The Boostly Podcast: How to Win Corporate & Insurance Housing Contracts with Ruben Kanya

Host: Mark Simpson
Guest: Ruben Kanya
Date: September 14, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Boostly Podcast is a masterclass in breaking free from OTA (Online Travel Agency) dependency and unlocking lucrative corporate and insurance housing contracts. Host Mark Simpson welcomes Ruben Kanya, co-founder of Invested Escapes and a digital marketing expert, who reveals a strategic roadmap for short-term and mid-term rental property owners to secure stable, high-value business-to-business (B2B) bookings. The session combines actionable advice, tactical marketing strategies, data-driven insights, and engaging Q&A, empowering listeners to position their rental properties for long-term, profitable partnerships with relocation and insurance companies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ruben’s Journey & The Shift to B2B (04:23–07:49)

• Background: Like many hosts, Ruben and his wife started with remote short-term rentals, lacking capital for extravagant amenities.
• The Discovery: Inspired by other hosts’ results, Ruben asked, “How could we get similar results with what we have?”
• Key Pivot: Transitioned from B2C short-term stays to B2B corporate and insurance bookings:

  “Follow the money… it was just our positioning that changed.” – Ruben (04:23)

• Results: Same properties, vastly increased revenue by targeting corporations and insurance agencies.

2. The Power of Niching Down in Mid-Term Rentals (MTR) (07:49–09:38)

• Host’s Observation: Mark connects Ruben’s journey to other industry voices spotlighted during the week—each found success by choosing and owning a niche (e.g., contractors, medical workers, insurance).
• Collaboration Over Competition:

  “When you flip from B2C to B2B… your network is everything. Collaboration is key.” – Mark (08:27)

3. Ruben’s Strategic Roadmap: Visibility, Searchability, Collaboration (09:54–11:39)

• Three Pillars:
  1. Visibility – Be consistently available by leveraging platforms with existing traffic.
  2. Searchability – Optimize listings and branding for corporate and insurance searches.
  3. Collaboration – Build relationships not only with “Tier 1” corporations but also “Tier 2” up-and-coming operators for mutual long-term wins.

4. Mindset, Skillset, Toolset: The Essential Asset for Growth (14:59–18:25)

• Dr. Myron Golden’s Model:
  • Mindset: Believe in what’s possible by learning from those with proof of concept.
  • Skillset: The ability to spot opportunities and adapt strategies.
  • Toolset: Leveraging digital marketing, platforms like Airbnb, and AI-driven tools.
• Key Quote:

  “It doesn’t serve you any value if I give you a blueprint and you don’t believe it will work.” – Ruben (15:10)

5. Data-Driven Opportunity: Insurance & Relocation Housing by the Numbers (19:00–24:15)

• Insurance Housing Market: $7.2 billion annual spend in the US (21:14)
• Average Stay: 74 days, 1.4 million annual placements—a massive, stable market.
• Global Application: Hosts outside the US can use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to identify local equivalents and opportunities.

6. Why Focus on Relocation Companies? (25:29–30:36)

• Stability: Long-standing relocation companies (ALA Solutions, Alacrity, CRS) are not a fad—established since the ‘90s/2000s.
• Niche Advantage: Single-family homes are rare in the corporate market, allowing higher pricing due to scarcity.
• Data Insight:

  “If you have a home, you are able to offer a product that becomes scarce…you can charge more for it.” – Ruben (27:03)

7. The Asset Mix: Size Matters (32:11–32:39)

• Sweet Spot: 4-6 bedroom homes outpace single and two-bed units in revenue and demand.
• Functional Space: Larger homes appeal to contractor teams, families, or groups needing extended stays—confirmed by industry data and seasoned operators like Ryan Luke and Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh.

8. Marketing: Speak Your Client’s Language (37:05–39:22)

• Use the Right Keywords: Prospective clients don’t search for “mid-term rentals”—they use:
  • “Monthly rentals” (massive Google trend)
  • “Corporate housing”
  • “Temporary housing”
  • “Flexible stays,” “pet friendly,” etc.
• Direct Messaging:

  “The most effective [ads] are the ones that are direct…tell them what you can do for them.” – Ruben (39:00)

9. Tactical Gem: The Duplicate Listing Method for Maximum Availability (45:11–54:51)

• Strategy: Maintain two Airbnb accounts for every property:
  • STR Account: Short-term, instant bookings (vacationers, high activity periods).
  • MTR Account: Always-open, inquiry-based (“ad-style”) listing designed for long-term corporate/insurance stays.
• Key Operational Tactic:
  • Keep the MTR calendar wide open, no instant book, serve as a “magnet” for inquiries.
  • Use different photos, branding, and copy tailored for business/relocation audiences.
• Notable Quote:

  “You want to make yourself easy to do business with…be open for business all year long.” – Ruben (50:14)

• Practical Q&A:
  • Set longer minimum stays (e.g., 30 nights)—but adjust based on current occupancy and demand.
  • Use different accounts and photo sets to avoid Airbnb’s duplicate listing detection algorithms.

10. “Billboarding” Your Brand for Searchability (55:02–57:39)

• Set Up Google Business Page:
  • Free, adds professional credibility, allows relocation companies to find you directly.
  • Include business name everywhere (“digital footprints”).
• In-Listing Contact Info:
  • Subtly embed your logo, contact info, or website in listing images deep in the photo sequence.
  • “Never ask for permission—beg for forgiveness,” if Airbnb flags the info later.

11. Pricing & Negotiation for Monthly Stays (62:01–64:53)

• Data-first Approach:
  • Compare similar listings on Airbnb/Furnished Finder.
  • In insurance relocation, calculate off the “loss of use” budget (typically 25% of home value divided by 12).
• Be Confident & Flexible:

  “At the end of the day, you’re a business…you got to know what numbers will make you most profitable.” – Ruben (62:01)

12. How to Build Teams for Remote (Long Distance) MTRs (65:13–67:06)

• Critical Supports: Local cleaners, handyman, agents (“door openers”), quality assurance person, and neighbor allies.

13. Handling Airbnb Bookings and Cancellations (74:49–79:00)

• Avoid Penalties:
  • Never cancel bookings as host; educate and encourage the guest to cancel by providing alternate options.
  • Proactively restrict advance STR bookings to avoid conflicts (e.g., 30-day rolling booking window).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change…and you might be sitting on a gold mine.” – Ruben (04:23)
• “If they don’t know you, they can’t flow you.” – Ruben (10:47)
• “Branding is your defense; marketing is your offense—defense wins championships.” – Ruben (11:39)
• “Relocation is everywhere. People need to relocate all the time for different reasons.” – Ruben (32:11)
• “You’re treating your MTR listing like an ad…it’s a billboard for your brand and business.” – Mark (73:25)
• “Don’t get overwhelmed and not take any action. Take one little tidbit…implement. That will change the game for you.” – Ruben (86:03)

Actionable Takeaways

• Set up two separate Airbnb accounts (STR & MTR) for each property.
• Build a Google Business listing for your company—be easy to find.
• Optimize your listings with keywords B2B clients search for (“monthly rental,” “corporate housing,” “temporary housing”).
• Tailor your photo and description strategy for each target audience.
• Leverage AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to research your local market’s needs and language.
• Build relationships with local teams and Tier 2 operators for remote management and scalability.
• Don’t be scared of cancellations—manage them proactively, providing guests with alternatives and using personalized outreach.
• Niche down on asset type (4–6 bedroom homes are currently the “sweet spot”).
• Take small, concrete actions every week (“win the week”).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:23 – Ruben’s journey and pivot to B2B insurance/corporate housing
• 07:49 – The importance of niching down in MTR
• 09:54 – Three-pillar roadmap: Visibility, Searchability, Collaboration
• 19:00 – US insurance housing market data and global applicability
• 27:03 – Corporate asset mix: why single-family homes win
• 37:05 – Marketing for B2B: keywords and brand positioning
• 45:11 – Duplicate listing method on Airbnb for maximum exposure
• 55:02 – Google Business and “billboarding” your brand
• 62:01 – Pricing strategies for monthly/insurance stays
• 65:13 – Building remote teams for distant MTRs
• 74:49 – Handling overbooking and cancellations smartly
• 86:03 – Ruben’s closing words: take small, consistent action

Further Resources

• Ruben’s Blueprint: experimentrealestate.com/mtr
• Instagram: @rubenkanya_

Final Note

This episode delivers a goldmine of practical tactics and mindset shifts for any host ready to move beyond the unpredictability of OTA bookings. By combining smart marketing, operational strategy, and a collaborative spirit, hosts can access stable, high-profit B2B contracts—no matter their starting point or location.