Growth solves all problems. It's a simple truth that gets lost in the day-to-day grind of managing properties.
Below-the-line activities focus on cost optimization. This includes finding cheaper suppliers for linens, hiring more efficient virtual assistants, or streamlining turnover processes. These efforts make your operations leaner and more cost-effective, but they don't expand the size of your business.
Above-the-line activities are everything related to revenue growth. Marketing to past guests, improving your website's conversion rate, filling empty nights on your calendar, training your team to upsell. These activities increase the value of each reservation and ensure that fewer nights go unbooked.
Businesses that can't grow tend to stagnate or decline. Growth means you have a product people want, a vision for the future, and the resources to solve problems as they arise. The more revenue you generate, the more you can invest in better systems, better people, and better guest experiences. It's a self-reinforcing cycle.
Efficiency will always be a challenge. No business is ever fully optimized. But if you're growing, operational inefficiencies become manageable problems rather than existential threats. You can afford consultants, better software, integration partners. You can pay competitive wages and build a stronger team. Everything follows growth.
Many STR operators focus heavily on below-the-line efficiencies because they don't know what levers to pull for above-the-line growth beyond optimizing listings or adding expensive amenities. But the real opportunity lies in marketing, guest retention, and direct booking strategies. These are the areas where automation can have the most transformative impact.
For a deeper look at how to prioritize growth over efficiency, read our full guide on what it takes to automate your STR business
Topics: question=Why is above-the-line growth more important than below-the-line efficiency in short-term rentals? • intent=business strategy