From Peru to 15 Million-Dollar Fund

From Peru to 15 Million-Dollar Fund

In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with George Salas, Founder of Empress Capital, to discuss what it really takes to build a scalable short-term rental business. George shares his incredible journey from immigrating to the United States with almost nothing, to starting with rental arbitrage, surviving the challenges of COVID, and building a vertically integrated hospitality company focused on experiential short-term rentals, boutique hotels, and institutional-quality operations. You'll learn: * How to think beyond buying individual Airbnbs * Why unit-level economics are critical for long-term success * The systems and financial tracking every STR investor should have * How George evaluates deals, manages seasonality, and scales operations * Why execution—not just acquisitions—is the key to building enterprise value * The mindset shifts that helped him grow from operator to CEO Whether you're buying your first STR or building a large portfolio, this conversation is packed with practical insights on scaling smarter, operating more efficiently, and creating a business built to last. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another STR investor looking to take their business to the next level.

Monday Market Data: Breakdown of St. Louis, MO Amenities Market

In this week's Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental market in St. Louis, Missouri—and the data reveals one of the biggest opportunities we've seen all year. With more than 25 million annual visitors, growing STR occupancy, and an incredibly under-amenitized market, St. Louis may be the perfect place to build a true "super property." In this episode, Mark covers: * Revenue potential by bedroom count * Why 4, 5, and 7-bedroom homes see the biggest revenue jumps * The current STR regulations and market trends * The amenities your competitors have—and more importantly, the ones they don't The numbers are shocking: • Game Rooms → Less than 7% of listings • Playgrounds → Less than 7% • Pickleball Courts → 2% • Mini Golf → 1.5% • Pools, Hot Tubs, Saunas, Fire Pits & Home Gyms → Less than 1% The takeaway? Most St. Louis Airbnbs have almost no amenities. That means investors willing to build something unique have an opportunity to create a true one-of-one property with very little competition. Subscribe for new Market Data Reports every Monday and expert guest interviews every Friday.

Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Destin, FL Amenities Market

In this week's Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down one of the most requested short-term rental markets in the country: Destin, Florida. With more than 8 million annual visitors across the Destin and Fort Walton Beach area, this Emerald Coast destination continues to be one of the strongest beach markets for STR investors. In this episode, Mark covers: * Revenue potential by bedroom count * Why larger homes dramatically outperform condos and smaller properties * The amenities every Destin investor needs to compete * Which upgrades still help you stand out in a crowded market Here's what the data shows: • 1 Bedroom → ~$50K/year average • 2 Bedrooms → ~$80K/year average • 3 Bedrooms → ~$103K/year average • 5 Bedrooms → ~$164K/year average • 8 Bedrooms → ~$250K+/year average On the amenity side: * Pools → 92% of listings * Hot Tubs → 45% * Game Rooms → 22% * Waterfront → 22% The biggest opportunities? Less than 10% of properties have pickleball courts, gyms, or playgrounds, while movie theaters, mini golf, and saunas remain extremely rare. If you're buying or optimizing an STR on the Emerald Coast, this episode is your roadmap to standing out and maximizing revenue. Subscribe for new Market Data Reports every Monday and expert guest interviews every Friday.

Your Next Booking is Coming From ChatGPT

AI is changing the way travelers discover short-term rentals—and it’s happening faster than most hosts realize. In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Gil Chan, Founder & CEO of Crafted Stays, to discuss how AI search, direct bookings, and modern website strategies are reshaping the future of the STR industry. Gil explains why relying solely on OTAs is becoming increasingly risky, how AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are influencing guest booking behavior, and what hosts can do today to position their properties for the next generation of search. He also shares how Crafted Stays is helping operators build high-converting direct booking websites that are optimized for both traditional SEO and AI-powered discovery. Whether you're managing one property or hundreds, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you future-proof your business. In this episode, you'll learn: *  Why AI is changing how guests search for vacation rentals  *  How direct bookings compound over time while OTA bookings stay transactional  *  The importance of identifying your ideal guest avatar  *  What SEO, AEO, and GEO mean—and why they matter  *  How to build a website that's ready for the future of travel search  *  Why hospitality and guest experience still matter more than ever  If you're serious about growing your direct bookings and staying ahead of where the industry is headed, this is an episode you won't want to miss.  __ Episode Sponsored By: STR Search STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com [http://strsearch.com/]

Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Asheville, NC Amenities Market

In this week's Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental market in Asheville, North Carolina, combining revenue by bedroom count with amenity data to show investors exactly where the biggest opportunities are. Despite the challenges following Hurricane Helene, Asheville continues to be one of the country's fastest-growing mountain destinations, welcoming millions of visitors each year and showing strong signs of recovery. In this episode, you'll learn: * How revenue changes by bedroom count * Why 5 and 6-bedroom properties dramatically outperform smaller homes * Which amenities are becoming must-haves * How to differentiate your property from the competition The data shows: • Fire Pits → 71% of listings • Hot Tubs → 53% • Game Rooms → 24% • Saunas → 11% • Pools → 5.5% • Pickleball & Mini Golf → Less than 2% The takeaway? A fire pit and hot tub help you compete. Adding amenities like a sauna, pool, pickleball court, or mini golf is how you create a true standout property. If you're considering investing in Asheville, this episode provides a data-driven blueprint for building a top-performing STR. Subscribe for new Market Data Reports every Monday and expert guest interviews every Friday.