On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Melissa and Chris Jones, a dynamic investor duo who share how a simple desire for a second home evolved into a thriving short-term rental business and boutique co-hosting company. They walk through their journey from renovating a “turnkey” townhome in Galveston to scaling up with high-performing properties in Broken Bow and Orange Beach. Along the way, they highlight their design strategies, how they stand out in saturated markets, and how word-of-mouth helped them grow a co-hosting portfolio of 25+ properties. Melissa and Chris also offer heartfelt advice for aspiring hosts and share the mindset shifts that helped them go from accidental investors to full-time entrepreneurs.

How to connect with Melissa and Chris:

https://bestvacationrentalsever.com

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
www.strquestions.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week’s episode, Avery is joined by Nathan St. Cyr, a hospitality innovator who’s redefining budget travel through upscale hostels. Nathan shares how he stumbled into the hostel space in Maui and turned a $821K property into a $5.2M valuation in just 18 months—all while achieving over $824K in annual NOI. He breaks down the operational and financial advantages of hostel investing, how he optimized guest experience for Gen Z travelers, and why U.S. hostel development is a wide-open market opportunity. Nathan also shares insights on zoning, daily guest programming, and his strategy for scaling across markets.

How to connect with Nathan:

Instagram: nathan_stcyr

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
www.strquestions.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week’s episode, Avery is joined by Isaac French, a creative powerhouse who went from bookkeeper to hospitality developer and Instagram sensation. Isaac shares the remarkable journey behind Live Oak Lake, a Nordic-inspired micro resort he designed and built from scratch in Texas—achieving 95% occupancy in year one and ultimately selling to an institutional buyer for $1 million per key. He discusses the challenges of construction, overcoming an Airbnb suspension, and the science behind direct bookings and social media growth. Isaac also dives deep into experience-driven design, micro resort feasibility, and the power of storytelling in creating unforgettable guest experiences.

How to connect with Isaac:

isaacjfrench.com
Instagram.com/isaacfrench_
X.com/isaacfrench_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacjfrench/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
www.strquestions.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon