Why Bigger Isn’t Better in STRs

Update: 2025-10-16

Description

What if scaling your vacation rental business could actually hurt your bottom line? This week, Jamie Lane sits down with Ashley Ching, founder and CEO of Inhaven, to unpack her research on why national hospitality management companies—from Vacasa to Ambridge—have repeatedly failed to scale successfully. Together, they dive into the structural challenges of the short-term rental industry and uncover why “bigger” doesn’t always mean “better.”

Ashley shares insights from hundreds of executive interviews across hotels, restaurants, and vacation rentals, revealing five key pillars that separate thriving, sustainable property managers from those that crumble under complexity. From the myth of economies of scale to the power of local operations and curated portfolios, this episode is a must-listen for any STR professional who wants to grow smarter—not just larger.

Whether you manage 10 homes or 1,000, this conversation reframes how you think about profitability, service, and scale—and what true success in hospitality really looks like. You don’t want to miss this episode.

Key Takeaways

Bigger isn’t better: Hospitality is a labor-driven business, not a production line—growth often brings higher costs and lower margins.
Curate your portfolio: The most successful managers focus on quality over quantity, offboarding “bad” properties that drain time and profit.
Stay local: Empowering on-the-ground teams and decision-makers leads to stronger operations and better guest experiences.
Choose owners wisely: Aligning with the right owners is as crucial as choosing the right homes.
Pick your focus: You can prioritize service, scale, or profitability—but not all three at once.