Airbnb’s Summer 2025 update just launched, and buried inside is a feature that could destroy your margins and expose you to serious risk.

It’s called “Services,” and it lets guests book things like chefs, trainers, and masseuses without your approval, while you carry all the liability.

In this episode, I break down:

• Why this new feature is dangerous for pro hosts
• How to opt out in 3 steps
• How to beat Airbnb at its own game by building your own Services page
• Why relying on Airbnb in 2025 is a bigger risk than ever

If you’re serious about building a business (not just listing properties), this is mandatory viewing.

03:04 - The Hidden Risk for Hosts: Guests Can Book Services Without You Knowing

04:45 - Host Liability Risks From Airbnb Services

05:55 - How Bad Service Experiences Can Hurt Host Reviews

07:00 - Why Airbnb Rolled Out Services Without Consulting Hosts

08:15 - The Simple 3-Step Process to Opt Out of Airbnb Services

10:28 - Why Hosts Must Act Now: Collective Opt-Out Pressure Matters

13:00 - How to Add a “Services” Tab to Your Direct Booking Website

16:00 - Partnering With Local Providers Can Lead to Repeat Guest Referrals

19:00 - Will Opting Out of Services Affect Airbnb Search Rankings?

22:00 - Airbnb Is Targeting Hobby Hosts—What It Means for Pros

23:30 - Why You Must Diversify Beyond Airbnb and Build a Real Business

26:05 - STR Secrets Fulfillment Strategy for Different Host Levels

Guest Link:

instagram.com/boostlyuk/

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https://group.strsecrets.com

This episode is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose.

Diana and Josh, two married architects, were forced to reimagine their future after losing both their fathers in 2021.

What began as a journey to escape the W-2 grind became Terra Palm Springs, the city’s first true wellness boutique hotel.

They reveal how they:

• Pivoted from flips and BRRRRs into commercial real estate

• Used their design and construction edge to underwrite with vision

• Created immersive guest experiences that transcend hospitality

• Built three synergistic businesses to scale with intention

• Took bold action while honoring their deepest personal “why”

This story will move you, inspire you, and give you a real blueprint for building a brand, and a life that matters.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to spot your unfair advantage (and actually use it)

• The key to underwriting without inflating projections

• What makes a boutique hotel truly stand out

• How to transition from short-term rentals to hotel ownership

• Why generosity is the secret weapon in hospitality

00:00 - Action drives clarity

00:35 - Process-proven growth

01:36 - Power couple feature

02:20 - Life-changing loss

05:55 - Strategic shift to scale

07:26 - Expert system builders

09:50 - Value-add obsession

10:56 - Underwrite with confidence

14:30 - Unapologetic branding

16:42 - First-of-its-kind wellness hotel

21:00 - Team-powered execution

25:40 - The real estate awakening

28:00 - Finding purpose through pain

31:30 - Create your unfair advantage

36:00 - Future-built freedom

43:00 - Hospitality secret: give generously

Guest Bio:

Diana and Josh Dobken have 15+ years of experience in the architecture and construction industries. They strategically invest in value-add opportunities where they can use their design expertise to maximize their return on investment. Additionally, Diana and Josh co-host 35+ MTRs and STRs across multiple states for other real estate investors, bringing their hospitality standards and design sensibility to each property we manage.

Beyond property investment, Diana and Josh also manage comprehensive operations teams for hotels, with them overseeing director of operations roles and guest experience management. This hands-on operational experience gives them invaluable insights into how design decisions impact day-to-day functionality and guest satisfaction.

Their most current project involves the Architectural and Interior design of Terra Palm Springs, the first wellness Boutique Hotel in Palm Springs featured in Vogue, Forbes, Hotels Above Par, and selected as part of Travel and Leisure It List of 2025’ 100 Best New Hotels in the World.

Guest Link:

http://www.instagram.com/d.i.fi

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

AirDNA just dropped its biggest platform update in years, and if you’re not using these tools, you’re falling behind.

From custom comps to Airbnb integration, this episode breaks down the new features, how to use them, and what they reveal about the 2025 STR landscape.

What you’ll learn:

• How to use the new Rentalizer confidence score and custom comps
• Why saved projections and expense tracking are game changers
• The truth about 2025 booking trends (and who’s winning)
• What AirDNA’s forecast says about rates, RevPAR, and smart investing

If you’re serious about short-term rentals, you can’t afford to miss this.

Want to get our Latest Deal Analyzer?

Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Rentalizer'

https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T015&utm_content=Rentalizer

02:35 – Why the Update Matters: Major Interface and Logic Changes

05:10 – Data Model Shift: From Historical to Projected Revenue

08:00 – The 3 Core Metrics You MUST Understand in the New Version

11:00 – Updated Filters: Comp Selection and Market Targeting

13:30 – Accuracy Considerations: What AirDNA Gets Wrong (and Right)

16:45 – Real-Time Demo: Using the New Tool to Analyze a Property

20:20 – How to Reverse Engineer a Successful STR Deal with AirDNA

24:00 – Hidden Pitfalls: Common Mistakes People Make Post-Update

28:10 – Strategic Recommendations for Using the New Rentalizer

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

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Fouad spent 20 years in banking and 11 more consulting banks before walking away from corporate life when his wife’s income surpassed his.

What happened next?

A wild ride through the world of short-term rentals, driven by family, strategy, and a long-term vision few operators ever reach.

In this episode, Fouad breaks down:

• How a personal medical emergency forced him to buy his first Airbnb
• Why most operators price listings wrong—and how he uses math instead
• The real difference between luxury and comfort STRs (and why he runs both)
• His custom tech stack using Go High Level
• And the real reason he’s scaling to $12M/year before exiting

This one’s for the operators who want to scale smart, stay profitable, and build something sellable.

What you’ll learn:

• How to scale with dual verticals (luxury + comfort)
• Why you must reverse-engineer around your exit
• How banking lessons apply directly to STRs
• Why pricing = math, not emotion
• How Fouad thinks about purpose and legacy

Ready to build a business that banks would beg to fund?

Fouad shows you how.

03:30 – Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: Why He Left Corporate

07:00 – First STR Deal: Starting Small With Big Vision

10:00 – Smart Risk: Learning to Bet on Yourself

13:00 – From 1 to 10+ Units: Scaling With Confidence

17:00 – Wealth Mindset: Thinking Like an Owner, Not an Operator

20:00 – Cash Flow vs Time: Redefining Success Metrics

24:00 – Building a Business, Not a Job: Systems and Team Growth

27:00 – Lessons From the Field: What He’d Do Differently

30:00 – Purpose-Driven Investing: Time, Family, and Freedom

Guest Bio:

Fouad Bazzi is a professional in the short-term rental (STR) industry. His activities include owning, managing, and building new build-to-rent properties, as well as consulting and educating others in the STR space. He also owns a pool servicing company that specializes in serving STR properties.

Guest Link:

https://www.instagram.com/fouad_airbnb

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Airbnb just rolled out its biggest update of the year, and if you’re a host, you need to know what’s coming.

In this live breakdown, we cover:

• The truth about Airbnb’s new “Services” feature and why it matters

• What this means for photographers, chefs, massage therapists, and YOU

• How Airbnb plans to monetize add-ons (and why you might not see a cut)

• Major liability concerns Airbnb isn’t talking about

• How this could affect your guest experience—and your reviews

• Why this is really a pivot toward becoming the Instagram of Travel

Plus: actionable strategies to get ahead of this change, build local service partnerships, and protect your property.

TLDR? This update means more work for hosts, unless Airbnb starts paying us to help them grow. Watch this now so you’re not caught off guard.

Want to get the summary of Airbnb's Latest Update?

Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Update'

https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T014&utm_content=Update

00:00 – Bold Shift: Airbnb’s 2025 Release Redefines the Platform

01:30 – Major Update 1: Cleaning Services Now Offered to Guests

04:00 – Major Update 2: Handy Services and Maintenance on Demand

06:30 – Control at Risk: Services Can Be Scheduled Without Host Approval

08:45 – Host Autonomy Undermined: Who Has Access to Your Property?

10:30 – Guest Experience Prioritized: Host Voice Being Muted

12:00 – Airbnb’s Strategic Shift: From Booking Site to Service Ecosystem

13:30 – Host Action Plan: Communicate, Audit, and Prepare

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

In this raw, no-fluff episode, Hostaway CEO Marcus Rader shares the hard-won lessons behind building a billion-dollar vacation rental software company, starting with zero industry experience.

Marcus breaks down:

• Why most entrepreneurs aim too small and why it costs them everything
• The mental and physical toll of building at scale (including 7 years without a dentist visit)
• How he filters “good money” vs “bad money” when raising capital
• The future of short-term rentals in a regulated, AI-powered world
• Practical leadership advice for scaling teams without losing your mission

Plus: his marathon training, travel hacks, and how to avoid becoming a micromanaged founder.

Whether you’re a startup founder, STR operator, or tech junkie—this is a must-listen for anyone who wants to win big without burning out.

Ready to scale? Tap into Marcus’s billion-dollar playbook now.

00:00 – Go Bigger: Why Playing Small Carries the Same Risk but Less Reward

00:39 – Craft Over Hype: The Power of Repetition and Mastery

02:04 – Be There: Why Leading Remotely Doesn’t Win Markets

03:45 – Market Leadership: How Hostaway Beat Older, Bigger Players

05:58 – Hiring Giants: From 50,000 Applicants to the Top 0.1%

08:59 – Cost of Ambition: Health, Relationships, and the Real Price of Building

12:29 – Go for Billionaire Moves: Why Medium Goals Aren’t Worth the Sacrifice

15:31 – Choosing Good Money: Partnering with Investors Who Let You Lead

17:23 – No Kitchen Rules: Keeping Creative Control While Scaling Up

20:27 – Invisible AI: How Hostaway Uses Tech to Deliver Unseen Excellence

23:00 – Review Intelligence: Turning Guest Feedback into Business Strategy

25:30 – Tool Advantage: Hostaway’s Marketplace as a Growth Engine

27:17 – Global Expansion: Owning New Markets One Continent at a Time

29:33 – Regulation Shakeout: Why Strong Rules Are Good for Professionals

32:50 – Reputation Reset: Cleaning Up the Industry with Standards That Matter

Guest Bio:

Marcus Räder is co-founder and CEO of Hostaway, the leading all-in-one vacation rental management software. Originally from Finland, Marcus has lived in many countries around the world including Sweden, Poland, and The Netherlands before settling in Canada. It was this passion for travel, real estate and his dedication to learning about the vacation rental ecosystem that enabled the creation of Hostaway.

The company quickly grew thanks to the deep technological expertise of its founders, with over a decade of tech start-up success between them. Hostaway gives property managers all the tools needed to compete with hotels and other vacation rentals, including sales channel management, dynamic pricing and hospitality services. It now boasts preferred partnerships with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, in addition to a marketplace of over 100 integrated software partners.

Guest Link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingmarcus/

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

This episode unpacks the real playbook behind scaling short-term rental businesses with AI, leadership, and culture.

Straight from the STR Boardroom event in Salem, hosts Chris and E break down their biggest takeaways from Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh’s AI workshop to the emotional breakthroughs in hot seats, to Mark from Minoan’s CEO mindset at 50+ employees.

What you’ll learn:

• The AI stacking method Rachel used to double her sales team’s close rate

• The 5 levels of VA hiring, from cheap help to AI-powered specialists

• Why great team members outgrow companies, and how to lead through it

• The exact moment a founder must pivot from operator to people leader

• How to use the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team framework to build culture that scales

• Why emotional safety is the hidden growth lever most CEOs ignore

• And how to actually implement event takeaways before you lose momentum

This isn’t another tech tips episode.

It’s a tactical and vulnerable deep dive into what it takes to scale, lead, and stay grounded in 2025.

00:00 – Building Confidence: Lessons from Struggle, Sales, and Self-Belief

04:00 – Rewiring Identity: From Overwhelm to Intention

08:00 – Leveraging Chaos: Why Adversity Becomes Your Superpower

12:00 – The Four Levels of Competence: From Unconscious to Mastery

16:00 – Winning in Business: Simplifying Systems, Offers, and Time

20:00 – $20K Days in 5 Hours: Prioritizing High-Leverage Work

24:00 – Clarity Is Power: Why Lack of Decision-Making Kills Momentum

28:00 – Excuse Audit: The Hidden Stories That Keep You Small

32:00 – Emotional Regulation: How to Respond Instead of React

36:00 – Final Challenge: Step Into Power and Choose a New Story

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Most people screw up VA hiring, not because they pick the wrong person…

…but because they don’t have a system.

In this training, Mike and Chris break down the 3 proven models for hiring virtual assistants.

Agency, recruiter, and self-hire.

Plus the crucial 4R framework you need before bringing anyone on.

Whether you’ve got 5 properties or 100+, this is the training that saves you from wasted money, broken systems, and constant turnover.

What you’ll learn:

• The 3 types of VA hiring models (and when to use each)

• The biggest reason your VA won’t work out (it’s not what you think)

• How to build a talent pipeline that scales with your portfolio

• When to hire for skills vs culture fit

• Bonus: Where to find agency + recruiting referrals we actually trust

_

Want to get the FREE VA Contract and 4R Doc?

Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Contract'

https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T013&utm_content=Contract

00:00 – Hiring Roadmap: Breaking Down the VA Models

02:00 – Agency Model Explained: Training Wheels for Scaling Leaders

05:00 – Recruiting Model: Upfront Investment, Long-Term Efficiency

08:30 – Self-Hiring Secrets: Full Control, High Risk, High Reward

11:00 – Referral Power: Leveraging A-Players to Source Talent

13:30 – Cultural Pitfalls: The Hidden Risk in Team Referrals

16:00 – Specialty Roles: Revenue Management vs. Marketing VAs

19:00 – Creating Execution Frameworks for Social & Brand Marketing

22:00 – Revenue Management Mastery: Metrics, Mindset, and Misconceptions

25:00 – Bonus Resource: Contract Templates & Legal Protections for VA Hiring

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

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