Phil Kennard

Phil Kennard

Phil Kennard is the founder and CEO of Futurestay, the platform built to help everyday short-term rental hosts run their businesses like the pros without having to become one. His own path into STR started the way a lot of people's did. After selling his first tech company in 2010, Phil bought "more apartment than he could afford" in New York City and started renting the loft on weekends to cover the gap. Along the way he realized every piece of software on the market was built for professional property managers, not the 95% of hosts like him with one or two units. So he teamed up with his friend Jonathan Fabio and built something different. Since then, Futurestay has helped tens of thousands of rentalpreneurs around the world, raised over $20M in venture funding, and formed partnerships with Google and Booking.com. The work has earned recognition from the VRMA, ARDA, Phocuswright, and Skift, and landed Phil on VR Tech's list of the most influential people in short-term rental. He wrote his first commercial software contract at 15, holds a degree in Psychology and Biology from the University of Virginia, and is relentless about one thing: giving anyone, anywhere a real shot at building a life they love through short-term rentals.

How Much is Airbnb Really Costing You? A Host’s Guide to Fees & Savings

How Much is Airbnb Really Costing You? A Host’s Guide to Fees & Savings

You were fully booked all peak season, but the payouts didn’t match. Airbnb’s layered fees chip away at every booking ...

Direct Booking Savings Calculator: Rental Fee Comparison

Direct Booking Savings Calculator: Rental Fee Comparison

A repeat guest emails you: “Is there a way to skip Airbnb next time? I hate what they charge.” You’ve been paying 15.5% ...

How All-In Pricing for Vacation Rental Makes Listings Look Cheaper

How All-In Pricing for Vacation Rental Makes Listings Look Cheaper

You set a fair nightly rate. But by checkout, your guests are seeing a number that’s $80 higher than they expected — ...

Airbnb 15.5% Host Fee: What Hosts Need to Know

Airbnb 15.5% Host Fee: What Hosts Need to Know

The Airbnb 15.5% host fee is a service charge deducted directly from a host’s payout on every booking. Effective ...

Airbnb Fees vs. Direct Booking Website Cost for Vacation Rentals

Airbnb Fees vs. Direct Booking Website Cost for Vacation Rentals

The economics of short-term rentals look very different in 2026. For most professional hosts using a PMS, Airbnb now ...

Flat Fee vs. Commission: Best Vacation Rental Software for 2026

Flat-Fee Vacation Rental Software vs Commission: Cost Comparison

You just had your best month yet. More bookings, higher rates, strong reviews. Then the payout lands, and a bigger ...

The 2026 Guide to Professionalizing Beyond Airbnb

Scale Your Vacation Rental Business: The 2026 Guide to Professionalizing Beyond Airbnb

You've mastered the art of Airbnb hosting, consistently earning stellar 4.9-star reviews and maintaining an impressive ...

How to Reduce Airbnb Fees: 5 Strategies to Increase Your STR Profit

How to Reduce Airbnb Fees: 5 Strategies to Increase Your STR Profit

As an independent short-term rental (STR) host with listings on online travel agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb, you may be ...

How to Maximize Vacation Rental Net Profit: Direct Booking vs. Airbnb

How to Maximize Vacation Rental Net Profit: Direct Booking vs. Airbnb

If you’re a new rentalpreneur or an aspiring short-term rental owner, to truly maximize vacation rental net profit, you ...

Google Vacation Rentals Listing Guide: Direct Bookings in 2026 | Futurestay

Google Vacation Rentals Listing Guide: Direct Bookings in 2026

This guide will walk you through the essential steps, ensuring your Google vacation rentals listing stands out in a ...

Dynamic Pricing for Vacation Rentals: The 2026 Guide to a 40% Revenue Boost

Dynamic Pricing for Vacation Rentals: 40% Revenue Boost (2026)

In an era where experience travel is growing 8% annually, and major events drive unpredictable demand spikes, vacation ...

Do I Need a PMS for Vacation Rentals?

Do I Need a PMS for Vacation Rental? (The 2026 "Stacked Fee" Guide)

Pressure and FOMO drives many short-term rental (STR) hosts to buy and adopt a property management system (PMS), often ...

Co-Hosting: How to Start Managing STRs Without Owning Property

Co-Hosting: How to Start Managing STRs Without Owning Property

The short-term rental (STR) industry has transformed dramatically over the past decade. What started as a way for ...

Should Your Rental Be Pet-Friendly?

Deciding whether to make your rental pet-friendly is a big decision. While it opens your property to a wider audience, ...

Leveraging Instagram To Market Your Property

Looking to boost your vacation rental bookings and reduce those hefty OTA commission fees? Instagram might just be your ...