The STR Growth Show

Hosted by Patryk Swietek

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Episodes

112

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The STR Growth Show is a podcast for short-term rental operators who want to scale their business. Hosted by Patryk Swietek, founder of The Cohost Company, which manages 150+ properties in the Joshua Tree market and has been featured on Netflix, Dwell, The New York Times, Condé Nast, and Architectural Digest. Patryk interviews industry experts in our space with the focus of sharing real actionable insights on growth, operations, branding, and scaling in the evolving short-term rental industry.

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60 recent

June 13, 2026Episode 1091 hr 3 min

111. The Revenue Expert Behind the World’s Largest STR Company Shares His Pricing Philosophy

Dr. Zak Ali joins the show to break down what modern revenue management really looks like in the short-term rental industry and why it's far more than just setting prices in software.With over 20 years of experience across airlines, hotels, vacation rentals, and hospitality technology, Dr. Zak shares lessons from leading revenue management for 110,000+ units at Awaze and consulting with operators around the world. We dive into the metrics that actually matter, how to price unique properties, why most operators focus on the wrong data, and how AI is changing (but not replacing) revenue management.If you're a property manager, vacation rental operator, or hospitality professional looking to increase revenue, improve forecasting, and stay ahead of market trends, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Dr. Zak on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-a-056b2714/

May 30, 2026Episode 11039 min

110. 5 to 40 STR Units: Here's What Actually Changes

In this episode, we sit down with Mariam of Lume Stays and Natalie Bykov of The Orange Cabins, two powerhouse co-hosts and full-time moms who built thriving short-term rental businesses from the ground up. They share what it actually took to scale from a few properties with no software to 40 units and beyond.We get into the real operational stuff: when to hire your first VA, how to structure shifts, what a boots-on-the-ground person actually does, and how to know when your ops manager is maxed out. Mariam breaks down her referral incentive strategy with vendors and how dominating Desert Hot Springs gave her a natural path into Palm Springs. Natalie shares how a single viral video drove millions of views and turned social media into her biggest lead source. At the same time, she and her husband Alex, run active outbound sales calls to grow their Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear portfolio.We also talk about working with spouses, letting go of guest messaging, and why they both believe hospitality still needs a human touch. Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Mariam & Natalie on:Mariam: https://www.instagram.com/mariam.av_/Natalie: https://www.instagram.com/nataliebykov/Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/confessionsofahost/

May 5, 2026Episode 10942 min

109. The Challenges Of Growing to 100 Units

Chris Petzy, co-owner and CEO of Seacoast 2 Summit Vacation Rentals, discusses scaling from a self-managed two-family property to 120+ short-term rentals through inbound leads, referrals, and operational discipline.In this episode, we cover how Chris and his partner divide responsibilities between sales, marketing, and operations, what changes as you grow from operator to CEO, and why scaling a vacation rental management company is really about people, roles, systems, and quality control.You’ll also hear how Chris thinks about direct bookings, AI tools, CRM systems, homeowner communication, maintenance workflows, VAs vs. stateside staff, and building the leadership structure needed to grow without sacrificing service or family time.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispetzy/

April 17, 2026Episode 10837 min

108. High-Touch Hospitality in Luxury Homes In Cabo

In this episode, we sit down with Mishan Andre of Cabo Platinum to break down how luxury short-term rentals can actually compete with hotels. Managing an 85-villa portfolio in Cabo, he shares the systems, service standards, and operational discipline behind high-end STRs.You’ll learn how they scaled from VRBO into a premium brand, how they protect $10M+ homes with detailed inspections, and why human service still beats AI in luxury hospitality. If you’re building or scaling a high-end STR business, this episode is for you.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Mishan Andre at caboplatinum.com

April 3, 2026Episode 10741 min

107. How AI Is Transforming Vacation Rental Operations

JJ King, founder of Beachside Vacation Rentals, joins the show to share how he scaled to 300 units in three years and how he’s using AI in real STR operations.We break down where AI actually works (guest messaging, SOPs, internal tools) and where it can hurt like fully automated messaging leading to worse guest experiences and team disengagement. JJ also shares lessons from over-automation mistakes, the rise of AI agents like Claude tools, and how to implement AI without overcomplicating your stack.Connect with me....Podcast: YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with JJ King on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjking321/

March 29, 2026Episode 10639 min

106. The Surprising Power of AI in Short-Term Rental Operations and Marketing

Lynell Gordon joins the STR Growth Show to share her journey through vacation rentals and proptech, from founding and exiting a SaaS company to going deep on property management software and operations.We get into why the "one software does everything" dream is a myth across different STR markets, how short-term rental operators should actually be thinking about AI, and where automation wins versus where hospitality still demands a human touch. Lynell also drops sharp takes on trust accounting, fintech risk, OTA dependency, direct booking strategy, and what every STR operator needs to understand about EBITDA and add-backs before even thinking about selling.If you run a short-term rental business, cohosting company, or vacation rental management firm, this one will sharpen how you think about tech, operations, and building something worth owning long-term.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Lynell Gordon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynelleaddy/The Vacation Rental Show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-vacation-rental-show/

March 10, 2026Episode 10545 min

105. The STR Industry in 2026: Trends, Shifts & What's Next

Tyler Coon, CEO of Savvy STR Agents, scaled from roughly $50M in annual STR sales to a national team operating in 30+ markets across the U.S.You’ll learn how Tyler entered the STR space in 2020, built a national team, and is now aiming for $1B in short-term rental real estate sales while helping agents build wealth in the process.You’ll also dive into the major shifts happening in the STR market since 2022. With higher interest rates, rising home prices, and more competition, the industry is seeing an amenity arms race, where highly designed, experience-driven “super properties” outperform basic vacation rentals.Throughout the conversation, you’ll explore how investors are adapting, why lower-budget STR setups are getting squeezed out, and why Tyler believes institutional and family-office capital is beginning to enter the space looking for cash-flowing short-term rentals.Connect with me....Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...YouTube Channel: ⁠ / @patrykswietek Instagram: ⁠ / patryk_swietek Facebook Group: ⁠ / strnation Visit Tyler Coon at https://www.savvy.realty/agents/Tyler...

February 20, 2026Episode 10449 min

104. Scaling STR Operations: What Changes at 25, 100, and 300 Units

You think you want 500 units, but do you actually?In this episode, you challenge the assumption that bigger is always better in short-term rental management. You’ll dive into the real operational breakpoints between 10 and 500+ units and discover why 100–120 units might be the true “sweet spot” for profitability, accountability, and long-term sustainability.Michael Steinkirchner, founder of Uncharted Vacations, managing partner at Stream Advisors, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, shares his path from military service to boutique STR operator to large-scale management with Vacasa and what scaling really costs in owner relationships, staffing, tech, and control.If you’re growing an Airbnb or vacation rental management company, this episode will challenge how you think about scale.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Visit Michael Steinkirchner at stayuncharted.comEmail: info@stateuncharted.com

December 22, 2025Episode 10348 min

103. Launched The #1 Most Wishlist Saved Airbnb in Mississippi

We sit down with Janel Gallucci to break down what it actually takes to build a top-performing short-term rental.Janel shares how she went from her first STR purchase in 2019 to owning one of the most wishlisted Airbnbs in Mississippi, and why success in short-term rentals comes down to clarity, execution, and disciplined decision-making. The conversation dives into defining a strong buy box, underwriting deals correctly, choosing the right markets, and launching properties in a way that drives early momentum.This episode is tactical and execution-focused, with practical insight on market research, guest avatars, pricing strategy, and property setup, without the fluff. If you’re serious about building profitable short-term rentals and creating Airbnbs that stand out in competitive markets, this episode delivers real strategy you can apply.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Janel Gallucci on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sevensummershostacademy/

December 6, 2025Episode 10247 min

102. Acquired 5 STR Cohosting Companies in 18 Months

We sit down with Scott Sage, founder of Home Base, who scaled a 170-unit property management company by mastering one of the most overlooked growth levers in the STR industry: acquisitions.Scott breaks down his unconventional entry into property management, how he formalized his business after accidentally inheriting a portfolio in Indianapolis, and the exact acquisition strategies that helped him expand into multiple markets, including Louisville. He gets tactical on outreach, due diligence, operational integration, and the criteria he uses to judge whether a management company is worth buying.You’ll also learn how Scott uses AirDNA for market intelligence, how he identifies “rockstar operators,” and what he would do if he had to start over from scratch today. If you’re serious about scaling through M&A, systems, or operational excellence, this episode cuts through the fluff and gives you the blueprint.Connect with me....YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patrykswietekInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek/Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/strnation/Connect with Scott Sage on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott/