STR Data Lab™ by AirDNA

Whether you're on your first property or your 100th, having the right market data is crucial to starting and scaling your short-term rental business. Join Travel Economist Jamie Lane as he provides trusted insights and delves deep into the numbers that drive this multi-billion dollar industry.

STR Data Lab™ by AirDNA is a business podcast hosted by Jamie Lane, with 198 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jamie Lane hosts STR Data Lab™ by AirDNA, a business show with 198 episodes published.

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  Episode #199

  From Vacasa to First Chair: Lessons in Scaling Vacation Rentals

  Oct 1, 202648 min

  What happens when a vacation rental executive who has experienced the industry at virtually every level decides to go back to the basics? In this episode of The STR Data Lab, Jamie Lane sits down with Bob Milne, CEO and President of First Chair Destinations, to unpack decades of lessons from building, scaling, and reshaping vacation rental management businesses. From running thousands of homes in Steamboat to navigating Wyndham and Vacasa, Bob shares why he believes vacation rentals are ultimately a hospitality and relationship business—not simply a technology business. The conversation explores the tradeoffs between scale and local operations, what can—and can't—be centralized, the challenges of proprietary technology, and what Bob learned from Vacasa's rapid growth and transition to a more localized model. He also dives into why ski destinations offer opportunities beyond the traditional winter season, how events and summer demand can reshape seasonality, the role professional managers can play in local regulation, and why First Chair is pursuing moderate, deliberate growth rather than growth for growth's sake. You don’t want to miss this episode! Key Takeaways Why vacation rental management is fundamentally a people and hospitality business, and where technology can—and can't—replace local expertise. Which parts of a vacation rental business actually benefit from scale, from technology and marketing to operations and owner communications. What the transition from Vacasa's national model to more localized operations reveals about the importance of boots-on-the-ground teams. How ski destinations can reduce seasonality by tapping into summer travel, weddings, events, outdoor recreation, and improved air access. Why sustainable growth may require a different approach than rapid expansion, particularly when balancing owner retention, local relationships, and operational quality. Sign up for AirDNA for FREE https://bit.ly/4j6s6qy ————— Connect with Jamie on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ————— Bob Milne, President/COO at First Chair Destinations LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertemilne/ Website: https://www.firstchair.com/ ————— Connect with AirDNA on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co ————— Episode 199

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  Episode #198

  What August STR Data Reveals About the Rest of 2026

  Sep 24, 202636 min

  The U.S. short-term rental market may look weaker at first glance—but the latest data tells a more nuanced story. In this episode of The STR Data Lab, Jamie Lane and Brian Gallagher unpack August performance and explain why headline declines in demand and occupancy don't tell the whole story. A calendar shift around Labor Day significantly affected year-over-year comparisons, while underlying demand, ADR growth, and slowing supply point to a market that remains surprisingly resilient. The conversation also digs into what rising mortgage rates mean for future STR supply, why World Cup-related listings have proven more durable than expected, and where operators may find opportunities as the market evolves. From coastal and mountain destinations continuing to see strong ADR growth to small-city and rural markets attracting demand and investment, the data reveals a growing divergence across markets—and a potential shift toward value-conscious travel. You don’t want to miss this episode! Key Takeaways Look beyond headline numbers. Calendar effects, including the timing of Labor Day, can dramatically change year-over-year comparisons for demand and occupancy. Supply growth is slowing. Rising mortgage rates are putting pressure on new STR supply, which could give existing operators more pricing power and reduce competition. World Cup supply is proving durable. Roughly 80% of new listings in World Cup host cities that rented during the event also rented in August, suggesting much of the new supply is sticking around. Opportunity is shifting geographically. Small-city and rural markets—particularly those near major demand generators like national parks—continue to show strong supply and demand growth. Value may matter more. As consumers face persistent inflation and higher costs, well-positioned midscale and affordable properties may be especially well placed to capture demand. Sign up for AirDNA for FREE https://bit.ly/4j6s6qy ————— Connect with Jamie on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ————— Connect with Bram on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bram-gallagher/ ————— Connect with AirDNA on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co ————— Episode 198

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  STR Data Lab™ by AirDNA

  How to Scale a Short-Term Rental Management Business Without Sacrificing Quality

  Sep 17, 202653 min

  Doubling your property management portfolio is one thing. Doubling it while maintaining top-tier guest reviews is another. In this episode of The STR Data Lab, Jamie Lane sits down with returning guests Joe and Max Bachmeier, whose property management business grew from roughly 120 to 260 listings in just 12 months—while remaining among the highest-rated property managers in the country. They break down what actually drove that growth, from consistent local marketing and referrals to building a team capable of scaling the operation without sacrificing the guest or owner experience. A major theme of the conversation is scaling intelligently rather than simply scaling quickly . Joe and Max explain how they use their “three C’s”—cash, care, and communication—to stay focused on what owners value most, while keeping guests, owners, and their team as three equally important priorities. They also share how AI and automation have changed their approach to guest communication, operations, and revenue management, allowing their team to spend less time answering repetitive questions and more time solving the issues that can have the biggest impact on guest satisfaction. The Bachmeiers also dive into what it takes to compete in an increasingly sophisticated STR market. From redesigning properties around specific guest demographics to using technology to identify listing-level revenue opportunities, they share practical lessons for property managers approaching the 100+ listing mark. Throughout it all, their philosophy remains consistent: build the right team, stay close to your market, and don't let growth come at the expense of quality. You don’t want to miss this episode! Key Takeaways Scale your team before you scale your portfolio. Build a management structure where team members can grow into new roles and train their replacements rather than making the founders the bottleneck. Use the “three C’s” to understand owner priorities: cash, care, and communication. Identify what matters most to each owner and build your service around it. Let AI handle the repetitive work—not the relationship. Automating routine guest questions can free staff to focus on complicated issues and guests who need more hands-on attention. Stay local as you grow. The Buchmeiers have continued concentrating their business primarily in Fredericksburg and Austin rather than expanding indiscriminately into new markets. Invest strategically in the property experience. Thoughtful design, distinctive amenities, and targeting a specific guest demographic can help a property stand out as competition increases. Sign up for AirDNA for FREE https://bit.ly/4j6s6qy ————— Connect with Jamie on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ————— Connect with Bach Bros Property Management Website: https://www.bachbrosproperties.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bachbrosproperties/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bachbrosproperties/ ————— Connect with AirDNA on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co ————— Episode 197

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  Episode #196

  How to Build a 5-Star Property Management Business

  Sep 10, 202653 min

  What does it take to scale a property management business without sacrificing the guest experience? For Steve and Kim Resnick, co-founders of HeavenlyRez and AirDNA’s 2026 #1 Property Managers, the answer starts with one principle: hospitality comes first . What began with managing their own Ocean City, New Jersey vacation rental evolved into a 100+ property operation built around five-star reviews, operational discipline, and a relentless focus on improving the guest experience. In this episode, Jamie Lane sits down with Steve and Kim to unpack the systems behind their growth—from centralized linen operations and three-point property inspections to interior design, proactive guest communication, KPI tracking, and the strategic use of AI. They also explain why they’ve chosen to stay focused on a single market, how they think about property-level ROI, and why scaling doesn’t have to mean letting service quality slip. Whether you’re managing a handful of properties or building toward a much larger portfolio, this conversation offers a practical look at how better processes, the right people, and a hospitality-first mindset can create a more scalable and profitable STR business. You don’t want to miss this episode! Key Takeaways Build systems before you scale. Standard operating procedures, clear accountability, and consistent processes can help maintain quality as your portfolio grows. Treat hospitality as the foundation. From proactive communication to 24/7 support, creating a great guest experience requires more than simply providing a clean place to stay. Centralize what you can control. HeavenlyRez’s decision to bring linens and consumables in-house gave the team greater consistency, quality control, and operational visibility. Use data and AI to improve—not replace—the human experience. AI can help identify trends in reviews, surface property information, and monitor KPIs while people remain responsible for meaningful guest interactions. Invest in the property experience. Thoughtful design, durable furnishings, smart bed configurations, and consistent amenities can improve marketability, guest satisfaction, and ultimately owner returns. Sign up for AirDNA for FREE https://bit.ly/4j6s6qy ————— Connect with Jamie on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ————— Website: www.heavenlyrez.com Instagram: @heavenlyrez Facebook: HeavenlyRez TikTok: @heavenlyrez ————— Connect with AirDNA on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co ————— Episode 196

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  Episode #195

  Inside AirDNA Adapt: Building the Future of Revenue Management

  Sep 3, 202655 min

  Revenue management is getting faster, smarter, and more accessible—but building the next generation of pricing technology comes with a surprising challenge: how do you get operators to trust the numbers? In this episode of The STR Data Lab, Chief Economist Jamie Lane sits down with AirDNA’s Data Science Manager Marc Moreno and Senior Product Manager Jordon Myers to go behind the scenes of building AirDNA’s new revenue management platform, Adapt. The conversation explores what AirDNA learned from hundreds of conversations with STR operators, including the surprising number of hosts still managing pricing manually and the widespread frustration with opaque pricing recommendations. Marc and Jordon explain why explainability became a core design principle, how millions of listings and noisy data shaped the modeling process, and why some of the most promising AI approaches had to be reconsidered. They also unpack how AI has fundamentally changed the product development process—from months-long handoffs to rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration with real users. Looking ahead, the team discusses where revenue management is headed as AI agents, APIs, and new data interfaces become more common. The future may not be about forcing operators into another dashboard—it could be about making reliable revenue management data and recommendations accessible wherever operators already work. You don’t want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at how the future of STR revenue management is being built. Key Takeaways Trust is just as important as accuracy. A pricing recommendation is only valuable if operators understand where it came from and feel confident acting on it. Clean data is the foundation of good pricing. With millions of listings across multiple channels, filtering noise and engineering the right signals can be just as important as the model itself. Events require proactive pricing. Rather than waiting for demand to appear in the data, revenue management systems need to identify external signals early enough to adjust pricing before bookings happen. AI is changing how products are built. Rapid prototyping and AI-assisted development allow teams to test ideas with real data and users much faster than traditional product-development cycles. The future may extend beyond the UI. As operators increasingly use AI agents, APIs, and their own internal tools, revenue management data needs to be accessible wherever decisions are being made. Sign up for AirDNA for FREE https://bit.ly/4j6s6qy ————— Connect with Jamie on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ————— Jordon Myers - Senior Product Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordon-myers/ Marc Moreno - Data Science Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmorenol/ ————— Connect with AirDNA on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co ————— Episode 195

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