Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 53 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz sits down with Mark Kombrink, founder of Host2Coast (also known as Hilton Head Vacation Rentals), to unpack the real-world lessons that shaped his journey in the vacation rental industry.
In this episode, he shares the top 10 mistakes that helped refine his business model, leadership style, and ability to adapt to an ever-changing industry. From scaling challenges to missteps in service delivery, Mark’s transparency offers valuable takeaways for operators of all sizes.
Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 52 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz chats with Taylor Gates, founder and former CEO of Stay Duvet, to unpack the pivotal lessons, bold innovations, and entrepreneurial grit behind building Charleston’s most premier luxury vacation rental brand.
In this episode, Taylor shares the top 10 mistakes that shaped his growth as a founder, operator, and community leader. But these weren’t setbacks, they were stepping stones to building a company that served guests, owners, and Charleston at the highest level.
Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 51 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz connects with Brandon Ezra currently Co-Founder at Stakeholders VR Group.
After 14 years growing and scaling Grand Welcome, Brandon has seen it all, scaled it up and then exited a healthy thriving business. He shares his lessons, mistakes and learnings along the way towards that exit along with a brand-new model that’s win-win for vacation rental managers.
Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 50 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz connects with Andy Newman, founder & CEO of Newman Hospitality, to explore his unconventional journey from finance to short-term rentals—and the top 10 mistakes that shaped his path.
After spending 28 years as a portfolio manager, a vacation through Europe in 2012 introduced Andy to Airbnb—not just as a guest, but as an opportunity. What began as a favor for friends and family quickly evolved into a thriving business. Just 18 months later, Andy launched Newman Hospitality in 2014.
Now, with a deep focus on helping investors integrate STR strategies into their portfolios, Andy combines financial acumen with real-world hosting experience to drive scalable success. In this episode, he reflects on the missteps, mindset shifts, and operational lessons that helped him evolve from a solo host to a strategic industry leader.
Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 49 of the Vintory Podcast, we chat with Rachel Alday, co-founder of Abode Luxury Rentals, who—along with her husband Rob—has built one of the most respected high-end property management companies in the country. With over 200 luxury homes under management across Park City, Jackson Hole, and Sun Valley, Rachel brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to grow a purpose-driven, people-first vacation rental brand.
In this episode, Rachel reflects on the pivotal moments—not “mistakes,” but necessary learning curves, that shaped her path as a leader and entrepreneur. From operational challenges to moments of misalignment and growth through discomfort, Rachel shares how every step contributed to the company Abode is today.
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling a luxury portfolio, Rachel’s candid, values-led approach is something every operator should hear.
Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In this new episode, we sit down with Dawn Huff, a seasoned vacation rental entrepreneur with a passion for the outdoors and a legacy in the waterfront rental market.
Dawn shares the top 10 mistakes she made during her journey as the founder of Miss Kitty’s Fishing Getaways, a beloved property management company built for fishing enthusiasts along the Texas coast. From launching the business in 2003 to selling it in 2022, Dawn reflects on the hard lessons, the turning points, and the relationships that helped shape her path.
Now the founder and operator of Eagle’s Nest RV Park, Dawn brings a fresh perspective to outdoor hospitality, shaped by her past experiences and deep connection to nature.
If you’re navigating growth, transitions, or thinking about long-term exit strategies, Dawn’s story will resonate deeply.
Enjoy!
