The Accommodation Show

25/09/2025

This episode is all about the leap. The grit. And the reality of building a startup from scratch in the short-term rental world. If you've ever stared at a clunky check-in system or juggled five tools just to welcome a guest, this one's going to hit close to home.

Our guest is Michael O’Connell, founder of Happy Guest; a smart, frictionless platform designed to simplify guest journeys from check-in to check-out. Before launching Happy Guest, Michael led strategic sales and partnerships at Turno and worked across the STR tech landscape. He knew the chaos operators were facing and decided to fix it.

This is a raw, honest chat about what it really takes to go from idea ➡️ ex*****on. Michael opens up about the sacrifices, burnout, and brutal clarity needed to survive the startup rollercoaster, without a fancy VC cheque.

This episode is all about the leap. The grit. And the reality of building a startup from scratch in the short-term rental world. If you've ever stared at a c...

24/09/2025

Your conference ROI depends on 5 to 10 conversations. Do you know who they are?

Conferences can triple your business if you show up with the right plan. In this episode, I’m joined by Simon Lehmann (AJL Atelier), Yoav Tourel (Guesty & ASTRA), and Aaron Taylor (BNB Made Easy & ASTRA) to reveal how to turn events into real ROI.

🎥 Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzhIr4GSpP4

22/09/2025

In this episode, I’m chatting with Simon Sechusi, co-founder of SuiteOp. Simon’s journey from a 400-unit property management business to raising $3M for his new platform is filled with insights and real talk about what it takes to scale in the accommodation space.

🏠 We dive into:

How he grew SoSuite from a single listing in Philly to 400+ units.
Why master leases worked — and didn’t — in his market.
The decision to build their own tech in-house (and how that pivoted their business).
The realities of raising $3M (not just the headlines — the real story).

Key lessons on risk, scaling, and how to know when it’s time to rethink your ops.

💡 If you’re running a hotel, short-term rental business, or thinking about expanding, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Simon Sechusi, co-founder of SuiteOp. Simon’s journey from a 400-unit property management business to raising $3M for his ...

16/09/2025

We’re back with another instalment of Building It, where we dive in with founders who didn’t just dream big, they built big. This time, I’ve got Marcus Rader, co-founder and CEO of Hostaway, sharing how he turned a scrappy start-up into a global powerhouse PMS for the short-term rental world. If you’re curious about what it takes to go from zero to a near-unicorn (and do it without losing your mind or soul), this one’s for you.

In this episode, Marcus shares the mindset that’s powered Hostaway’s growth, less about shiny marketing campaigns and more about solving real problems for real people. He explains why focusing on your guests’ needs is the surest way to win, and how you can apply these lessons to your own accommodation business. We also dig into the challenges of raising capital, scaling smart, and how to balance ambition with the daily grind. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas and the confidence to think bigger, no matter what stage you’re at.

We’re back with another instalment of Building It, where we dive in with founders who didn’t just dream big, they built big. This time, I’ve got Marcus Rader...

16/09/2025

🚀 “It’s really important to stay focused on the growth.”

Dennis Goedheid, founder of Casiola, reveals why many property managers stall when they focus only on operations instead of sales. His advice: keep your eyes on growth to hit your targets.

👉 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwPdXX67GCI

26/08/2025

This episode takes us deep into Southeast Asia with Daniel Rouquette, co-founder of Villa Finder, one of the leading OTA and property management businesses operating across six countries, with over $10M in bookings annually and 30,000+ nights booked last year alone. Daniel and his team have built a powerhouse brand that thrives on guest experience, owner trust, and raw, data-driven decision-making.

Whether you’re running a small holiday let, scaling a STR brand, or just curious how the biggest players got there, this episode is packed with real lessons you can use. Daniel breaks down how they tackled one of the hardest models in our industry, building a double-sided marketplace (think Airbnb before Airbnb took over). He shares how they signed their first 200 villas on a scooter in Bali, managed availability manually (yes, really), and built tools in-house to fix problems others didn’t see coming.

There’s a lot here for you—whether you’re trying to build trust with guests, get repeat bookings, or decide where to put your time and money as you grow. And if you’ve ever thought about launching a platform or expanding your PM business, this is a must-listen.

This week’s episode takes us deep into Southeast Asia with Daniel Rouquette, co-founder of Villa Finder, one of the leading OTA and property management busin...

31/07/2025

This episode marks the launch of a brand new segment we are calling ‘Building It’, where we dive into how founders in the accommodation space built their businesses from the ground up. It’s about the work, the grit, the strategies, and the pivots that helped them scale and grow into the most successful companies nationally and accross the world.In these episodes, you’ll get insights that are rarely shared, but incredibly valuable for your own journey.

To kick things off, I spoke with someone who’s built one of the largest short-term rental brands in Australia. What started with two mates and a few cleans has grown into a company managing over 2,200 properties, operating across every state and territory, and overseeing $140 million in gross bookings annually. That business is Hometime, and its story is nothing short of remarkable.

This week marks the launch of a brand new segment we are calling ‘Building It’, where we dive into how founders in the accommodation space built their busine...

16/07/2025

Every operator – whether you're running a small guest house or a large vacation rental portfolio or hotel – relies on technology to some degree. But few of us step back to assess whether all those moving parts are actually working together. In this episode, Shahar Goldboim and I pull back the curtain on the chaos that often hides behind the scenes.

You’ll walk away from this conversation with a sharper understanding of how to get your business systems properly aligned, and why the future belongs to those who start thinking strategically about their tech investments. A better tech stack doesn’t just mean convenience – it means better guest experiences, higher profits, and easier scaling.

Every operator – whether you're running a small guest house or a large vacation rental portfolio or hotel – relies on technology to some degree. But few of ...

07/07/2025

I had the chance to sit down with someone who quite literally has their finger on the pulse of our industry. If you’ve ever wondered whether you're charging the right rates, when you should be adjusting pricing, or why bookings seem slow compared to your neighbour’s, this episode is for you. I’m talking to Jamie Lane from Airdna, and I genuinely think this could be one of our most practical and timely conversations to date.

As someone running an accommodation business, you're constantly juggling revenue, guest satisfaction, and market conditions. But what if you could take the guesswork out of it? In this episode, we break down what the data is actually telling us—so you can make smarter decisions every single week. Jamie and I explore how market-wide trends affect your bookings, how to interpret occupancy and rate shifts, and what top-performing operators are doing differently.

This week, I had the chance to sit down with someone who quite literally has their finger on the pulse of our industry. If you’ve ever wondered whether you'r...

01/07/2025

Sometimes, one small change can have a huge impact on your business.

In the penultimate mini episode of The Accommodation Show, I sat down with Julie George, author of Million Dollar Host, to talk about one simple yet brilliant tip that can help you stand out in 2025. This isn’t about big budgets or major renovations—it’s about creating a memorable guest experience that drives better reviews, more repeat bookings, and higher revenue.

If you're looking for a fresh idea to kickstart your inspiration for the year ahead, this episode is for you.

Julie shares a surprisingly simple way to surprise and delight your guests—something that keeps them engaged until the very last day of their stay and makes them want to book again.

It’s the small details that make the biggest difference.

Sometimes, one small change can have a huge impact on your business.In the penultimate mini episode of The Accommodation Show, I sat down with Julie George, ...

24/06/2025

What makes guests choose one property over another?

Is it the price? The location? The number of bedrooms?

While all of those factors matter, the reality is your property needs to stand out from the moment a guest lays eyes on it, whether that’s on an OTA, your website, or social media.

This episode is part of my special mini-series where I sit down with top industry professionals and ask them:

“What’s your #1 tip for accommodation businesses in 2025?”

With competition heating up and guest expectations rising, it’s no longer enough to simply list your property and hope for the best. You need to make strategic updates to ensure your property gets seen, booked, and remembered.

I sat down with Craig Westaway from BNB Booking, a short-term rental legend who manages some of Australia’s most sought-after high-end properties. Craig has built a business around delivering an exceptional guest experience—one that drives repeat bookings and higher nightly rates.

What makes guests choose one property over another?Is it the price? The location? The number of bedrooms? While all of those factors matter, the reality is y...

16/06/2025

If I asked you to name your top priority for 2025, what would it be?

For most property managers and accommodation managers, it’s more bookings—without burning out or slashing rates.

This season on The Accommodation Show, I’ve been asking industry leaders one simple but powerful question:

“What’s your #1 tip for accommodation businesses in 2025?”

Each guest has shared something different—strategies for pricing, marketing, and operations—but when I sat down with Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group, his tip stood out because it addressed the one thing every property manager wants more of:

👉 More bookings.

Tim works closely with property managers worldwide through platforms like Vrbo, Expedia, and Stays, giving him a global perspective on what’s working right now. And his message was clear.

If I asked you to name your top priority for 2025, what would it be?For most property managers and accommodation managers, it’s more bookings—without burning...