What does it take to turn a small real estate side hustle into a global corporate housing empire? In this episode, we sit down with Gary Brown and his son Ken Brown of Furnished Quarters to explore their incredible journey from NYC real estate investors to international leaders in corporate housing. With roots in their family’s furniture business and a knack for strategic growth, this father-and-son duo has helped shape the company’s expansion from a few furnished apartments in Manhattan to a global portfolio of 1,000+ units. They break down how corporate housing fills a unique niche between hotels and Airbnb—offering professionals fully furnished apartments for 30 days or longer—and explain what truly sets their approach apart when it comes to design, guest experience, and client retention. From navigating post-COVID market shifts to scaling operations across continents, Gary and Ken share hard-earned insights that every entrepreneur in hospitality, real estate, or short-term rentals needs to hear. Whether you're new to the space or ready to scale, this episode is packed with lessons in adaptability, service, and smart growth. Things we discussed in this episode: Fully furnished apartments for 30+ day stays Furnished Quarters was founded in the 1980s by brothers Gary and Steve Brown This episode features Gary and his son, Ken Brown Rooted in real estate and family furniture expertise Serves corporate relocations, interns, and families in transition COVID-19 reshaped demand for space and flexibility Properties in business hubs and family-friendly neighborhoods 24/7 high-touch customer service and quick issue resolution Operates 1,000+ units across multiple countries Neutral, locally inspired interior design for broad appeal Keys to scaling: great people, flexibility, and consistent service Get in touch with Ken and Gary: Linkedin Ken - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-brown-89555035/ Linkedin Gary - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-brown-b324512/ Website - https://www.furnishedquarters.com/meet-the-team #SmartStayShow #realestate #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #RealEstateInvesting #HospitalityTrends #BusinessTravel #PropertyManagement #FurnishedQuarters #RealEstateStrategy #TravelAccommodations #EntrepreneurialJourney Follow Us! Join Jason Muth of Prideaway Stays and Straightforward Short-Term Rentals and Real Estate Attorney / Broker Rory Gill for the first episode of SmartStay Show! Following and subscribing to SmartStay Show not only ensures that you'll get instant updates whenever we release a new episode, but it also helps us reach more people who could benefit from the valuable content that we provide. SmartStay Show Website and on Instagram and YouTube Prideaway Stays Website and on Facebook and LinkedIn Straightforward Short-Term Rentals Website and on Instagram Attorney Rory Gill on LinkedIn Jason Muth on LinkedIn Hospitality.FM SmartStay Show is part of Hospitality.FM, a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry, from Food + Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, Real Estate Law, and so much more!
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Jul 8 202537 mins