Send us a message!Distribution in the vacation rental industry has never been more complex. Property managers today are balancing major OTAs, niche platforms, emerging luxury channels, and an increasingly layered tech stack, all while trying to deliver exceptional guest experiences.In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Blake Warner, CEO of BookingPal, to talk about how distribution is evolving and what it takes to build scalable infrastructure in a rapidly maturing industry.Blake shares how BookingPal operates at the center of the ecosystem, connecting property managers, PMS platforms, and global channels, and offers his perspective on where the industry is heading. The conversation explores how distribution strategies are expanding beyond the traditional OTA landscape, the opportunities emerging in luxury and niche channels, and why technology innovation must balance efficiency with simplicity.Drawing from his background in investment banking and capital markets, Blake also discusses the realities of scaling technology companies in the vacation rental space and why consolidation across the tech landscape may be inevitable.Episode Chapters:03:01 Introducing Blake Warner, CEO of BookingPal03:44 Blake’s background in investment banking and capital markets04:26 What BookingPal sees across distribution channels heading into 202606:07 The realities of running a channel management business12:32 New BookingPal features and product developments for 202615:30 Is vacation rental tech getting better or more complex?17:05 The explosion of software tools in the STR tech stack20:03 How many channels the average property manager distributes to21:21 Which distribution channels are gaining traction22:53 Luxury platforms and the blurring lines in the ecosystem24:41 Why helping managers focus on hospitality still matters most28:13 Travel agents, discovery, and how distribution expands the market30:05 Why it’s difficult for vacation rental companies to go public35:44 How the industry has evolved since pre-COVIDConnect with Blake:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakewarner/ Website: https://bookingpal.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/ Reach more guests across top travel sites with BookingPal.Alex & Annie listeners get onboarding fees waived + 20% off the first two months.👉 Click here to get started: https://alex-and-annie-offer.bookingpal.com/ #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #distribution

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