We are back for Season 10 of The Accommodation Show! I am pumped!

To kick us off – I am pleased to bring you the podcast and replay of STR Legends AUSTRALIA. We learned a lot through our last live event with the USA STR legends and I had many reach out asking for the Australian perspective. As we all know, Australia punches way above its weight in hospitality, management and investment. So this week we’re taking the STR Legends to a whole new level with top Australian thought leaders in our industry who are operators, service providers and property managers and most importantly excited to share their experiences and lessons learned along the way.

Our discussion focused on how to improve guest experience, marketing, technology, and business growth intersected in the short-term rental industry. Our all-star guest lineup included Yoav Tourel, Managing Director of Guesty and ASTRA Board Director, Quirin Schwaighofer, co-founder of MadeComfy, Tracey Northcott, CEO of Tokyo Family Stays, and Rebecca Cribbin, an STR Property Manager, award-winning industry advocate, published author, and Founder of Holiday Rental Specialists. 🤝

First up, we explored how to improve the guest experience and stand out in a crowded market. We discussed how factors like property quality, price, and branding could all impact guest satisfaction and ultimately drive repeat bookings and profitability. 😎

Next, we delved into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent events on demand and occupancy rates in the Australian vacation rental market. We looked at key metrics and data sources that could help us better understand how people’s expectations had evolved, and how businesses could adapt to stay ahead of the curve. 📈

We also touched on the important role of technology in the short-term rental industry. Our panelists shared their insights on the biggest areas of impact, as well as best practices for integrating new tech into existing business operations without causing overwhelm. 📱

Lastly, we explored how businesses could scale effectively in this dynamic industry. We covered key considerations for selecting and managing properties, as well as strategies for attracting the right guests with effective marketing skills and how to prepare for seasonality and profitability fluctuations. 💼

Topics covered in this episode:

How can businesses improve guest experience and stand out in a crowded market?

How does property quality affect ROI in the short-term rental industry?💰

How businesses can effectively integrate technology into their operations?🤖

What are the best marketing strategies for attracting the right guests?🎯

What data to use to understand guests’ evolving expectations?📊

What are the key considerations for selecting and managing properties?🏢

How can you price your rental to balance guest experience and profitability?👥

How can businesses choose the best technology for their operations?💼

How can you build a brand that stands out?🔨

How to scale a business for sustainable growth in 7 Steps.🚀

What is the short-term rental business growth outlook for 2023 and 2024?🔮

Yoav Tourel is a technology-savvy accomplished leader, with more than 20 years of experience across marketing and sales in APAC and EMEA. Since 2019 Yoav has been leading Guesty, a Property Management Software, operation in JAPAC. Born and Bred in Israel, Yoav has called Australia home since 2006. He’s a proud father of 4, married to a vet and is usually known as Yoey. He is also an amateur stand-up comedian performing in Sydney. 🤣

Quirin Schwaighofer is a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of MadeComfy, one of the largest and most innovative short-term rental companies in Australia. With degrees in business and engineering, Quirin identified an untapped market for a guest and property owner-facing short-term rental brand, leading to the founding of MadeComfy in 2015. As co-CEO, he has been instrumental in driving the company’s mission to professionalise and consolidate the highly fragmented short-term rental industry, leading to its rapid expansion across Australia, generating >$8m in monthly booking revenue and raising over $20 million in funding. 💰

Tracey Northcott is a serial entrepreneur and multi-preneur based in Tokyo, Japan. She is one of the most successful STR / Airbnb hosts in Tokyo. Now, she helps hosts all over the world discover the true potential of their STR Businesses, maximizing their investment, enjoyment and hospitality standards. She has been featured on the WSJ, New York Times, The Japan Times, ABC Australia, Medium and has spoken at the ANZCCJ, ACCJ, FEW Japan, Mobile Monday, ASTRA and many universities as a guest lecturer. She is a best-selling author in The Hospitable Host project. 👏

Rebecca Cribbin is a woman and mother first and in addition to that, an accomplished STR Property Manager and team leader, award-winning industry advocate, published author and Founder of multiple businesses. Over the last 12 years Rebecca’s STR Management business, Holiday Rental Specialists has looked after 1250 properties for busy investors, taken more than 60,000 bookings and helped nearly half a million guests create wonderful family and friend holiday memories. The team encourages owners to buy holiday rental properties in fabulous locations and present them beautifully so that guests rave about their experience and keep returning for more. 🌟

And of course myself Bart Sobies the visionary behind The Accommodation Show and iBooked.Online. Bart is a force to be reckoned with in the Accommodation industry, starting his first online business at the age of 15 and building it into a successful tech company. With a passion for all things tech, marketing, and investment, Bart provides valuable insights from across the entire industry.

What a great episode, with so much value, so much inspiration, and such great guests! Whether you’re experienced, new, or nervous to start your own STR. We promise, you’ll feel right at home with this episode. 🙌

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