Today's episode features Antonio Bortolotti, who runs the vacation Rental World Summit with his wife, Christina. It's become the preeminent event in Europe and the Middle East for vacation rental professionals. In this episode, Antonio and I recount this most extraordinary moment on stage at the end of the Vacation Rental World Summit in Barcelona just a couple weeks ago. We go through some of the sequences that neither of us could have fathomed, along with the consequences of what happened on stage and these shifts in priorities that myself and Antonio and I'm guessing a lot of you are going through in life as we evolve. This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

This episode features a conversation between Justin Ford and Matt Landau. Justin is a longtime industry advocate, having introduced professional safety protocols to the emerging industry of vacation rentals. In this episode, Matt and Justin talk about leadership and fear, and how certain experiences impact the way we think about, and handle, risk. The episode concludes with a conversation about safety in the vacation rental industry.  This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

I GOT STUCK is my story but it could also likely be yours. As burnout started to rear its ugly head my relationships and projects started to wobble. I was forced to accept that I was lacking a clear vision for my future: I was without a firm foundation to create from. How does one become visionary? What does it feel like to grow in new ways? How do we adapt and unstuck ourselves as we enter an era of unprecedented change?  I’m particularly grateful to my business partner Steve Schwab, for his courage and patience and willingness to build our retreats company together in creative and curious new ways. This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

This episode features a conversation between two lifelong friends, Adam and Matt, who talk about their childhood, their fathers, and their heritage. In this conversation, they reflect on how travel reunited them in a very special place in this world, close to their roots. This episode is about exploring who they are as a person and creating life-lasting memories at their home away from home… This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

In this episode, Matt talks with his friend and neighbor Robin. Robin‘s whole life seemed to be going according to plan -- great job, health, nuclear family -- until she got hit by the shitstorm of her marriage starting to unravel. In this episode, Matt and Robin explore themes of relationships, adversity, movement, and travel, and how to lead your children and loved ones by leading yourself. This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

In this podcast episode, Matt Landau and Guy discuss personal growth, business insights, and transformative experiences. Matt talks about his life-changing trip to Israel and how travel can trigger transformation. Guy shares his enlightening experiences with psychedelics and how they altered his perspective on life. The episode also covers Guy's journey into parenthood and its profound impact on him, emphasizing the role of children in shaping better individuals.  This podcast episode is an enriching exploration of personal growth, the art of delegation, business expansion, relationship-building, the power of storytelling, heightened awareness, and the transformative influence of life experiences and parenthood. This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

Join us for a conversation between Matt and his mother, Barbara Landau. This episode offers a glimpse into Barbara Landau’s rich life experiences and adventures. She reflects on her career choices, emphasizing the importance of building a network of mentors and allies for success. Barbara's impressive achievements are a testament to her dedication and determination. Intriguingly, the episode delves into the core of Barbara and Matt's family dynamics, touching upon their Jewish identity and the role of religion and culture in their lives. Discover how these elements have played a significant part in shaping their values and perspectives. This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

Join us for a captivating conversation with Valerie Gangas as she shares her inspiring journey of growth, spirituality, and resilience. From starting a vacation rental company during the pandemic to exploring the depths of her spiritual awakening, Valerie's story is a powerful testament to the human spirit. Tune in for a dose of inspiration and insights into embracing change, seeking support, and creating exceptional guest experiences in the vacation rental industry. This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

In this special episode, Terry and Matt announce the winners of the 2021 VRMB Keystone Awards!  The theme of this year's awards is agility and they cover property management software for any size vacation rental business as well as several categories of third party software.   Thank you to Vintory for bringing us this year's Keystone Awards. Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. Visit vintory.com/keystone for a free masterclass.   See more of the Keystone Awards here: VRMB.com/keystone-awards/ Terry's site: http://vacationrentalsoftwareguy.com Resources named in the awards: Streamline: https://www.streamlinevrs.com Maxxton: https://www.maxxton.com Track: https://trackhs.com Ciirus: https://www.ciirus.com Hostfully: https://www.hostfully.com Avantio: https://www.avantio.com  Zeevou: https://zeevou.com Key Data Dashboard: https://keydatadashboard.com  Transparent: https://seetransparent.com/en/ Touchstay: https://touchstay.com RueBaRue: https://www.ruebarue.com Rental Guardian: https://www.rentalguardian.com Point Central: https://www.pointcentral.com Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io Stayfi: https://stayfi.com Lynnbrook Group: https://www.lynnbrookgroup.com    

As we prepare to launch a new season of Unlocked, Matt sits down with Eric Thibodeaux of Current Tides and Safer VR's for a very detailed discussion of growing and running a vacation rental business, the technology used for operations, incorporating long-term rentals into your portfolio and the upcoming Vacation Rental Business in Today’s World virtual summit, which kicks off of February 1st. Resources mentioned in this episode: VRMB Communities: https://community.vrmb.com Safer VR's: www.safervrs.com Vacation Rental Business in Today’s World virtual summit: https://www.safervrs.com/summit Current Tides Vacation Rentals: https://www.currenttides.net Vintory: https://vintory.com Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io Point Central: https://www.pointcentral.com Fire Protection at Oklahoma Sate: https://osuokc.edu/FireProtection Kaba Locks: https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en/solutions/products/vacation-short-term-rental-solutions/keyless-door-locks Beyond Pricing: https://beyondpricing.com Price Labs: https://hello.pricelabs.co LiveRez: https://www.liverez.com Airdna: https://www.airdna.co KeyData Dashboard: https://keydatadashboard.com NextPax: https://nextpax.com Vrbo: www.vrbo.com Google Travel: https://www.google.com/travel/ Perdido Key: https://www.visitperdido.com Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com Stayfi: https://stayfi.com    

In this special edition of Unlocked, we're airing the first episode of the How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business podcast and kicking it off with an exclusive intro from Matt and Dana.  This new podcast is produced by VRMB Communities, hosted by Dana and something Matt's been passionate about for sometime, now. Vacation rental professionals can no longer afford to ignore community based advocacy.  In this episode you’ll meet Dana and hear from voices around the industry about the scope of the problem and how the pandemic has made regulation an even more volatile issue.  We’ll explore the concept of advocacy and community and hear four key takeaways that are critical for your business right now. How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business  is brought to you by TRACK powered by TravelNet Solutions, providing integrated solutions to transform the way vacation rental hospitality works.   Resources mentioned in the show: Expedia's government affairs contact: govermentaffairs@vrbo.com Phil Minardi contacts: pminardi@expedia.com or pminardi@vrbo.com Dana’s public contact: help@danalubner.com VRMB Communities: https://community.vrmb.com Thank you to our featured guests: Phil Minardi, Expedia Group Dave Krauss, Rent Responsibly Paige Teel, Northeast Vacation Rental Professionals Jennifer Frankenstein, Great Ocean Condos and Homes Jonah Mechanic, Seabreeze Vacation Rentals Megan Mccrea, Southbound Stays & NASTRA Jessica Black, Moms Against Short Term Rentals Eric Bay, ANP Claire Reiswerg, Sand N Sea This episode was produced by VRMB Communities at Mangofish Studios.  Our theme song is the ‘STR savior theme’ by DJ Andy Lubner  

Dr. Louis Rosenberg founded Unanimous AI to pursue a crazy idea – that we can amplify the intelligence of human groups by developing a new form of AI based on the biological principles of Swarm Intelligence.  The idea panned out, resulting in Swarm AI technology, a powerful method amplifying group intelligence.   Community thinking is essential to the survival of the vacation rental industry and the ideas explored here will unlock ideas for your hospitality business and beyond... Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Unanimous AI: https://unanimous.ai Swarm AI Keynote: https://youtu.be/xWSkbsIRNMg VRMB Communities: https://community.vrmb.com Miami Heat: nba.com/heat  

There was no thought of a pandemic when Matt sat down with Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes at last year's LiveRez conference.  The industry was already in turmoil, however, and Brian's 'everything's gonna be alright' philosophy came as a real comfort.   More importantly, his years of experience and deliberate approach to growing and maintaining a highly professional vacation rental business with his family are more relevant than ever.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Beachcomber Vacation Homes: https://www.beachcombervacationhomes.com LiveRez Partner Conference: https://conference.liverez.com Northwest Vacation Rental Professionals: https://nwvrp.org/ Northwest Stays: https://www.northweststays.com/ Peabody Ducks: https://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks Everything's Gonna be Alright: https://youtu.be/OSzYUf2-GSs

Before all of this pandemic madness started, Matt went to visit Karen and John Bobe on Alabama's Gulf Coast to soak up the sun, drink bourbon and talk vacation rentals.  Karen and John have 18 years of experience running an extremely professional family vacation rental business.  This episode is chock full of actionable advice that is more relevant than ever, now.  It is also a lot of fun! Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Sunset Properties: https://www.sunsetproperties.com/staff/Karen-and-John-Bobe/3 Alabama's Beaches: https://alabama.travel/experience-alabama/beaches VRMA: www.vrma.org  Carolina Beach Episode of the Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/uupcrFaZn-s

Harsha L’Acqua runs Saira Hospitality, a non-profit transforming the way hotels connect with local communities through education. Her insights into hospitality, staffing and motivation provide a wealth of unique takeaways and actionable ideas for your vacation rental business.  Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Saira Hospitality: https://www.sairahospitality.com Cornell's Hotel School Competition: https://sha.cornell.edu/faculty-research/centers-institutes/pihe/engagement/competition/ Chris Voss Masterclass Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT8mhoScU1w The Cayuga Collection: https://www.cayugacollection.com  

Pierre Becerril is CEO of Transparent, a data intelligence provider for the short-term rental industry. Their analytics and dashboards help compare rates, improve pricing, analyse demand, supply and upcoming events and they recently released a free version you can try.  Pierre and Matt sat down in person at last year's VRMA and dove deep into travel, hospitality and the vacation rental industry.  This is a covid free conversation that is more relevant than ever for vacation rental businesses.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Transparent: https://seetransparent.com/en/pricing/ Lisbon Episode of the Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/as5pbKMiWNY Altido: https://stayaltido.com Dasheroo: https://www.dasheroo.com

Robin has spent a lifetime in adventurous areas of hospitality and now runs a luxury, mountain oriented vacation rental business with his family.  In this episode, Robin talks to Matt about finding balance on the journey, company culture and the challenges and hopes for high-touch hospitality in the new Covid era. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Moving Mountains: www.movingmountains.com Zipwhip: https://www.zipwhip.com Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io Custom Puzzles: https://www.createjigsawpuzzles.com  

Nathan Schneider is the director of the Media Enterprise Design Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder.  He is also a journalist and author who is currently exploring models for democratic ownership and governance for online platforms and protocols. Nathan has a deep knowledge of cooperative business models, an age old, but oft overlooked concept that continues with great relevance in the modern world. In this virtual sit-down, Nathan and Matt will explore the principles, definitions and history of Co-ops and how they just may unlock superpowers the vacation rental industry needs to survive.   Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Media Enterprise Design Lab: https://www.colorado.edu/lab/medlab/ Ours to Hack and to Own: https://nathanschneider.info/books/ours-to-hack/ Other Books by Nathan: https://nathanschneider.info/books/ Filene Research Institute: https://filene.org VRMB: www.vrmb.com

In this episode, Sarah Franzen of Natural Retreats gives us deep insight into the world of revenue management.  This is a practice that includes much more than just dynamic pricing and it should be part of every successful vacation rental business. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Natural Retreats: https://www.naturalretreats.com/us Franzen Music: https://www.facebook.com/franzenmusic/?ref=py_c Key Data: https://keydatadashboard.com PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co Rented: https://www.rented.com  

Margot is CEO and Co-Founder of Hostfully which services more than 17,000 vacation rental properties worldwide.  She is also an Apple veteran and her focus on community-driven products brings a unique perspective to the vacation rental industry.  In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she covers everything from finding focus in difficult times to automation in the vacation rental experience. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Hostfully: www.hostfully.com VRMB Keystone Awards: https://www.vrmb.com/keystone-awards/ On grief during a Pandemic: https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief Maturity Model implementation and use: https://reports.hostfully.com/maturity-model  

Jeremiah Gall is the founder and CEO of Breezeway and a true vacation rental industry veteran.  In this interview, he and Matt explore how the current challenges facing the vacation rental industry may help it forge a stronger, safer, and more professional future. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io/ Breezway's Free Covid 19 Resource: https://www.breezeway.io/covid-19 VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Casey Halloran has built a travel empire selling custom, upscale trips across Central and South America and operating a boutique hotel in Costa Rica.  He is also an early mentor to Matt and the reason Matt first came to Latin America and got into vacation rentals.  In this episode we explore the evolution of Namu Travel Group from its humble beginnings to its pre-covid status and dive into the difficult time since.  Casey and his business have traveled a tough road in the last several months and he shares his thoughts with us on keeping a business alive and the travel industry as a whole.  Matt and Casey also reminisce about their past with some can't-miss stories. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Namu Travel Group: https://www.namutravel.com Villa Buena Onda: https://www.villabuenaonda.com VRMB: www.vrmb.com Costa Rica Covid Travel Updates: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/statement-costa-rica-tourism-board-covid-19

Christina Thoreson is an entrepreneur and self-described numbers person who runs Chattanooga Vacation Rentals with her husband Thor.  In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she explores what makes a vacation rental business sustainable and looks at the future of drive-to destinations in the post covid world. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Chattanooga Vacation Rentals: https://www.chattanoogavacationrentals.com The Site to Do Business: https://www.stdb.com The Vacation Rental Show: www.youtube.com/vacationrentalshow VRMB: www.vrmb.com  

Shaun Stewart is a visionary and seasoned tech leader with a hospitality background from companies like Airbnb and Jetsetter.  He is now CEO of Newlab, which applies transformative technologies to things that matter.  In this episode he joins Matt to talk about innovation in times of crisis, evolving attitudes about tech, and give unique perspective on the vacation rental industry. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Newlab: https://newlab.com Shaun Stewart on social distancing tech: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/nyregion/new-york-reopening-coronavirus.html Daversa (recruiting): https://www.daversapartners.com X (formerly Google X): https://x.company Waymo: https://waymo.com VRMB's Reset Hub: https://reset.vrmb.com

An African tent safari led Lynn to find the epitome of a limited edition vacation rental business and incredible glamping experience in Texas Hill Country. In this episode she talks to Matt about the experience she continues to perfect, reconnecting with her property during crisis, and why one is enough.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ Sinya: https://www.hillcountrysinya.com About Lynn: https://www.hillcountrysinya.com/about-sinya The VRMB Inner Circle: https://www.vrmb.com/what-is-the-inner-circle/  

In this episode of Unlocked, Matt and Michelle Williams of Atlantic Vacation Homes and the VRMA Board of Directors change up the format and tackle a host of pressing vacation rental industry problems round-robin style. Dependence on listing sites, poor diversity, bad actors and bad regulation, tech madness and a whole lot more.  Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Atlantic Vacation Homes: https://www.atlanticvacationhomes.com VRMA: www.vrma.org VRMA Covid-19 Resources: https://www.vrma.org/page/covid19

Matthew and his wife Angela came to vacation rentals accidentally in the wake of the financial crisis and have since built a powerhouse business from Central Oregon to Southern Utah.  In this virtual sit-down, Matthew gives a masterclass on the workings of a true lifestyle business where family is everything, employees are like family, and guests keep coming back.  The two Matts also delve into Listing Site Non-Dependence and how to build resiliency against hard times like those we currently face. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Family Time Vacation Rentals: https://www.familytimevacationrentals.com The Famous 'Orange Car' Logo: https://www.familytimevacationrentals.com/images/logo.png Learn More About Listing Site Non-Dependence: www.vrmb.com

Viktoria Ujj spent 16 years in leadership roles at luxury hotels around the world before settling in Maui and developing Sunny Maui Vacations.  In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she talks about the tough realities facing the Hawaiian vacation rental market and how she is using all of her hospitality knowledge to keep her business and her 'Ohana' strong for a brighter future.    Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Sunny Maui Vacations: https://sunnymauivacations.com/property-management/ Budapest Episode of The Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/57zQEw0bCIU VRMA Covid-19 Cleaning Guidelines: https://www.vrma.org/page/covid-19-cleaning-guidelines-1639 Hawaii Tourism Authority Travel and Quarantine information: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/

Rafat Ali created Skift, the travel industry insider source for news, insight and trends. In this episode of Unlocked, Rafat and Matt explore a post-covid world and what it means for vacation rentals, travel, and business survival. Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/ Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Skift: www.skift.com Skiff's Daily Newsletter: https://skift.com/newsletters/ VRMA's Safe Home: https://www.vrma.org/page/covid-19-cleaning-guidelines-1639 Finish Big by Bo Burlingham: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/gp/product/B00AMOO9VK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3 Small Giants by Bo Burlingham: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Bo-mBurlingham/dp/014310960X Murder Hornets: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/us/asian-giant-hornet-washington.html    

Heleena Sideris brings the best elements of her non-profit background to her family vacation rental business in Park City.  In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she explores the bright post-covid future of outdoor destinations like Park City and talks about finding meaning and creating community with vacation rentals.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/   Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Park City Lodging: https://www.parkcitylodging.com Protecting Open Spaces with Park City Lodging: http://thestarthrowers.com/park-city-lodging-utah/ The Vacation Rental Show Park City: https://youtu.be/UesUtMlEMXc VRMB: www.vrmb.com Navis: https://www.naviscrm.com/services/call-center/

Chip Conley has disrupted the hospitality industry on more than one occasion.  First as 26 year old founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, which transformed an inner-city motel into the second largest boutique hotel brand in America.  Many years later he would get a call from Brian Chesky to join Airbnb as the head of Global Hospitality and Strategy.   In this episode of Unlocked, Chip joins us virtually from Baja California Sur and shares insight on the future of hospitality and the role of vacation rentals in a post covid world.  He also talks to us about his current effort, The Modern Elder Academy and the roles wisdom, culture, and emotional intelligence play in business.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/   Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Modern Elder Academy: https://www.modernelderacademy.com Extended bio and link to Chip's five books: https://www.modernelderacademy.com/chip-conley Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Toby Babich not only runs a successful vacation rental and management business, he has taken over as president of the VRMA during this difficult time for the industry.   In a virtual sit-down with Matt, he provides insight into how different vacation rentals are doing, gets into how he has kept his own business afloat and lays out what the VRMA has in the works for the industry.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/   Other links and people mentioned in this episode: VRMA: www.vrma.com VRMA SafeHome Cleaning Guidelines: https://www.vrma.org/safehome VRMB: www.vrmb.com Breckenridge Resort Managers: https://www.breckenridgeresortmanagers.com  

In Dana's relatively short time in the vacation rental industry, she has emerged as an advocate and leader for responsible, professional rentals in a tough market.  By pioneering 'The Good Neighbor Summit' in Denver, Dana learned how getting public and private stakeholders together can change the narrative about the industry and generate positive press.   In our first season 5 episode, she sits down with Matt remotely to talk about the summit and what it has meant for her business, as well as dogs, quarantine zoom dance parties and what the future holds.   Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible: Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/ PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties.  PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/   Other links and people mentioned in this episode: Effortless Rental Group: https://effortlessrentalgroup.com Cooper, Lola, Hendrix and Jake: https://effortlessrentalgroup.com/about-vacation-rental-property-management-company/ VRMB: vrmb.com The Good Neighbor Summit: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/short-term-rental-owners-gather-for-good-neighbor-summit/73-2689a391-3691-40b1-8c78-f70b2cff00e5  

Film producer Tammy Rowe has been working with Matt now for about 5 years. Along with her partner Stuart Hooper, Tammy has a production company based in Panama and works all over the world producing non-fiction broadcast and online content. The chat with Tammy dives into some of the values she (a Millennial!) looks for in her purchases including her travels, the platforms she uses to research, and her current documentary film all about...Banjoes?  Links referenced in Episode: Treasure Rome Episode of Sense of Place: https://youtu.be/pWHfkIbM0cI Mangofish Studio: mangofish.studio John McEuen: The Life I've Picked Permission not to be productive: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/style/productivity-coronavirus.html

Friend, colleague, and producer of all Matt's media "concerns,"  Stuart Hooper has a production company based in Panama and works all over the world producing non-fiction broadcast and online content.  Along with his partner Tammy, he has been producing The Vacation Rental Show and the Unlocked Podcast, as well as almost anything else Matt dreams up for a few years now.   The chat with Stuart episode explores some of the pressing issues with OTAs in the post-COVID19 world, how technology used for collaboration in film may cross-over to vacation rental marketing, and what it's like living in a soon-to-be vacation rental that he built from the ground-up.  Links referenced in Episode:  The Vacation Rental Show, Lindsborg, Kansas: https://www.vrmb.com/the-vacation-rental-show-lindsborg-kansas/ Sense of Place ft. Bob Garner in Casal dei Fichi, Italy: https://www.vrmb.com/sense-of-place-le-marche-italy/ Mangofish Studios: mangofish.studio

This update episode of the Unlocked Podcast features Matt giving a heads up on the upcoming season, which will feature industry luminaries who have managed crises before. What to do, how to stay positive. After speaking with owners and managers daily, Matt also shares some of the patterns he's noticing beneath the surface of what was "the fastest growing sector in travel" now stopped dead in its tracks.

We're in-between podcast seasons right now. So I thought it might be nice to use this platform to share something very important: The Vacation Rental Advocacy Playbook: http://www.vacationrentaladvocacy.com It's a compilation of videos from advocacy specialists that can help you and your colleagues in your destination prepare for the worst. You can also see the 20 videos I picked out and reviewed on the podcast here: https://www.vrmb.com/advocacy/  

In this very special season finale episode of Unlocked with Matt Landau, our sponsor, Sean Miller of Point Central turns the microphone around on Matt and and asks the questions we've been waiting nearly sixty episodes to answer.   Everything from Matt's management past to his Vacation Rental Show future is revealed, along with a great deal of thinking and action items about the vacation rental industry itself.   Don't miss our special finale, and as always, if you want to innovate like the best managers in the industry consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Brooke Pfautz is the Founder of Vintory, one of the only companies that I am aware of that helps property managers grow their inventory. I traveled to meet Brooke in Maryland, where he lives with his family and where he built a property management business from 0-500 properties in 5 years. Since he sold that business and now focuses full time on helping other managers grow, we focused the majority of our conversation on his growth tactics: how any manager anywhere in the world can identify the kinds of properties they want, message these property owners directly, and grow a hospitality business through the use of disruptive means. This is a different kind of episode: less entertainment, more education. We finished our day of learning with some recording at my parents vacation rental on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. If you want to innovate like Brooke, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Vintory: https://vintory.com VRMB: www.vrmb.com Ocean City, Maryland: https://ococean.com The Cambridge Movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Movement_(civil_rights)

This is probably the most unexpected podcast we've ever published. It features a couple, Emily and Jesse Cole, who epitomize a lot of vacation rental hosts using Airbnb to build a real estate portfolio. But that's the end of where the Cole's are normal. They also own a baseball team. Where the *MALE* cheerleaders dance on dugouts, kids find signed baseballs hidden like easter eggs, and tickets ($18) include food and drink. The stadium is sold out far into the future. It is one of the most outrageous sports entertainment and hospitality stories you will ever hear. Just so you have an idea, Jesse wears a full yellow tuxedo. All the time.  I wanted to change it up a bit this season. I didn’t just want to interview one kind of vacation rental stakeholder: that’s why we’ve got managers, owners, vendors, thought-leaders...etc. But I also thought it would be cool to feature a kind of vacation rental professional that is less noticeable by the VRM-industry yet arguably more impactful on the global markets: that is Lifestylists who use sites like Airbnb to make a real living. And perhaps unsurprisingly, their aspirational storylines are equally if not more zany and unexpected than the ones we’ve featured thus far. Jesse and Emily Cole are husband and wife, they’re co-owners of a few vacation rentals on Tybee Island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, and they’re also co-owners of a baseball team called the Savannah Bananas. For the Coles, the industry that we know as vacation rentals are merely one pillar in their crazy, happy and fun-filled life. Our interview in their home has a bit of sound trouble but the stories and the ideas will keep you glued to the airpod or speaker or whatever. If you want to innovate like Jesse and Emily, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: The Savannah Bananas: https://thesavannahbananas.com Little Tybee Island: https://visittybee.com Jesse and Emily's vacation rental properties: https://airbnb.com/h/bluebanana https://airbnb.com/h/breezybanana  

Carole Lynn Sharoff of Atlantic Vacation Homes in Massachusetts is one of the wisest vacation rental professionals I have met in my 10+ years of interviewing. You can tell a lot about someone from how others describe them. And when some colleagues like Jodi Refosco and Jennifer Frankenstein Harris heard I was launching a new season of the podcast, they were all unanimous: you have to interview Carole. No ifs ands or buts. And they were right. I didn’t know Carole personally before our sit-down but afterwards, she was right up there with the top people in our industry I’d personally aim to emulate. Carole doesn’t shy away from thoughts on diversity and inclusion in an industry that admittedly struggles in those departments. She attends conferences to speak on the subject of social responsibility. She is basically one of those stewards the industry is fortunate to count on: one of those compasses steering us all in the right direction.   If you want to innovate like Carole, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: VRMA: www.vrma.org VRMB: www.vrmb.com Atlantic Vacation Homes: https://www.atlanticvacationhomes.com

Tim Cafferty of Outer Banks Blue Realty in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina is one of the most admired and respected professional managers in the world. He is a paragon of professionalism and hospitality as a whole. Tim’s region is something of a mecca for short term rentals in the USA, but when Tim started the business, he wasn’t expecting his business to take off the way it did. Many years ago, I had only heard rumblings this guy Tim Cafferty who was conducting the equivalent of a vacation rental orchestra of the Fortune 5000 caliber. Then I began to listen to his podcast Sarah and T, and you start to get an idea. But when I finally met him in person, it suddenly all made sense. Tim’s stand-up personality and emphasis on relationships are quintessentially “all of us” -- Tim is the hospitality professional we all aspire to be. I had the chance to nab Tim for an interview during the VRMA International conference and his personal story is one that will motivate you to plan for your challenges, channel your inner entrepreneur, and soar.  If you want to innovate like Tim, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: VRMA: http://www.vrma.org VRMB: www.vrmb.com Sarah & T Podcast: https://sarahandt.com Unlocked John Dean Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MCtzrfaY2MQBwZjOGLM8k?si=AERNqbnoRbG6F7u91tF_Uw

Tammi Sims is the VP of Customer at Properly, an industry-leading cleaning app with a host of deeper applications. Perhaps more importantly, Tammi (along with her partner Alex Nigg) are visionary vacation rental leaders: they identified a need for this solution way back before anyone could even name the problem. Tammi is a regular at industry conferences -- and it was at VRMA in New Orleans where Tammi was ‘in her element’ -- that I got the chance to sit in on a sushi lunch and then record a conversation that goes way beneath the surface (like any good thorough vacation rental professional would) to explore Tammi’s backstory, her borderline-obsession with small details, and some of her concerns and wishes for the future of this movement. I have had the pleasure to watch Tammi and Alex grow their business over the course of the last few years and it’s been such a treat to watch them grow, but with the right values, the right priorities and the right attitude about how we should treat one another. This is a fabulous episode for any RBO or PM who likes to do things properly. If you want to innovate like Tammi, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Properly: https://www.getproperly.com VRMA: http://www.vrma.org VRMB: www.vrmb.com Touchstay: https://touchstay.com Collapsible Funnel: https://www.worldmarket.com/product/collapsible-silicone-funnels-set-of-3.do    

David Krathamer never thought he’d be running a world-class hospitality business. Along with his wife Edna, David is the owner of D&E Landing in Guntersville, Alabama. I stop over for the evening and hang out and go fishing with David as often as I get the chance. And on this particular visit, I decided to record a podcast. What’s most intriguing about David and his business is the precision and discipline with which he’s identified and maintained his niche: fishermen looking to hook bass on the famous Lake Guntersville. His repeat guest rate and occupancy rate are insanely high on paper: but more impressive is David’s work-life balance. He has created for himself a job -- a business -- that he loves. This is ultimately what our movement is all about. If you want to innovate like David, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: D&E Landing: https://www.delanding.com Lake Guntersville: https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/lake-guntersville-state-park The Inner Circle: https://www.vrmb.com/what-is-the-inner-circle/ Autozone: https://www.autozone.com

If there is one person that has been a steady constant throughout the last decade of vacation rental mayhem, it’s Koryn Okey. She started out with a company called FlipKey and now works as the VP of Sales at Breezeway (an awesome cleaning app you should demo immediately). If you have ever attended a vacation rental conference, chances are you have seen or met or at least heard Koryn laugh. Her experience gives her an incredibly nuanced understanding of where we are right now. And it’s not often that we interview vendors this season, so I took the opportunity (after pulling Koryn away from her booth at the Streamline Summit) to ask some of the grittier questions like ‘where are VR vendors missing the mark?’ Koryn took the questions like a champ -- her interview is as fun as it is insightful.  If you want to innovate like Koryn, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io Streamline Summit: https://www.streamlinesummit.com Flipkey: https://www.flipkey.com Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com TruPlace: https://go.truplace.com

Scott Shatford is the founder of Airdna, which is (by my estimates) the most cited resource in the short term rental industry. I have been virtual friends with Scott since about 5 years back when he and I were sort of dueling vacation rental experts. But soon thereafter, Scott took the relatively simple idea of compiling all the data on Airbnb properties, and built it atop a fascinating business model. Lately, AirDNA is getting more and more into the general vacation rental space, so the conversation with Scott is about much more than just AirBNB. He was at VRMA in New Orleans so I stole the opportunity to ask about how Scott started the company (and continues to run it) with his Dad!?!? How he and his wife book vacation rentals when they go on vacation. And how the seemingly rude idea of “scraping” is actually a best practice that can help every stakeholder of our movement. I also gotta say, Scott is also just really cool guy -- it’s been neat to watch him (like so many of our industry colleagues) building and evolving over the last 5 years. We all get to watch one another grow! If you want to innovate like Scott, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: AirDNA: https://www.airdna.co The Theory of Limited Edition: https://www.vrmb.com/ltd/ Future Stay: https://www.futurestay.com

Elizabeth Maora Sickels is one of those people with infectious energy: she’s one of those people who you can’t help but want to listen to and hang out with. I first discovered Elizabeth on LinkedIn where she was posting a regular stream of videos titled “Dirty Laundry” in which she’d address one less-than-savory aspect of the short term rental business. The videos are as hilarious as they are true to the bone. So when I learned that Elizabeth was going to be attending the Streamline Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, I took the chance to get her into the roving podcast studio for an interview. Elizabeth’s Executive Goddess vacation rental work takes place in Indianapolis -- where she runs a fleet of short term rentals, in addition to providing rehab project management, design, furnishing, and property management services for others. She’s one of those professionals who build trust through helping (not selling): who endears guests and clients with honest storytelling. This episode is worth a thousand laughs.  If you want to innovate like Elizabeth, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Elizabeth Maora, LLC: https://elizabethmaorallc.com Dirty Laundry (Elizabeth's Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-maora-sickels-8832605/ Rental Laws by State: https://www.landlordology.com/state-laws/  

Corey Jones is the creator of Lucky Savannah, which in my humble opinion is one of the most impressive boutique vacation rental companies in the world. Corey got started in short term rentals, like many people, by complete accident. A visiting French student was secretly renting out historic Savannah property, and when she disappeared, she left him a note: you should continue renting this property on VRBO. Today, Corey owns and operates a veritable short term rental empire, but he’s also stretching the definition of hospitality by purchasing and revamping a motel on nearby Tybee Island (complete with popsicle phone). The conversation takes place in downtown Savannah but represents some of the most comprehensive small business planning the hospitality world has ever seen.  If you want to innovate like Corey, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Lucky Savanah: https://www.luckysavannah.com Mrs. Wilkes: https://mrswilkes.com Little Tybee Island: https://tybeeisland.com/site/little-tybee-island/ The Royal Palms Motel: https://www.theroyalpalmsmotel.com

Jodi Refosco has built her Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations into a veritable empire in Deep Creek Maryland, but it wasn’t an easy start.  She grew up with vacation rentals as the family business, but restarted in the depths of the financial crisis with a single property.   From paying cleaning staff by taking on late night snow-plow work to dealing with competitors, owners, and guests - Jodi has invaluable knowledge to share about every facet of the vacation rental business.  More recently, she has begun to do this through her work with VRMA, and now at the 2019 VRMA event, I got a chance to sit down with her and capture her story for this podcast. If you want to innovate like Jodi, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations: https://www.deepcreekvacations.com Mike Copps Podcast Episode: https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep31-one-industry-voice-with-mike-copps-of-vrma/ VRMA: www.vrma.org St. John Episode of the Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/1-EZa7CH_ew  

CJ Stam is a vacation rental legend to many who know him.  He has built Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals into one of the best cabins getaway fleets in the American South, and now he is focusing on new purpose-built cabins for his vacation rental fleet.   I was road tripping recently and decided to stop and do an in-depth podcast with CJ.  In-depth podcasting with CJ may or may not involve real estate site visits, laundry facilities, moonshine, fish, strange appalachian mists...you get the idea.  Much like our Blue Ridge Vacation Rental Show episode, it was truly a next level adventure. What emerged from all this isn’t just a portrait of one of the world’s leading vacation rental professionals -- its a veritable masterclass in a concept we’re calling The Forcefield.  CJ lays out practical, in-depth tips for fortifying your business against against anything that may come.  The protection this forcefield provides is also crucial for supercharging the growth of your business. Get some! If you want to innovate like CJ, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals: https://www.southerncomfortcabinrentals.com Blue Ridge Georgia: https://www.blueridgemountains.com The Appalachian Trail: https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/appalachian-trail/ Steve Milo: https://www.vrmintel.com/author/stevemilo/ VRMB: www.vrmb.com  

Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris built her Great Ocean Condos business in New Smyrna Beach Florida into a 300+ property empire after being unable to find a technology-forward management company for a single property.  Now the largest manager in her area, Jennifer has played an important role in raising the standards and holding colleagues accountable in her region. I had a chance to sit down with Jennifer during the recent 2019 VRMA International Conference in New Orleans and talk about the industry, why we shouldn’t call it an industry, advocacy and property rights, and growing up in New Jersey (for a whopping12 minutes!) Jennifer’s attitude about the industry and business in general is upbeat and laser focused. She’s fun to be around -- you can’t help but want to join in.  If you want to innovate like Jennifer, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Great Ocean Condos: https://www.greatoceancondos.com  New Symrna Beach: https://visitnsbfl.com VRMA: http://www.vrma.org Rental Network Software: https://www.rental-network.com US Constitution: https://constitutionus.com Florida State College of Music: https://music.fsu.edu/programs    

Amy Hinote is an industry legend and I finally managed to get her on a podcast prior to VRMA international in New Orleans, the first city she got drunk in as a teenager.   Amy rolled in with an entourage of vacation rental luminaries including Steve Milo, Simon Lehmann, and Heather Bayer, so the peanut gallery was intimidating...but that would not stop us. In this interview, we learn the history of VRMIntel through Amy’s personal growth from finance and political science to vacation rentals. We then dovetail into a discussion about the venture capital pouring into the industry and what it means for independent owners and managers.  We also play out the worst case scenario for the vacation rental industry with players like Vacasa wielding so much clout. This interview is as fun and delightful as it is informative. And leave it to Amy to only do podcast interviews when they’re attached to cocktail parties. If you want to innovate like Amy, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: VRM Intel: https://www.vrmintel.com VRMB Inner Circle: https://bit.ly/2oVkOzr VRMA: http://www.vrma.org VTrips: www.vrtrips.com Simon Lehmann: https://premium-speakers.com/en/speaker-presenter/simon-lehmann/  

Sarah Bradford of Winter Park Lodging & Steamboat Lodging Company not only grew to 160 highly-respected properties from just a handful, she also has her own vacation rental-themed podcast and strong opinions about Norwegian-inspired design.  I had a chance to sit down with Sarah at the Streamline Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sarah is a regular on the conference circuit and has developed a 360-degree understanding of the industry. Above all else, Sarah has the attitude of a winner: her positivity is infectious and nothing -- not even a huge hotel room wall -- can bring her down. If you want to innovate like Sarah, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode: Sarah and T Podcast: https://sarahandt.com Winter Park Lodging Company: https://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com Steam Boat Lodging Company: https://www.steamboatlodgingcompany.com The Phoenician Scottsdale: https://www.thephoenician.com Streamline Summit: https://www.streamlinesummit.com Mel Robbins: https://melrobbins.com      

  After an action packed VRMA week, I got the chance to sit down with Terry Whyte and talk about the conference as well as software and I wanted to share our conversation while VRMA is fresh in everyone’s minds. Please note that the 4th Season of Point Central sponsored Unlocked launches next Wednesday the 23rd of October! Links mentioned in this episode: www.vrma.org www.vrmb.com/keystone-awards/

This episode takes a look back on Matt Landau's favorite lessons from the season. Links: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep40-short-term-rent-long-term-win-with-matt-hoffman/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep36-a-theater-of-growth-with-cliff-johnson/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep-34-no-time-to-waste-with-megan-mccrea/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep-33-picking-the-lock-with-guglielmo-scarpa/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep28-keeping-it-commercial-with-sarah-nie/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/our-vacation-rental-campaign-with-phil-minardi/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep-25-social-media-influencers-with-kristi-kautz/ https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep-24-the-biggest-lesson-of-my-career-with-steve-milo/ Conferences https://www.streamlinesummit.com/ https://conference.liverez.com/ http://www.vrma.org/page/international-conference  

Sean Miller is the President of PointCentral, the sponsor of this podcast. And I just want to say up front that including him in the series was not required or part of the sponsorship contract or anything: Sean's just a really interesting and smart guy...someone I was really curious to learn more about. I had the chance to sit down with Sean in Barcelona Spain at the Kigoworld conference.  And he possesses this really unique perspective on the intersection of technology and vacation rentals: and as a father, husband, and entrepreneur, he shared some really noteworthy opinions about where things are going and how we should stay attuned.   Mentioned in this episode:  https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ https://www.kigo.net/kigoworld/ The Inner Circle: http://vrmb.com/the-vault/    

  I've known Matt Hoffman for what feels like an eternity. I remember talking to him back when I was running my vacation rental business in Panama in 2008 and his passion and enthusiasm for vacation rentals has not faded since...if anything they've sharpened.   Matt is the Senior Vice President and Product Leader at Kigo, which is a vacation rental management software company.   Our conversation about Matt's childhood, education, and entrepreneurial spirit is jammed packed with useful insight: we examine the exciting and historic crossroads of real estate, technology, and hospitality. It's fair to say I left significantly smarter than when we started.   If you want to innovate like Matt, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Mentioned in this episode:    Kigo: https://www.kigo.net/ Kigo Marketplace: https://www.kigo.net/marketplace/ Real Page: https://www.realpage.com/ Abstract City Maps: https://www.icanvas.com/canvas-print/abstract-city-map-of-amsterdam-jbl87#1PC6-26x26 Dana Young: https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep-37-voice-activation-with-dana-young/ Lynn Gallimore and Sinya on Lone Man Creek: https://www.hillcountrysinya.com/ 

There are certain people in our industry who, when you meet them, you just kinda get excited about everything. Christine Saba is one of those people. Christine is technically the Head of Growth at Noiseaware, which is the fire alarm for noise. But her roles and responsibilities tend to spill over into all kinds of areas. I had the chance to visit NoiseAware's headquarters in Dallas, Texas and the irony that we had noise challenges in the recording was only surpassed by the fact that we solved them.  If you want to innovate like Christine, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Mentioned in this episode: Noiseaware: https://noiseaware.io/ NoiseAware’s Booking.com Partnership: https://join.booking.com/lp/noiseaware/?utm_source=NA&utm_medium=inflG Heather's Vacation Rental Success Summit: www.vacationrentalsuccesssummit.com Dallas Pets Alive: https://dallaspetsalive.org/ One Million Cups:  https://www.1millioncups.com/dallas Rent Responsibly: https://rentresponsibly.org/ Lyric: https://www.lyric.com/ Sonder: https://www.sonder.com/ The Guild: https://theguild.co/ VRMA International: http://www.vrma.org/page/international-conference

In this experimental podcast format, I am to address one subject matter that has the industry buzzing and break it down for our listeners. [Note: Our normal interview podcast schedule sponsored by our friends at PointCentral will not be interrupted.] This episode addresses Vacasa's recent acquisition of Wyndham Vacation Rentals, effectively doubling their inventory to more than 20,000 homes. Here are some links mentioned in the post: Jeremiah Gall's post on VRMIntel https://www.vrmintel.com/riding-the-next-wave-of-vacation-rental-consolidation/ Andrew McConnell's post on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/biggest-vacation-rental-deal-what-means-you-andrew-mcconnell/  

Dana Young is one of those people who is just unyieldingly passionate about technology. But so are a lot of people. What makes Dana unique is the way he is applying that obsession -- specifically with voice activated devices -- to the vacation rental space. He got started in our industry managing a property with his mom. But the ramifications of his singular and relatively straightforward "Unlocked" tactic reach far beyond any set of walls.   If you want to innovate like Dana, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links referenced in the show: https://www.virtualconciergeservice.com http://www.vrma.org Amazon Alexa Google Home    

Cliff Johnson was the first icon interview I ever recorded: it's fair to say that Cliff was the reason behind the whole icon series...I was talking to him at lunch, fascinated by his background and his attitude about life, and basically just really curious to learn more about him. Cliff is one of the more recognizable names in the vacation rental industry. He can be seen at most of the top conferences on panels and on stage talking about big trends: deep currents beneath the travel and business worlds that lead him to make his predictions, business decisions, and personal moves. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cliff in my living room in New Orleans with a glass of bourbon.   If you want to innovate like Cliff, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links referenced in the show: https://www.rented.com/ https://www.vacasa.com/  

Lee Zeller is one of my besties in the vacation rental space. Her company Vacation Telluride is a mainstay in Colorado and her position on how to utilize each property for good is equally forward-thinking. This concept could be applied to pretty much any vacation rental business -- in fact, if you're not doing it, you're missing out on lots of goodwill.    If you want to innovate like Lee, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links mentioned in this episode:  https://www.vacationtelluride.com/

Megan McCrea is one of the most impressive leaders in the vacation rental industry. I get the chance to meet a lot of experts and ambassadors and people who are really good at what they do -- but Megan has one of the most unique blends of vision, standards, discipline, and hard work that I have ever come across in vacation rentals. Really, in any industry: she is just a veritable rockstar. I flew to Nashville, Tennessee specifically to interview Megan-- that's how great I think she is.    Her vacation rental business Nashville Vacation Homes eventually led into a consulting business the Hospitality Creator, and her advocacy contribution to our industry as the president of Nastra (the Nashville short term rental alliance) is historic and courageous. And here's a chance to learn a bit more about the woman behind the progress.   If you want to innovate like Megan, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links mentioned in this episode: https://www.staynashvillevacationhomes.com/ https://thehospitalitycreator.com https://nastra.org

Guglielmo Scarpa is a young Italian businessman who embodies the vacation rental pioneer spirit for me. He fell into the business somewhat accidentally, has successfully build a brand around his company Canguro properties in two countries, and he looks at everything through a realistic yet optimistic lens: if something works, he does more of it. If something doesn't work, he considers carefully whether or not he wants to try it again. Today's unlocked episode is a bit different from the other tactical episodes in that the experiment that Guglielmo tried sort of failed. In aiming to make his business more efficient with technology, he realized he was actually losing some of the very essence that made Canguro special in the first place. I got a chance to sit down with Guglielmo in Barcelona Spain at the Kigoworld conference and archive this conversation for you all. If you want to innovate like Guglielmo, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

A keystone is the architectural term for a wedge-shaped piece at the crown of an arch or bridge that locks the other pieces in place. We believe this is the perfect metaphor for the right property management software in a vacation rental business. Using data from 100+ hours of demos, 750+ completions of our Property Management Software Selector Tool and qualitative feedback that has come in by the droves, ​wanted to ​share the top performers with our first VRMB Labs™ Keystone Awards Series. If you want to innovate like Mike, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ You can read the full post revealing our suggestions here: https://www.vrmb.com/keystone-awards/ And here is Terry's post about 'Choosing The Right Software' from years ago that stands true today: https://www.vrmb.com/choose-software/

Mike Copps is the Executive Director of the VRMA which aims to be the singular voice of vacation rental owners and managers throughout the world. Any industry needs a trade association, but for a young and emerging industry like vacation rentals it is especially critical. Take a chance to meet Mike and learn about his background and the experiences he uses to make his leadership decisions today.  If you want to innovate like Mike, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links mentioned in this episode: http://www.vrma.org www.vrmainternational.org Email registration@vrma.org with any questions   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

In this experimental podcast format, I aim to address one subject matter that has the industry buzzing and break it down for our listeners. [Note: Our normal interview podcast schedule sponsored by our friends at PointCentral will not be interrupted.] This episode addresses an article on Amy Hinote's VRM Intel site titled, titled "GSV Initiates Technology Rollup in the Vacation Rental Industry including Liverez, Streamline, VRM, Bluetent, and more" Here is the link: https://www.vrmintel.com/gsv-initiates-large-technology-rollup-in-the-vacation-rental-industry-including-liverez-streamline-vrm-bluetent-and-more/ I also promised that I would post links to sign up for VRMB and the Inner Circle: http://vrmb.com/ http://vrmb.com/the-vault/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/    

Heather Bayer of the Vacation Rental Formula Podcast is like my BFF in the industry. We were both in Las Vegas for the VRMA International event and she would be presenting on the 5 Love Languages, a famous book that classifies the various interpretations of love.    Heather applies this thinking to the vacation rental industry — where you may be making extraordinary efforts in one department, but lacking a detail or touch in another that could make all the difference. As you listen to Heather’s love language concept, think about how you may be missing out on communicating hospitality with your guests — it can make all the difference.    If you want to innovate like Heather, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links mentioned in the episode:   http://www.vrma.org   https://www.vacationrentalformula.com     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/      

Sarah Nie is based in Asheville, North Carolina. And after she began her property management business, she began to be approached by owners all over Asheville. But this kind of growth came with a caveat: the city’s short term rental rules which were fluctuating and restricting business left and right.   What Sarah shares with us, now years after this journey begun, is the big lesson she learned: the lesson for anyone entering the vacation rental industry or thinking about growing in an urban environment. The power of commercially-licensed zones isn’t always the first thing we think about with this new gig economy. But after listening to Sarah, perhaps it will be.    If you want to innovate like Sarah, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links mentioned in the episode:   https://www.vrmintel.com/events/inaugural-vacation-rental-womens-summit/   http://www.poprentals.com     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/          

Phil Minardi is the Head of Public Affairs at the Expedia Group which owns HomeAway and VRBO. His job entails a lot of travel so he has a great perspective on the vacation rental regulatory landscape throughout the USA. But what I like most about Phil is that he always speaks on behalf of the industry. Not about any one owner or manager or company, but on the movement as a whole. I think a lot of problems can be solved with this style of thinking. And I hope that this conversation allows the stakeholders of the industry to see that Phil and the other OTAs can play an important role. At the very least, we learn the value of a free lunch.   If you want to innovate like Phil, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links and profiles mentioned in the episode:   https://media.expediagroup.com http://alliancenola.org   Phil Minardi  https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-minardi-557a898/ https://twitter.com/PhilipJMinardi   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Kristi Kautz used to work in the digital entertainment space, so she was familiar with the world of influencers before her property manager Brad Klopman of The CoHost Company suggested offering a few free nights to some instagram influencers in exchange for a fresh set of photos. The tactic ended up becoming a way to unlock their vacation rental, Starship Landing Retreat, to the right kinds of travelers.    If you want to innovate like Kristi, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links and profiles mentioned in the episode:     http://starshiplandingretreat.com/ https://www.thecohostcompany.com/   @julieetecson https://www.instagram.com/p/BxeFjuCj7A8/   @ashleyinwanderland https://www.instagram.com/p/BxnJatvHdrW/   @bradyknoll https://www.instagram.com/p/BwBT0AGjaQo/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Bradie Beagley-Reiner went through an incredibly stressful process in the crackdown of vacation rentals in San Diego, California. And in hindsight, she realized that a whole new kind of sharing economy sits within just beneath the surface: something we can all begin doing before it's too late.    The instinct of independent vacation rental professionals is not always to get together with their competitors or share information with the other stakeholders in town. But in listening to Bradie's tactic, you may see things in an entirely new light.   If you want to innovate like Bradie, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links mentioned in the episode:   http://vacationrentalwomen.com https://www.bluewatervacationhomes.com https://www.liverez.com   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

I only met Steve a few years ago but he's been leading the PM charge for eons with his company VTrips and he can also be spotted on the speaking circuit at conferences around the world: shooting straight and saying some of the things that others may not like...but need to hear. I had the chance to sit down with Steve in Barcelona, Spain this month after we bumped into each other at the airport en route to the Kigo Conference and what I learned in the conversation ranges from comic books to profit to traveling with his wife Kyung. I think this kind of fly-on-the-wall interview style can help people get to know some of the more recognizable names in our industry...personally. If you agree, feel free to drop a review and let us know. If you want to innovate like Steve, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links mentioned in the episode: http://www.vtrips.com https://www.bradfordexchange.com https://www.kigo.net/kigoworld/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/      

Danna Kittell is the founder of Starfish Luxury Rentals on the coast of Oregon.  Her enthusiasm and positivity for the industry is eclipsed only by her hard work. After doing some rehab to her family's vacation home, she and her husband Jeff realized the potential of having a renovation aspect to their management services: upgrading a diamond in the rough has now become Starfish's secret weapon.   It's not a quick tactic nor does it happen overnight, but if you are of the Limited Edition vacation rental mindset, you know that sometimes patience and deliberate improvements overtime can create some of the most precious business assets in our space. If you want to innovate like Danna, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links featured in the show:   https://starfishluxuryrentals.com   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Zaira Guzman is the Director of Sales and Revenue Management at Bluewater Vacation Homes in San Diego. Since San Diego is such a competitive vacation environment, Bluewater's recent occupancy growth (month upon month) isn't attributable to much other than Zaira's dynamic pricing skills, which means changing the nightly rates of properties to generate a fair return for the owner and a great value for the guest. What's most reassuring about Zaira's magic is that it's not done with fancy tools or algorithms but manually, by hand the old fashioned way. I had the chance to sit down with Zaira in New Orleans during the Vacation Rental Women's Summit.  If you want to innovate like Zaira, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links featured in the show:   https://www.bluewatervacationhomes.com/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Jean-Philippe Ramé of 2 Be Apart in Lyon France is something of a vacation rental icon: he’s one of those entrepreneurs that sort of transcends industry and his management fleet is about as personality-driven as anything I’ve ever seen (check out the website if you don’t believe me).   It was in Barcelona, Spain at the KigoWorld event that Jean Philippe was sharing with me his strategy for baking flavor into each of his properties: this tactical strategy has become the big difference between his company and any others in the region.   If you want to innovate like Jean-Phillipe, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links that may or may not have been featured in the show:   http://www.2beapart.com https://www.kigo.net/kigoworld/ http://www.2beapart.com/rentals/allrentals/apartment-lyon-1er-arrondissement-blue-dream-951/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Jeff Jensen and his team of concierges at Utopian Luxury Vacation Homes believe that personalization is luxury: that placing your favorite newspaper or a hat from your alma mater in your vacation rental can convey thoughtfulness and win repeat business.    But in order to personalize you need to know something about those guests — something personal. So from the moment of receiving the inquiry, Jeff’s correspondence team embarks on an information gathering mission to learn as much as possible about the guests: data that then gets put to good use in curation of the actual stay.    If you want to innovate like Jeff, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: http://utopianlvh.com/     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Mike Harrington was the de-facto head of VRMA up until a few hours after our conversation. He’s also the President of Topsail Realty in North Carolina which was hit by a nasty hurricane in September.   Almost 75% of Mike’s properties had damage so this was a pivotal learning experience for him and his team. Mike’s big saving grace was trip insurance.  If you’re the kind of person who thinks a natural disaster would never happen in your region, this episode will open your eyes.   If you want to innovate like Mike, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show:   https://www.topsail-realty.com https://www.csatravelprotection.com https://www.travelguard.com https://redskyinsurance.com/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Eric Bay is a connector. He’s the kind of guy that every neighborhood would be lucky to have: he shoots straight, he respects opposing viewpoints, and he’s willing to work hard for the community. Pretty much a model small business advocate.   He’s also the President of the Alliance for Neighborhood Prosperity, which, based in New Orleans, is one of the most influential short-term rental advocacy groups in the USA. In this episode, Eric walks us through the big learning point he made in this fight towards a fair and regulated short term rental ecosystem.   If you want to innovate like Eric, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/   Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the episode:   www.alliancenola.org   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Jeremiah Gall is a vacation rental pioneer: he was one of the founders of the listing site FlipKey, which was eventually sold to TripAdvisor. And not willing to leave the industry, Jeremiah’s latest brainchild is Breezway which is an app that allows hosts to optimize the operations of their vacation rental businesses.   After the Streamline conference in Phoenix, Arizona I got the chance to challenge Jeremiah with a pointy question that I had always sort of dreamed of asking a listing site executive.   True to form, his answer flipped the next steps — the where do we go from here — back on me. The industry could use more honest and objective conversations like this. Please let us know what you think!   Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: https://www.breezeway.io https://www.flipkey.com http://vrmb.com/lsi/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Durk Johnson is a housekeeping guru. He’s the director of the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP) but he’s also the consummate systems thinker: Durk is always looking for a way to systematize or temptatify or create a framework that can be followed and scaled: it could be argued that Durk's ability to do this has the potential to unlock the vacation rental industry as a whole. This interview explores his “Follow the Wall” process, one step of his greater housekeeping methodology, one step to a more consistent and predictable vacation rental future. If you want to innovate like Durk, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: http://www.vrhp.org

It's not often I meet a mastermind like Jeanne Dailey, she's the Founder and CEO of Newman-Dailey Resort Properties in Destin, Florida. Like many vacation rental professionals, Jeanne is keen on the idea of diversification. But unlike many vacation rental professionals, Jeanne views this concept through an industry lens: having built several pillars in her business to avoid having all her eggs in the vacation rental basket. In this conversation, Jeanne walks us through how each of these pillars help one another to create one of the most sustainable business models you’ll find. Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: https://www.destinvacation.com https://www.destinsales.com https://www.destinmanagement.com   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

John Dean of Only Provence is what I like to refer to as one of the most limited edition property managers in the world. His fleet of properties are widely recognized as the best properties in the Provence region of France.   But this distinction does not happen by accident. I was in Barcelona, Spain at KigoWorld when John told me about this tactic. I asked him to step into the side room and we archived it for your listening pleasure.   John has a very specific and disciplined practice he calls "top-grading" which is designed to keep his management fleet fresh, dynamic, and optimized. It's something every property manager out there should consider doing. And if you are a single property owner the "kaizen" approach John takes of constant improvement will kick your butt into gear.   If you want to innovate like John, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: http://www.onlyprovence.com/ https://www.kigo.net/kigoworld/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Brad Stewart of Stewart Mountain Lodging in Sundance, Utah is one of my best buddies in the industry. I think it’s fair to say that I admire his work as much as he appreciates mine. More specifically, I really admire how Brad thinks in systems and processes. And as a property manager, one of Brad’s big turning points was with regards to his owners: like we’d strengthen any good relationship, he and Vicky created a way to close the communication gap with a conduit of communication. This is a great lesson for anyone in the vacation rental industry looking to improve clarity with their team: think in benchmarks, standards, and common metrics: use technology to channel your voices into a central path. If you want to innovate like Brad, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: https://www.stewartmountainlodging.com https://vrhp.org http://vrmintel.com/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Alex Barba was the General Manager at BCN Apartments when we recorded this conversation -- it's a boutique vacation rental fleet in Barcelona, Spain. And while he's not there anymore, the way he helped change my perspective on start-ups, acquisitions, and problem solving in our young vacation rental industry still whispers at me regularly. It's a creative solution for any property manager not satisfied with software solution, and perhaps a saving grace for any start-ups who are starting to doubt a spotlight exit. Oh and if you want to innovate like Alex, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: https://www.bcnapartmentrentals.com/ https://www.bedloop.com/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Mailie Green manages three vacation rental villas in Bali from her home in South Africa. And like any manager, she is constantly on the lookout for ways to boost occupancy in the low season: she is always open to ideas that result in a win for everyone involved. This particular technique started with a skeptical email...but it has turned into one of her regular booking channels, while simultaneously benefiting causes that she admires. Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the episode: https://www.globalvillasltd.com/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Lawrie Lawrence is a real estate guy. He loves real estate. he’s really good at real estate. And only recently has he become infatuated with a new kind of real estate, and that’s vacation rentals. But in his typical renegade style, Lawrie doesn’t do anything textbook. What I like most about Lawrie’s boat model is that it is based highly on statistics and evidence. He wouldn’t invest in something that he wasn’t pretty sure would work really well. Consider using this strategy on any amenity that you view as integral to your guest experience. Here are some links from the show: http://www.lawrielawrence.com/ https://www.staylakenorman.com/boat-rental/   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Bernardo Retana of Otium Residences in Marbella, Spain has a great pedigree of hospitality and finance. But what I like most about his topic here is its unconventionality — it’s innovative in that no one taught him or instructed him to do this. But simple enough that pretty much all of us could do it too. I was drinking beers with Bernardo in Barcelona, Spain at the KigoWorld event, when he shared the Whatsapp idea. So I asked if we could quickly move rooms and archive the idea for you all to hear. The concept is to use Whatsapp as a concierge line of communication: to be there for anything the guest may need without necessarily feeling intrusive. Oh and if you want to innovate like Bernardo, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: http://otiumspain.com/ https://www.otiumspain.com/residences https://www.whatsapp.com   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

The vacation rental industry has exploded in the last few years with big players. Big players like AirBnB, HomeAway & Booking.com have been rapidly consolidating the industry, creating an industry with more familiarity that’s palatable to the average consumer. But what does this mean for the “mom-and-pop” style businesses who don’t want to grow? Those who would rather create a small limited edition business infused with personality. In this round-table episode, we discuss the big picture history of the hospitality industry Andrew McConnell. We’ll learn how Kristie Wolfe creates and operates a boutique tiny home vacation rental business, and how Tara & Josh Conger walk the fine line of creating a scalable business while preserving their unique experiences.   Show Notes   Andrew McConnell Understanding the differences between commodity and limited edition vacation rentals How fragmented the vacation rental industry is Andrew McConnell discusses the history of the “cottage industry” How fragmented industries tend to consolidate What the “big players” in the hospitality industry did that the “small players” didn’t Building a lifestyle business versus a major venture backed business How the nature of vacation rentals is designed not to scale The hazards of being “stuck-in-the-middle” of a boutique personality based business versus a growing commodity business Discussing the potential winners and losers in the future of the industry Being unique versus pretending to be unique Being something to everyone, versus being everything to someone Kristie Wolfe On building and designing tiny-home vacation rentals Why Kristie prefers to not meet guests at her unique homes How Kristie designs unique experiences for her guests (that sometimes involve trespassing) Kristie’s unique advantage when building tiny homes Kristie’s advice on doing vacation rental projects that get you excited Tara & Josh Conger Creating a limited edition vacation rental company that can scale Having a private island as a vacation rental Building custom homes to be vacation rentals How Tara & Josh leverage concierge services Building a new website for the business Balancing the scaling of a business while maintaining a boutique personal touch Using CRM systems to improve guest experiences   Resources   Rent Responsibly (Sponsor) Andrew McConnell With Rented.com Steve Milo, Vacasa, Turnkey Kristie Wolfe - Tiny House on the Prairie Kristie Wolfe’s Hobbit Home Kristie Wolfe’s Tree House Conger Collection & Conger Brokerage Services   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Ralph and his wife Karen, like many people, fell in love with Paris. However, instead of doing what most people would of done, they began buying property in Paris & Nice. Since then, they have been successfully operating a vacation rental business remotely. In this episode we learn how Ralph and Karen have created a remotely operated business process, and how they’ve overcome the tragedies brought on upon by recent terrorist attacks.   Show Notes   How Ralph wound up in going from Houston to Paris Picking out his first real estate property Ralph’s encouraging thoughts on trying out the business Developing processes and systems to automate a business Packing Ralph packages multiple destinations in one trip for guests How Ralph leverages his vacation rental websites How tragic terrorist attacks impacted Ralph’s businesses in Paris & Nice How to deal with adversities like natural disasters Why Ralph resisted using AirBnB Knowing when it’s right to quit the business Using Youtube to fix random problems   Resources   Rent Responsibly (Sponsor) Paris Nice Vacations Inner Circle   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Jan Stevens’s journey in the vacation rental industry began when she inherited an old family fishing shack that they bought for $1,200 in the 50’s. Realizing she could leverage her talents as a professional interior designer, she turned the home into a vacation rental. As peers began to take notice of her business, they began asking her if she can manage their properties too. Jan shares her experiences growing into a boutique property manager, how she chooses properties to take on, and how she’s dramatically reduced her workload through automation and outsourcing.   Show Notes   How Jan’s family bought a fishing shack outside Vancouver for $1,200 How the financial crisis made Jan realize she can turn her home into a vacation rental How a random painting turned into Jan’s first property management client Jan’s transition from property owner to property manager Why Jan only takes on properties that fit the business of her brand How Jan streamlined her management process to dramatically reduce her workload The value of outsourcing work Why Jan prioritizes slow and steady growth versus rapid growth Understanding the pressure and responsibilities on building a vacation rental management company   Resources   Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)   Bowen Island Accommodations   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Rick Oster’s career has had many twists and turns. He spent most of his professional life climbing the corporate ladder as an overworked executive in the television & cable industry, and then took a detour to building his own aquatic installation company. Eventually, a curious insight led him to build his first vacation rental, a business he had zero experience in. Now, as the owner of Oster Golf Houses, Rick shares the insights and lessons that lead him to building a fulfilling niche vacation rental business.     Show Notes   How Rick’s went from a career in television to aquatic pond installations How Rick thought of building his first vacation rental and mitigating risk RIck’s process on researching competition to understand opportunities in the market. Thoughts on how to eliminate competition by finding a niche Why you should choose a destination you’re passionate about Why Rick focuses on having fun while marketing Why Rick chooses a lifestyle business over building a big business Rick’s problems with OTA platforms like HomeAway/VRBO Why Rick still feels a sense of urgency in improving his business   Resources   Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)   Oster Golf Houses   Inner Circle   Kaizen   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

  Teena Kulakowski is a former chemist who now runs the successful Four Seasons Lodge in New Hampshire. Her experiments have taken her from newspaper advertising to chainsaw artists to building her own website. Along the way we’ll find out that the “secret ingredient” to her vacation rental’s success is a high dose of good ol’ fashioned personality. You’ll leave here learning the value of knowing your audience, why it’s maybe time to hire that professional, and that it’s ok to call your guests “repeat offenders”   Show Notes   Teena’s experience getting started in the vacation rental industry in the 1990’s Teena’s career transition from being a chemist to vacation rental entrepreneur How she created her vacation rental to fit her personality How Teena sees her business as more than a series of transactions Why she got a giant custom totem pole installation at her property Why understanding your target demographic is key for your vacation rental How Teena gets most of her bookings from her own website. How Teena uses her blog, “insider's guide”, & events calendar to drive repeat business Why she invested in a professional copywriter & architectural photographer Teena’s advice on how to learn more effectively   Resources   Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)   Four Seasons Lodge   VRMB Inner Circle   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.     Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Darik Eaton is the founder of Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals. After the 2008 financial crash Darik closed down his business in commercial finance, and transformed his vacation rental from a simple side business, to a full-time vacation rental property management company with over 45 properties. Darik shares his experiences growing his vacation rental business, exporting his business model to Hawaii and the most important lesson he learned along the way.   Show Notes   How Darik got started in the vacation rental industry as a matter of convenience How Darik survived the financial crash of 2008 Darik’s “secret sauce” of renovation and restoration Why Darik doesn’t like IKEA How Darik turned his vacation rental from a side business to a full time property management business with 45+ properties in Seattle and Hawaii How Darik went from excel spreadsheets to property management software that allowed his business to grow more effectively Why Darik hires to make his business “Darik-proof” How Darik manages a successful and growing property management business remotely. The difference between a commodity business and a “Limited Edition” business Why Darik prioritizes slow growth over fast growth   Resources   Rent Responsibly (Sponsor) Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals Steve Milo Kauai Real Estate Group Princeville Vacation Rentals Kapaa Vacation Rentals Koloa Vacation Rentals   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Lot’s of people dream of unplugging from “the grind” and escaping to some far off exotic island paradise. Karla Gustafson, owner of Tropical Blessings, did just that. Frustrated with life as an English teacher in Dallas, Karla escaped to the Caribbean island of St. John where she became a “Moko Jumbie”, and then eventually found herself owning a vacation rental property with zero experience. In this episode, you’ll learn how Karla used her vacation rental to build her dream life, and how infusing your business with love and personality may be your biggest competitive advantage.   Show Notes   How Karla discovered St. John (the Caribbean island) How Karla stumbled her way into her first vacation rental with no experience Why Karla believed she could out-compete the local competition Why she focuses so much on small details of her business The importance of putting yourself in the shoes of your guests Why having fun is critical to Karla’s vacation rental How Karla balances financial success and personal satisfaction Why being a little imperfect is okay Why Karla hates templates for communication The advantages of small business over large corporations   Resources   St. John Rent Responsibly (Sponsor) Tropical Blessings De Coal Pot Moko Jumbies   Lastly….   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Stan Horst is one of the world’s few vacation rental veterans. He’s been hosting guests before the days of AirBnB, HomeAway, and even before the internet itself. With his unique perspective, Stan shares how his business modeled has evolved in the digital age, and how he still uses old-school marketing tactics to drive extraordinary results. We hope this episode will stir up some latent creativity, and show you that it’s possible for a new dog to learn old tricks. In this episode you’ll learn... How Stan marketed his vacation rental before the internet How Stan continues to use traditional offline marketing methods to stand out in a crowded online marketplace. Stan’s annoyance with traditional “follow up survey” requests Stan’s uniquely effective follow up email strategy to get reviews & repeat guests. How Stan leverages “Lumpy Mail” and aliens to get a 1700% ROI Stan’s strategic use of discounts to drive bookings Why doing things that don’t scale create value   Resources Rent Responsibly (Sponsor) Cabin Creek Wood   Lastly…. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.   Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/ Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/ Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/