The Future of Unique Stays: A Deep Dive with Ben Wolff

In this episode of the STR Data Lab, Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA, invites Ben Wolff, co-founder of Onera and Oasi. Ben traces his journey from starting Sensei, an early rental management company, to establishing his own unique vacation rental business. Inspired by his passion for real estate and technology, Ben ventured into the unique stays sector by creating Onera, a high-end treehouse retreat in Texas Hill Country that quickly gained success.

Onera cleverly blends the natural environment with luxury, offering an appealing alternative between rustic camping and top-tier hotels. This concept proved especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic as travelers sought unique outdoor experiences. Ben emphasizes the importance of creating memorable guest experiences to stay competitive in the unique stays market.

The success of Onera led to its acquisition by Summit, a public REIT, pushing Ben's team to elevate their operational and reporting standards. The acquisition also confirmed Onera’s leadership in the alternative hospitality sector. Ben’s next venture, Onera Wimberley, aims to expand on the luxury and group-friendly aspects, responding to increasing demand for high-end, nature-close accommodations.

Ben also discusses the role of social media in marketing, predicting that platforms like Instagram could become significant channels for booking unique stays. He outlines his strategies for content marketing and influencer collaborations to drive direct bookings. His company, Oasi, is heavily invested in digital marketing to fully leverage online platforms.

Wrapping up, Ben considers the potential for OTAs to integrate social features, like Expedia’s travel shops, as beneficial for widening distribution channels while keeping control over guest experiences through direct bookings.

You don’t want to miss this episode!

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Ben’s Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/

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Signup for AirDNA for FREE👇

https://app.airdna.co/data

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Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn and Twitter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane

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