We’re continuing our brand new segment: ‘Building It’, where I sit down with trailblasing founders in the accommodation space to unpack exactly how they built their businesses from the ground up. It’s not about fluffy success stories. It’s about the grit, the strategy, the setbacks—and the steps that actually worked.
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 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.
Daniel Rouquette is the French-born co-founder of Villa Finder, a premium OTA and property management company that operates across Asia and parts of Europe. Based in Singapore, Daniel launched the business in 2012 with co-founder David after realising there was no trusted way to book villas in Bali. What began with a single destination has grown into a trusted global brand, underpinned by smart systems, strong data, and high-touch guest service. Daniel now leads a team of nearly 70 staff across multiple countries and continues to champion quality, transparency, and guest experience as key growth drivers.
This episode isn’t just a case study, it’s a masterclass in what it really takes to build something that lasts. Whether you’re dreaming of scale or just want to improve what you’re already doing, Daniel’s story offers clear takeaways and inspiration. From scrappy beginnings to polished systems, this is one of the best real-world STR growth journeys I’ve had the chance to share.
If you’re working on your own villa, motel, B&B, or holiday rental business and want to see behind the curtain of a company that’s done it, and done it well, don’t miss this episode.
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