511. Inside a 10,000-Square-Foot STR: Lessons from Andrew Llewellyn
Thanks For Visiting
Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian
4.9 • 589 Ratings
🗓️ 30 October 2025
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What does it take to turn a 10,000-square-foot building into a thriving short-term rental that can host up to 42 guests? For Andrew Llewellyn, the answer included grit, rejection, and relentless problem-solving.
In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with Andrew to hear how he went from running ice cream shops and a food truck to becoming a real estate developer along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. Andrew shares how he convinced a bank to back his vision (after 40 rejections), why he leans on parent-child listings to maximize occupancy, and the systems his team uses to pull off back-to-back turnovers for massive groups.
You’ll learn:
- How Andrew pivoted from muffins to multi-unit rentals during COVID.
- Why defining your ideal guest avatar matters for large group stays.
- How to set up parent-child listings that increase revenue and flexibility.
- What it takes to build cleaning systems that can handle 42-guest turnovers.
- Why direct bookings and SEO fuel long-term sustainability.
- Andrew’s hard-won advice for dealing with city regulations and securing financing.
This conversation is packed with inspiration and actionable strategies—whether you host a one-bedroom cottage or are dreaming about your own large-scale project.
Resources:
PriceLabs – Dynamic pricing software that automatically adjusts your rates based on real-time demand.
SuperStay STR – Andrew’s direct booking site for large group stays in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mentioned in this episode:
Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're listening to the Thanks for Visiting Podcast. |
| 0:07.9 | We believe hosting with Heart is at the core of every short-term rental. |
| 0:12.6 | With Annette's background in business operation. |
| 0:15.1 | And Sarah's extensive hospitality management and interior design experience, |
| 0:19.1 | we have welcomed thousands of guests from over 30 |
| 0:22.3 | countries earning us over a million dollars and garnering us thousands of five-star reviews. |
| 0:28.5 | We love sharing creative ways for your listing to stand out, serve your guests, and be profitable. |
| 0:35.0 | Each episode, we will have knowledgeable guests who bring value to the short-term rental industry. |
| 0:39.4 | Or we will share our stories of our own experiences so you can implement actual improvements to your rentals. |
| 0:46.2 | Whether you're experienced, new, or nervous to start your own short-term rental, we promise you'll feel right at home. |
| 0:54.5 | Before we dive into the content, let's hear a word from our sponsor. |
| 0:58.0 | You know how we're always on the hunt for awesome furniture, decor, and supplies for our short-term |
| 1:03.4 | rentals? We're going to let you in on our secret weapon, Manoan. They are a free platform for |
| 1:08.9 | hosts that offer steep discounts on over 150 top brands. |
| 1:12.6 | Think Wayfair, Article, Our House, Lisa, Parachute, California Design In, Public Goods, and Society 6. |
| 1:19.6 | Plus, the ability to centralize all ordering and reordering needs to make tracking and bookkeeping a breeze. |
| 1:25.6 | I had my eye on gorgeous linens from Parachute, |
| 1:29.1 | wanting to give our listing that wow factor with better quality that lasts, |
| 1:33.4 | and my Minoan discount actually made it more cost-effective over the long run |
| 1:38.0 | than the budget options requiring constant replacement. |
| 1:42.3 | Seeing the savings, I naturally had to order more. All I had to do |
| 1:46.6 | was head to their site, install their browser extension, which makes shopping so, so simple, |
... |
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