The Cohost Bros

by Matthew Codd & Austin Spitzenberger

116 - Facebook Ads, AI Search, and the Future of STR Marketing | Matt Sharp of Bookings Cloud

If you have ever wondered why direct bookings feel so hard to crack, Matt Sharp has the answer and it starts with a lesson from the newspaper industry. Matt and Austin sit down with Matt Sharp, co-founder of Bookings Cloud, a performance marketing platform built specifically for short-term rental and vacation rental managers who are tired of paying Airbnb and VRBO to rent access to their own guests. Matt spent nearly 20 years as a senior executive at Advance, one of the largest media companies in the country, overseeing the Alabama Media Group and Michigan markets while also co-founding automotive tech businesses Zero Sum and Cloud Theory. He watched first-hand what happens when a platform like Google or Facebook gets between a business and its customers and strips away the direct relationship. He saw the same pattern forming in the STR industry and built Bookings Cloud to help operators fight back. Here is what you will learn: Why the OTA model is identical to what destroyed local media and why history is about to repeat itself for STR operators who are not building a direct business right now, how Facebook and Instagram retargeting works in the STR space and why it is one of the most underutilized and cost-effective tools available to property managers today, what the average vacation rental traveler journey actually looks like (71 days of research before booking) and how to use that window to capture demand before Airbnb does, why most STR operators are wasting their Facebook ad budget because they are targeting the wrong audiences in the wrong way, how Bookings Cloud uses behavioral data, pixel tracking, and paid media to drive direct bookings for property managers at a fraction of what OTA fees cost, what AI search and LLMs mean for the future of vacation rental discovery and why building your direct presence NOW is the smartest thing you can do before AI agents start booking travel on behalf of consumers, and why Matt believes operators who own their guest relationships will have a massive competitive advantage over those who remain 100% OTA-dependent. This is one of the most forward-thinking marketing conversations the show has ever had. If you manage more than 10 properties and you are not thinking about direct bookings yet, this episode is your wake-up call. Schedule a demo and learn more at bookingscloud.com and find Matt Sharp on LinkedIn. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-50481111b/

E116

Sep 9, 2026

51:42

115 - The Woman Raising Hospitality Standards Across the STR Industry | Jodie Odlin

What does true hospitality actually look like in the short-term rental industry, and why are so many operators getting it wrong? Matt and Austin sit down with Jodie Odlin, Australian-born, UK-based STR host, five-time bestselling author, founder of the Hospitable Hosts book series, winner of the International Shortyz Rentpreneur Award, and founder of The Global Hospitality Collective, for one of the most refreshing and globally-minded conversations the show has ever had. Jodie's journey started with a 450-year-old stone cottage in the Cotswolds, managing properties in one of the most picturesque and sought-after destinations in the UK. With a background in hotel management and a career in five-star hotels around the world, she brought a level of hospitality thinking to short-term rentals that most operators simply never develop. During lockdown, she discovered a community of hosts just like her through the Clubhouse app and had a lightbulb moment: what if she brought their stories together in a book? That book became a number one bestseller, and she has not stopped since. The Hospitable Hosts series now spans five volumes, with contributors from all around the world, including a couples edition celebrating the unique dynamics of running an STR business together, and the STR Sisterhood edition launched on International Women's Day to celebrate the women who make up the majority of Airbnb hosts globally. Here is what you will learn: Why you do not need a luxury property with all the bells and whistles to earn five star reviews and what actually matters more than amenities, how setting guest expectations properly from the start is one of the most underrated skills in the industry, why Jodie believes the STR industry desperately needs a formal hospitality accreditation standard and what she is doing about it, how she manages properties in the Cotswolds remotely from Australia using AI tools to maintain a personal and genuine guest experience, why partnering with local businesses is one of the most effective and overlooked ways to elevate the guest experience, and how the Hospitable Hosts movement has evolved from a single book into a global community of educators, hosts, and property managers committed to raising the bar. Jodie also shares her vision for The Global Hospitality Collective, the STR Hospitality Summit, and how you can submit your own story or diary entry to be featured in an upcoming book. Find everything Jodie is doing at theglobalhospitalitycollective.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook as Jodie Odlin. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E115

Sep 2, 2026

57:46

114 - The STR Acquisition Playbook: How Cameron Masters Bought His Way to 140 Units

What does it look like to go from defense engineer to 140 doors under management in just two years? Cameron Masters is living proof that the right mindset, the right mastermind, and a willingness to bet on yourself can compress an entire decade of growth into a fraction of the time. Matt and Austin sit down with Cameron for one of the most tactical and inspiring episodes the show has produced on the topic of scaling fast through acquisitions. Cameron started in real estate in 2020, bought his first STR in 2021, left his W2 engineering job in July of 2023 with a single management client, and by the time this episode was recorded had grown to over 140 doors across two companies: Remote Retreats, focused on the Yosemite, Oak Creek, and Bass Lake area, and Lake Tahoe Accommodations, a 46-year-old legacy company he and his business partner Jeremy acquired all around Lake Tahoe. Here is what you will learn: How Cameron went from zero to 140 doors in under two years and what actually drove that growth, why the VRMA conference completely changed his vision for what this business could become, how he found, evaluated, and structured the acquisition of Lake Tahoe Accommodations including the exact deal structure with a deferred payment instead of a holdback, why he chose to take on owner retention risk himself rather than negotiate a holdback and how he priced that risk into the deal, what the first 90 days of an acquisition actually look like and how to keep owners from walking out the door, how to think about raising capital from investors for an STR company acquisition when traditional financing is not an option, and why joining an acquisitions mastermind early is one of the highest leverage moves a growth-minded STR operator can make. Cameron also gets into the operational realities of integrating a legacy company with 46 years of history and how to modernize systems without losing what made the original business great. Find Cameron on Facebook at Cameron Masters and on Instagram at @cameron.masters_ and feel free to DM him directly. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E114

Aug 26, 2026

47:17

113 - The CMO Who Scaled an STR Brand to 800 Doors and Then Sold It | Jodi Cleer

Some people find their way into the short-term rental industry. Jodi Cleer built her entire career inside it and has seen every angle of the business from the vendor side, the property management side, and now private equity and M&A. Matt and Austin sit down with Jodi Cleer, equity partner of Deal Sourcing at AwayDay and former CMO of I Love Vacations, for one of the most wide-ranging and candid conversations the show has produced. Jodi started in hotels in 2010, transitioned to the vacation rental space as a vendor at RealVoice in 2014, and eventually made the rare leap from vendor to property manager by joining the team at Park City Rental Properties. She helped grow that operation from 235 properties to over 800 across Park City, Sedona, Scottsdale, Whitefish, Montana, and right here in the Texas Hill Country before the company was acquired by AwayDay in 2024. She also personally owns 18 vacation rentals across several of those markets and serves on the board of the VRMA, where she is currently running for election to the board of directors. Here is what you will learn: Why the leap from vendor to property manager almost never happens and how Jodi pulled it off, the genius strategy of buying a home in every new market you expand into and why it creates instant credibility with homeowners and communities, how social media went from pretty pictures to a serious demand generation engine and what viral content actually means for your bottom line, what the M&A process looks like from the inside when you are on the buy side at a private equity backed company, why being an owner but not an operator with 18 properties is actually a smart positioning move even for someone with Jodi's experience, what it takes to get a vacation rental company acquisition-ready and what buyers like AwayDay are actually looking for, and why the VRMA conference is a must attend for any serious STR operator or property manager. Jodi also shares her unfiltered take on the "coopetition" culture in the STR industry and why she counts her competitors as some of her closest allies. Find Jodi on LinkedIn by searching Jodi Cleer, the only one in the world, and reach out directly. She responds to every message. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E113

Aug 12, 2026

58:06

112 - Take Care of the Home, the Guest, and Tell the Owner the Truth | Michael Friedman

Some people chase the biggest portfolio they can find. Michael Friedman did the opposite, and it might be the smartest thing he ever did. Matt and Austin sit down with Michael Friedman, CEO of Simple Life Hospitality and co-founder of Vacation Rental University, for one of the most experience-packed conversations the show has ever had. With over 35 years in hospitality, vacation rentals, and real estate, Michael has held executive roles at two of the largest franchise operations in the industry, served as COO of the Americas for the ultra-luxury Onefinestay brand where he oversaw more than 3,500 properties, and is now intentionally leading a tight, focused operation of 150 homes across Door County, the Northwoods, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Door County, often called the Cape Cod of the Midwest, is a stunning peninsula wedged between Lake Michigan and Green Bay, and it is the kind of market where relationships and reputation mean everything. Here is what you will learn: Why Michael walked away from managing thousands of luxury properties to lead a smaller, more intentional company and what that decision taught him about what really matters in this business, how Simple Life Hospitality built their entire culture around the 3 Cs: Cash, Care, and Communication, and why those three things solve almost every problem in property management, what it actually looks like to manage homes around Lambeau Field for Packers game weekends and why that niche is more lucrative than most people realize, how to think about owner acquisition in a tight geographic market and why being hyper local is a competitive advantage not a limitation, why Michael switched from ChatGPT to Claude for running analytics and KPIs and what difference it made for his business, and his bold prediction about AI search and why the operators who get their properties discovered by AI tools today will have a massive head start when AI starts booking vacations tomorrow. Michael's closing thought is one every STR operator needs to hear: technology keeps changing, but the business never has. Take care of the home, take care of the guest, tell the owner the truth, and everything else takes care of itself. Find Michael on LinkedIn at Michael Friedman and learn more about Simple Life Hospitality at simpleliferentals.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E112

Aug 5, 2026

55:05

111 - 30 Years of STR Revenue Management Secrets with Michelle Marquis

If you want to know where the STR industry is headed, talk to someone who was doing revenue management before Airbnb and VRBO even existed. Matt and Austin sit down with Michelle Marquis, founder of The Marquis Effect and co-founder of ShortCuts4STR, for a wide ranging conversation with one of the most seasoned and respected voices in the vacation rental technology space. Michelle started her career as a hotelier doing revenue management manually, tracking pace in Excel spreadsheets before dynamic pricing tools were even a thought. She spent 12 years on the property management side before transitioning to the technology world, first at Navis (now Revinate) where she helped pioneer CRM and direct booking strategies, then at TravelNet Solutions where her leadership helped drive two massive exits, including a north of $250 million acquisition. Today she serves as a fractional CRO and CMO for STR operators and technology companies through The Marquis Effect, and sits on the board of BookingPal. Here is what you will learn: Why most STR operators are leaving serious money on the table by ignoring ancillary revenue streams and what to do about it, how distribution strategy has evolved from manual Expedia conversations to AI powered channel management and why most operators still are not using it correctly, what a fractional CRO actually does inside your business versus what a consultant does, why your KPIs need to go beyond occupancy and ADR if you want to truly understand the health of your business, how companies like Abode are generating over $2 million a year in ancillary revenue and what you can learn from that model, why Amazon affiliate links, referral commissions, and upsell services are some of the easiest and most overlooked revenue opportunities for any STR operator, and what the single biggest mindset shift is that separates operators who build real businesses from those who stay stuck. Michelle also shares her thoughts on AI adoption in the STR space, why operators who are overwhelmed by new tools need a simpler framework for deciding where to start, and why it is time to get serious about running your STR like the business it actually is. Find Michelle on LinkedIn and at themarquiseffect.com. You can also follow her work with ShortCuts4STR at shortcuts4str.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E111

Jul 29, 2026

1:00:01

110 - 40K a Night and Celebrities on the Guest List: Inside Escape Luxury Hospitality | Kory Rankine

What if you could generate more revenue with 9 properties than most operators do with 50? That is exactly what Kory Rankine has built in Miami. Matt and Austin sit down with Kory Rankine, founder and CEO of Escape Luxury Hospitality, one of South Florida's premier luxury vacation rental companies catering to high net worth individuals, celebrities, and athletes in the Miami market. Kory started his career at 27 years old with zero experience in the STR industry, falling into vacation rentals after years of concierge work booking yacht charters, chauffeur services, and luxury experiences for travelers. Thirteen years later he has built a boutique portfolio of ultra luxury homes in Miami with nightly rates that would make your jaw drop, and a service model that goes far beyond what most STR operators are used to thinking about. Here is what you will learn: Why Kory spent the first decade of his business learning everything the hard way and how that experience shaped a complete restructuring of his systems and processes, what it actually takes to serve high net worth guests and why concierge level service like in person check ins, yachts, private cars, and on call guest services teams is non negotiable at the luxury tier, why Kory deliberately keeps his portfolio small and curated rather than scaling for volume and why that is a strategic advantage not a limitation, how his properties generate nightly rates that reach $40,000 and what types of guests are willing to pay that number, why portfolio character matters more than uniformity at the luxury level and how properties like his Mykonos style villa in Miami create unforgettable guest experiences, the honest truth about why most STR consultants fail their clients and what Kory had to relearn on his own, and what AI discoverability means for luxury operators and why getting found by AI tools is the next marketing frontier for high end STR brands. Kory's parting message is one the whole industry needs to hear: stop letting money be the driver, get more hands-on, and focus on building real community through exceptional guest experiences. Find Kory on LinkedIn and follow along at @escapelux on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at escapelux.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E110

Jul 22, 2026

1:10:24

109 - How to Win in the Most Competitive STR Market in America | Brendan Davis

The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most visited and most competitive STR markets in the country. Over 12 million tourists a year, but also one of the toughest places to stand out when every cabin on Airbnb starts to look exactly the same. Brendan Davis figured out how to win anyway. Matt and Austin sit down with Brendan Davis, founder and CEO of Magnolia Vacation Rentals and co-founder of Southern Hospitality by Magnolia in Nashville. Before ever buying a short-term rental, Brendan spent over a decade in law enforcement including training new officers at a large agency. In 2022 he sold a long-term rental, used the proceeds to go all in on STR in the Smokies, and never looked back. He now manages over 109 properties in the Sevierville and Gatlinburg area and is actively expanding into Nashville and beyond, all while stepping out of day-to-day operations and into a true CEO role. Here is what you will learn: Why the Smokies is simultaneously one of the best and hardest STR markets in the country and what separates operators who thrive from those who fall behind in six months, what listing fatigue is and why value stacking beyond just adding amenities is the key to standing out in a saturated market, how Brendan scaled to over 100 doors in just four years starting from zero STR experience, why he hired ahead of need and how that philosophy has kept his team from burning out, how his marketing partner built a Key Holders Club loyalty program from scratch that has attracted nearly 9,000 members and an email list of 13,000 subscribers with only a 1% unsubscribe rate, why Brendan is using PriceLabs as an assistant rather than an operator and what that distinction means for his revenue management strategy, and how he thinks about platform diversification and reducing reliance on Airbnb through direct bookings and brand building. Brendan also shares why earning trust with owners and guests is the single most important thing for anyone just getting started in the STR space, and what he has learned about building a business that can run without you in it. Find Brendan on Facebook and learn more about Magnolia Vacation Rentals at magnoliavr.net. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E109

Jul 15, 2026

43:34

108 - How to Build a Luxury STR Brand That PE Firms Are Knocking On Your Door For | Lucas Piper

Some people come into the short-term rental industry chasing money. Lucas Piper came in chasing something bigger and accidentally built one of the most respected luxury STR brands in Central Texas along the way. Matt and Austin sit down with Lucas Piper, founder of Five Star Vacation Home Rentals in Austin, for one of the most genuine and inspiring conversations the show has had. Lucas started as a social worker making $26,000 a year, backpacked through Latin America for two years, volunteered with the Mayan community in Guatemala, and eventually stumbled into short-term rentals the way most people do, by renting his own home. What he built from there is anything but ordinary. Five Star VHR is now one of Central Texas' premier luxury STR management companies with over 3,000 five-star reviews, a 95% Guest Favorite rate on Airbnb, and an average property generating over $120,000 in annual revenue. Private equity firms are calling. Lucas is not rushing to answer. Here is what you will learn: How Lucas went from Goodwill furniture and a $7,000 startup to managing a portfolio of Lake Austin waterfront estates and Hill Country retreats, why he chose to grow slowly and intentionally instead of scaling fast and why that decision changed everything about the quality of his business, how Five Star VHR achieved 500 Google reviews at a perfect 5.0 rating and what that means for your negotiating power with owners and acquirers, why Lucas merged with another top Central Texas operator and what that partnership unlocked that he could not have built alone, how he thinks about the build versus buy decision for owners in the current Austin market, why Austin STR regulations have shifted and what operators and investors actually need to know right now, and the mindset shift that changed his life, that you do not have to choose between doing good work, making great money, and living a balanced life. Lucas also runs quarterly STR meetups for the Austin community and moderates two Facebook groups for local hosts and investors. If you are in the Central Texas market, this is someone you want in your corner. Find Five Star VHR on Instagram at @fivestarvhr and learn more at fivestarvhr.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E108

Jul 8, 2026

59:42

107 - 0 to 200 Units in 4 Years, Sold to Vacasa, Now Serving the Military | Matt Hammlett

What if you could get more bookings, give back to veterans, and list your properties for free all at the same time? That is exactly what Matt Hammlett and the team at Crew Dogs have built. Matt and Austin sit down with Matt Hammlett, COO of Crew Dogs and a seriously impressive STR operator in his own right, for a conversation packed with operator insight and a genuinely compelling platform that every host and property manager should know about. Before landing at Crew Dogs, Matt built a vacation rental management company from scratch near Yosemite National Park, scaling from 4 properties to 200 in just four years before selling to Vacasa in 2021. He then took a stint at Guesty before joining Crew Dogs, a military-exclusive travel platform built by veterans, for veterans, that perfectly combines his background in military service and STR operations. Here is what you will learn: How Matt scaled to 200 units in four years starting from zero STR experience, what Crew Dogs is and how the platform connects STR hosts with verified military guests who get a 10 to 20% discount on every booking, how a portion of every booking goes to a military nonprofit of the host's choice including Fisher House and K9 for Warriors, why listing on Crew Dogs is completely free for hosts with no monthly fees and only a 1 to 2% transaction cost on bookings, how the platform integrates directly with your PMS so your calendar, pricing, and messaging all stay in sync, why military guests are some of the most trustworthy and respectful guests you will ever host (and what happens if they are not), how tax collection and government travel bookings work on the platform, and what is coming next as Crew Dogs prepares to expand to 70 to 80 thousand properties with a big UK launch on the horizon. Matt also shares the story of how Crew Dogs got its name, rooted in military aviation culture and what it means to be someone you truly want on your team. List your properties for free at crewdogs.com and connect with Matt on LinkedIn as Matthew Hammlett, COO of Crew Dogs. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

E107

Jun 17, 2026

46:47

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