Alex & Annie Vacation Rental Podcast

With more than 35 years of combined experience in vacation rentals, Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe have teamed up in this award-winning vacation rental podcast to connect the dots between inspiration and opportunity, seeking to find the one story, idea, strategy or decision that led to their guests big A-HA moment. 

Join them, as they highlight the REAL stories behind the people and brands that have built vacation rentals into the 100 BILLION dollar industry it is today.

Recent Shows

Jan. 15, 2025

Podcasting the Podcasters: Celebrating Our 200th Episode

It's a milestone moment for Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals as we celebrate our 200th episode together with some of the most brilliant and influential podcasters in the vacation rental industry. To make this…
Jan. 8, 2025

Vacation Rental Tech: What You Need to Know to Stay Ahead in 2025

In this week’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome back Terry Whyte, owner of Anna Maria Island Beach Rentals and a renowned expert in vacation rental technology and operations. As one of the leading voices in the vacation r…
Jan. 1, 2025

1st of the Year Bonus Episode: Alex & Annie Reflect on 2024 and Set Intentions for 2025

Welcome to the first episode of the year! What better way to kick off 2025 than with our tradition of reflecting on the past year’s highlights and setting an inspiring tone for the year ahead. In this episode, Alex and Annie…
Dec. 18, 2024

For the Love of Gatlinburg: How Tom Goodwin Uses Storytelling to Preserve a Destination’s Heart and Soul

In this week’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets and host of " For the Love of Gatlinburg" Podcast. Tom shares insights into his family-run vacation rental business in Gatlin…
Dec. 11, 2024

From the Vault: Get Out of Your Own Way and Step into Your Power, with Amber Hurdle, CEO of Employer Brand Central

In this special throwback episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Amber Hurdle, CEO and founder of Employer Brand Central. Originally aired around this time last year, this episode marks a pivotal moment for Alex & …
Dec. 4, 2024

Driving Change Through Advocacy in the Vacation Rental Industry with John Hildebrand

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome back John Hildebrand, founder of Hilde Homes and a leading advocate in the short-term rental industry. From his early days as a property manager to becoming a leading voice in vacation re…
Nov. 27, 2024

From 2 to 70: Declan McGonigal’s Blueprint for Vacation Rental Success

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Declan McGonigal, the dynamic owner-operator of My Beach Vacation Rentals, based in North Myrtle Beach. Declan’s story is one of grit, growth, and ingenuity, as he shares how he went …
Nov. 20, 2024

It’s About DARM Time: Amy Hinote Previews the Industry’s Biggest Event

Register at ⁠ https://vrdarm.com/registration/ ⁠ and get $200 off when you use the promo code AlexAnnieVIP In this exciting episode, we are joined by the dynamic Amy Hinote, founder of the Vacation Rental Data and Revenue Ma…
Nov. 13, 2024

Building a Boutique Brand: How Steve Turk Brings Hotel Standards to Vacation Rentals

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Turk, founder of Tangy Management, a vacation rental management company known for its unique hotel-inspired approach to hospitality. With over 24 years of experience in luxury hotels, …
Nov. 6, 2024

Scaling Up in Italy: Behind the Scenes at Scale Italia 2024 with Alex & Annie

This week, we’re coming to you live from the heart of Florence, Italy, where Alex & Annie attended Scale Italia 2024! In this special on-the-ground episode, we bring you a dynamic mash-up of conversations with some of the mo…
Oct. 30, 2024

Throwback to Our Fan-Favorite Episode with The OG’s of the Panhandle: Lino Maldonado, Jim Olin, Paul Wohlford and Steve Caron

In this special re-air of one of our most popular episodes, Alex & Annie brings together a powerhouse panel of industry experts, known as the OGs of the Panhandle. Our guests— James Olin, Steve Caron, Lino Maldonado, and Pau…
Oct. 23, 2024

Throwback to Our Most Listened Episode of 2024 – Building a Hospitality Legacy with Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets

In this special re-air of one of our most popular episodes, Alex & Annie revisit our insightful conversation with Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets. Tom’s remarkable journey in the vacation rental industry, from un…

About the Hosts

Alex O. Husner Profile Photo

Alex O. Husner

CEO - Directly Alex

A seasoned vacation rental marketing expert with over 15 years of industry experience, Alex has played a key role as CMO in two enterprise vacation rental management companies in the United States, Condo-World and Casago. In early 2024, Alex left the corporate world to pursue her own initiatives as CEO/Founder of Directly Alex, a consultancy firm specializing in marketing and business growth strategies for vacation rental management companies and technology providers. Alex is a Co-Founder in the guest journey platform Happy Guest, and previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB and is a past Board Member of VRMA (Vacation Rental Managers Association).

Annie Holcombe Profile Photo

Annie Holcombe

Industry Thought Leader, Co-Host

Annie has 30+ years of experience in hospitality and tourism. At Expedia, she oversaw the Florida Panhandle market as Senior Key Account Manager specializing in vacation and non-traditional lodging accounts. At Lexicon Travel, she helped managers optimize and grow revenues through OTA channel distribution. Annie also served as Director of Business Development-US & Canada for Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, and joined channel manager Nextpax in 2024 to oversee their growth and partnerships in North and South America. This diverse background makes Annie one of the industry’s most knowledgeable and well-rounded leaders.

Recent Blog Posts

For the Love of Gatlinburg: How Tom Goodwin Uses Storytelling to Preserve a Destination’s Heart and Soul

In our latest episode, we welcome back Tom Goodwin, CEO of Mountain Laurel Chalets and host of the For the Love of Gatlinburg podcast. Tom shares valuable insights into the art of hospitality, the power of storytelling, and the challenges of managin…

Driving Change Through Advocacy in the Vacation Rental Industry with John Hildebrand

The vacation rental industry is evolving rapidly, bringing opportunities and challenges. As regulations tighten and community concerns rise, advocacy has become essential for ensuring a sustainable future. In our latest episode, John Hildebrand, fou…

Building a Boutique Brand: How Steve Turk Brings Hotel Standards to Vacation Rentals

In our latest episode, we sit down with Steve Turk, founder of Tangy Management and host of The Hospitality Mentor podcast. Steve shares how his 24 years in luxury hotels have shaped his approach to vacation rental management and why guest experienc…