Building Airbnb from the Ground Up with Justin Hauge of Storied Collection

02/18/25 • 26 min

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon sits down with Justin Hauge, one of Airbnb’s first employees and the co-founder and CEO of Storied Collection, a luxury accommodation platform for historic properties across the UK and Ireland.
In this episode, he shares:

The early days at Airbnb, from cold calls to global expansion.
How customer service insights shaped the platform into a trusted marketplace.
The challenges and risks of relying too much on software solutions in vacation rentals.
How AI and automation are transforming property management and the risks that come with it.
Why property managers must stay ahead as technology enables owners to self-manage.

Justin also reflects on the evolution of vacation rentals and why direct bookings remain essential in an era of tech-driven hospitality. Whether you're an industry veteran or a newcomer, this episode is packed with lessons from one of the minds who helped shape modern short-term rentals.
This episode is sponsored by RevMax.
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Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit, and many more.
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The early days at Airbnb, from cold calls to global expansion.
How customer service insights shaped the platform into a trusted marketplace.
The challenges and risks of relying too much on software solutions in vacation rentals.
How AI and automation are transforming property management and the risks that come with it.
Why property managers must stay ahead as technology enables owners to self-manage.

Subscribe, rate, and review
Share this episode

Scaling your vacation rental portfolio
Optimizing guest experiences
Revenue management strategies
Industry trends and market insights

Express your interest in being a guest →

Previous Episode

Mastering Direct Bookings with Mark Simpson of Boostly

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Mark Simpson, the founder of Boostly and a global advocate for the #BookDirect movement. Mark has helped thousands of property managers increase direct bookings and build long-term guest relationships through strategic marketing, communication, and technology integration.
Together, they explore:

How daily marketing routines can boost direct bookings
The power of email marketing and why plain-text emails outperform flashy designs
Why AI and automation will revolutionize guest communication
The importance of building a guest community to drive referrals and repeat business
How SMS and WhatsApp can improve guest experience and engagement

Mark’s insights come from years of hands-on experience helping hospitality businesses grow. He breaks down practical steps that any property manager can implement to reduce reliance on OTAs and take control of their bookings.This episode is sponsored by Bluetent.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:

Subscribe, rate, and review
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Scaling your vacation rental portfolio
Optimizing guest experiences
Revenue management strategies
Industry trends and market insights

Express your interest in being a guest →

Next Episode

AI and the Future of Vacation Rentals with Justin Hauge of Storied Collection

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon continues her conversation with Justin Hauge, exploring his pivotal role in Airbnb's expansion into traditional vacation rental markets and his current work with luxury properties at Storied Collection.Together they explore:

The transformation of Airbnb's approach to property managers
The importance of local relationships in market expansion
The evolution of technology integration in property management
The balance between growth and service quality
The future of property management technology

Justin Hauge brings unique insights from his experience as one of Airbnb's early employees (employee #13) and his current role managing luxury properties through Storied Collection. Through his journey from customer support to leading North American growth strategy, he shares valuable lessons about market adaptation, technology integration, and maintaining service quality while scaling operations.
This episode is sponsored by RevMax.
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