About Stay in Lakeland
Your Guide to
Lakeland, Florida
Stay in Lakeland was built on a simple belief: Lakeland deserves to be more than a stopover between Tampa and Orlando. It's a destination — and we're here to help travelers discover it and help local hosts thrive.
Who We Are
Stay in Lakeland is a vacation rental discovery platform, tourism publication, and guest services agency focused exclusively on Lakeland, Florida. Founded by Oscar Ibars, a Florida Licensed Realtor operating under David J. Realty Group, we help travelers find charming vacation rentals and help local Airbnb and VRBO hosts get more visibility and better reviews.
We curate the best vacation rentals in Lakeland from Airbnb, VRBO, and local hosts — and combine them with local guides, event calendars, restaurant recommendations, and insider tips that help visitors experience the real Lakeland. Our newsletter keeps travelers and locals connected to what's happening in the city.
For property owners, we offer guest services, local marketing, and concierge support that helps Airbnb hosts deliver a better guest experience — leading to better reviews, higher rankings, and more bookings. We're not a traditional property management company. Think of us as a guest services and marketing agency built specifically for Lakeland's short-term rental community.
Our Mission
"We want Lakeland to be recognized as a genuine vacation destination — not just a place people drive through on I-4. By connecting travelers with charming local stays and authentic experiences, and by helping local hosts deliver world-class hospitality, we're building something that's good for visitors, good for hosts, and good for Lakeland."
— Oscar Ibars, Founder
What We Do
For Visitors
We curate the best vacation rentals in Lakeland and provide local guides, event listings, and insider tips so you can experience the real Lakeland — not just the interstate.
For Property Owners
We help Lakeland Airbnb and VRBO hosts with guest services, local marketing, and concierge support — so your guests have an amazing experience and you get better reviews.
Tourism & Community
Our newsletter and content promote Lakeland's attractions, events, restaurants, and culture — helping grow tourism and support the local economy.
Licensed & Compliant
Oscar Ibars holds an active Florida Realtor license (FLR.276814403). Everything we do is legally compliant under Florida DBPR regulations.
Oscar Ibars
REALTOR®