It’s the first episode of 2026 - and that means it’s time for our annual deep dive into what’s happened across the vacation rental industry over the past year, and what’s coming next. Back by popular demand, David Angotti joins Heather to break down the big shifts of 2025 and share what smart property managers should focus on heading into the New Year.

From PMS shakeups and AI integration to a renewed focus on local hospitality, David brings a candid and insightful perspective from inside some of the industry’s most talked-about brands, including his transition from Guesty to Casago. You'll hear his thoughts on how Casago is rewriting the rulebook for franchise growth, why property managers must prioritize owner relationships, and what not to settle for when choosing your tech stack in 2026.

Whether you're feeling excited or overwhelmed by where the industry is heading, this conversation offers clarity, inspiration, and actionable advice to start your year strong.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why 2025 marked a tipping point in AI adoption - and how managers are building their own tools
• What Casago is doing differently with local market empowerment (and why it’s working)
• David’s take on the LiveRez shutdown and what to consider before jumping ship to a new PMS
• How to evaluate tech partners based on speed of innovation, not just sales promises
• What “Owner-Centric” management really means - and how it impacts guest experience
• Why mission-driven culture isn’t fluff, it’s fuel for scale
• The biggest mistakes managers make with AI - and what winning operators are doing instead
• What David is most excited for in 2026 (hint: it’s not just tech)

Quote Highlights:

“We don’t want workarounds in 2026.” -  David Angotti
“Owner satisfaction drives everything. When that relationship works, the guest experience follows.” - Heather Bayer
“If your PMS hasn’t launched five meaningful features this year… keep looking.” - David Angotti

About Our Guest:

David Angotti is the Chief Digital Officer at Casago, where he oversees one of the world’s largest internal OTAs and drives technology strategy across a growing network of franchises. A serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, David previously served as Chief Evangelist at Guesty and co-founded StaySense. He’s also an ultra-marathoner, keynote speaker, and vacation rental industry thought leader with deep expertise in scaling tech-driven operations.

Connect with David:
🔗 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
🐦 X / Twitter

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Casago
• Heather's favorite AI tools: Zapier, Notion AI, ChatGPT
• Heather’s AI training: Vacation Rental Formula Business School

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📣 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

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