From New Jersey to the World: How Mike’s Urban Stays Achieved $500K+ in Annual Revenue with Hostaway

Mike’s Urban Stays began in 2021, built from the ground up by civil engineer and real estate entrepreneur Mike Evangelis. It’s the result of his passion for real estate and hospitality, grounded in business fundamentals and a strong work ethic learned at his family’s local diner.

Today, Mike manages a growing portfolio of multifamily properties in Hudson County, New Jersey — just a quick ride from New York City — all of which he personally owns. His offerings include short-term vacation rentals for families seeking a convenient commute, as well as long-term housing options that blend comfort, accessibility and affordability.

Mike’s Urban Stays at a Glance

• Founded: 2021

• Headquarters: Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

• Properties: 8

• 2024 revenue: $500,000+

• Locations: Hudson County, NJ

• Employees: 4 full-time staff and 6 cleaners

• Started with Hostaway: 2024

Delivering Value Through Thoughtful Hospitality

Mike’s Urban Stays positions itself as a “home away from home” in the heart of the city, offering spacious and stylish accommodations ranging from two to nine bedrooms. Centrally located near cultural and commercial hubs, each apartment includes modern amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, streaming platforms and fully-equipped kitchens.

Because Mike owns each property and personally oversees every aspect of property management, he ensures every guest enjoys a warm, responsive stay — while strictly adhering to local short-term rental ordinances and fully complying with city building codes covering electrical, plumbing and other essential systems. This commitment results in safe, professionally maintained accommodations that capture the authentic charm of New Jersey and offer convenient access to New York City.

The business prides itself on excellent customer service, striving to create memorable experiences for every guest. The team fosters personal connections, offers travel advice and recommendations and partners with local businesses to provide discounted services and experiences. This community-focused approach has earned Mike’s Urban Stays a loyal following and a strong local reputation.

The Turning Point: Scaling Challenges with a Small Team

As Mike’s Urban Stays grew, the team faced new challenges. With only a few full-time employees, managing bookings, guest communication, cleaning schedules and finances manually became unsustainable. What started as a hands-on passion project began to strain under disjointed tools and operational bottlenecks.

Why Mike Chose Hostaway

Searching for reliable property management software (PMS), Mike evaluated several platforms like iGMS. When he discovered Hostaway, he was convinced by positive industry reviews, robust integrations, an intuitive interface and smooth onboarding.

Switching to Hostaway was fast and seamless. The team fully boarded without disruption, immediately benefiting from time-saving automations and streamlined operations.

“Hostaway made the changeover simple. Everything clicked into place, and we could finally focus on growth instead of admin.”

How Hostaway Powers Mike’s Urban Stays

Since adopting Hostaway in early 2024, Mike’s Urban Stays has transformed its operations. Hostaway is now the operational core, significantly reducing admin hours through the unified inbox, calendar sync and payment integrations. This has freed the team to focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Revenue surpassed $500,000 annually for the first time, with over 3,400 nights booked in recent years — a milestone that paves the way for international expansion. 

Looking Ahead: Global Growth, Local Roots

With Hostaway at the center, Mike is now planning global expansion, starting with purchasing vacation homes in Greece to honor his heritage. He plans to acquire properties there and apply his operational model from New Jersey, offering guests a unique blend of American hospitality and Greek cultural authenticity.

As he continues his growth journey, Mike advises other property managers:

“Maintain unwavering quality, choose your tools and deploy your resources wisely, and never lose sight of your cultural heritage and community roots.”

Take the next step

Ready to elevate your property management business? Request a demo from Hostaway today and discover the growth and efficiency that Mike’s Urban Stays enjoys firsthand!