STR software is evolving fast - but the best operators know the real edge isn’t just automation.

In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Amber Knight from bookingcloud.com to break down where the industry is headed—and what most hosts are still getting wrong.

Amber shares her journey from helping scale early-stage operations at Vacasa to building new technology that drives visibility, bookings, and revenue for short-term rental operators.

They dive into:

• How automation is reshaping the STR industry
• Why most hosts are still behind on direct booking strategy
• The real role of AI in your business (and what it can’t replace)
• How top operators are driving more visibility and bookings
• Why guest experience is still the ultimate differentiator

As Amber puts it: you can automate processes—but you can’t automate how a guest feels.

If you’re managing properties, building a brand, or trying to scale your STR business, this episode will challenge how you think about tech, marketing, and hospitality.

Listen now and start building a more profitable, experience-driven STR business.

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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

In this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental data for Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix market — and answers the big question:

Is it actually oversaturated?

Using real data and strategy from STR Search, this episode shows why Scottsdale is still one of the most opportunity-rich STR markets in the country — if you know how to play it.

Inside the episode:

• Why Scottsdale continues to see massive travel growth and demand
• What average properties earn vs. top-performing listings
• The key drivers bringing millions of visitors into the market
• How to filter from 23,000 listings down to ~450 real competitors
• The exact amenity + property strategy top performers are using to win

The takeaway is simple:

You’re not competing with 20,000 listings.
You’re competing with a small, highly filtered group — if you buy and build the right way.

If you’re considering Scottsdale, this episode gives you a clear, data-backed blueprint to stand out and win.

What if your next investment wasn’t a house… but something on wheels?

In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Gar Russell, founder of Fireside RV Rental, to break down an entirely different angle on hospitality investing.

Gar shares how he went from building and losing a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio… to creating the largest RV rental management franchise in the country.

They dive into:

• Why RVs are NOT traditional investments (and what most people get wrong)
• How unused RVs can turn into cash-flowing assets
• The biggest mistakes Gar made that nearly cost him everything
• What scaling to 70+ locations actually looks like
• Where the future of travel, AI, and hospitality is headed

This episode is a raw look at entrepreneurship, failure, and finding opportunity in unexpected places.

If you're thinking beyond traditional STRs or just want to sharpen your investing mindset, this one hits different.

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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