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The Year STR Changed
Podcast Summary
2025 marked a turning point for the short-term rental industry.
Not a year of hype or breakout growth, but a year of recalibration.
In this Holiday Special of STR Global Unlocked, Simon Lehmann reflects on the conversations, tensions, and signals that defined the industry throughout the year. These insights are drawn not only from the podcast, but also from in-person events, operator discussions, and real-world industry dialogue across global markets.
This episode captures where short-term rentals stand today, shaped by operators facing tighter margins, more regulation, and rising expectations around execution.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How industry conversations shifted throughout 2025
- Why margins, operations, and disciplined growth moved back to the forefront
- What recurring tensions kept surfacing across operators and leaders
- How technology discussions became more grounded in operational reality
- Where AI entered the conversation in practical, non-theoretical ways
- Why professionalization continues to separate operators across regions
- What remains unresolved as the industry looks ahead
We Say What Others Won’t
Listen, watch or subscribe
Resources mentioned in the show:
- AJL Atelier – Global STR Consulting helping professional hosts, property managers, and investors succeed in the short-term rental industry.
- Connect with Simon Lehmann on Linkedin.
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Guest Appearing in this Episode
Simon Lehmann
Simon Lehmann is the CEO of AJL Atelier, a strategic advisory firm for the global short-term rental industry. He has decades of experience in vacation rentals, travel tech, and hospitality, and has advised hundreds of operators, startups, and investors across EMEA, North America, APAC, and LATAM. He’s also a frequent speaker and moderator at global events like VRMA, Phocuswright, and Skift, covering STR tech, market consolidation, and professional hosting. Simon was Co-Founder & Chairman of Vacasa Europe, President of PhocusWright, and a Board Member of HomeAway. He also held executive roles at Interhome, Hotelplan Group, and Swissport.
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