Whenever I plan a trip, I make it a point to book a completely different type of accommodation each time.
It’s a bit like being a secret shopper, but I’m there to experience the full spectrum of business models, asset types, and the unique operational quirks of the myriad brands out there today. After all, it is my job to understand lodging businesses, so experiencing them firsthand as a guest should be part of that. Yes, it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!
Now I won’t be naming any names, but I’m sure you could hazard a guess! A couple of weeks ago, while in Phoenix for the VRMA International conference, I booked three apartments for myself and the Abode Worldwide team in a mostly residential building just above downtown. The apartments were great and very reasonably priced. The building also offered a nice pool and a quality gym, and the mix of guests like us and residents (all of whom seemed to have dogs!) created a surprisingly harmonious experience.
But you gotta pay your rent.
As I was leaving my unit after a digital check-out, I found a five-day notice tucked in the door on the outside, written in the most formal of legalese. Yes, you guessed it — it was for rent arrears, plus accrued interest. The notice wasn’t just on my door, but also on those of my two colleagues and the 33 other units in the building being leased for short-term rentals – that’s nearly a fifth of the building’s total inventory.
It really wasn’t the best way to end a stay. For a guest without my industry knowledge, this could have come as quite a shock, making them think they were responsible for footing the bill! And in addition to being a huge headache for the building owner owed money, it’s also a huge reputational risk. Not only am I unlikely to book with that brand again, it’s just not a great look for the short-term rental sector as a whole.
The core of tech-enabled hospitality
About five months ago, I was approached by business book publisher Kogan Page to see if I’d be interested in writing a book on hospitality technology. Their research showed a gap in the market, and they believed there would be demand for a book on this topic.
Since the summer, I’ve been on quite a journey, interviewing 38 industry leaders from hotels, short-term rental brands, serviced apartments and across tech and operations. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but it’s been nothing short of fascinating. The book’s core premise explores how the intersection of technology and personalized service is fundamentally reshaping the future of hospitality, and hearing from each leader has been truly eye-opening. The book is set to be published in June 2025, with the final draft making its way over to Kogan Page before Christmas. For those interested in a sneak peek, I shared some initial findings on the main themes at the Urban Living Insights event. If you’re interested, here’s the presentation.
Podcasts are having their moment
Industry podcasts sometimes get a bad rap. “There are too many of them,” or “they’re too self-serving,” detractors often say. But podcasts are really having their moment, partly fueled by the US election. As the two candidates are demonstrating, podcasts remain an extraordinarily powerful medium for communication and storytelling. They allow for a more intimate connection with audiences, fostering personal relationships in ways that other editorial formats just can’t match.
Throughout election season, podcasts have become a key tool for reaching specific audience segments and targeting demographics with shared interests. This also makes them a powerful avenue for industry leaders, providing a unique way to connect with and influence potential customers.
Pillow Talk Sessions podcast
And I’m not just saying this because we’ve recently launched a podcast of our own, I say it as someone with a solid understanding of communications, public relations, and audience engagement.
Pillow Talk Sessions has been incubating as an idea for quite some time. Being naturally curious, I wanted to find a new way to bring the essence of this newsletter to life — a deep dive into the convergence between hospitality and rental living. Through Pillow Talk Sessions, my co-host, Kristian, and I are having conversations with leaders who are shaping the future of hospitality and real estate, sharing their insights and voices.
We’ve got some great guests lined up, each with unique and inspiring perspectives on how lodging is changing. Next week, we’re speaking with Michael Levie, one of the co-founders of CitizenM, about how he and the team have reimagined the very concept of ‘space.’
Stay tuned!
About me – I’m the CEO, and founder of Abode Worldwide, a public relations agency focused on raising the profile of technology solutions and operators, transforming the global lodging, hospitality and living sectors. We work across STR, hotels, multifamily, coliving, senior living and PBSA.
Pillow Talk is my ‘newsletter’ sharing musings, learnings, and insights about the pioneering lodging technology brands and operators transforming how we work, rest, and play. I hope you find this interesting.
