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Episode 149: Leadership Skills, Branding Your STR's, & Providing Value w/ Brian L Fontenot!
Description
Brian Fontenot runs 20+ arbitrage units in Houston and survived COVID by pivoting hard from leisure to business travel - saving 43 of 56 cancellations in one hour the day the rodeo shut down. He quit his nine-to-five with zero savings after giving away his income as scholarships, spent three months studying Airbnb on YouTube and coaching calls, then launched his first arbitrage unit in December 2018. Today Drifter Travels stays between 70% and 95% occupancy, with 20-30% of bookings now coming direct.
Brian shares how he built a team by learning to stop answering questions and empower staff to decide for themselves, why he focuses exclusively on one-bedroom units for traveling professionals, and his $10,000 setup budget per property. He explains negotiating with apartment complexes by solving their occupancy problems, developing branded guest experiences that drive word-of-mouth, and occasionally going undercover to deliver supplies and collect unfiltered feedback. His 2021 goal: double or triple the portfolio while growing direct bookings to eliminate platform dependence entirely.
Work with us. Interested in professional management or consulting?
Myka — Sharebnb: www.sharebnb.com
Steve — Argest Rentals: www.ArgestRentals.com
Sign up for PadSplit with Steve's link and get a free 1-on-1 PadSplit strategy call with Stevie Stacks: padsplit.com/hosts
Myka's other podcast, Entrepremarriage — building wealth without losing the marriage: youtube.com/@Entrepremarriage
All our links: linktr.ee/liveletthrive
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