Guesty recently announced the appointment of David Aber as Chief Financial Officer, pushing forth the travel and hospitality tech company’s continued global expansion as it enters its next phase of growth into new markets, verticals, and business offerings as the property technology industry continues to evolve and converge.
Aber arrives at Guesty from his previous role as CFO of Seeking Alpha, the world’s largest investing community, and he formerly served as CFO for top Israeli tech companies, including Taboola, Powermat, Finjan, and DSP Communications.
Amiad Soto, Guesty’s Co-Founder and CEO, offered the following statement about Aber’s appointment as CFO: “David is considered one of the leading CFOs in the Israeli tech scene, and we are delighted to have him join the team. With over 30 years of experience in the technology and communication industries at high-growth and publicly traded companies, David’s track record of success managing complex organizations and business models across various sectors makes him a perfect fit for Guesty as we enter our next phase of growth.”
“As the lines between traditional hospitality and short-term rentals continue to blur, Guesty’s software and platform offer best-in-class management tools for everyone from casual hosts to professional property managers, independent boutique hotels, and enterprise clients. It’s an exciting time, and I look forward to working with this world-class team to further accelerate Guesty’s growth and potential,” Aber said.
Initially established in 2013, Guesty has grown to be the leading property management platform powering the short-term, vacation rental, and hospitality industry, with the largest R&D team in the industry.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, the company has nearly doubled its size, scaling to over 500 employees across 13 global offices as its technology continues empowering the next generation of travel and hospitality industry professionals.
Alternative accommodation went mainstream during the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming the preferred accommodation choice of travelers for the safety, space, comfort, variety, and convenience they provide. The rise of remote and hybrid-work models has made short-term hospitality brands relevant for digital nomads, business travelers, families, and other personas seeking flexibility and new types of experiences that combine business and leisure.
Guesty’s open API technology allows third-party integrations with more than 130 partners on the Guesty Marketplace, covering everything from dynamic pricing tools, to payment processing, contactless check-in technology, digital concierge services, and customer upsells. The company launched vertical expansions into Damage Protection by Guesty and Accounting by Guesty, and they relaunched Your Porter App as Guesty For Hosts, a mobile-first platform serving self-starters, smaller property managers, and owners operating 1-3 rentals.
Ms. Nota,
I just read your article and found it to be interesting.
My name is Steve Conrad. I am 75 years old. I am married. I am a former bodily injury insurance adjuster, a former state probation officer and prison superintendent. In 1997, I retired from the United States Probation Department. Prior to my retirement I was in charge of field supervision for most of a 24 county federal judicial district. I was then a college department head at a community college. Later I ran two high end quail hunting resorts in Texas and Florida. I also did security and safety, marketing and trip planning for RV resorts in several states.
My wife is 74 and is a retired registered nurse. I am writing you about a recent experience that involves the NC Vacation Rental Act.
On May 21, 2022 my wife and I began a one week stay in $3+ million rental house on the Outerbanks. We invited 9 guests. Our guests’ ages ranged from 24 to 75. Besides my wife, one is also a retired nurse, two guests are active real estate agents, one is a recently retired state court judge, one is an airline captain and one is a recently retired safety/loss prevention specialist.
From literally the minute we used the entry code to unlock the door there were issues, most related to “fit and safe” hazards. One might argue that some posed a serious threat to life and limb.
Almost daily, as we discovered each safety issue that a reasonable person would consider to be hazardous, we contacted the rental agent and within 24 hours a maintenance man responded and either immediately made an onsite repair or in three instances he removed the object that presented the danger of bodily injury. The two or three issues that presented the greatest threat were not totally addressed during our 7 days stay and we departed with those issues left unresolved.
Once home, I called and emailed the rental office manager and repeatedly asked in voice and email for the owner of the rental company to contact me by phone after reviewing my written concerns and looking at numerous photos as I had done during our week at the property.
The realty owner did not contact me. Finally an office assistant patched me through to him and we had had a 7 minute+- conversation on June 10. The realty company owner said he was unaware of the many issues and said he would read my emails and then meet with his office manager as well as the maintenance man and cleaning crew leader and then be back in touch.
I was limited to sending five photos in an email so I called back and got his cellphone number from a staff member who assured me that I could text and send unlimited photos to him. So I did just that.
I waited till the morning of June 17 and left a message for the realty owner to call me back. Mid afternoon when the realty owner did not return my call, I called the owner of the LLC that owned the oceanfront house.
The property owner, too, was not aware of the serious issues. When I listed them one by one, including a minor injury and a possible toxic mold concern in the living room, the owner stated that he felt like I was lecturing him, did consider my safety concerns worthy enough to bother the realty owner who managed his property, and voiced only his concern was that two pieces of furniture had been removed by the maintenance man. The owner said he had been to the house in March, made some repairs and when he left the two problem pieces of furniture were fine.
So, at some point, I emailed both of them and included more photos. When neither called back, on June 21, I contacted the county code enforcement officer and notified the property owner and realty owner that I had talked with the code enforcement officer and a referral had been made to a building inspector who would look at the two or three of the most serious issues.
The realty owner finally called me on June 22 and at some point he had also emailed me, asked what I wanted (as in money), and said the major issues would not been worked on till after the (peak rental) season.
The issues were inspected on June 22. I had asked for a report of findings and recommended or ordered action(s) for addressing the serious issues.
When I learned the inspector had gone out of town for four days, I called the chief building inspector. He said he had been made familiar with the issues and that he would be back in touch after his inspector finished he report with findings and actions to be taken.
I asked about the issues that were not building code violations and he referred me to the NC Vacation Rental Act. After I read it I found your article. I also shared photos with two licensed building contractors and a licensed home inspector. All agreed that my concerns were serious.
When the realty owner and I talked he advised me that he knew someone above the code enforcement officer and if I went to the N C Real Estate Commission he knew a person he named that worked there.
The owner of the home, a lawyer, emailed me and said I had better be careful for there were inconsistencies in my emails. The realty emailed me and offered my wife $500 from him and $500 from the property owner. In our second conversation and in an early email he asked what I wanted and I said fix the issues immediately.
When pressed on anything, indicating refund, I said for starters due the lack of response and concern,and the serious threat their combined lack of attention and repair, a complete refund to my wife was justified. During the one conversation with the property owner and the two conversations with the reality owner I told them I had a more serious injury due to negligence on both their part; my hazardous duty related PTSD was triggered over and over. In his last email, he said my requests were something to the effect of ridiculous or outrageous.
So, would you like to discuss this matter further? I have talked informally with the NC Real Estate Commission Complaint Office but I have not filed a complaint there or with the Better Business Bureau or NC Attorney General’s Office Complaint Department.
I have returned to treatment for my PTSD and it was recommended I contact someone like you as I would prefer, at this time, not to pursue legal action. In 2013 I was seriously injured in recreational vehicle that had product defects and reluctantly took legal action when the manufacturer failed to hear me and resolve the issue timely and fairly.
You may reach me at 336-314-4010. I look forward to talking with you. PLEASE COPY THIS DOCUMENT and emailed it to me for my record.
Thank you. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Steve
Steve Conrad
Lexington, NC