Where I got a ton of value was from the individual 30-60 minutes "meetings" in the hotel coffee shop, lobby, or bar with other participants.

I need to replace that monthly income of $5200 a month, and I have ambitions to invest out of California and am looking at markets like vegas either short term rentals, codo hotel (very iffy on this), and Toledo, Ohio. 

Think a bit like a boutique hotel owner. 

Another benefit to doing this in a place where my family is though is that it is nice to go out there every once in a while and not have to factor in hotels/places to stay. 

Have them stay at a hotel for a month and get all the repairs done and then start fresh with a pretext of listing the unit to the public.

I won't be investing in the riskiest/most supportable asset subclasses such as hotels, and tilt my portfolio the ones that have historically been more stable such as multifamily and single-family housing.

Are there any Extended Stay type hotels in your area? 

(like ac or heat where you’d probably have to pay for a hotel.).

They don't stay in the Plaza hotel, house will never be perfect but also treat them well.

For example, Vermont's recently proposed a 10% surcharge specifically targeted to STRs and not hotels, while other proposals have sought an outright ban on non-occupied short term rentals.