EP 226: How Personal Branding Drives Trust, Bookings, and Growth in Hospitality
Release Date: 01/14/2026
EP 226: How Personal Branding Drives Trust, Bookings, and Growth in Hospitality
Branded & Booked
In this episode, I’m diving into why personal branding in 2026 is no longer optional, especially if you’re in boutique hospitality. If you’re building short-term rentals, a co-hosting or property management business, a boutique hotel, or a micro resort, your personal brand is becoming one of the biggest drivers of trust, connection, and bookings. We talk through what a personal brand actually is (and how it’s different from your property or business brand), why people connect to people (not logos), and how personal story builds trust long before a booking ever happens. I share real...
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EP 225: Camper Life in 2026: Our 1-Year RV Plan
Branded & Booked
We’re kicking off 2026 with a decision that has nothing to do with quarterly goals and everything to do with the kind of life we want to live. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why our family is planning a full year of camper life — how the idea started, what finally pushed us to commit, and why this felt like a now-or-never moment. I share a glimpse into the planning process, the routes we’re dreaming about, and the realities of doing this with two kids, two businesses, and a lot of unknowns. I also talk honestly about the tension that comes with choosing something...
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EP 224: What I Outgrew in 2025: Business Growth, Family-First Decisions, and Redefining Success as an Entrepreneur
Branded & Booked
This final episode of Branded and Booked is a year-end reflection on what I outgrew in 2025 and what I’m intentionally carrying into 2026. I talk about finishing a 12-cabin micro-resort and what it really feels like to build something big when the risk is real and personal. I share lessons from growing The Weber Co. and Hosted by the Webers, including getting clearer on alignment, pricing our expertise with confidence, and saying no to opportunities that don’t fit. A major theme of this episode is family-first decision making. I share how becoming more present with my kids reshaped my...
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EP 223: We Built a 12-Cabin Micro Resort: Here’s What It Really Took
Branded & Booked
It’s done. Cabins on the Cumberland is officially complete. In this episode, I’m sharing what it really took to build a 12-cabin micro resort with an event venue, game center, and year-round amenities — from construction milestones and financing lessons to direct bookings, full buyouts, and what’s next. We talk through: How the build unfolded over 2.5 years What I’d do differently with underwriting and reserves How we’ve maintained 30–50% direct bookings Why full property buyouts (weddings, retreats, church groups) are the future The unglamorous realities no one...
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EP 222: Short-Term Rental Investing: What I’d Do Differently Now
Branded & Booked
If I were starting over in short-term rentals today, I wouldn’t rush into the first deal just to say I owned one — and I definitely wouldn’t invest where everyone else is telling you to. In this episode, I’m walking you through our real journey: buying our first STR, building a six-figure co-hosting business, and realizing pretty quickly what wasn’t the right long-term play for us. We talk about market selection, cash flow vs. equity, why I’d avoid certain oversaturated markets now, and what I wish I had understood sooner about renovations, contracts, and boundaries. If you’re in...
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EP 221: 2026 Predictions: Branding, Direct Booking & Personal Brands
Branded & Booked
2026 is not the year to play it safe — and it’s definitely not the year to keep relying on Airbnb alone. In this episode of Branded and Booked, I break down what I see coming next for short-term rentals, boutique hotels, micro-resorts, and the investors behind them — and why branding, direct strategy, and personal visibility are no longer optional. From platform changes and rising fees to the growing gap between checkbox amenities and truly curated guest experiences, this conversation is a wake-up call for hosts who want longevity, leverage, and real brand value. In this episode, we...
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EP 220: 2025 Wrapped: Explosive Growth, Hard Truths, and Our Wild Plan for 2026
Branded & Booked
2025 has been one of the biggest years of growth I’ve ever had — across three hospitality businesses, inside my personal life, and in the direction I’m heading for 2026. I’m breaking down what worked, what stretched me, and what I’m changing moving forward. I walk through each business — The Weber Co., Hosted by the Webers, and Cabins on the Cumberland — and share the real numbers, the mindset shifts, the growing pains, and the wins. I also open up about the conversations Colin and I have been having about our boys, school, where we want to live, and why “camper life” is the...
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EP 219: How We Drove $40K in Direct Bookings for Tremont Lodge Using an Integrated Marketing Strategy
Branded & Booked
In this bite-sized solo episode, I’m breaking down the insane results we’ve helped our client, Tremont Lodge, achieve since partnering in spring 2025. From stock photos and low engagement to over $40,000 in tracked direct bookings, you’ll hear exactly how an integrated marketing strategy — blending social media, email, influencer collaborations, and automation — completely transformed their results. I’ll walk you through the story from the very beginning: where Tremont was when they came to us, the first steps we took to revamp their brand presence, and how each piece of the...
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EP 218: How Strategy-Driven Interiors Are Winning in Today’s STR Market with Jordan from Somerled Designs
Branded & Booked
Three years ago, it was enough for your Airbnb to have cute décor and a decent location. Today? The game has changed. In this episode, Steph sits down with Jordan, co-founder of Somerled Designs, to talk about what it really takes to compete in the 2025 short-term rental market. You’ll learn how Somerled has scaled from a college-friend side hustle to 50+ design projects per month, why they pair market research with creative interiors, and how their signature approach—“where strategy meets design”—helps investors turn underperforming listings into high-return assets. Whether...
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Ep 217: What 5 STR Owners Changed in Their Marketing—And the Direct Booking Results They Saw
Branded & Booked
You don’t have to stay stuck on the OTA hamster wheel. 👏 In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on real short-term rental owners who decided enough was enough—and took control of their marketing. You’ll hear from five amazing hosts who implemented the exact strategies I teach inside and saw direct booking results they didn’t think were possible: ✨ Kathleen in the Poconos, who clarified her guest avatar (big groups celebrating milestones) and used content pillars to launch a direct booking site. ✨ April in Lake Tahoe, who leaned into lifestyle photography and a...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m diving into why personal branding in 2026 is no longer optional, especially if you’re in boutique hospitality. If you’re building short-term rentals, a co-hosting or property management business, a boutique hotel, or a micro resort, your personal brand is becoming one of the biggest drivers of trust, connection, and bookings.
We talk through what a personal brand actually is (and how it’s different from your property or business brand), why people connect to people (not logos), and how personal story builds trust long before a booking ever happens. I share real examples from my own journey building The Weber Co. and Cabins on the Cumberland, including how showing up online consistently helped us find partners, grow our audience, and create deeper loyalty with guests.
I also break down what I’ve observed from brands in the hospitality space that are doing this well, why we’re in a trust recession, and how human connection is becoming a major differentiator in a crowded market. This episode is for anyone who feels hesitant about showing up online, unsure what to share, or worried about blending personal and business in a way that still feels aligned.
If you want to grow bookings, attract the right guests or owners, and build something that lasts beyond algorithms and trends, this conversation will help you rethink how your personal brand fits into the bigger picture.
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