creation: owner statements, task management, approvals, vendor payments, reconciliation
• Why scaling STRs breaks from operations, not demand—and how “one system” reduces errors and labor
• The shift from SaaS tools everywhere to one operating system + AI agents (guest messaging, reporting, workflows)
• How AI can reduce guest-message volume so teams can focus on real problems and higher-touch hospitality
• Where the industry is heading: AI travel planning, agent-driven bookings, direct booking disruption, and even the long-term impact of robotics
• Why companies that don’t adopt AI won’t survive—and how top operators will scale from 100 doors to 500–1,000 with the same team

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 325+ profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this Monday Market Data Report, co-host Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental numbers for Blue Ridge, one of the most popular mountain cabin destinations in the Southeast.

This episode highlights just how wide the performance gap is in Blue Ridge — where top-performing properties can earn more than double what average listings make in the same bedroom category.

Inside the data, you’ll learn:

• What 3-bedroom cabins earn at average vs. top-tier performance
• Why occupancy swings in Blue Ridge are some of the largest we’ve seen
• Why adding a 4th bedroom doesn’t always move the needle — unless you’re a top performer
• How 5-bedroom properties unlock a massive revenue jump when executed correctly
• Why 6+ bedroom homes can exceed $250K per year in the top tier

The takeaway is clear: Blue Ridge strongly rewards great locations, views, amenities, and execution, while average properties leave a lot of money on the table.

Whether you already own in Blue Ridge or are underwriting a potential cabin investment, this episode gives you the real numbers to understand where the upside truly lives.

Have a market you want us to break down next? DM Mark and we’ll bring the data.

Short-term rental guest expectations are rising fast — and “manual everything” breaks the moment you try to scale.

This week, Mark is joined by Frank from Hostfully to talk systems, PMS strategy, and what it really takes to run a professional operation as you grow from 1–2 properties to 10+.

Frank shares how his luxury hotel background (Ritz, W, Westin) shaped his view of STR operations — and why structure, branding, and professionalism are now non-negotiable if you want to win your market.

We cover:

• The biggest differences between luxury hotels and mom-and-pop short-term rentals
• Why guest expectations keep moving toward “hotel-level” standards (and won’t go back)
• When it becomes impossible to manage without a PMS
• How a PMS helps reduce operational friction and scale without chaos
• Why “growth at all costs” is dead — and sustainable growth is the new edge
• What to look for when choosing a PMS (and why there’s no one-size-fits-all)

If you’re serious about scaling your STR portfolio, this episode is a must-listen.

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 325+ profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com