In an industry where technology partnerships can make or break operational efficiency, the approach to building a vendor ecosystem matters more than ever. Mike Norde, Director of Third-Party Partnerships at Inhabit and leader of the vacation brands division, brings a unique perspective shaped by years of experience at Streamline and a deep understanding of what makes technology partnerships truly sustainable.
Mike’s journey through multiple leadership roles has given him insight into the delicate balance between openness and sustainability, innovation and stability. At Inhabit, he oversees a partner ecosystem that serves thousands of property managers across North America and beyond, working daily to ensure that the right technology solutions connect seamlessly with property management operations.
WATCH HIS EPISODE ON THE VACATION RENTAL SHOW
The Open Ecosystem Philosophy
“We do have an open ecosystem. We love having competitors in our ecosystem. It’s really the innovation between the partners in those sectors that push each other, they drive each other.”
The concept of welcoming competitors into your ecosystem might seem counterintuitive, but Mike explains why it’s actually a cornerstone of sustainable growth. When multiple solutions exist within the same category, they push each other to innovate faster and serve property managers better. This competitive innovation benefits everyone because it ensures that property managers have choices that fit their specific use cases and operational preferences.
Mike emphasizes that Streamline’s approach allows property managers to build their tech stack however they want. Some rely primarily on core Streamline functionality, while others need additional partners to complete their operations. This flexibility recognizes that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in property management. A 50-unit vacation rental company in the mountains has different needs than a 500-unit urban residential operation, and the ecosystem must accommodate both.
The key word Mike uses to describe their partner ecosystem is sustainable. They don’t partner with anyone and everyone who approaches them. Instead, they take a thoughtful, measured approach to vetting potential partners, ensuring that each addition to the ecosystem brings lasting value rather than short-term excitement. This strategy protects not only Inhabit but also property managers from the frustration of adopting solutions that disappear or fail to deliver.
The Human BS Detector Approach
“I’m a human BS detector, so I think I can weed them out on my own.”
With countless vendors approaching Streamline with the next revolutionary solution, Mike has developed what he calls his human BS detector. Drawing on his background in video production, where people constantly pitched ideas they wanted produced for free, he’s learned to recognize red flags quickly. Vendors who exaggerate capabilities, use excessive blue sky terminology, or can’t articulate clear value propositions raise immediate concerns.
Mike’s approach isn’t about being cynical but about being realistic. He looks for proof of concept before bringing vendors into the Streamline ecosystem. Unlike some platforms that become early adopters of every new technology, Streamline often waits to see how solutions perform with smaller property management systems first. Once vendors prove they can deliver consistent value and handle growth, then Streamline gets interested in deeper partnership discussions.
This vetting process includes looking at the fundamentals of the business beyond just the technology. Does the vendor have a viable business model? Can they scale without compromising service quality? Do they have the team and infrastructure to support property managers long-term? These questions matter because Inhabit treats partnerships as long-term commitments, not transactional experiments that burden their support team and frustrate property managers.
API Strategy and Sustainable Access
“If someone wants to access their own API, there’s almost no cases where we would block that.”
When it comes to API access, Inhabit takes a nuanced approach that balances openness with sustainability. If a property manager wants to bring in a specific partner and needs API access for their own account, Streamline enables it without hesitation. The goal is to give individual property managers maximum flexibility to build the solutions they need.
However, when vendors want to connect to multiple property managers across the platform, that’s when commercial partnership discussions become necessary. Mike points out that he’s seen competitors open their ecosystems so widely that partners stop getting value because the platform spreads itself too thin. Support becomes impossible to maintain, infrastructure slows down, and ultimately both property managers and vendors suffer.
Inhabit’s infrastructure prioritizes speed and near-immediate data display. Mike witnessed early property management systems that overextended their APIs, making it difficult for anyone to get data efficiently. By maintaining appropriate controls on commercial partnerships, Streamline ensures their support team can actually help people, their servers remain fast, and their partners can build successful businesses on the platform. It’s a strategic decision that values quality over quantity in the partner ecosystem.
Watching Businesses Grow
“I go back to some pretty early days in Streamline. I saw some of these partners like Pricelabs, Lynx. They just had a couple of employees showing up to the conference, and then over time you see them build these huge businesses servicing tens and even hundreds of thousands of units.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of Mike’s role has been watching partner companies grow from small startups into major industry players. He remembers attending the second Streamline Summit and meeting vendors who were just getting started, with only a few employees and big dreams. Years later, those same companies now service hundreds of thousands of units and employ substantial teams.
Being part of these growth stories drives Mike’s daily work. The relationships he’s built with partners over the years go beyond transactional business dealings. He talks with them about their journeys, their challenges, and their successes. Some vendors have explicitly said they built their entire business on the Streamline platform, and Mike takes that responsibility seriously.
This long-term perspective shapes how Inhabit approaches new partnerships. They’re not just looking for solutions that work today but partners who can grow alongside the platform for years to come. When a vendor succeeds within the ecosystem, it creates value for property managers, strengthens the overall platform, and validates the sustainable approach to partnership development that Inhabit has cultivated.
Culture as Competitive Advantage
“Happy employees translates to happy property managers, happy customers, and that ultimately translates to happier guests.”
Mike traces the success of Inhabit’s ecosystem to something that goes deeper than technology or business strategy. The culture of having each other’s backs, of collaborative problem-solving, and of treating both partners and property managers like guests creates sustainable relationships that transcend transactional interactions. This culture starts at the top and permeates every level of the organization.
From his early days at Streamline, Mike experienced a culture where when someone was down, someone else picked them up. The phrase “I have your back” wasn’t just corporate speak but a genuine operating principle. In an industry where people often get thrown into the deep end and have to learn by swimming, having that support system makes the difference between thriving and barely surviving.
This collaborative culture extends to how Inhabit handles problems with partners. Mike describes the approach as organic, focused on solving problems rather than assigning blame. When something goes wrong between a partner solution and Streamline, the goal is to fix it together without losing the property manager in the process. They take ownership of problems even when they’re not entirely at fault because ultimately the property manager’s experience with both platforms matters most.
The No-Blame Partnership Model
“We’re here to solve problems. We’re not here to blame people. We just have to get it right.”
In an industry where finger-pointing between vendors can damage relationships and frustrate property managers, Inhabit has built a different model. Mike emphasizes that when issues arise, the focus immediately shifts to resolution rather than blame assignment. They don’t want to lose property managers because they’re blaming a partner, and they expect partners to take the same approach.
This philosophy extends to treating partners with the same hospitality mindset that property managers use with guests. After all, this is the hospitality industry at its core. When something goes wrong, Inhabit takes ownership of the problem and works to solve it collaboratively. That doesn’t mean rolling over or accepting fault when it’s not warranted, but it does mean prioritizing the property manager’s experience above all else.
Mike notes that this approach is what makes relationships last. When partnerships become purely transactional, particularly in hospitality, they die. The relationships built on mutual respect, collaborative problem-solving, and shared commitment to property manager success are what separate Inhabit from competitors and what keep both leadership and partners engaged for the long term.
The Crystal Ball on Tech Consolidation
“I expected the partnerships and integrations to become more consolidated. And especially in the guest space, it’s actually become more fragmented.”
Looking ahead, Mike admits that some of his predictions from three years ago haven’t materialized as quickly as expected. He thought the market would consolidate more by now, but instead it’s become more fragmented, especially in guest-facing technology. However, he still predicts significant consolidation in the next three years, and he believes it will benefit property managers substantially.
The current landscape includes many technology offerings with overlapping features, which increases costs for property managers without necessarily adding value. As these solutions start to synergize and consolidate, Mike expects both costs to decrease and efficiency to increase. The headaches that property managers currently face managing multiple integrations should diminish as the market matures.
This prediction reflects Mike’s broader philosophy about sustainable growth. Just as Inhabit doesn’t add partners indiscriminately, the overall market needs to consolidate around solutions that deliver real value rather than marginal improvements. Property managers will benefit from having fewer, better-integrated solutions that work seamlessly together rather than dozens of point solutions that create integration nightmares.
Advice for Navigating the Industry
“Just embrace the challenge and surf the chaos.”
Mike’s parting advice to both property managers and vendors reflects his personality and his experience in the industry. Even in frustrating moments, he finds the challenges fun, like solving puzzles or navigating complex problems. He encourages people entering the industry to embrace that mindset because those who survive and thrive already understand this fundamental truth.
For property managers evaluating partnerships, Mike remains accessible for conversations about potential integrations or ideas for solutions that might not exist yet. He’s open to discovery calls with vendors, even if they’re not ready for the Streamline ecosystem yet, because he has FOMO about missing the next big thing. However, he promises honesty, he won’t rush vendors into partnerships they’re not ready for just to add another logo to the marketplace.
For vendors, Mike offers a clear path forward through Streamline’s partner application process, but he’s also willing to provide guidance on what they need to develop before they’re ready. All the steps in the partnership process exist to protect Inhabit, property managers, and the vendors themselves. Taking time to build sustainable partnerships benefits everyone in the ecosystem.
Building for the Long Term
The conversation with Mike reveals a partnership philosophy built on sustainable growth, collaborative culture, and genuine hospitality. By welcoming competition, vetting partners thoughtfully, maintaining infrastructure integrity, and treating everyone like guests, Inhabit has created what Mike calls the most powerful ecosystem in the industry.
As artificial intelligence and automation continue to reshape property management technology, the principles Mike describes will remain relevant. The vendors that succeed will be those who can scale sustainably, support property managers effectively, and collaborate rather than compete destructively. The platforms that thrive will be those that maintain fast infrastructure, thoughtful partnership criteria, and cultures that put people first.
For property managers, the message is clear. You have choices in how you build your tech stack. Work with vendors and platforms that demonstrate commitment to long-term relationships, that solve problems collaboratively, and that prioritize your success above short-term gains. The future of vacation rental and residential property management depends on these sustainable partnerships.
To hear the full conversation between Lynell and Mike on The Vacation Rental Show, follow the links below: