The short-term rental world is constantly evolving, and for hosts and Airbnb expert like our Ambassador partner, Hailie Marie, based in Florida, staying ahead means embracing automation and intelligent strategies. What started with a TikTok video in 2022 has quickly transformed into a thriving arbitrage business. She’s now successfully managing multiple apartment units, proving that with the right approach, rapid growth is entirely achievable.
The Spark: A Quick Start in Vacation Rentals
“I saw a TikTok video in 2022 and it sparked my interest!”
That’s how Hailie describes her entry into vacation rentals. From that initial curiosity, she dove into the world of arbitrage, focusing primarily on multi-unit apartment deals. Her rapid ascent highlights the potential for anyone with drive and a strategic mindset to build a significant STR portfolio.
The Strategy: Team, Tech, and Guest Experience
When it comes to scaling her business, Hailie’s philosophy is clear: automation, delegation, and tech. She firmly believes that the “combination of team and tech” has been the biggest driver of her success.
Her approach to guest experience is equally strategic.
“I want a 5-star guest experience no matter who the guest communicates with on my team, and no matter which property they stay at.”
Hailie emphasizes the importance of leadership and investing in her team, which in turn empowers them to deliver consistently high-quality service. Looking ahead, her goal is to continue scaling her arbitrage deals as long as the numbers make sense, with future plans to reinvest profits into purchasing or even developing STR properties.
The Challenge: The Guessing Game of Manual Pricing
Before discovering the power of intelligent tools, managing pricing and bookings was a solo act. “I was self-managing… (do not recommend haha),” she admits. The core challenge was clear:
“There are so many variables, and each property, each market is so different. I was very confused on how to properly price my properties to reach the highest occupancy at the highest rate.”
This manual guesswork was a significant drain on time and revenue potential.
The Solution: Data-Driven Automation with PriceLabs
Enter PriceLabs. For Hailie, the most helpful aspect of the tool is “The amount of data and resources provided.” She explains,
“It makes understanding the numbers a lot easier and helps automate a big time constraint for me.”
This automation liberated her from tedious manual pricing adjustments, allowing her, as an Airbnb expert, to focus on strategic growth.
The Results: More Occupancy, Higher Profits, and Time to Scale
The impact of integrating PriceLabs was immediate and continues to compound. “There has been an increase monthly since signing up over 2 and a half years ago,” she confirms. The concrete results include:
“Increased Occupancy, increased profits, and more time to spend scaling my business rather than spending hours messing around with pricing, just guessing!”
This tangible outcome highlights how smart tech directly translates into improved business performance and greater freedom for the host.
Advice for Fellow Hosts: Dynamic Pricing is Non-Negotiable
For those looking to succeed in today’s STR market, our partner and an Airbnb expert offers straightforward advice: “A lot of people struggle in the hospitality business not because they have a bad property, but because they do not know how to run the property correctly. There are strategies behind pricing and you cannot just guess.”
She concludes with a powerful statement:
“I think dynamic pricing is now a non-negotiable to compete in any market. It used to be optional and you could still have success, but now I feel it is required to survive in any market.“
Ready to transform your STR business with smart pricing? Follow our partner and Airbnb expert’s journey and gain insights into optimizing your properties at @hailiemaarie.