April 1, 2027 | Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, PA

2027 POCONOS SHORT TERM RENTAL CONFERENCE

  • Room: Ballroom
    Speaker: Avery Carl, CEO, The Short Term Rental Shop

    Avery Carl opens the day with a no-spin look at the short-term rental market in 2026, grounded in real sales data, real income numbers, and real investor outcomes. In this keynote, she breaks down what’s still working, where investors are consistently getting it wrong, and the most costly mistakes she sees repeated across markets nationwide. Avery also shares where she believes the industry is headed next and how investors can position themselves now to stay profitable and resilient.

    An Amazon bestselling author of Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth and Smarter Short-Term Rentals, Avery is also the host of The Short Term Show, with over one million downloads and rankings in the Top 200 Education Podcasts and Top 100 Self-Improvement Podcasts in the U.S. After starting on a $37,000 salary, she built a 250+ door portfolio in just five years and now leads one of the country’s top-performing short-term rental brokerages, featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Forbes.

    This keynote is practical, data-driven, and unapologetically honest. No hype. Just the real state of the market and what smart investors need to do next.

Welcome &
Morning Keynote

  • Room: Ballroom
    Speaker: John Bradford, PetScreening

    Short-term rentals are at a defining moment. Across the country, governments are grappling with how to regulate STRs—often without a full understanding of the industry—resulting in policies that can be ineffective, unenforceable, or economically damaging.

    Drawing on his unique experience as both a four-term state legislator and the CEO of a national STR-focused business, John Bradford offers a clear, candid look at today’s regulatory landscape and the forces shaping what comes next. This session explores the key pressures influencing STR policy—from housing and neighborhood concerns to safety, taxation, and political shifts—and what owners, investors, and associations must do now to protect their interests.

    Attendees will leave with practical guidance on engaging policymakers, presenting compelling data, building alliances, and influencing outcomes—without becoming political insiders. The takeaway: the STR industry can thrive long-term, but only if we show up, stay organized, and work together.

  • Room: Zambezi
    Speaker: Dom Dawkins, Wander

    In a world where OTAs dominate bookings, your website shouldn’t just exist—it should perform. Join us as we unpack the essential elements of a high-performing vacation rental website that turns visitors into direct bookers. From seamless PMS integration and mobile-first design to SEO strategies and AI-optimized content, you’ll learn how to build a site that increases visibility, boosts conversions, and strengthens your brand online. We’ll explore practical tactics property managers are using right now to grow direct revenue and reduce dependence on third-party platforms.

  • Room: Nile
    Moderator:     Tara Probst, PA State Representative


    Panelists include:

    Mark Shay, PoconoVacationHomeSales
    Xander Weidenbaum, Redstone Run Realty
    Michael Klein, Savvy STR Agents


    This session is designed to give a current state of the real estate market in the Poconos and specifically those homes than can operate as a STR. I have invited other top realtors to join a panel we can discuss the Top 10 STR Communities list, provide rental insights from PMVB, Keydata and AirDNA in this session. Discussion will touch on what size home seems to do the best, amenities that are common and ones that might be worth adding. The discussion will also identify traps to look out for, like appraisal gaps, septic system size, community restrictions that don't allow for fences or pools, etc.

    Three Key Learning Objectives: 1) Business valuation versus real estate appraisal value

    2) Real Estate market trends in areas that allow STR

    3) Rental trends tied to home size, location and amenities

    4) Potential risks in the search for a new STR

  • Room: Orange
    Mderator:     Andrew Rodriguez, Stay Booked


    Panelists Include:
    Emily Williams, Wil&Co. Homes
    Luis R. Berrios - STR Owner & Operator
    Mary Calverley, Moonbeam Escapes

    The short-term rental market has changed - but many owners are still running their properties the same way they did a few years ago. Bookings are less predictable, competition is higher, and two very similar homes can produce very different revenue. This session breaks down why.

    Using real Pocono market examples and operator experience, we’ll walk through the few decisions that consistently separate high-performing STRs from the rest. We’ll cover what actually drives bookings and revenue today - from pricing and amenities to guest experience and day-to-day operations - and where hosts often waste time, money, and energy focusing on the wrong things.

    This is not a “do more” session. It’s a focus session designed to help owners at any stage understand what matters now, what doesn’t, and how to make smarter decisions in a more competitive market.

    If you want a simple mental framework for how STR revenue really works in 2026 - this is the session to attend.

Morning
Breakout Sessions

10:45AM- 11:30AM

Lunch &
Afternoon Keynote

Afternoon
Breakout Sessions

1:45PM-2:30PM

  • Room: Ballroom
    Speaker: Tyann Hammond, Branson Family Retreat

    Tyann will present her 4 step communications framework that anyone and everyone can put into place no matter their budget, expertse or technology level. Through personal stories, she will demonstrate the tremendous impact of communicaton to guests, with teams, and through actons to increase reviews, revenue, and repeat stays.

  • Room: Zambezi
    Speakers:
    Mark Shay, Pocono Vacation Home Sales
    Nate Silver, Wander Home

    The Poconos is one of the strongest drive-to vacation markets in the Northeast—but it’s also one of the easiest places for short-term rental buyers to make expensive mistakes. The biggest risks aren’t just price or interest rates; they’re regulations, HOA rules, seasonality, operating costs, and assumptions that don’t hold up once the property goes live.

    This session breaks down the most common mistakes buyers make when purchasing STRs in the Poconos and offers practical, real-world guidance on how to avoid them. Topics include zoning and community restrictions, licensing and inspections, income projections and seasonality, appraisal gaps on turnkey properties, utilities and winter costs, septic and occupancy limits, layout and amenity choices, management realities, and exit planning if rules or demand change.

    Designed for buyers, investors, agents, and advisors, this session provides a realistic roadmap for evaluating STR opportunities in the Poconos—so you can buy smarter, underwrite conservatively, and position your investment for long-term success.

  • Room: NIle
    Speaker: Derek Jones, Hospitable

    In this forward-looking session, Derek Jones from Hospitable will explore how AI-powered operational automation is reshaping the way modern STR businesses run and grow behind the scenes. You’ll learn how leading operators are using automation to handle predictable, repetitive work: responding to guests consistently across platforms, triggering tasks for cleaners and maintenance at the right moments, maintaining fast response times without being glued to their phone, and reducing the small operational gaps that often turn into guest issues.

    The session will also look at how AI is increasingly being used to support growth, not just efficiency. That includes using AI to improve listing quality and consistency, optimize messaging and content across platforms, identify gaps in listing information, and standardize best practices as portfolios scale. When paired with strong operational systems, these tools help hosts increase visibility, conversion, and confidence without adding complexity.

    Attendees will walk away with practical frameworks for identifying what should be automated, where AI adds real operational and growth value (and where it doesn’t), and how to design systems that improve reliability while still leaving room for human judgment and hospitality.

  • Room: Orange
    Speaker: Julie Banting-Rogers, Avalara


    Regulations for short-term rentals can be confusing, and the consequences of missing a key requirement can be costly. Join Avalara as they unpack the most common compliance pitfalls owners face when it comes to lodging tax, STR permits, and regulatory compliance. They’ll cover real-world examples of what often goes wrong (and how to fix it), plus provide a simple framework to help you ensure you're legally renting out your property. Whether you’re new to hosting or have multiple properties, you’ll leave with clear steps to avoid fines, delistings, and missed filings.

Afternoon
Lightning Talks

3:00PM-3:30PM

  • Room: Zambezi
    Speaker: John Bradford, Pet Screening

    Today’s travelers increasingly see their pets as full-fledged family members, and they expect short-term and vacation rental hosts to welcome them with the same level of care. This session explores proven, industry-ready best practices for modern pet policy management, equipping hosts and property managers with strategies to design pet-inclusive experiences that drive bookings, elevate guest satisfaction, and minimize the risks of property damage or liability.

    We’ll break down how to craft clear, enforceable, and guest-friendly pet policies; implement practical safeguards that protect both your property and your bottom line; and confidently manage assistance animal accommodation requests in full compliance with current federal and state regulations. You’ll also learn how to identify and mitigate common pet-related risks while staying ahead of the rapidly evolving legal landscape shaping today’s pet-friendly short-term rental market.

    This session will leave you prepared to meet rising traveler expectations—while turning pet-friendly hospitality into a competitive advantage.

  • Room: Nile
    Speaker: Simon Seroussi, Suite Ops

    Your guest portal is more than a welcome page. It is the storefront every traveler visits. In this session, we show how to turn that attention into real revenue with the best conversion rates and top guest experience.

    Three Key Learning Objectives: - Presenting upsells at the right point in the guest journey
    How to curate robust upsell offerings with high conversion rates Self Insured Damage Waivers for significant revenue generation
    Connecting IoT (Smart Device) security to upsell payments

  • Room: Orange
    Speaker: Rohit Bezewada, AirDNA

    Understanding the Poconos short-term rental market requires more than national averages or broad assumptions—it requires local, granular data. In this session, AirDNA will present custom market insights specific to the Pocono region, offering a clear picture of how STR performance varies neighborhood by neighborhood and what that means for owners, managers, and investors.

    Attendees will explore current market trends, demand patterns, and revenue performance across key Pocono submarkets, along with insights into what distinguishes top-performing managers from the broader market. The session will also share forward-looking forecasts, highlighting emerging opportunities, potential risks, and how shifting traveler behavior may impact performance in the year ahead.

    Designed for STR owners, investors, managers, and advisors, this session provides practical, data-backed context to support smarter acquisition, pricing, and growth decisions in one of the Northeast’s most active drive-to vacation markets.

  • Room: Sagewood
    Speaker, Jeremiah Noll, Galvanized Management LLC

    Every STR owner eventually hits that moment — the one triggered by the 17th guest question of the day, the cleaner who no-shows, the contractor who ghosts, or the property manager who drops the ball.

    It’s the moment you look in the mirror and say, “I’ve had it. This sucks. Why am I doing this?”

    This brutally honest, agenda-free session is designed for that moment.

    This session will explore what to do when hosting stops feeling fun and starts feeling overwhelming.

    We’ll dig into the root causes of burnout, the operational traps that drain your energy, and the

    strategies successful owners use to reclaim their sanity, their time, and their profitability.

  • Room: Rosewood
    Speakers: Brenda Figueroa, El Ranchito Rentals & Juana Toribio, My Poconos Getaway - Villa Juana

    Most STR owners dream of reducing their reliance on Airbnb and Vrbo — but many aren’t sure where to start, how much it will cost, or whether direct bookings really pay off. In this empowering and highly practical session, two experienced STR owners and the leaders of Poconos Excellence, an all-women STR leadership group, will share the why and how of building a successful direct booking strategy in today’s competitive market.

    Through real numbers, real timelines, and real stories, this panel will break down what it truly takes to create a direct booking engine that delivers positive ROI — and how long it takes before you start seeing those returns. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for investing in brand assets, marketing channels, guest communication, and automation tools that strengthen control over revenue and guest relationships.

    This session is grounded in experience, transparency, and the belief that every STR owner can reclaim control over their business — and their bottom line.

  • Room: Ironwood
    Speaker: Mark Lumpkin, STR Cribs

    Renovating a Pocono property isn’t the same as renovating anywhere else. From aging construction and rural infrastructure to climate, zoning, and local permitting realities, what you don’t know can cost you time, money, and momentum.

    In this session, you’ll learn the critical factors to evaluate before you start a renovation—whether you’re buying, upgrading, or repositioning a short-term rental. We’ll cover where renovation dollars deliver the strongest return, common pitfalls unique to the region, and how to avoid costly mistakes that derail timelines and budgets.

    Perfect for owners, investors, and buyers who want to renovate with confidence, maximize ROI, and make smart decisions long before the first hammer swings.

Afternoon
Lightning Talks


3:45PM-4:15PM

  • Room: Zambezi
    Moderator:     Cindy Carr Knecht, Carr Realty of the Poconos

    Speakers:
    Tomas Keane, Coolbaugh Township
    Eric Koopman, Monroe County Planning Commission
    Kate Lambert, Tunkhannock Township

    Seven years ago, Monroe County became one of the first regions in Pennsylvania to bring municipalities, planners, and industry stakeholders together to create a shared framework for short-term rental regulation. The result was a model ordinance designed to balance property rights, community concerns, safety, and economic impact—at a time when the STR industry looked very different than it does today.

    Led by Cindy Knecht, who helped guide the collaborative effort behind the original model ordinance, this panel takes a candid look back at why regulation was needed, what the model got right, and where reality diverged from expectations. Panelists will explore how the market has evolved, which challenges were not anticipated, and how municipalities have since adapted—sometimes by adding rules not included in the original framework.

    Most importantly, the discussion looks ahead: which regulatory approaches appear to be working, which are creating unintended consequences, and how STR owners, associations, and local governments can work together to shape smarter, more durable policies in the years to come.

    This session is essential for anyone interested in understanding where STR regulation has been—and how to influence where it’s headed next.

  • Room: Nile
    Speaker: Cathleen Cataldo, Discovered In Travels

    In a crowded short-term rental market, yesterday’s best practices are no longer enough. This presentation explores how professional trend forecasting, traditionally used by global brands, can be applied to short-term rental investing and property management to stay ahead of demand, not react to it.

    Attendees will learn how to identify emerging experience, design, amenity, and lifestyle shifts that will define guest expectations in 2027 and beyond. We’ll uncover white-space opportunities most hosts are overlooking, from evolving traveler psychographics to new definitions of luxury, wellness, flexibility, and connection. Using industry data, consumer behavior signals, and real-world STR performance insights, this session will show why the market is moving in these directions and how to invest accordingly.

    Attendees will leave with a clear framework for evaluating trends, making smarter capital improvement decisions, and future-proofing their properties for long-term relevance and revenue. This topic is essential for owners who want to remain competitive, increase nightly rates, and build resilient STR businesses in an ever-changing travel economy.

  • Room: Orange
    Speaker: Shehryar Khan, GuestManual


    In 2026, the most resilient hosts won’t be those who optimize listings — they’ll be the ones who build brands. This session is a practical playbook for turning your Airbnb into a recognizable, repeatable business that guests seek out, follow, and rebook. We’ll explore how leading operators are using digital guidebooks, social media, email marketing, and direct booking tools to build real relationships with guests — not just transactions. Learn how to design a guest journey that naturally moves guests from platform booking to brand loyalty, capturing first-party data, growing your audience, and reducing long-term dependence on OTAs. Walk away with a clear framework for creating a differentiated guest experience, owning your customer relationship, and building an asset that compounds over time.

  • Room: Sagewood

    Moderator: Megan Tucker, HostGPO


    Speakers:
    Anthony Rallo, A+W Projects LLC, VRO Board Member, Real Estate Investor | STR Consultant

    David Krauss, Co-Founder & CEO of Rent Responsible 

    Jenny Snow, Poconos Area Airbnb Volunteer Community Leader, Realtor,

    Most vacation rental listings never reach their full earning potential—often due to fixable issues in photography, design, copy, pricing, and overall presentation. In this interactive, panel-led session, industry experts will conduct live critiques of a real Poconos-area vacation rental listing, showing attendees exactly what’s holding listings back and how to fix it.

    Panelists will break down what separates top-performing listings from the other 95%, offering practical, no-fluff feedback across photography, interior design, listing copy, website experience, and pricing strategy. Attendees will see how small, strategic changes can dramatically improve conversion rates, guest appeal, and revenue.

    Designed for new and mid-career operators, this session provides an inside look at how experts evaluate listings through both a guest and performance lens—equipping attendees with repeatable frameworks they can apply immediately to their own properties, regardless of market or portfolio size.

  • Room: Rosewood
    Speakers:
    Danielle Temos, Ideal Property Management
    Monique DeLorenzo , Price Labs


    This session explains why the most important measurement of Profitability is     RevPar. Learn what differentiates RevPar from other performance metrics and how to use it to maximize your profitability. [name], a data and pricing expert from Price Labs and Danielle, a seasoned property manager at Ideal Property Management will share real-world examples and workflows to demonstrate how their focus on RevPar helped them increase profit, not just revenue! Only attend this session if you want to maximize profits.

  • Room: Ironwood
    Speaker:     Joseph Vincent Scorese, Lend Investors Capital & Vincent Jacobbi, Host Financial

    As short-term rental owners evolve from single-property hosts into sophisticated operators, access to the right capital becomes a competitive advantage. Traditional mortgages often fall short—this is where Non-QM and DSCR lending step in.

    In this session, Joseph Vincent Scorese (Lend Investors Capital) and Vincent Jacobbi (Host Financial) combine lender and operator perspectives to demystify today’s STR financing landscape. Together, they’ll break down how Non-QM and DSCR loans actually work, how STR income is evaluated by lenders, and how capital structures are changing in a tightening credit environment.

    Attendees will gain a practical understanding of the full capital stack behind STR investments—from DSCR and bank-statement loans to bridge, fix-to-rent, and portfolio strategies—and learn how to choose loan structures that align with their growth goals, risk tolerance, and exit timelines.

    Rather than focusing on theory, this session equips investors to think like capital allocators: structuring deals for clean approvals, stronger cash flow, and long-term scalability.

Afternoon
Lightning Talks


4:30PM-5:00PM

  • Room: Zambezi
    Speakers: Patrick Wallace & Elizabeth Setzke, Booking.com

    Patrick and Elizabeth will break down how the 2026 Global Soccer Championship is expected to reshape travel demand — and what that means for properties positioned to attract international guests.

    Global events don’t just increase occupancy — they change who is searching, how they book, what they expect, and how far in advance they plan. The listing and amenity mix that performs well with domestic drive-to travelers may not resonate with long-haul international guests.

    In this session, you’ll learn:

    * How international booking behavior differs from domestic demand

    * What early search trends are signaling about inbound markets

    * Practical listing, content, and amenity adjustments that increase global appeal

    * Payment, language, and policy considerations that reduce friction

    * How to position your property to capture event-driven demand — and sustain it long after the tournament ends

    Whether you operate an STR, boutique hotel, or small inn, this session will help you think beyond the spike and strategically prepare your property to compete on a global stage.

    Because when international demand arrives, the properties that are ready don’t just participate — they win.

  • Room: Nile
    Speaker:
    Mark McDonald, RentalGuardian by Inhabit
    Hannah Grizzle, StreamlineVRS by Inhabit


    This session breaks down how operators can evaluate their current tech stack, identify redundancies, reduce operational friction, and build a streamlined infrastructure that supports growth instead of slowing it down. We’ll focus on alignment between marketing, operations, and guest experience systems in a practical, actionable way.

  • Room: Orange
    Speakers: Marlyn Kissner, PMVB
    Laura Madden, Cookin' Genie,
    Donna Porcino, Bodyworks Wellness Studio
    Genamarie Rosado, Picturesque Luxury Picnics

    “Guest experience” is one of the most overused phrases in lodging—but when done right, it’s also one of the most powerful drivers of reviews, repeat bookings, and word-of-mouth marketing.

    Led by Marlyn, Vice President, Membership and Community Relations at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, this panel-based session breaks down what guest experience really means in today’s STR market—and how to turn it into a competitive advantage. You’ll hear directly from experience providers, including Laura from Cookin’ Genie, Donna with Bodyworks Wellness Studio and (speaker TBD), who help transform stays into memorable moments.

    The discussion will explore the types of experiences guests are actively seeking, how to identify and vet the right local service providers, and how to successfully market experiences before, during, and after a stay. Panelists will also share insights on pricing, logistics, partnerships, and common pitfalls to avoid.

    Designed for STR owners and managers who want to stand out in a crowded market, this session delivers practical ideas for creating meaningful experiences that guests value—and are willing to pay for.

  • Room: Sagewood
    Speaker: Jack Reipke, Guesty


    As short-term rental businesses scale, complexity tends to scale faster. Support workflows fracture, distribution becomes harder to control, and financial visibility starts to blur. Many operators respond by adding more tools, more channels, and more automation, only to find the chaos growing alongside their portfolio.

    This session explores how mature operators scale without sprawl by rethinking distribution and AI as core operational infrastructure, not add-ons. We’ll look beyond single-channel debates to examine multi-channel strategies that include marketplaces, direct bookings, Booking.com, and regional platforms, and why growth rarely comes down to choosing one channel over another.

    Attendees will learn how AI-driven automation can reduce handoffs, errors, and decision fatigue while still knowing where human oversight is essential. We’ll break down what to standardize early, how to spot when your tech stack is helping or holding you back, and what “healthy scale” actually looks like in practice.

  • Room: Rosewood
    Speakers: Devlon Cowart, Pro Fire Safety & Colby D'Anieri, ServePro

    Property disasters don’t just damage buildings—they disrupt bookings, revenue, guest safety, and owner peace of mind. From kitchen fires and malfunctioning alarms to frozen pipes, leaks, and smoke damage, STR owners face real risks that require both prevention and a clear response plan.

    In this session, Devlon from Pro Fire Safety and Colby from SERVPRO bring complementary expertise to walk through the full disaster lifecycle: how to avoid common incidents, how to mitigate damage when something goes wrong, and how to recover quickly and correctly when professional intervention is required.

    Attendees will learn practical strategies for prevention, early detection, and response—including safety systems, monitoring tools, and restoration best practices—so they can reduce downtime, protect guests, and get back to revenue faster when the unexpected happens.

  • Room: Ironwood
    Speaker: Monique DeLorenzo, PriceLabs

    With the World Cup, NFL Draft, USA 250 events added to the mix of your usual football, theater & headline concert demand drivers, are you in the game or sitting on the sideline? Events can be your biggest revenue unlock—or your costliest missed opportunity. With demand changing by the day and past data often falling short, pricing around events is anything but simple. In this session, you’ll learn a practical, proven approach to event-based pricing—blending real-time data, smart technology, and human judgment—to help you stay ahead of demand and price with confidence.

Cocktail
Reception

5:00PM-7:00PM

  • Hosted by Mark Lumpkin, STR Cribs

    Connect with fellow vacation rental owners, network with our local suppliers, and make the kind of connections that do not happen in breakout rooms. Enjoy light fare, good drinks, and even better conversation as we wind down and end the night on a high note.