Is Your Company Ready to be Acquired?
The Exit Door is designed to help short-term rental property managers prepare to be acquired.
Learn how to value your business, hear first-hand experiences from those who have sold, find out what buyers are looking for, discover the opportunities in mergers and prepare your business to one day be successfully acquired.
Why attend
If you are a short-term rental operator who is considering an exit one day, this is an essential and low-cost event for you.
What to expect
Over the course of 2 hours, attendees will learn the following:
1. First-hand stories from operators about their experience of selling their rental company
2. What buyers are looking for when acquiring an STR business
3. How to realistically value your property management company
4. Explore how mergers work
5. How to prepare your business for a potential sale
Eligibility Requirements
Professional Property Management Companies with 50+ Units
Confirmed Speakers
Day 1
October 23, 2026
The 25% Accounting Tweak: How One Property Manager Sold His Business on His Own Terms
In 2023, short-term rental veteran Simon Tolson successfully exited his luxury holiday-let agency in Sandbanks. However the path he took defied standard industry practice.
Instead of using a broker, Simon identified his own buyer and engineered a smooth, drama-free closing by using transparency from day one.
More importantly, one single, unassuming structural change to his accounting layout prior to the sale boosted his final exit valuation by 25%.
In this session, Simon pulls back the curtain on the mechanics of a lucrative, self-directed exit.
What You’ll Learn:
-
The 25% Lever: The exact accounting structural change that completely reframed the value of his business to buyers.
-
The No-Broker Blueprint: How to privately target potential investors yourself and keep absolute control of the process.
-
Flipping the Script on Delays: How to use inevitable due diligence bottlenecks to your legal and financial advantage, rather than letting them wear you down.
Speakers
The Anatomy of an Acquisition: Values, Volume and the Value of Direct Bookings
Growth is great, but sustainable, high-margin growth is what catches the eye of major industry players. When Island Escapes joined Sapphire Holidays in 2025, it wasn’t just a numbers game. It was a masterclass in strategic alignment. Founder John Keggin explores the journey from managing 150+ properties to transitioning into his role as Commercial Director at Sapphire. He will share firsthand insights into how a shared corporate ethos and a powerful direct-booking engine created the perfect recipe for a successful, high-value acquisition.
Speakers
Beyond the Buyout: How GuestReady Supercharges Local Brands Post-Acquisition
When GuestReady acquired Lightbooking in early 2026, it wasn’t just looking to add 200+ units to its portfolio. It was looking to build upon a successful model. True scale in property management isn’t about replacing local expertise; it’s about empowering it. This session explores GuestReady’s blueprint for collaborative acquisition: combining hyper-local property management with centralised tech and human resources. Discover how a global player and a regional leader work side-by-side to turn successful local brands into dominant market forces.
Speakers
What Is Your STR Business Actually Worth in 2026?
Are you assuming your company worth?
Don’t guess.
Learn the essential factors that will fundamentally increase the value of your short-term rental business.
Speakers
Huddles
Short roundtable sessions where attendees can discuss problems with each other alongside industry expert and share solutions relating to the ultimate goal of selling their STR business.
The Value of Mergers
More to be announced
Tickets Options
49€.
Property Managers
Max 100 seats available.
(Strictly only for existing SCALE Fest ticket holders)