Spencer and Ashley started investing in Airbnb in Niagara because they wanted more than two weeks of vacation a year. Today they own six short-term rentals, one long-term property, and a management company called Travel Lux with over 80 properties — all while traveling the world using credit card points.
In this episode they break down exactly how they research new markets, what amenities are actually moving the needle in 2026 (including the $80,000 pickleball court that added $10,000 in a single month), how to start a property management business from scratch with no clients, and how they've flown Emirates First Class and stayed at the St. Regis Maldives for a fraction of the cash cost.
If you're thinking about getting into short-term rentals, scaling what you already have, or building a business you can run from anywhere in the world — this one is packed.
In this episode:
— How Spencer & Ashley bought their first Airbnb BRRRR in Niagara and what it looks like today
— The exact framework Spencer uses to research any new Airbnb market
— Why they bought two properties in Ellicottville, NY sight unseen during COVID — and how they're performing today
— The $80k pickleball court that drove 20–50% revenue increases
— Is Airbnb actually dead? Their data-backed answer
— How to start a co-hosting business with no clients and near-zero overhead
— Why five managed properties could replace your nine-to-five income
— Travel hacking: Emirates First Class, Qatar Q Suites, and the Maldives — all on points
"We can choose anywhere in the world that we work." — Ashley
Find Spencer & Ashley:
Instagram: @spencerandashley
Timestamps:
00:00 — Introduction & how Spencer & Ashley got started
03:45 — Their first Airbnb BRRRR: St. Catharines, $310k, beach proximity
09:35 — Buying in Ellicottville, NY sight unseen during COVID
11:35 — How to research any Airbnb market in 2026 (AirDNA, BnbCalc, PriceLabs) 17:30 — What's working in Ellicottville today: $200k+ gross revenue properties 22:00 — What amenities actually drive revenue in 2026 25:00 — The pickleball court: $80k investment, $10k monthly lift, 20–50% revenue increase 35:28 — Best markets to invest in right now: Niagara & Kawartha Lakes 37:45 — Is Airbnb dead? Their answer (with data) 40:57 — How Travel Lux started (a Kijiji ad) and grew to 80 properties 45:35 — How to start a co-hosting business from scratch today 54:00 — What you actually keep from a 20% management fee (80–85% margins) 1:03:30 — Travel hacking: how it started and the first business class redemption 1:09:00 — The Emirates "Boomerang": $100k in flights for 300k points 1:14:30 — Qatar Q Suites and the best Aeroplan redemptions for Canadians 1:15:00 — The Maldives: St. Regis on Marriott points + Travel Zoo hack
