Hot Takes on Rental Arbitrage, Men's Luxury Footwear, Building an International Hospitality Brand, and More with Ben Earley

Meet Ben Earley, an exceptional entrepreneur who has made waves across multiple industries—from finance to luxury footwear, and now, to innovative hospitality. In this episode, Ben takes us on his fascinating journey from Wall Street to the world of short-term rentals. As the co-founder of Holt, Ben is building a portfolio of unique and upscale Airbnbs and hotels that stand out for their thoughtful design and exceptional guest experiences. We'll explore: Ben’s early start in finance and how it fueled his entrepreneurial spirit. The story behind his luxury men’s shoe brand, Paul Evans, and the transition to hospitality. Why Ben is building his portfolio overseas, focusing on markets like Romania, Mexico, and Greece. His hot takes on "rental arbitrage" and why he prefers the term "commercial vacation rental." How Holt is vertically integrated, giving them unparalleled control over their properties and guest experiences. Get ready to hear how Ben's innovative approach is setting new standards in the hospitality industry and why he believes in creating spaces that are more than just a place to stay—they’re experiences in themselves. Connect with Ben on Twitter Connect with Ben on LinkedIn Learn more about HOLT This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno.  Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts.  Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you.  Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property. Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning.  Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach? Send him an email directly at [email protected] or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you by StayWatch — the internet's best resource for deals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. You can subscribe, for free, at www.staywatch.ai Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, Co-founder of StayWatch, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee or on LinkedIn.