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.

Title graphic reading Guide to Vacation Rental Business, for hosts starting a rental business

How to Start a Vacation Rental Business: The Complete Guide

The concept of vacation rentals is not new, but the booking experience for both guests and hosts has changed ...

What Items to Provide for Your Vacation Rental Kitchen

What Items You Should Provide for Your Vacation Rental Kitchen

A TripAdvisor study found that 83% of travelers thought a kitchen was the most important travel accommodation. ...

Airbnb and Vrbo calendars synced with two iCal links

How to Sync Airbnb and Vrbo Calendars (2026)

A guest books your cabin on Vrbo at 9:00 in the morning. Airbnb won't see that booking until its next calendar check, ...

The Most Overlooked Costs in a Short-Term Rental Property

The most overlooked costs in a short-term rental property and how to plan for them

The old adage is true: Sometimes it takes money to make money.

7 Essential Amenities To Delight Your Short Term Rental Guests

7 Essential Amenities To Delight Your Short Term Rental Guests In 2024

Discover the top amenities to attract and satisfy short term rental guests in 2024.

The Differences between B&Bs and Vacation Rental Properties

The Differences between B&Bs and Vacation Rental Properties

Vacation rental properties are unique when compared to hotels. We know this is why the hotel industry is afraid of ...

Phone showing a rental listing with a grid of interior photos, beside the title Professional Photos for Boosting Bookings

Why Professional Photos Boost Bookings for Your Vacation Property

Why is it important to include pictures of your vacation rental? According to a study by FlipKey, “Travelers are 83% ...

5 Ways To Stop Vacation Rental Noise Complaints

5 Ways To Stop Vacation-Rental Noise Complaints Before They Happen

Along with vacation rental occupancy and booking volume, vacation-rental noise complaints are on the rise. But they ...

Keypad door lock illustration beside the title Tips for Log Cabin Owners

Marketing Tips for Log Cabin Owners

Log cabin rentals offer beautiful views and experiences. Yet vacation rental owners may have difficulty with developing ...

Airbnb Management Software Guide: Which Is Right For You

Why You Should Use Airbnb Management Software and Which Is Right For You? A Comprehensive Guide

On its face, it can seem like Airbnb is a comprehensive tool for short-term rental owners. It offers dynamic pricing, ...

Title graphic reading Identifying Location for Vacation Rental Property

How to Pick a Location for a Vacation Rental Property

With the increase in vacation rental popularity, it is important to research the area you plan to buy in. Your vacation ...

Title graphic reading Vacation Rental Property Turnover, for tips on faster turnovers between guests

How to Turnover Your Vacation Rental Property

A fast turnover rate is valuable because more bookings equals more money. As a vacation rental owner, you want to ...

Host's own booking site fed by Google Vacation Rentals, local search, email and local partners

How to Get More Direct Bookings for Your Vacation Rental (2026)

Airbnb and Vrbo are good at finding you guests. The catch is that every booking comes with a platform fee: most US ...

Keypad door lock illustration beside the title Benefits of Third-Party Cleaning Services

The Benefits of Hiring a Third-Party Cleaning Service

How does a third-party cleaning service benefit vacation rental owners? If you’ve ever considered booking a vacation ...