VRWS Leadership Interview of the Day
In approaching the 12th edition of the Vacation Rental World Summit, we’re releasing a series of interviews to leaders, key players and highly motivated people in our industry whose companies make a deep impact in our space and will be present at VRWS.
The aim is to get you some insight into these leaders and the company they founded, manage or work for, as well as getting some behind the scenes on their thinking, their motivation and their drive.
JAMIE LANE
- What inspired you to enter the vacation rental industry?
I spent 10 years as an economist in the hotel industry, analyzing market performance and understanding what drives demand. During that time, I saw a major shift in how people travel. Vacation rentals were gaining momentum, giving travelers more flexibility and new kinds of experiences, while also creating opportunities for property owners. The industry was evolving fast, and I wanted to be part of understanding and shaping that change.
- What sets your company apart in the vacation rental industry, and how do you ensure you stay ahead of the competition?
AirDNA has the most extensive historical dataset in the short-term rental industry: we started tracking market performance in 2014, when no one else was doing it at this scale. That historical depth helps us spot trends with more accuracy and give people a clearer picture of where the market is headed.
What really sets us apart is the accuracy and depth of our data. I work with an incredible team of PhD economists and data scientists who are some of the best in the industry, constantly refining our models to improve reliability and uncover new insights. We stay ahead by listening closely to our customers, understanding how they use our data, and looking at other industries to see what we can apply to short-term rentals.
This year, we’re rolling out major upgrades, including a more advanced Rentalizer to help investors better estimate a property’s revenue potential, expanded forecasting tools, and advanced analytics for European markets to make our platform even more intuitive and impactful.
- If you attended the 2024 Vacation Rental World Summit in Porto, what was the most exciting or valuable takeaway for you? And looking ahead to the 2025 edition in Rome, what are you hoping to gain or experience this time?
One of the biggest takeaways from VRWS 2024 was seeing how much progress has been made in industry collaboration around regulation. Instead of just reacting to new policies, hosts and operators are working together to have a seat at the table and shape the conversation. It’s a shift that’s becoming more important as short-term rentals continue to grow and evolve.
Looking ahead to VRWS 2025 in Rome, I’m excited to keep those discussions going and see how the industry is adapting to new challenges. I’ll also be sharing exclusive market insights in my keynote, exploring the latest trends and what they mean for property managers looking to grow, optimize, and stay competitive in a changing landscape.
- Beyond business, what’s one experience or destination that left a lasting impression on you, and why?
Couchsurfing through New Zealand in 2009 really stuck with me. Staying with people who opened their homes simply because they loved hosting was a reminder of what hospitality is at its core: sharing space, culture, and experiences. It was a different way of experiencing travel, one that made me appreciate the role of hosts and how much the guest experience can shape a trip. That perspective has stayed with me and still influences how I think about the industry today.
- What’s one fun fact, hidden talent, or little-known secret about you that other attendees should know to spark a great conversation with you?
In 2024, I officially rejoined the hosting game as I launched my first vacation rental investment in North Georgia and decided to self-manage it. It’s my first Airbnb listing since 2017, back when my wife and I welcomed our first kid and took a break from hosting. Before that, I hosted a private room in Atlanta from 2012 to 2017, so getting back into it has been a fun (and eye-opening) experience.
Even after years of analyzing short-term rental data, actually being on the other side of it has been a whole different experience. That’s why I decided to document the whole adventure—from market research and finding the right property to getting it up and running—in a YouTube series called Jamie’s Lane Change. It’s been an exciting journey, and I’m learning a lot along the way.
You’ll have the opportunity to listen to Jamie live on stage on Oct 30th
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