Global STR Scale Challenges

Every major player in short-term rentals has chased the idea of building a truly global operator. None have cracked it.

In this panel, Simon Lehmann brings together three leaders shaping the next phase of professionalization: Graham Donoghue (Forge Group, UK), Steve Schwab (Casago, US), and Quirin Schwaighofer (MadeComfy, Australia). Together they break down what it really takes to scale across borders and why local expertise still defines success.

This episode goes beyond theory. You’ll hear how operators balance growth with cultural nuance, how investors think about scale, and why the future of short-term rentals depends on blending technology with human judgment.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why no operator has cracked the code for a global STR brand and what makes each market uniquely difficult.
• How Casago’s decentralized franchise model builds community-level trust while scaling across the Americas.
• The MadeComfy playbook for partnering with real estate agents to grow fast and stay capital-light.
• How Forge Group uses technology, AI, and long-term planning to drive operational excellence through 2030.
• What private equity and strategic investors really measure when defining “value creation” in the STR sector.
• Why the next generation of operators will need both AI-driven systems and human talent to stay competitive.

‍