Casa-Cast

The Rise of Mid-Term Rentals: How Furnished Finder Is Changing the Game

In this episode of CasaCast, Steve Schwab sits down with Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder , to talk about one of the fastest growing segments of the lodging market: mid-term rentals . Jeff shares his path from leadership roles at HomeAway, Vrbo, and Expedia to leading Furnished Finder, a platform that began by solving a simple problem for traveling nurses and has since grown into a nationwide network of furnished housing for professionals on the move. The conversation explores how changing work patterns, housing shortages, and a more mobile workforce are driving demand for 30-day-plus stays . Healthcare workers, construction teams, corporate travelers, and relocating families increasingly need flexible housing that sits somewhere between a hotel and a traditional lease. For property managers and owners, the opportunity is significant. Mid-term rentals can help smooth seasonal dips, diversify booking sources, and bring in reliable guests who stay longer and treat homes more like residents than tourists. Jeff and Steve discuss how the model works, why the market is expanding so quickly, and what operators should be thinking about as the line between short-term and longer-stay accommodations continues to evolve.

From Family Roots to Franchise Success: Laura Bowers on Excellence in Vacation Rentals

Laura Bowers grew up in the vacation rental business—literally answering reservation phones as a teenager while her mother built one of the Smoky Mountains’ early short-term rental companies. In this episode of CasaCast, Laura joins host Steve Schwab to share her multi-generation journey through the industry, from family-run operations to leadership roles at Vacasa and AvantStay, and now as a Partner Success Manager at Casago. Laura breaks down what it truly means to support franchise partners: diagnosing operational pain points, improving systems and processes, coaching teams, and showing up as someone who’s been in the trenches herself. She shares real-world examples of how small operational changes can unlock major efficiencies, why data and systems matter, and how Casago’s ecosystem helps partners build stronger, more resilient businesses. The conversation closes with Laura’s personal connection to Casago’s Credo—specifically “E for Excellence”—and her belief that raising standards, taking ownership, and working as a true team are what drive long-term success in this industry. A must-listen for franchise partners, operators, and anyone serious about building a sustainable vacation rental business with heart, discipline, and experience.

Breezeway Best Practices

Turning Chaos Into Consistency: Jeremy Gall’s Seven Principles for Modern Property Management

In this episode, Steve Schwab talks with Breezeway founder Jeremy Gall about the operational backbone of vacation rental management and how getting it right unlocks better hospitality, stronger owner relationships, and more efficient teams. Jeremy shares the arc of his career, from corporate attorney to travel-tech entrepreneur to accidental lumberjack, and how those experiences shaped Breezeway’s mission: empowering property managers with the tools, systems, and clarity required to deliver consistent, high-quality service at scale. They explore Jeremy’s seven principles of operational excellence, the essential balance between automation and human effort, why operators should rethink their relationship to “the grind,” and what Breezeway is building next for Casago partners. This episode offers a rare inside look at how the most progressive operators view operations: not as an afterthought, but as the foundation that allows hospitality, owner relationships, and revenue to flourish.

Alex Johnson’s introduction as Casago’s VP of Franchise Operations

Meet Alex Johnson, whose journey is the key to understanding the depth of experience and operational expertise she brings to Casago. Her career has been shaped by a decade of industry leadership and a personal commitment to principle based decision making. Alex’s career began in the “big data” and new media sector at Rentrek (now CommCore), where she worked with television and movie studios. This role involved extensive travel, with up to 80% of her time spent on the road, which provided her with a strong analytical foundation. Her personal values were instilled in her by her mother, a “woman of principle” who dedicated herself to law school while raising two young children. This upbringing instilled in Alex a deep-seated commitment to doing what is right, a value she now shares with her own family. Alex Johnson’s role as VP of Franchise Operations is centered around a clear and actionable strategy: to provide tailored support to a diverse network of franchise partners. Her vision goes beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, focusing instead on empowering local operators with proven frameworks that they can adapt to their unique market realities. Alex’s goal for her team is to be a “partner and their guide” for every franchisee. She sees her team, which includes Jackie Nord’s team of what she calls “the heroes to the franchises,” as a central business consultancy. The team’s mission is to provide consistent, knowledgeable support throughout the franchisee journey. Alex discusses “standardized flexibility.” This concept is providing standardized principles and processes that serve as guardrails, which can then be adapted to meet the unique needs of different markets. The operational realities of a dense urban market like San Diego are vastly different from those of a mountain resort like Snowshoe. An inflexible, top-down approach can lead to the downfall of a portfolio by failing to build trust with homeowners and guests. By offering a flexible framework based on universal principles, franchisees can adapt their standard operating procedures (SOPs) to meet the specific demands of their community. Alex’s most significant value proposition stems from her firsthand experience at Vacasa. She has witnessed the company grow from 800 to 40,000 units, gaining a unique insight into the critical points of processes and systems. As she puts it, “It’s not always that the process is broken; it’s that the scale changes.” This perspective allows her to guide franchisees, regardless of whether they have 20 homes or 200, with proven strategies that align with their specific stage of development. Alex’s operational framework is built upon a strong foundation of personal and corporate values, which she believes are perfectly aligned with the Casago culture.

David Angotti's Vision for Casago's Transformative Web Strategy

Maximizing Value: Insights from Senior Advisor David Angotti In this episode of Casa Cast, host Steve Schwab welcomes David Angotti, a senior advisor at Casago, to discuss his extensive experience and the exciting developments. They delve into the recent merger that brought vacasa.com into the fold, highlighting its significant impact on franchisees and homeowners. David explains the strategies and investments being made in paid marketing and conversion optimization to drive bookings and enhance the value proposition for franchisees. The episode also highlights David's personal achievements as an ultramarathon runner and his relationships with key industry figures, such as Will Reynolds, enriching the team's approach to achieving ambitious goals. 00:00 Introduction to Kass Cast 00:15 Meet David: Senior Advisor and Industry Veteran 00:56 The Impact of Vac Casa Merger 02:02 Driving Revenue Through Vac Casa 03:25 Optimizing Conversion Rates 03:54 Building a World-Class Team 04:37 The Funnel Strategy 06:59 The Role of Relationships in Business 09:58 David's Ultra Marathon Journey 15:04 Owner-Centric Philosophy 15:53 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Outperforming Five Star Reviews

Mastering Five-Star Guest Experiences with Casa Cast: The North County San Diego Casago Office In this episode of Casa Cast, host Steve Schwab sits down with Bert King, Eric Trojan, and David Carter, the owners of the North County San Diego Casago office, to discuss their success in the vacation rental management industry. They explore their two-and-a-half-year journey with Casago, emphasizing their Orange Credo philosophy of exceptional guest care and owner-centric services. The team shares their hybrid model inspired by renowned brands like Nordstrom and Costco and luxury hotels such as Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. The conversation delves into their 11-step process designed to ensure a five-star experience for every guest, highlighting proactive communication, immediate issue resolution, and personal touches that make guests feel valued and seen. The episode also discusses the importance of nurturing relationships with guests, owners, and vendors for long-term success. 00:00 Introduction to Casa Cast 00:17 Meet the Team: North County San Diego Office 00:55 Philosophy and Approach to Guest Services 01:44 Setting Industry Standards 02:58 Building Relationships with Guests 04:09 The Importance of Customer Service 04:52 Creating a Luxury Experience 09:04 The 11-Step Process for Guest Satisfaction 20:11 The Importance of Timely Responses 20:46 Managing Guest Anxiety 21:10 Setting Expectations with Appointments 21:59 Immediate Response and Technical Expertise 22:46 Mid-Stay Check-Ins 23:46 Service Recovery and Guest Relations 25:55 Pre-Checkout Text Message 27:19 The IKEA Effect and Guest Participation 29:25 Checkout Call and Final Impressions 31:32 Prompting for Guest Reviews 32:49 Responding to Reviews 34:23 Reflecting on the Credo 38:12 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

Casago and Adaptive AI: Revolutionizing Hospitality, with Ashish Vij

Innovating Guest Experiences and Tech Partnerships with Casago: Insights from Ash and Nash In this engaging episode of Casa-Cast, host Steve Schwab leads insightful conversations with Ash from Adaptive and Nash, focusing on technological advancements in the vacation rental industry. Ash shares his background from Google, elucidating how Adaptive's AI platform enhances guest experiences for Casago users through data-driven personalization. Key topics include the platform’s impact on conversion rates, integration processes, and performance indicators. Nash adds to the conversation by emphasizing Casago’s forward-thinking mindset, their adoption of new technologies, and the importance of accountability in partnerships. Both guests highlight the promising potential for growth and improved bookings, concluding with a shared enthusiasm for the innovative journey ahead. 00:00 Introduction to Casa-Cast 00:14 Meet Ash from Adaptive 00:20 Ash's Background and Journey 00:55 What is Adaptive? 01:30 How Adaptive Enhances Guest Experience 01:40 Data Strategy and Learning 02:09 Personalized Guest Experience 02:56 Impact on Conversion Rates 03:29 Cross-Channel Interaction 04:16 Reporting and Insights 05:15 Revenue Metrics and Proof of Concept 05:51 Implementing Adaptive on Partner Websites 06:05 Data Assessment and Integration 06:40 Technical Aspects and Guest Experience 06:53 Adaptive's Low Lift Implementation 07:27 Casago Partnership and Forward Thinking 08:24 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Designing Demand with Felipe Caldera

Unlocking Rental Success: Unique Design, Strategic Marketing, and Hero Features with Felipe Caldera In this episode of CasaCast, host Steve Schwab interviews Felipe Caldera from Port Boulevard to explore the transformative impact of unique property design and strategic marketing on rental revenue. The discussion emphasizes differentiating properties with standout amenities such as hot tubs, game rooms, saunas, and cold plunges and creating eye-catching 'hero photos.' They delve into understanding the target market, effective property staging, and using actors in photos to enhance perceived experiences. Key points include leveraging platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, the importance of direct bookings and email marketing, and the role of RankBreeze in improving property rankings. Felipe underscores the shift towards providing unique experiences and thoughtful upgrades to succeed in a competitive market. 00:00 Introduction to CasaCast 00:15 Meet Felipe Caldera 00:53 Felipe's Journey into Short-Term Rentals 02:41 The Importance of Differentiation 05:56 Design and Functionality in Vacation Rentals 09:29 Understanding Your Target Market 10:36 The Power of Storytelling in Property Marketing 12:05 Essential Amenities and Upgrades 15:53 The Impact of Marketing Strategies 16:49 Creating Instagram-Worthy Features 17:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell

The Roadmap to Vacay Success: In Conversation with Mike Mears

Revolutionizing OTAs: Insights with Mike Mears In this episode of Casa-Cast, host Steve Schwab interviews Mike Mears, co-founder of the innovative OTA, Vacay My Way. Mike shares his journey from VRBO and HomeAway to creating a new platform aimed at balancing benefits for property managers, hosts, and travelers. They discuss the evolution of the OTA market, strategies for sustainable growth, and the importance of transparent and competitive pricing models. Emphasizing trust and direct communication, Mike introduces VacayMyWay's tools and resources designed for success. This insightful conversation also touches on Mike's background in the Austin music scene and his memorable win in the John Lennon songwriting contest. 00:00 Introduction to Casa-Cast 00:17 Meet Mike Mears from Vacay My Way 01:03 Mike's Journey in the Vacation Industry 03:12 From Music to VRBO 04:47 The Birth of Vacay My Way 07:39 Challenges in the OTA Industry 08:18 Marketing Strategies and Lessons Learned 09:47 Future-Proofing with Rewards 10:35 Commitment and Value Proposition 10:56 Mindset Change in Merchandising 11:48 Transparent Fee Structure 13:14 Marketing Strategies for Growth 14:30 Building Industry Confidence 16:26 Reflections and Takeaways from Casa Con 18:10 Final Thoughts and Contact Information