VRS627 - Thriving in the Age of AI and Short-Term Rentals with Bart Sobies

Vacation Rental Success

In this episode, Heather Bayer welcomes back a long-time friend and industry innovator, Bart Sobies, founder of iBooked.Online and the creative mind behind the Strive to Thrive events in Australia and beyond.

Bart joins Heather (from tomorrow, no less - Australia time!) to share insights on:

• The power of in-person connections and how conferences can radically transform your business trajectory

• What’s happening right now in the Australian short-term rental market

• Why AI isn't a trend - it’s a revolution, and how it’s already reshaping our industry

• How to avoid the "tool trap" with AI, and instead solve real problems with the right tech

• Building human-centered hospitality businesses that are scalable, sustainable, and future-ready

Whether you’re a seasoned manager or new to the STR space, Bart’s global perspective and generous storytelling make this a must-listen.

📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program

This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community - an exclusive space for short-term rental pros who want deeper conversations, smarter systems, and more collaborative learning.

And if you're curious about using AI in your business - whether it's for guest communication, operations, or even marketing - check out our AI Ambassador Program. It's designed to help you learn, lead, and get hands-on with the tools shaping the future of hospitality.

🌐 Learn more and join us at VacationRentalFormula.com/AI

Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS627