Building IT: Two Founders, One Vision: The Villa Finder Origin Story

We’re continuing our brand new segment: ‘Building It’, where I sit down with trailblasing founders in the accommodation space to unpack exactly how they built their businesses from the ground up. It’s not about fluffy success stories. It’s about the grit, the strategy, the setbacks—and the steps that actually worked.This week’s episode takes us deep into Southeast Asia with Daniel Rouquette, co-founder of Villa Finder, one of the leading OTA and property management businesses operating across six countries, with over $10M in bookings annually and 30,000+ nights booked last year alone. Daniel and his team have built a powerhouse brand that thrives on guest experience, owner trust, and raw, data-driven decision-making.Whether you’re running a small holiday let, scaling a STR brand, or just curious how the biggest players got there, this episode is packed with real lessons you can use. Daniel breaks down how they tackled one of the hardest models in our industry, building a double-sided marketplace (think Airbnb before Airbnb took over). He shares how they signed their first 200 villas on a scooter in Bali, managed availability manually (yes, really), and built tools in-house to fix problems others didn’t see coming.There’s a lot here for you—whether you’re trying to build trust with guests, get repeat bookings, or decide where to put your time and money as you grow. And if you’ve ever thought about launching a platform or expanding your PM business, this is a must-listen.SHOW LINKS Villa Finder – https://www.villafinder.com#scaleyourbrand #hospitalitystrategy #guestfirstgrowth📋 In this episode, we discuss:00:00 Building It Begins: Meet Daniel from Villa Finder 01:00 From Backpack to Business: Starting Up in Bali 03:30 What Is Villa Finder & How Big Is It Today? 06:00 Hustling in the Heat: Scooters, Sign-Ups & Sweat 08:30 The Guest Trust Gap: Solving the Real Problem 10:00 From OTA to Property Management: The Natural Pivot 15:30 The Tool That Changed Everything: Inter & Availability 20:00 The Data-Driven Mindset That Scaled the Brand 34:15 Daniel’s Biggest Lessons on Leadership & Growth ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 🥊 Hotel - BNB - STR Owners! 🥊 Need more direct bookings or a brand new website? The trusted tech partner you can count on. We deliver results. 🥊 https://www.ibooked.online ​​​​​​​​​​​🥊 ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Don't forget to hit that subscribe button! This also keeps us going and creating more useful content for free!ACCOMMODATION OWNERS AND MANAGERS FREE RESOURCES! 📧Join the mailing list for freebies and critical industry updates: https://news.theaccommodationshow.com/🌍The Accommodation Owners and Managers Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/AMoFacebookCommunity🗨 Connect with Bart Sobies for more industry insight: https://www.ibooked.online/bart/🎙 Subscribe to the podcast to listen later: https://www.theaccommodationshow.com▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Disclaimer: The content shared on this YouTube channel, Podcast, or associated posts reflects personal opinions and insights. This content is not intended as legal, financial, or investment advice. Always consult with licensed professionals before making decisions. The hosts and guests disclaim liability for any consequences of using this content. Actions taken should be based on your personal due diligence.Affiliate Disclaimer: This blog, podcast & youtube channel; will occasionally contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission on a purchase without additional cost to you, if you buy something through my links. This show aims to educate viewers and share everything I know about improving your accommodation, STR and AirBNB business. I believe in the products and services we link to and that you may benefit from them. If you do purchase through my affiliate links; I want to thank you for your support.