363. The History of Vacation Rentals: Back to School with Brumby McLeod, Ph.D.

Episode • May 30, 2024 • 53m

Today’s expert guest is the ultra-informed researcher and short-term rental historian, Brumby McLeod, Ph.D., an associate professor at the College of Charleston, School of Business in the Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

He is also a research fellow with the Office of Tourism Analysis and the Riley Center for Livable Communities. The focus of his research is in overnight accommodation with a primary focus on housing, short-term rentals, and tourism.

Dr. McLeod walks us through the length of his career spent studying the many complex nuances of the vacation rental industry – from the offline family vacation homes of decades past, all the way to the explosion of digital hosting providers, and into the future.

Going back to school, even just for one day, we pepper Dr. McLeod with questions about how Airbnb disrupted his research, whether or not the data tells a positive or negative story in vacation communities, which stakeholders are the most vocal in opposition to STR expansion, and so much more.

A true academic, Brumby is so good at remaining neutral. He gets excited seeing everyone's point of views and then putting them together so he can create research and solutions for various aspects of the industry – whether it's small government, investors, hosts, or renters themselves.

(00:01:24) #STRShareSunday: @lazy_pines_cabins

(00:03:21) Back to School with Brumby McLeod, Ph.D.

(00:17:51) Charting the Rise of STR Hosting Platforms

(00:22:35) STR Impact: Building vs. Decimating Communities

(00:27:02) Unpacking the Right to Bear Guests

(00:35:50) How Hosts Can Best Advocate for the Vacation Rental Industry

(00:39:39) Airbnbust? Brumby on the Future of Our Industry

Resources:

• Click here for full show notes

• Gary Keller: https://a.co/d/hFPmcFZ

• #STRShareSunday: @lazy_pines_cabins

• Video: Airbnb Market Shift | Thrive as a Host