VRS665 - Bionic Not Robotic: Steve Schwab on AI, Integration, and Community

This Episode is Sponsored by Lodgify

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A year ago, Steve Schwab closed one of the most talked-about deals in the short-term rental industry - the acquisition of Vacasa by Casago. At the time, he described it as surreal and exciting. A year on, the headline has given way to the hard work: integrating systems, transitioning markets, reshaping a culture, and doing all of it while holding onto the belief that this is, at its core, a relationship business.

In this conversation, Heather catches up with Steve to take stock of that year - what has worked, what has been harder than anticipated, and what the ongoing Casago-Vacasa integration has taught him about leadership at scale. They also get into AI: how Steve is approaching it inside a franchise organisation that spans everything from small, locally owned operations to private equity-backed enterprises, why he talks about making Casago bionic rather than robotic, and the very real challenge of bringing people along when the pace of change is so fast that even the most enthusiastic adopters are missing fundamentals.

The episode closes with something genuinely new for the industry: a free, community-based AI learning network on Circle, built for STR professionals at every level of familiarity with AI. Steve and Heather are both actively involved, and this conversation is part of the launch. If you have been curious about AI but not sure where to start, or looking for a place to ask questions without feeling foolish, this community is worth knowing about. 

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📣 The AI Ambassador Program

This episode is also brought to you in part by our AI Ambassador Program. 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

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Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here:

https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS665