Featuring Sean Breuner, Founder & CEO of AvantStay
The lines between hotels and vacation rentals are blurring and in this episode of Behind the Seams, Jeff sits down with Sean Breuner, Founder and CEO of AvantStay, to explore how luxury short-term rentals are raising the bar for guest experience, operational consistency, and supply chain strategy.
With more than 2,600 luxury homes across 46 markets and 160 cities, AvantStay has built one of the largest and highest-rated vacation rental platforms in the U.S. Their mission is simple but ambitious: bring everything guests love about hotels into private homes.
The Evolution of Guest Experience in Short-Term Rentals
Guest experience has always been important in hospitality but in the short-term rental space, it’s significantly more complex. Unlike hotels, vacation rental operators must balance the needs of:
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Guests
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Homeowners and institutional investors
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Local communities and municipalities
Sean explains that success comes from delivering an experience that satisfies all stakeholders. When done right, elevated guest experience leads to better reviews, repeat bookings, and stronger returns for homeowners.
AvantStay’s focus on hotel-level comfort, service, and consistency has helped them achieve an industry-leading 4.84 average rating across more than 150,000 five-star reviews.
Technology as the Backbone of Scalable Hospitality
Operating thousands of homes across dozens of markets requires a fundamentally different operating model than traditional hotels. With no front desk and no centralized staff, technology enables horizontal operations to function seamlessly.
From guest communication and concierge services to homeowner reporting and performance transparency, AvantStay leverages:
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Automation and AI-enabled tools
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Centralized operational systems
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Market-level teams supported by national infrastructure
The result is a model that delivers local hospitality with institutional-grade execution.
Consistency Meets Differentiation: The Importance of Standards
One of the biggest challenges in luxury vacation rentals is balancing brand consistency with the uniqueness of each home. According to Sean, scaling successfully requires clear non-negotiables.
For AvantStay, those include:
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Thoughtful property selection aligned with brand standards
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Consistent quality across OS&E and FF&E
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Reliable, scalable vendor partnerships
While every home is different, guests should expect the same level of comfort, cleanliness, and quality, no matter the destination.
Why Linens, Pillows, and Textiles Matter More Than You Think
Sean openly describes himself as a pillow and linen connoisseur and for good reason. In both hotels and vacation rentals, sleep quality and bath experience are among the most memorable aspects of a stay.
Guests may forget décor details, but they remember:
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How the bed felt
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The softness of the towels
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The overall sense of comfort
That’s why AvantStay relies on standardized, high-quality hospitality textiles that perform across thousands of stays and repeated laundering cycles. Centralizing linen and OS&E sourcing ensures consistency, cost control, and operational efficiency as new properties are onboarded.
For growing hospitality operators, graduating from ad-hoc purchasing to a national textile partner is a key step toward scalability.
The Role of Strategic Supply Chain Partnerships
As AvantStay scaled, Sean noted an important lesson: trying to manage everything internally isn’t sustainable. Early attempts to centralize warehousing and procurement proved inefficient in fast-growing markets.
Instead, partnering with experienced, hospitality-focused suppliers allows operators to:
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Maintain inventory availability
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Navigate global supply chain disruptions
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Avoid onboarding delays
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Focus on core guest experience
The right partners act as an extension of the brand—supporting growth while reducing risk.
What’s Next: Innovation, Membership, and Elevated Amenities
Looking ahead, Sean sees innovation as the differentiator between companies that survive and those that lead. As the vacation rental industry matures, scale enables new opportunities, including exclusive guest perks, curated amenities, and membership-based programs.
From stocked refrigerators and private chefs to event-driven experiences, the future of luxury short-term rentals is about delivering more than just a place to stay.
The Takeaway
Whether in hotels or vacation rentals, hospitality success comes down to a few fundamentals:
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Exceptional guest experience
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Consistent quality and comfort
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Scalable operations
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Trusted vendor partnerships
As the vacation rental industry continues to professionalize, operators like AvantStay are proving that hotel-level standards belong in every stay even in a private home.
At George Courey Inc., we’re proud to support hospitality innovators with commercial-grade linens and textile solutions designed for durability, comfort, and scale because behind every great stay is a supply chain that works.
Listen to the full episode of Behind the Seams featuring Sean Breuner
👉 Watch on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/92QNykaD2E8?si=vg-csro_myby0YFg
