STR Investing, The Podcast
Unlock financial freedom through short-term rental investing with hosts Mark Lumpkin and Taylor Jones. Each week, they sit down with the biggest names in the STR industry to uncover what’s working right now — from acquisitions and design to operations, marketing, and scaling portfolios.
Taylor has helped acquire and manage over 500+ STRs, while Mark brings years of hands-on experience transforming properties into high-performing investments.
Together, they break down real strategies, real numbers, and real stories that help investors grow smarter and faster.
Whether you’re buying your first Airbnb or expanding a multi-market portfolio, this show is your roadmap to building wealth and freedom through short-term rentals.
Subscribe and start turning your STR goals into results.
STR Investing, The Podcast
From Peru to 15 Million-Dollar Fund
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In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with George Salas, Founder of Empress Capital, to discuss what it really takes to build a scalable short-term rental business.
George shares his incredible journey from immigrating to the United States with almost nothing, to starting with rental arbitrage, surviving the challenges of COVID, and building a vertically integrated hospitality company focused on experiential short-term rentals, boutique hotels, and institutional-quality operations.
You'll learn:
- How to think beyond buying individual Airbnbs
- Why unit-level economics are critical for long-term success
- The systems and financial tracking every STR investor should have
- How George evaluates deals, manages seasonality, and scales operations
- Why execution—not just acquisitions—is the key to building enterprise value
- The mindset shifts that helped him grow from operator to CEO
Whether you're buying your first STR or building a large portfolio, this conversation is packed with practical insights on scaling smarter, operating more efficiently, and creating a business built to last.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another STR investor looking to take their business to the next level.
