The Vacation Rental Show

In this special compilation episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon compiles essential insights from the industry's leading professionals throughout 2024.
Together they explore:

• Strategic approaches to sustainable growth
• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships
• Technology integration and AI implementation
• Brand development and differentiation
• Industry standards and best practices
• Revenue optimization strategies
  

This carefully curated episode features wisdom from property managers, tech innovators, and industry veterans who have successfully navigated growth while maintaining service excellence. Their combined experience offers a comprehensive look at effective property management strategies for 2024 and beyond.
This episode is sponsored by Streamline.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:

• Subscribe, rate, and review
• Share this episode

Episode Resources:
👉 Google - https://bit.ly/gp-how-we-grow
👉 Apple - https://apple.co/3lYc2gU
👉 Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3InYanV
👉 bCast - https://bit.ly/hwg-podcast
👉 iheartradio - https://ihr.fm/3Z8qqlg
👉 RSS - https://bit.ly/how-we-grow-rss
The Vacation Rental Show is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit, and many more.
Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• Vacation Rental Stories: Episode 63 - Driving Innovation and Partnership
• Homeowners Become Family with Michael Godfrey, Owner of Michael’s Vacation Rentals
• Life in Maui as a Property Manager with Scott Jordan, Owner of Maui Life Realty

Are you a vacation rental industry leader looking to share your expertise? We're seeking innovative voices to join our conversation about growing and scaling vacation rental businesses.
The Vacation Rental Show reaches thousands of property managers worldwide. We're particularly interested in perspectives on:

• Scaling your vacation rental portfolio
• Optimizing guest experiences
• Revenue management strategies
• Industry trends and market insights

Express your interest in being a guest →

Join Lynell Gordon as she is joined by Meredith Rumsey, Director of Operations And Business Development at Vacation Rental Co. Together they explore:

• Meredith’s career path
• Launching a mid-term rental business
• A unique mid-term rental model
• The challenges of transitioning from employee to business owner
• Building strong relationships with property owners and guests
• Practical advice for aspiring property managers
• Finding a niche in a competitive market

Meredith Rumsey is Director of Operations And Business Development at Vacation Rental Co, a partnership comprising a well-established housekeeping company, a certified public accountant, and a veteran of the hospitality industry. VRC does standard short-term vacation rentals as well as 30+ night rentals, and provides stress-free and comprehensive all-in-house property management. Before working at VRC, Meredith was Director of Strategy and Business Development at Mountain Vacation Lodging. This episode is sponsored by LiveRez.Episode Highlights [01:02] Traditionally, short-term rentals have been Vacation Rental Co’s “bread and butter”, according to Meredith. However, since zoning restrictions are limiting where short-term rentals can operate, VRC are now shifting to mid-term rentals. Meredith explains that mid-term rentals are those that last for thirty nights or more. This model benefits people who bought homes that are now restricted from renting them out on a short-term basis due to the new zoning laws. Meredith outlines how this approach kills two birds with one stone: by offering mid-term rentals, they provide solutions for these homeowners while meeting a growing demand from renters who want longer stays. [12:20] Meredith discusses the issues faced by a small business, as opposed to a large one. As the main point of contact for her vacation rental business, she has to juggle responsibilities, from answering emails and managing listings on online travel agencies (OTAs), to handling legal contracts. Meredith describes the challenges of balancing the budget between growth and infrastructure. In short, how much to invest in marketing to grow the business vs. how to strengthen operations? Finding the right balance is especially difficult for a smaller operation, especially when funds are tight. [18:28] Meredith highlights the importance of carving out a niche in the property management industry. Since the market is saturated with property managers delivering similar services, Vacation Rental Co specialized within a smaller market: the mid-term rental space. Meredith notes how although Vacation Rental Co are relatively small, being the only business focused on this area gives them a larger market share. She recommends differentiation, using the examples of adopting a travel agent-like approach or partnering with a local business. It’s crucial to find ways to stand out. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:

• Subscribe, rate, and review
• Share this episode

Episode Resources:
👉 Google - https://bit.ly/gp-how-we-grow
👉 Apple - https://apple.co/3lYc2gU
👉 Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3InYanV
👉 bCast - https://bit.ly/hwg-podcast
👉 iheartradio - https://ihr.fm/3Z8qqlg
👉 RSS - https://bit.ly/how-we-grow-rss
The Vacation Rental Show is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit, and many more.
Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• Vacation Rental Stories: Episode 63 - Driving Innovation and Partnership
• Homeowners Become Family with Michael Godfrey, Owner of Michael’s Vacation Rentals
• Life in Maui as a Property Manager with Scott Jordan, Owner of Maui Life Realty

Are you a vacation rental industry leader looking to share your expertise? We're seeking innovative voices to join our conversation about growing and scaling vacation rental businesses.
Th...

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by JJ King, the co-founder of Beachside VR. Together they explore:

• Enhance guest experiences and streamlining operations with new technology
• Authentic communication
• Effective reputation management
• Building a strong online presence
• Collecting and analyzing data to make decisions about property management and maintenance

JJ King is the co-Founder of Beachside VR, a locally owned and operated vacation rental management company headquartered in downtown Cocoa Beach, Florida. Beachside VR offers investors end-to-end service, from marketing properties and managing the rentals, to coordinating year-round preventative and responsive maintenance. JJ is also a Member of the Board of Directors at the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA), and on the Board of Advisors at NowBoarding.
This episode is sponsored by Streamline.
Episode Highlights: [08:51] JJ says that the first step in Beachside VR’s reputation management process is a checkout survey done on the Suiteop app. Once a guest has finished their stay, they are asked to rate their experience between one and five stars. JJ outlines how if a guest rates five stars, they are directed to Google to leave a review, whereas for anything less than five, the entire customer service team receives an internal Slack notification that prompts them to contact the guest. JJ says that this proactive approach allows the team to “catch something before it goes public”. The key here is to make the guest feel heard. [15:33] Discussing the technologies that people start with to help save time and to manage reputation, JJ recommends Zapier (though notes that this depends on what their software can integrate with). Zapier’s "if-then" structure allows for easy automation. For instance, JJ highlights how Zapier can set a trigger where receiving an email automatically sends a Slack notification. This program’s capabilities mean it is possible to quickly improve efficiency across a range of processes. [24:59] JJ looks forward to the possibilities offered by AI messaging, with a particular focus on guest messaging. Although this tool currently lacks the authenticity required to be rolled out to Beachside VR’s customers, in the future JJ believes more and more rental businesses will communicate using AI. Indeed, he highlights a number of operators that already fully automate all their messages to customers. JJ stresses that in the hospitality business, the key is to blend efficiency with personal touch. He adds that he’s “worried about losing that personal touch in the hospitality space”, so anticipates some brands differentiating themselves by emphasizing human interaction, perhaps even branding themselves AI-free to attract guests who value personal engagement. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:

• Subscribe, rate, and review
• Share this episode

Episode Resources:
👉 Google - https://bit.ly/gp-how-we-grow
👉 Apple - https://apple.co/3lYc2gU
👉 Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3InYanV
👉 bCast - https://bit.ly/hwg-podcast
👉 iheartradio - https://ihr.fm/3Z8qqlg
👉 RSS - https://bit.ly/how-we-grow-rssThe Vacation Rental Show is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit, and many more.
Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• Vacation Rental Stories: Episode 63 - Driving Innovation and Partnership
• Homeowners Become Family with Michael Godfrey, Owner of Michael’s Vacation Rentals
• Life in Maui as a Property Manager with Scott Jordan, Owner of Maui Life Realty

Are you a vacation rental industry leader looking to share your expertise? We're seeking innovative voices to join our conversation about growing and scaling vacation rental businesses.
The Vacation Rental Show reaches thousands o...

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Riley Goldman, CEO and co-founder of Beachside Vacation Rentals. Together they explore:

• Riley’s career journey
• Scaling a vacation rental business
• The power of networking
• Managing guest reviews
• Using AI for improved guest experiences
• Using market data for realistic income projections
• The benefits of DSCR loans for investors

Riley Goldman is the CEO and co-founder (Oct 2021 - Present) of Beachside Vacation Rentals, a locally owned and operated vacation rental management company headquartered in downtown Cocoa Beach, Florida. With a focus on exceptional guest experiences and comprehensive property management, Riley’s leadership has driven significant growth and success for the company.This episode is sponsored by Streamline.Episode Highlights: [01:49] Riley emphasizes the critical importance of networking for property managers seeking growth, arguing that it yields invaluable, albeit often unquantifiable, returns on investment. He suggests that individuals should approach networking with the mindset of providing help rather than seeking immediate benefits. By engaging sincerely and without ulterior motives, such as hoping for referrals, one can cultivate meaningful relationships. Riley shares an example of a 45-minute conversation with a realtor that, despite not leading to an immediate outcome, resulted in a valuable referral shortly afterward. His key takeaway is to network generously and with an open mind, as unexpected connections can lead to significant opportunities.[04:37] Riley discusses his strategic approach to managing guest reviews, highlighting the role of the SuiteOp app in facilitating real-time feedback. By allowing guests to submit reviews upon checkout, the process has become streamlined and efficient, contributing to the acquisition of approximately 300 new Google reviews since May. Additionally, he underscores the impact of social responsibility by partnering with a local environmental organization. For every five-star review, his company donates a dollar to support the health of the Indian River, thereby incentivizing guests to leave positive feedback while fostering community engagement. This dual strategy not only enhances the company’s online reputation but also aligns with Riley's personal commitment to environmental stewardship.[07:07] Riley highlights the transformative use of AI in managing guest reviews and improving operational efficiency. By automating the response to reviews and analyzing feedback for improvement opportunities, his company has significantly reduced response times and enhanced service quality. For instance, AI-generated tasks help the team address guest suggestions, such as increasing kitchenware, before issues can recur. This technology integration allows for real-time monitoring of guest satisfaction and swift action on necessary improvements, showcasing how AI can elevate operational capabilities in property management. Riley credits his business partner for the successful implementation of these technological solutions, illustrating the collaborative nature of their operation.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:

• Subscribe, rate, and review
• Share this episode

Episode Resources:
👉 Google - https://bit.ly/gp-how-we-grow
👉 Apple - https://apple.co/3lYc2gU
👉 Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3InYanV
👉 bCast - https://bit.ly/hwg-podcast
👉 iheartradio - https://ihr.fm/3Z8qqlg
👉 RSS - https://bit.ly/how-we-grow-rss
The Vacation Rental Show is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit, and many more.
Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• Vacation Rental Stories: Episode 63 - Driving Innovation and Partnership
• Homeowners Become Family with Michael Godfrey, Owner of Michael’s Vacation Rentals
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