Ep 294 – $1B STR Company CEO Tells You Exactly How AI Will Eat Your Business (Or Make You Rich) | Marcus Räder, Hostaway

🔥 STR AI Summit — June 23-24 | Freedom Factory, Beverly, MA
Only 100 seats. Built for operators who are serious about what comes next.
👉 strsecrets.com/aisummitIf you’re managing 5, 10, or 50+ properties and wondering whether AI is a tool or a threat — Marcus Räder has the answer. And it’s not what most people are saying.

Marcus is the co-founder and CEO of Hostaway — the first vacation rental software company to reach unicorn status and the recipient of the largest funding round in vacation rental history: $365 million led by General Atlantic. He’s been in this industry for over a decade. He’s seen every wave. And right now, he’s more excited — and more concerned for unprepared operators — than ever before.

In this episode, E sits down with Marcus for one of the most candid, far-reaching conversations in the show’s history. From AI and private equity to running 100 marathons in 100 cities — this one goes deep.

What you’ll learn:
→ Why private equity is circling STR operators right now and what it means for your business valuation
→ The #1 thing AI can’t do for your properties (and where most operators are dangerously overconfident)
→ Why “more data = more visibility” is the new SEO — and how to make your listings AI-search-proof
→ The direct booking strategy that still works in 2026 (the basics haven’t changed as much as you think)
→ How to build a team that thinks 3 years ahead when they’re wired to think about today
→ The honest truth about building a big business vs. just being great at your job
→ What losing 70 pounds and running 17 marathons taught Marcus about scaling anything

Connect with Marcus
🔗 Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingmarcus/
🌐 Website: hostaway.com