From corporate hustle to hospitality powerhouse, Janel’s story is the kind every host needs to hear.

In this episode, I sit down with the inspiring Janel Gallucci, who walked away from a high-pressure San Francisco career to build a short-term rental business on her own terms. What began with a single Lake Tahoe cabin quickly evolved into a thoughtfully scaled portfolio — each property designed with intention, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to delivering a true 5-star guest experience.

You’ll hear how Janel shifted from “one-property owner” to savvy portfolio builder, the systems and mindset she used to scale sustainably, and the decisions that helped her create guest-loved stays while protecting her time and energy. This conversation is a powerful reminder that a purpose-driven business can grow without sacrificing the life you’re building it for.

Janel shares:

1. The pivot point: How a moment of burnout prompted her and her husband to leave the corporate grind and dive head-first into STRs.
2. Taking control: Why early missteps with property managers forced her to self-manage—and how applying her corporate skills dramatically boosted her returns and created unforgettable stays.
3. Guest-Magnet Strategies: The exact systems she uses to turn listings into best-in-class properties, from leveraging market data and building local partnerships to offering dog-friendly welcome baskets and locally sourced amenities.
4. The Blueprint for Growth: Why defining your ideal guest and implementing robust systems is essential for managing properties confidently, whether they're nearby or across the country.

Janel’s story is a powerful blueprint for building a richer, more flexible life through short-term rentals. It's packed with actionable tips, mindset shifts, and the courage required to build an intentionally successful business. Tune in now to unlock the strategies for your own STR success!

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:15] A short introduction about our guest Janel Gallucci, and how she got into the short-term rental industry

[04:24] Janel reveals how miscommunication and poor property care pushed her to replace her property manager with direct self-management

[08:04] Janel’s approach to shifting into self-management to enhance confidence and control in her short-term rental

[11:02] How Janel handles tough guest situations to enhance satisfaction and protect reviews

[14:23] I share my experience at Airbnb headquarters and unpack why hosts have seen a dramatic shift in Airbnb’s willingness, and ability to remove unfair reviews

[17:12] Janel’s thoughts about the challenges of subjective guest ratings to highlight the flaws in Airbnb’s value and accuracy metrics

[20:12] Janel outlines her strategy for breaking past her revenue ceiling by elevating her property into the luxury tier

[22:06] How small luxury touches elevate the guest experience and reinforce premium positioning

[23:27] Janel outlines the intentional upgrades and guest-avatar strategy that fueled her jump from average earnings to six-figure revenue

[27:20] How low-cost, locally sourced, and thoughtfully branded welcome baskets enhance the guest experience while

Are you ready to stop relying on a single platform and take true control of your bookings, brand, and profits?

In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Spencer— who left her corporate career to master the world of direct bookings. Jennifer’s journey from a single property in the Canadian Rockies to a diversified portfolio in Maui taught her one powerful lesson: you need to own the guest relationship.

We dive deep into her proven, anchor strategies for success:

• Crafting property brands that guests instantly recognize and remember.
• Leveraging email marketing to drive loyalty and repeat, direct bookings.
• Implementing smart automations that scale income without sacrificing the personal, top-notch guest experience.

If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of shifting from one platform to multiple channels, Jennifer offers a practical, step-by-step roadmap for taking manageable action, discovering your unique hosting style, and building a supportive network.

Tune in to learn how to brand boldly, optimize smarter, and turn casual stays into lifelong fans.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:03] A short introduction about our guest Jennifer Spencer, and how she got into the short-term rental industry in the Canadian Rockies to expanding to Maui

[03:53] Jennifer shares how her transition from corporate sales and marketing into the vacation rental space happened almost unexpectedly

[06:08] Jennifer highlights the mindset shift required to move from an Airbnb-only approach to a diversified, business-driven booking strategy

[10:16] Jennifer shares her go-to tools and guest-experience strategies that reliably drive repeat direct bookings

[12:19] Jennifer outlines a balanced, human-first approach to using AI in guest messaging without sacrificing authenticity

[16:05] Jennifer shares her compliant, subtle strategy for priming guests for direct bookings without violating platform rules

[18:28] Jennifer’s top strategies for helping a property go from staying afloat in the market to truly outperforming its competitive set

[21:31] Why dynamic pricing tools only work when paired with proactive revenue management

[25:20] Jennifer explains why a defined, memorable brand is critical for driving direct bookings and standing out in a saturated market

[29:13] The critical role of guest communication and proactive problem-solving in creating memorable experiences and earning five-star reviews

[34:54] Jennifer highlights that the biggest challenge in shifting to a diversified direct booking strategy

[39:15] The lightning round

Golden Nuggets:

• “If you're really wanting to grow, whether it's one or two or an empire, you need to have a diversified strategy.”
• “I'm also super passionate about making sure that we are doing the work– number one that is within our genius zone. But it's also work we enjoy. If you don't enjoy that, don't just not do it. Delegate it to someone else.”
• “If there's nothing unique about you, it can be very difficult to stand out.”
• “You can turn any negative situation into a positive if you handle it properly.”
• “Find the support that matches what you need and what you're looking for.”

Let’s...

Are you accidentally making one of the five deadly mistakes that could be sabotaging your short-term rental co-hosting dreams?

In this candid episode, I pull back the curtain on the real pitfalls that derail even the most ambitious hosts. These errors are far more common than people admit, and they quietly chip away at your confidence, your profits, and your ability to grow.

We’re breaking down the 5 critical errors that hold co-hosts back:

• Lacking the non-negotiable systems that keep your business running smoothly and efficiently
• Undercharging for your services just to land your first client
• Believing every client is the right client for your co-hosting business
• Tying your professional worth and boundaries to your constant availability
• Not knowing exactly what to say to owners when it matters most

This is more than just spotting mistakes—it's about transforming missteps into momentum. I detail the clear professional standards, streamlined systems, and mindset shifts that will elevate you from busy to unstoppable.

Plus, discover The Co-Host Code—my step-by-step guide packed with templates, scripts, and proven strategies to build your business the right way from day one.

Tune in now to start charging your worth, setting boundaries, and building a sustainable co-hosting empire!

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[00:00] Co-hosting – the smartest way to grow and scale an STR business in 2026, and the quote that inspires me about ambition and believing in yourself

[01:34] Introducing my e-book The Co-Host Code – a step-by-step guide for building a profitable co-hosting business, and where to grab it

[02:29] Why do I believe co-hosting is one of the best ways to start and scale your short-term rental business

[04:42] How co-hosting allows me to support both guests and fellow real estate investors

[06:26] The First and the Biggest Mistake in Co-hosting: Lacking systems

[10:04] The Second Mistake: Undercharging for your services just to land your first client

[11:49] The Third Mistake: Every client is the right client for your co-hosting business

[15:22] The Fourth Mistake: Tying your worth to your availability

[17:36] The Fifth Mistake: Not knowing what to say to owners

[19:50] What are the things that you need to have in place for success in co-hosting

[24:49] The importance of building confidence through systems and action to scale a co-hosting business

Golden Nuggets:

• “Ambition is not a dirty word, it's just believing in yourself and your abilities.”
• “Co-hosting is a way for you to grow your portfolio without having to invest cash.”
• “If you are looking to grow a co-hosting business, or launch a co-hosting business, you absolutely need systems that are outside of what you are utilizing in your day to day.”
• “When you undercharge for your services, it is the fastest way to begin resenting your business.”
• “Not all owners are created equal.”
• “Your value is so much greater than the time you have for your business.”
• “The right words when you're selling your co-hosting services create confidence in your owners, and confidence...