6 Trends Defining Short-Term Rentals
Podcast Summary
The short-term rental industry is at a turning point. Regulation is tightening, OTAs are shifting power, and owners are demanding more transparency. Technology and AI promise efficiency but raise new risks. Safety sits at the center of it all. This is the roadmap industry leaders will be referencing all year.
Simon Lehmann, your host, has more than 20 years of hands-on experience shaping STR worldwide. He is the founder of AJL Atelier, where he and his team have advised more than 100 companies across the sector. A board member, investor, and trusted voice at global industry events, Simon has seen every side of the market. His perspective comes from years in the field, guiding operators, tech founders, and investors through growth and disruption.
The 6 Hot Topics Shaping STR in 2025
- Regulation – What new rules mean for growth and compliance.
- OTAs – How platform dynamics will impact supply and demand.
- Owners – Rising expectations from those who hold the keys.
- Tech – Tools that will decide who scales and who stalls.
- AI – Where intelligence meets disruption in STR.
- Safety – Why trust remains the industry’s most valuable currency.
If you found this episode valuable, we encourage you to share it with colleagues or stakeholders in your network who are navigating the future of short-term rentals.
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Resources mentioned in the show:
- Subscribe to the STR Global Unlocked Newsletter
- Connect with Simon Lehmann on LinkedIn
- Visit AJL Atelier. Our Global STR Consulting helping professional hosts, property managers, and investors succeed in the short-term rental industry
“Short-term rental is mainstream hospitality. It makes up 14% of global hospitality.
And mainstream industries must operate by a different set of rules.”
— Simon Lehmann
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.
