Send us a message!Growth in short-term rentals often gets framed as a numbers game. More properties, more markets, more tech, and more scale.But what if growth isn’t about doing more but choosing better?In this 1st of the Month Bonus episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Carly Traub, Co-Founder and CEO of Lazy Sunday Rentals, to talk about what it really looks like to build a business intentionally in a fast-moving, information-heavy industry.Carly launched her company in 2022 alongside her husband, starting with a single property and quickly scaling to a growing portfolio. Like many operators, she said yes to everything early on. Over time, she realized that not all growth is aligned growth.This conversation explores the shift from reactive expansion to thoughtful refinement.Episode Chapters:04:53 Moving from channel-dependent to brand-driven06:15 Why saying “yes” to everything works at first and why it eventually doesn’t07:15 Maximizing your existing tech stack before adding more tools6:26 Evaluating return on time, not just return on money18:23 Building a direct booking strategy that reflects your identity27:58 How to define the kind of guest experience you actually want to deliver31:59 Why smaller operators need a seat at the DMO table41:26 The realities of operating in a “hot” investment market45:29 Unrealistic investor expectations and the myth of easy remote hostingIf you’re building in a crowded market and want growth that fits your vision, this episode will help you pause, refocus, and move forward with intention.Connect with Carly:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-traub-6a402325/ Website: https://lazysundayrentals.com/ ✨ Exclusive Offer to Alex & Annie Listeners:Streamline your short-term rental operations with Hostfully.Mention the Alex & Annie Podcast when you sign up and get free onboarding ($1000 value).👉 Click here to get started: https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/alex-annie/#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #intentionalgrowth

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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