6 STR Trends to Watch in 2025
Podcast Summary
The short-term rental industry is hitting a critical phase. Regulation is tightening, OTAs are shifting power, owners want more transparency, and tech is evolving fast. AI brings new opportunities but also new risks. Safety remains the foundation of trust.
Simon Lehmann breaks down the six key topics shaping STR in 2025: regulation, OTAs, owners, tech, AI, and safety. His insights draw on decades of global experience guiding operators, founders, and investors through change.
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Resources mentioned in the show:
AJL Atelier – Global STR Consulting helping professional hosts, property managers, and investors succeed in the short-term rental industry [https://www.ajlatelier.com].
Connect with Simon Lehmann on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-lehmann-8375753b/]
“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 Apprearing 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.
