Avery is joined by Ben Levy, co-founder and CEO of Localbird, to discuss how short term rental hosts can turn local experiences into an additional revenue stream. Ben shares how a frustrating vacation in Hawaii inspired him to build a concierge platform that makes everything from private chefs and massages to tours, transportation, and rentals easier for guests to discover and book. He explains how Local Bird partners with hosts through revenue sharing, integrates with property management software, and uses personalized, timely recommendations to help hosts capture more of their guests’ spending while providing a better hospitality experience. Avery and Ben also discuss why premium properties have an especially strong opportunity to monetize experiences, how AI is making personalized concierge service scalable, and why responding quickly to guest requests can make a major difference in conversions.

Connect with Ben:

https://www.localbird.com/

https://www.localbird.com/pages/STR-experiences-2026

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Avery is joined by Melissa Nash, founder of Passively Rich with Rentals, to discuss how she built a portfolio of 20 rental properties after starting with just a $15,000 investment. Melissa shares how she uses short-term rentals to make markets like Southern California work, including buying properties that need some attention, turning them into profitable vacation rentals, and even selling them as turnkey businesses. She also explains her “lazy investor” method, why she prioritizes systems and time freedom, and how knowing your target guest can be more valuable than simply trying to maximize the number of people a property sleeps. Avery and Melissa also dive into realistic investment expectations, the importance of understanding your goals, and why consistent “base hits” can build a stronger portfolio than chasing one huge deal.

Connect with Melissa:

https://www.passivelyrichwithrentals.com/

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Avery is joined by Leslie Carbajal to explore three Arizona short-term rental markets: Sedona, Flagstaff, and Scottsdale. Leslie breaks down what makes Sedona such a compelling luxury market, including its iconic red rocks, strong tourism, limited pool inventory, and potential for higher revenue, while also explaining why Flagstaff offers a more affordable entry point with demand driven by skiing, hiking, and outdoor recreation. They compare the three markets based on price point, property type, amenities, regulations, and traveler demand, with Leslie emphasizing that there is an investment opportunity for nearly every budget. Leslie also shares her personal journey from Short Term Shop client to agent and how Avery's book completely changed her perspective on real estate investing.

Connect with Leslie: leslie@theshorttermshop.com

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon