Unlocked by Matt Landau
Matt Landau: Vacation Rental Marketer & Podcaster
Subscribe
Unlocked is a podcast series that invites you to be a fly-on-the-wall as VRMB founder Matt Landau interviews some of the world’s most innovative vacation rental professionals. The goal of this podcast series is to share best practices and to remind vacation rental professionals that we have everything we need inside of us to succeed.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
26 Jan 2023
Up in the Air with Christina Thoreson
In this special episode, Christina Thoreson takes us through the complicated reality of selling a business she'd built from the ground up to a big industry name.
Wondering if you might sell one day or what happens in the aftermath? Or just contemplating big changes in life? This episode is for you.
This is also the final episode of the Unlocked Podcast in its current form. We expect you'll hear from Matt again soon in a future iteration, but for now, thank you for tuning in for an incredible 159 episodes over 9 seasons!
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
VRMB 2023 Trends Report: www.vrmb.com/trends
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
19 Jan 2023
2023 Trends and Predictions with Lino Maldonado of BeHome247
In this episode we sit down with Lino Maldonado, the CEO of BeHome247, to discuss where the industry is headed in 2023. Lino also offers advice on how to navigate the changing landscape of life and capitalize on new opportunities.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
VRMB 2023 Trends Report: www.vrmb.com/trends
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Behome247: https://behome247.com/
playlist_add
12 Jan 2023
Writing Your Professional Story with Alex Husner of Casago
In this episode, we take a look at big leaps, both personal and professional with Alex Husner. As the newly appointed Chief Marketing Officer at Casago and co-host of the popular podcast, "Alex and Annie," Alex's personal brand has flourished alongside her success in the industry. Join us as we gain insight into her journey and strategies for achieving your own professional aspirations.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Casago: www.casago.com
Alex and Annie Podcast: https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/
playlist_add
29 Dec 2022
The Quintessential Waverider with Matt Durrette of Cozi Vacation Rentals
Matt Durrette is emblematic of the kind of Homerunner that is positioned to be the biggest winner as our industry evolves. In this episode we'll talk limited edition positioning in the growth to 300 properties, entrepreneurial operating systems and and advocacy in the latest Texas battlegrounds.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Cozi Vacation Rentals: https://www.cozivr.com/
EOS Worldwide: https://wwwhttps://www.eosworldwide.com/
playlist_add
22 Dec 2022
Presidency with Karen Hunt
Karen Hunt's pre-vacation rental career included selling everything from candy and rice to Ben and Jerry's ice cream to Francis Ford Coppola and a whole lot of wine. Now she's running a lifestyle vacation rental business that is the perfect cap to a legendary career. In this episode she gives us perspective on sales, people, and goal setting that will be useful to industry players of any size.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Carolina Elegance Vacation Rentals: https://www.carolinaelegance.com/
Francis Ford Coppola Winery: https://www.francisfordcoppolawinery.com/
playlist_add
15 Dec 2022
A Life's Work with Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes
In this episode, Brian Olson, former Point Central Rep and owner of Beachcomber Vacation Homes, discusses the impact of health on our teams and networks after a personal wake-up call. Tune in to hear his perspective on how to prioritize well-being and the well-being of your team in what is often a fast-paced work environment.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Brian Before and After Photo: https://f.io/Lzzdbk9k
Beachcomber Vacation Homes: https://www.beachcombervacationhomes.com/
LiveRez: https://www.liverez.com/
playlist_add
8 Dec 2022
One of a Kind with Sharon Walker of Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals
In many ways, Sharon Walker is the ultimate Limited Edition vacation rental professional. She built a business from scratch with great care for guests and employees while raising a family. Now, with the freedom that business provides, she is heading up the statewide advocacy effort in Texas and blazing a trail for her industry fellows. In this episode, Matt explores what makes her business great and talks about what the state of advocacy in Texas means for the industry as a whole.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals: https://www.walkervr.com/
If you are in Texas, contact Sharon to join the advocacy effort: sharon@walkervr.com
How to Save your Vacation Rental Business Show: https://htsyvr.libsyn.com/dont-mess-with-texas
Application form for next Keystone Retreat: matt@vrmb.com
playlist_add
1 Dec 2022
BONUS: 2023 Trends with Nate Wysk of Point Central
In this episode Matt and Nate Wysk of Point Central talk 'advocacy technology' and upcoming 2023 trends for the vacation rental industry.
This episode is brought to you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Point Central's Smart Noise Monitor: https://www.pointcentral.com/noise-monitoring/
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
16 Nov 2022
Analytical with Eddie Love of Mountain Mama Cabins
Eddie Love went from renting out a second home to building a full time business with fifteen properties around Harper's Ferry West Virgnia. In this episode we dive into do's and don'ts of early outsourcing, tools that enhance your version of hospitality and innovation without reinventing the wheel.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Mountain Mama Cabins: https://mountainmamacabins.com/
OwnerRez: https://www.ownerreservations.com/
Revyoos: https://www.revyoos.com/w/
Application form for next Keystone Retreat: matt@vrmb.com
playlist_add
9 Nov 2022
Leveling Up with Amanda Hoffmann of Highgate Homes
Our industry talks a lot these days about a departing generation of wisdom. About the operators exiting their businesses and taking all of their knowledge with them. But what you don't hear about is the new minds, the new leaders who will carry the torch and Amanda Hoffmann is definately a new leader on the rise. She's building a finance division from scratch at Highgate and she's forging a new path at the intersection of vacation rentals and finance.
In this episode we dive into her approach, get some tips and take a look at how frustrating hotel models can be for our industry.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
Highgate: https://www.highgate.com/
Striven: https://www.striven.com/
Upwork: https://www.upwork.com
playlist_add
4 Nov 2022
The Case Against Consolidation with Simon Lehmann of AJL Atelier
In this episode two of the industry's top thought leaders reminisce on their friendly rivarly and come together with insights meant to push the whole industry forward.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmbthe best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
AJL Atelier: https://ajlatelier.com
VRMA International: https://international.vrma.org/
playlist_add
26 Oct 2022
Leading from the Heart with Lauren Madewell of Auntie Bellham's Cabin Rentals
Lauren Madewell found her calling when Vacation Rentals unexpectedly became the family business. In this episode Lauren and Matt discuss finding that calling, how a passion for the family business can unlock tools to work with guests and staff and what the future holds for our industry.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmbthe best in class property care and automations platform.
Auntie Belham's Cabin Rentals in the Smokies: https://www.auntiebelhams.com
Amber Hurdle Leadership Academy: https://amberhurdle.com/
Keystone Retreats: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6988812975113437184/
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
20 Oct 2022
2023 Keystone Awards Update with Terry Whyte
Years ago Terry and Matt started sharing and formalizing their research on tech stacks and property managment software with the wider community. In this episode they discuss the future of their Keystone project and wider lessons to think about when using a "help don't sell" model in your industry.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Vacation Rental Software Guy: https://vacationrentalsoftwareguy.com/
RSVP to Homerunners Las Vegas World Premiere: https://www.paperlesspost.com/go/y8RlVmeS3z93Rvf4B6DyJ
The Essential Guide to Property Management Software: community.vrmb.com/structured-learning
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
13 Oct 2022
How Vacation Rental Laws Work with Tiffany Edwards of Coletta Consulting
Tiffany Edwards grew up in the vacation rental business and has become one of its foremost goverment affairs experts and fundraisers. In this episode we dig into what our industry is doing well and what it needs to do better for a fair regulatory future.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
How to Save Your Vacation Rental Show: https://htsyvr.libsyn.com/
RSVP to Homerunners Las Vegas World Premiere: https://www.paperlesspost.com/go/y8RlVmeS3z93Rvf4B6DyJ
VRMA Advocacy Fund: https://www.vrmaadvocacy.org/
Contact Tiffany: Tiffany@colettaconsulting.com
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
7 Oct 2022
Throwback to Hurricane Florence with Mike Harrington
Our scheduled epsiode for this week was interupted due to uncertainty around Hurricane Ian. Everyone involved with the show is fine and we'll be back next week with regularly scheduled programming, but for now we're going to archives and resharing Episode 19 with you, where Mike Harrington gives us a big business takeaway from Hurricane Florence in 2018. These are lessons we all need to be mindful of in the coming years.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmbthe best in class property care and automations platform.
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/
Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
28 Sept 2022
Scaling Culture with Steve Schwab of Casago
Steve Schwab went from living in the back of a bar in Puerto Peñasco Mexico and helping out with HVAC systems to building Casago into a major property management company with thousands of properties and franchises all over the US and Mexico. He's featured in our second episode of Homerunners and he's become a thought partner to Matt in tackling some of the deepest questions of our industry.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmbthe best in class property care and automations platform.
Casago: https://casago.com/
Homerunners Casago Teaser: https://youtu.be/N282sGsb_l8
Streamline: https://www.streamlinevrs.com/
Rocky Point: https://puerto-penasco.com/
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
22 Sept 2022
Nailed it with Miriam Ramsey of VTrips
Miriam Ramsey is a key player in the VTrips model of growth through local brands and a star of our first Homerunners episode which premieres worldwide on October 23rd at VRMA International in Las Vegas.
In this episode Matt and Miriam discuss what it takes to make it in this industry, how to handle getting bought and how to nail it as a Homerunner.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Jackson Mountain Homes: https://jacksonmountainhomes.com/
Vtrips: https://vtrips.com/
Homerunners Premiere RSVP: https://www.paperlesspost.com/go/y8RlVmeS3z93Rvf4B6DyJ
Explore Gatlinburg: www.smokymountains.com
Jed Stevens Koloa Kai: https://www.koloakai.com/property-management-services.asp
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
15 Sept 2022
Validation with Michelle 'MJ' Boyle of My Tiny House Village
Michelle "MJ" Boyle is a patented inventor, the Hostess of the Tiny House Podcast, founder and creator of My Tiny House Village, Oregon Teardrop Rentals, and My Tiny Creekside Retreat. In this episode Matt and MJ explore the rushes and reversals inherit in Homerunning...from hitting a niche market at just the right time to real adversity shutting you down.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
My Tiny House Village: https://www.mytinyhousevillage.com
Single Mother Builds Tiny House to Create Retirement Plan: https://youtu.be/3FUV-KG3tr8
Oregon Teardrop Rentals: https://www.oregonteardroprentals.com
My Tiny Creekside Retreat: https://www.mytinycreeksideretreat.com
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
8 Sept 2022
Pressure is a Privilege with Lukas Krause of Skyrun Vacation Rentals
Welcome to Season 9 of the Unlocked Podcast! Lukas Krause is part of a new generation of industry professionals bringing superpowers from other industries into our own. He’s running a large company in the space but focusing on small hospitality details. In this episode Matt and Lukas dive into the good, the bad and the ugly of our current high paced acquisitions cycle and talk about what it means to be a Homerunner.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Skyrun Vacation Rentals: https://www.skyrun.com
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
6 Sept 2022
Season Reflections with Jeremiah Gall of Breezeway
Prior to launching Season 9: Homerunners this week, Matt sat down with Breezeway founder and perennial Unlocked sponsor Jeremiah Gall to discuss highlights from last season and the state of the industry moving forward.
Episode One of Homerunners featuring Lukas Krause of Skyrun Vacation Rentals drops with the VRMB newsletter Thursday September 8th.
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
7 Jun 2022
Our Foundation with Heather Bayer of Vacation Rental Success
In this final episode of Season 8 we speak with the godmother of vacation rentals, Heather Bayer of the Vacation Rental Success podcast, which has featured more than 440 vacation rental innovators and given an enormous wealth of knowledge to our community. Heather recently sold her vacation rental business after twenty years and we dig into that process, the state of the industry, and how well she has been sleeping since the deal went through.
Vacation Rental Success: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/category/podcast/
Touchstay: https://touchstay.com
EBIDA Definition: https://shorturl.ae/dUDlY
VRMB First Mover Status Workshop: www.vrmb.com/firstmover
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
26 May 2022
"We scrape poop off toilets" with Stuart Hooper of Mangofish Studios
In this episode producer Stuart Hooper gives an update on progress at Mangofish Studios, an off the grid creative retreat center in Panama and talks to Matt about his recent article for Phocuswire.com on the challenge of scaling what cannot be scaled.
Phocuswire Aritcle: https://www.phocuswire.com/challenges-scaling-vacation-rentals?fbclid=IwAR131IU5NxRVFt3T_SxGb4Mgfl_IKRin0XMHX5QbGl-fyqv8MwX4DVDsVvM
Mangofish Studios: www.mangofish.studio
Carl Shepherd Op Ed: https://www.phocuswire.com/short-term-rental-industry-must-do-a-better-job-vetting-travelers
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
19 May 2022
Mighty from Within with Victoria O'Connell of GoLightly
Victoria O'Connell is the creator of GoLightly, a home sharing platform for women. In this episode we dive into the genesis of the platform, talk about creating accountability and deep ties in a network and discuss broader concepts in niche marketing.
GoLightly: https://www.wegolightly.com
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
12 May 2022
Family First with Tom Goodwin of Mountain Laurel Chalets
Tom Goodwin of Mountain Laurel Chalets in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is celebrating 50 years of making limited edition memories for guests. In this episode we dive into his direct marketing techniques, which are among the most holistic and comprehensive we have ever encountered.
* Mountain Laurel Chalets: www.mtnlaurelchalets.com
* Rue Bar Rue: https://www.ruebarue.com
* Track: https://trackhs.com
* Bomb Bomb: https://bombbomb.com
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
5 May 2022
Would You Eat the Berry? with Michael Skinner
Michael Skinner of Savvy Travels is a member of VRMB’s first accelerator cohort and in this episode we’ll take a look at achievements like his knowledge base and org chart. We also talk about retrofitting your business for better decision making.
Savvy Travels: https://www.savvytravels.co
Notion: https://www.notion.so
Taskrabbit: https://www.taskrabbit.com
OwnerRez: https://www.ownerreservations.com
Rented: https://www.rented.com
Waivio: https://waivo.io
Inspirato: https://www.inspirato.com
Selina: www.selina.com
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmbthe best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
28 Apr 2022
Are Short-Term Rentals at the Tipping-Point of Causing our Neighborhoods to Disintegrate with Kelly Hill of Done Right Management
Kelly Hill of DoneRight Vacation Rentals/Casago Mcall has forged deep ties with her community and enjoys a sterling reputation but regulations have still come knocking. Her relationships give her a unique voice in the process and there is hope these decisions will be beneficial for the community and her business but the specter of unfair regulation always looms. We spoke with Kelly before and after critical points in the process and put them together in this two part special episode.
Done Right Management: https://donerightmanagement.com
Casago: www.casago.com
VRMA Right to Rent: https://www.vrma.org/page/right-to-rent
How to Save Your Vacation Rental Show: How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › how-to-save-you...
Streamline: https://www.streamlinevrs.com
Wheelhouse: https://www.usewheelhouse.com
Noiseaware: https://noiseaware.com
Rent Responsibly: https://www.rentresponsibly.org
This episode is brought you by Po…
playlist_add
21 Apr 2022
Dog-Fooding your Vacation Rental with Paul Waldschmidt of OwnerRez
Paul Waldschmidt of OwnerRez has spent the last ten years quietly building one of the best property management softwares in the industry. OwneRez barely advertises and yet they have a fiercely loyal customer base and are raved about in our private forum, VRMB Communities. In this episode we dive into innovation, pricing and loyalty with Paul and come away with some lessons we can all benefit from.
* OwnerRez: https://www.ownerreservations.com
* Paul's Essay on Pricing: https://www.ownerreservations.com/blog/new-ownerrez-pricing-for-2021
* Paul's Growth Essay: https://www.ownerreservations.com/blog/growing-pains-our-size-has-changed-but-our-commitment-and-values-have-not
* Kingdom Website Performance: https://www.pingdom.com
* Ahrefs SEO: https://ahrefs.com
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform…
playlist_add
14 Apr 2022
The Local Hype Man with Miles Chew of Compass Resorts
Miles Chew of Compass Resorts is a marketing manager in the high stakes destination of Destin, Florida. In this interview Miles and Matt talk about being a marketing manager inside a hospitality company and nerd out on the specifics that drive leads and bookings.
* Compass Resorts: https://www.compassresorts.com
* Fall Family Facebook Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/CompassResorts/photos/a.10150567268536319/10158019932331319
* Key Data: https://www.keydatadashboard.com
* Beyond Pricing: https://www.beyondpricing.com
* Track Hospitality Software: https://trackhs.com
* Palms of Destin: https://www.palmsofdestinflorida.com
* Blue Tent: https://www.bluetent.com
* Google Analytics: https://analytics.google.com
This episode is brought you by PointCentral: https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.…
playlist_add
7 Apr 2022
A 101 Short-Term Rental Research Update with Madeline List of Phocuswright
This episode features Madeline List, a senior research analyst at Phocuswright, the leading travel industry research platform. Our nacesent vacation rental movement isn't always well understood by the broader travel industry and this is in part due to a lack of good data to explain the story of our rise.
Madeline is almost single-handedly changing that from a research perspective. Today's conversation features macro trends like vacation rentals versus hotels in terms of market share and what travelers really want.
* Phocuswright
* Through the Roof: U.S. Short-Term Rentals 2021
* The New Nomads: Work and Play from Anywhere
* VRMB's Trends Report 2022
* VRMA
* Homerunners Ep 1 Conference Teaser
* Contact Madeline
This episode is brought you by PointCentral, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
31 Mar 2022
The Passion Train with Brittany Blackman of Breathe Easy Rentals
After working in the industry for nearly a decade, Brittany Blackman started Breathe Easy Rentals in the crowded Destin, Florida market. She quickly gained a foothold by providing a no stress hospitality experience to guests and owners alike. In this episode Brittany also talks about heartfelt videos she has been sharing that have gained her a viral following and perspective on the business.
* Breathe Easy Rentals
* Brittany's Videos
* TouchStay
* Walton County STR Playbook for Property Managers and Owners (still under construction)
* Florida Alliance for Vacation Rentals
* VRMB's Trends Report 2022: https://www.vrmb.com/vrmb-2022-trends/
This episode is brought you by PointCentral, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
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 htt…
playlist_add
24 Mar 2022
A New Galaxy with Jeff Brown of Loma Homes
Jeff Brown of Loma Homes is innvotating in a unique space within the vacation rental industry. In this episode we explore his themed home business, the tech used to power it, the bumps along the way and the money he uses to grow the business.
* Loma Homes
* TaskRabbit
* Pricelab
* Stayfi
* Annversary Inn
This episode is brought you by PointCentral, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
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/
playlist_add
17 Mar 2022
What Makes Your Heart Race with Virginia Ivy of Ivy Vacations
Virginia Ivy is a hospitality pioneer. From opening a music venue in a dead part of Memphis to starting her current vacation rental business in the Arkansas Ozarks, she has earned ‘first mover status’ many times over. She is now an integral part of a tourism oriented community and expanding into related businesses, but through it all she understands the best way to superb guest experience is to focus on the things she loves.
* Ivy Vacations
* About the Area
* Digital Agency for Travel Industry
* HR4VR
This episode is brought you by PointCentral, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
10 Mar 2022
Multi-Dimensional with Megan Carda of Lifestyle Properties Oregon
Megan Carda of Lifestyle Properties used her passion for her local community to build a network of connected businesses that opened the doors to Oregon's Wine Country. Not only does this create a rich guest experience, it drives business to the community and puts Megan lightyears ahead of the competition.
* Lifestyle Properties of Oregon
* Motivation for Conferences in 2022
* RueBaRue
* RueBaRue Guidebook for 'The Pearl'
* PinotCar
* LiveRez
* LiveRez Conference
* VRMA
* Zip Recruiter
This episode is brought you by PointCentral, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
6 Mar 2022
Teaser: "Help, Don't Sell" Example with Megan Carda, Lifestyle Properties Oregon
Our next episode with Megan Carda of Lifestyle Properties drops this coming Thursday, March 10th.
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/
playlist_add
3 Mar 2022
The House Model Always Wins with Graham Donoghue of Sykes Cottages
Graham Donoghue is CEO of Sykes Cottages, arguably the largest profitable vacation rental management company in the world. He brings a unique perspective to our industry, having presided over some of the largest digital-led businesses across the UK. In this mega-episode Matt and Graham tackle how to build a team, how to wield data, how to buy and sell vacation rental companies and...nudgies.
* Sykes Cottages
* Graham's House Model:
* https://community.vrmb.com/threads/the-most-beautiful-company-map-i-have-ever-seen.6414/
* Dream of a Deadline Book
* Salesforce
This episode is brought you by PointCentral, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
24 Feb 2022
The Maker Society with Michelle Ruber, Shift Vacation Rentals
Michelle Ruber of Shift Vacation Rentals has not only built a thriving vacation rental business with her own properties, she has turned passion for her community into a way to give back and enhance guest experience. The result is a kind of first-mover status that carves a deep moat around her business and earns social capital in the eyes of neighbors & employees.
* GoFundMe for Rihab's family
* Shift Vacation Rentals
* Alberta Co-op
* Encircle Design and Build
* Rented.com
* Lodgix
* DARM Conference
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/
playlist_add
29 Jan 2022
EP125: Season 8 Announcement & Moving Mountains
In this episode you'll get a taste of what's to come in the next season of Unlocked themed "First Mover Status" in which we'll interview owners and managers who are gaining HUGE advantages by being first to market with new innovations. But until then, enjoy this brief audio essay from Matt's visit to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Where he visited Robin Craigen of www.movingmountains.com
Link's Mentioned in Episode:
* Rustler's Lodge: https://www.movingmountains.com/vacation-rentals/rustlers-lodge
* The Feeling of Premium: https://www.vrmb.com/vacation-rental-marketing/concepts/feeling-of-premium/
* Stagecoach Ice Fishing: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33657-d8321131-r826116130-Steamboat_Springs_Boat_Rentals-Steamboat_Springs_Colorado.html
playlist_add
12 Oct 2021
EP124: How Airbnb Changed My Life: And Then The World
Evelyn Badia is a New York City based, five-star, Airbnb superhost. Through her online community and podcast she helps people become better hosts and use those hosting skills to build better financial futures.
Evelyn and Matt have a history of banter when it comes to professionalism and the vacation rental industry and in this final episode of season 7, they dive into a less dependent future and explore the motivations and realities of becoming a property manager.
* The Hosting Journey Podcast
* The Hosting Journey Newsletter and Courses
* Eveyln's Airbnb Courses
* Airbnb
* VRMB Communities
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/124/
playlist_add
6 Oct 2021
EP123: The Long Game with Ryan Bailey, CEO of Track Hospitality Software
Travelnet Solutions Co-founder and CEO Ryan Bailey has been working since the early days of the internet to provide technology solutions for the hospitality industry. Their property management software Track has twice been named the software of the future by the VRMB Keystone awards.
In this episode, Matt sits down with Ryan to talk about building enterprise platforms, the rollups shaking the industry, and how technology powered hospitality can be harnessed for a better human experience.
* Travelnet Solutions
* Track Hospitality Software
* Jim Collins Good to Great
* 2021 Keystone Software Awards
* VRMB Communities
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/123/
playlist_add
28 Sept 2021
EP122: I Sued the City and Won
Theo Kracke is a true vacation rental advocacy avenger. Fed up with unfair regulations in his home town of Santa Barbara, he sued the city and spent a great deal of his time and money to create precedent setting law that benefits owners and managers up and down the California coast. In Phoenix at the recent Streamline conference, Matt sat down with Theo to get his story.
* VRMB Communities
* STRSantaBarbara.org
* May the 4th be with Theo Cracke
* How to Save your Vacation Rental Business Podcast
* Paradise Retreats
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/122
playlist_add
20 Sept 2021
EP121: How Vacation Rental Hospitality Made My World Larger
Sallie Mitchell, formerly of Casa Mar Azul vacation rental in San Pancho, Mexico knows what it's like to plan for a dream, live with the realities of that dream, and ultimately exit the dream in a positive fashion. Onwards to the next chapter.
In this episode Sallie and Matt explore the idea of finding your guest type and catering to them, action items to build an exit strategy and dip into Sallie's fears of an arms race in guest expectations.
We have come to think of Sallie's business savvy as the quintessential rent by owner. With the scope of responsibilities and demands of the job greater today than it’s ever been, listen carefully for both the compass that Sallie used to make hard decisions and the framing or presentation of her choice that landed clearly and comfortably in the hands of her guests, employees, and even friends.
More than anything, Sallie champions the idea that if vacation rentals FEELS like something you want to do, would be good at, would mean something…th…
playlist_add
13 Sept 2021
EP120: Matt Roberts, CEO of Vacasa
Matt Roberts is the CEO of Vacasa, one of the largest vacation rental companies in the world. Matt was previously the CEO at Open Table -- the app that allows you to reserve tables at your favorite restaurants -- but he’s not entirely new to vacation rentals as he was previously on Vacasa’s board: granted a very different vantage point than being CEO.
But as a disclaimer and a testament to the theme of this season “unglamorous” we’ve chosen to include Matt because Vacasa, whether you like them or not, is a huge player in the vacation rental eco-system and knowing what their CEO is thinking can be simultaneously awkward and useful. You won’t hear a Bob Woodward style inquisition because Matt (Landau) is not an investigative journalist. What you will hear are questions that other managers are wondering and call-outs that we believe can strengthen our positioning. Plus references to new terms like "share shift," "Domain expertise," and black silk sheets.
* Theory of Limite…
playlist_add
6 Sept 2021
EP119: How Closing Communication Gaps Produce Happier Guests & Homeowners
Ashley Kubiszyn is CEO of River Ridge Rentals in Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone Colorado.
The company has been around for 20 years but Ashley took it over form her mother: conducting a full re-haul on systems and technology, while buttressing the aspects that make them market leaders like specialization, localization, and community involvement.
Most of the questions in this interview are framed -- “Knowing what you now know, how would you do it when starting from scratch?” -- giving newcomers a powerful roadmap to follow and veterans that nudge to address weaknesses that need an update. And pay extra attention to Ashley’s emphasis on communication: both the techniques and the technologies that close the understanding gap, producing happier, more calibrated, guests, homeowners, and teammates.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Links Mentioned i…
playlist_add
31 Aug 2021
EP118: Counter-Viewpoint: I Don’t Want Short Term Rentals in My Neighborhood
In this episode, Matt sits down with Jessica Sheedy Black -- a neighborhood advocate and regional leader of the Texas Neighborhood Coalition -- for a sobering look at the other side of the vacation rental advocacy debate.
As a warning Jessica is not a short term rental advocate. So you may be wondering what’s she doing on this podcast? Our big mission of Unlocked is to challenge vacation rental pros to think differently. And you can only learn so much when hearing the same kinds of profiles all the time, right? At this pivotal point in our industry’s growth, we NEED people like Jessica with level heads in order to avoid crazies and reach fair conclusions for us all.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Links Mentioned in Show:
* Jessica on Twitter
* How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business Podcast
* Sarah Bradford of Sarah and T
* VRMB Communities Joi…
playlist_add
27 Aug 2021
EP117: Data and Revenue Management Conference (DARM) Summary
In this episode, Matt shares his big takeaways from Amy Hinote's Data and Revenue Management Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
The first, data and revenue management is THE JUICIEST way for vacation rental owners and managers to make more money doing exactly the same job they have always loved. When you make more money, everyone has more fun.
Second, asking whether to use manual OR automation is wrong. It should actually be an AND.
And third, consolidation in the vacation rental sector is REAL, but it shouldn't worry the Limited Edition vacation rental managers. In fact, their positioning is stronger than ever before.
You can join VRMB Communities here: https://www.vrmb.com/join/
playlist_add
24 Aug 2021
EP116: What Happens When A Rocket Scientist Becomes A Vacation Rental Professional?
Bruce Ikelheimer, a recovering rocket scientist, is currently at THE inflection point of vacation rental growth: profitable with his own 2 properties and now beginning to manage other homes, Bruce is now scaling his business Banjoe Vacations without scaling his workload.
The lessons he is learning as he approaches liftoff are valuable for listeners from all over the industry.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Links Mentioned in Show:
* OwnerRez
* Quickbooks
* Zapier
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/116
playlist_add
17 Aug 2021
EP115: Making the Family Vacation Rental Business more Profitable After 30 Years
This week Matt talks to Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals about the challenges of modernizing and running a family vacation rental business in an era of acquisitions and tech driven hospitality.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/115
playlist_add
13 Aug 2021
EP114: You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a 1st Impression (Sarah & T Swap)
In this special edition, we're airing a favorite episode from the Sarah & T podcast. Sarah and Tim are good friends and their show is a must listen for anyone in the industry. This week, they take a hilarious look at 6 key components to a successful welcome of your guests.
playlist_add
10 Aug 2021
EP113: How to Spot Big Opportunities in Vacation Rental Consolidation with Eric Broughton of Inhabit IQ
Eric Broughton is the Chief Strategy officer of Inhabit IQ, which owns a number of vacation rental service providers and has frankly not always had the most forthcoming reputation in the vacation rental industry.
In his defense, Eric wasn’t in his position in those early days, he’s relatively new, so this conversation was originally designed to clear up some of the air.
But as you’ll hear, Eric has a very strong understanding about how fragmented industries evolve, the role of private equity on software & consolidation, and what techniques make vacation rentals managers powerful in the next phases of our industry’s growth.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/113
playlist_add
3 Aug 2021
EP112: Thinking Beyond The Next Fiscal Quarter
In this episode, Matt sits down with Alex Cruz of Welcome Home Club to talk about long term business health in a time of tempting short term moves.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/112
playlist_add
27 Jul 2021
EP111: We Just Got Acquired by a Large Company. These Things Do Not Scale
In this episode, Matt sits down with Linda Sylvester, formerly of Great Vacation Retreats, to talk about the complex realities of being acquired and the often unglamorous, difficult-to-scale practices she uses to make vacation rental businesses profitable.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/111
playlist_add
21 Jul 2021
EP110: How To Create Your Vacation Rental Legacy
In this episode, Matt sits down with Michelle Hodges of Meyer Vacation Rentals to discuss building on the legacy of a family enterprise and finding creative solutions to the massive staffing problems of a seasonal business.
This episode is brought you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/110
playlist_add
14 Jul 2021
EP109: The Trickiest Challenges of Vacation Rental Housekeeping And How To Solve (Some Of) Them
In the first episode of our Unglamorous season, Matt sits down with Rocio of Cleancio to discuss the challenges of vacation rental housekeeping and some actionable ideas for solving them.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/109
playlist_add
6 Jul 2021
EP108: Introducing Unglamorous with Matt Landau
As a way to offset some of the unprecedented hype our vacation rental sector is experiencing, Season 7 of the Unlocked Podcast is going against the grain...pulling back the curtain...taking off the rose-colored glasses...and revealing HOW the vacation rental SAUSAGE is made.
The theme of the season: Unglamorous!
Running a vacation rental company is not sexy. It's unpredictable, messy, and incredibly hard, which makes the people who do so profitably REMARKABLE entrepreneurs! Across 15 interviews this season, we want to address the unglamorous: steep challenges with labor, operations, finance, personal health, and burnout. The unsexy side of the hottest sector in travel!
Our goal this season is to build more realistic expectations about what it takes to get the vacation rental job done.
Candid Backstory: The idea for this season was rooted in guilt.
As vacation rental advocates — champions even — VRMB's tendency is to root for the best in everything. And our proudest feedback is…
playlist_add
23 Jun 2021
EP107: Bob Pease of the Brewer's Association
As part of our divergent thinking series, Matt sits down this week with Bob Pease, President of the Brewer's Association. The extraordinary success of the craft beer industry in the last several decades provides real insight into how vacation rental professionals can band together to achieve a host of goals.
playlist_add
9 Jun 2021
EP106: 4 Ways to Configure Your Vacation Rental Magic Zone (Season Recap)
In this episode, Matt reflects on Season Six and shares thoughts from our guests that come together to create a framework for configuring your vacation rental Magic Zone.
playlist_add
26 May 2021
EP105: A Thoughtful Formula to Achieving Single Property Success
Darrell Looney and Sherry Woodhouse have refined ideas and practices for a level of hospitality we can all aspire to in the vacation rental industry. This week they walk Matt through what goes into making their Villa Mais Oui such a special experience for guests.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
19 May 2021
EP104: Introducing the CEO Series with Julie Brinkman, Beyond (Pricing)
For our first in-person recording since early 2020, Matt sat down with Julie Brinkman of Beyond at the recent VRMA Connect event in Sandestin Florida. Julie is part of a new wave of CEOs entering the vacation rental industry with perspectives that benefit us all.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
18 May 2021
EP103: Take a Vacation!
This is a Quick Tips episode of Unlocked, where Matt shares actionable wisdom from VRMB Communities.
Most vacation rental professionals tend to over-work because they wear many hats. Over-working is not sustainable...it will eventually burn you from the inside out. In this episode VRMB Communities discusses the solution: a forced break!
playlist_add
12 May 2021
EP102: THE Masterplan for Vacation Rental Management
This week Matt and Jed Stevens of Koloa Kai detail a six step program for building a sustainable and profitable vacation rental business and soft-launch the VRMB Accelerator Program.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
5 May 2021
EP101: 7 Epiphanies from a Vacation Rental Startup Ceo
In this episode Matt sits down with Andrew McConnell of Rented.com for some must-listen industry analysis and...a few 'twerks'.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
4 May 2021
EP100: On Point with Finca Victoria
This is a Quick Tips episode of Unlocked, where Matt shares actionable wisdom from VRMB Communities.
Have you ever come across a product whose presentation is so on point in that it subliminally sucked you in and persuaded you to buy? Finca Victoria is a farmhouse style B&B on the small island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and every vacation rental professional can take something away from their website: https://www.lafinca.com/
Read the full thread, here: https://community.vrmb.com/threads/finca-victoria.5892/
playlist_add
28 Apr 2021
EP99: How 17 Years of Vacation Rental Housekeeping Discoveries Form a Checklist for the Future
This week Matt speaks with Eddie Gray, the housekeeping and laundry manager for Newman-Dailey Resort Properties. With 17 years in the business, Eddie has amassed wisdom that can benefit every vacation rental business. Best practices, checklists, delegating, software, employees, covid...Eddie covers it all.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
Track
VRMB Communities
playlist_add
27 Apr 2021
EP98: How To Create Moments of Engagement with Guests
This is a Quick Tips episode of Unlocked, where Matt shares actionable wisdom from VRMB Communities.
"Moments of engagement” is one way of thinking about those special interactions in which you win over guests, turning them from stranger to friend (and reviewer/repeat/referral booker). Moments of engagement are interactions that connect us: the openings for lines of communication and meaningful relationships that generate profit.
Read the full thread, here: https://community.vrmb.com/threads/moments-of-engagement.5751/
playlist_add
21 Apr 2021
EP97: Niches Are The Next Wave in Vacation Rentals
This week Matt sits down with Anthony Gantt of At Ease which was created to solve challenges with vacation rentals for military personnel and their families. Anthony's story of discovering and executing in his niche is must-listen content for anyone looking to level up with the biggest current opportunity in the vacation rental business.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
20 Apr 2021
EP96: The Landmark Feature to Command Travelers' Attention
This is a Quick Tips episode of Unlocked, where Matt shares actionable wisdom from VRMB Communities.
Any vacation rental property can be made more “limited edition” with the introduction of a landmark feature: a structural, decorative, or recreational aspect of the home’s offering that is unique (in your competitive set), photogenic (for promotional purposes), and perhaps most importantly enjoyable for new and repeat guests.
Read the full thread, here: https://community.vrmb.com/threads/the-landmark-feature.4910/
playlist_add
14 Apr 2021
EP95: How to Uncover Hidden Bookings Left on the Table
This week Matt sits down with Amber Carpenter of DemandIQ to talk about a significant source of revenue we've all been missing. What started as a capstone project for Amber's master's degree has become must-use tech for the entire vacation rental industry.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
13 Apr 2021
EP94: 8 Deep Adjustments To Your Airbnb & Vrbo Listings
This is a Quick Tips episode of Unlocked, where Matt shares actionable wisdom from VRMB Communities.
Not all listings are created equally. This week, the community discusses 8 deep adjustments that are designed to maximize bookings in a crowded listing site landscape.
Read the full thread, here: https://community.vrmb.com/threads/8-deep-adjustments-to-your-listings.5955/
playlist_add
7 Apr 2021
EP93: The Ultimate Recipe for Building a Vacation Rental Lifestyle Brand
Bob Garner and his husband, Ian, have built their Casal dei Fichi into a powerhouse of repeat bookings, positive environmental action and the profitability needed to achieve a fun, balanced lifestyle. In this episode Matt and Bob dig into the how's and why's, and explore a 'two loops model' for vacation rental businesses that is critical listening for anyone in the industry.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
31 Mar 2021
EP92: How Vacation Rentals Helped Me Buy My Dream Family Home
This week Sibylle Kim gives us a masterclass in the single property lifestyle business. She bought her dream vacation home in Waterbury, Vermont, and turned it into Villa Ausblick, a profitable, family-friendly short-term rental sanctuary, where she created years of memories for her family and her guests. Now, after nearly two decades in business, Sibylle is sharing wisdom that is of value to everyone in the industry, while also getting involved with advocacy work with the brand-new Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance (VT hosts, this is for you!).
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
24 Mar 2021
EP91: Carl Shepherd (Part 2) from HomeAway on Vacation Rentals' Past, Present, and Future
Part 2 of Matt's sit down with Carl Shepherd, co-founder of HomeAway. This week we get into the fun stuff. Where's the opportunity? How to build brand? What deep trends should you be keeping an eye on as they evolve?
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
17 Mar 2021
EP90: Carl Shepherd (Part 1) from HomeAway on Vacation Rentals' Past, Present, and Future
In this episode, Matt sits down with Carl Shepherd, co-founder of HomeAway, for an oral history of some of the vacation rental industry's formative moments and a visionary look at its future.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
10 Mar 2021
EP89: Growth Secrets for 100+ Properties (Exit Strategy Included)
In this episode Matt sits down with Kirsten King of Big Sky Vacation Rentals for some big takeaways on building and ultimately selling a supremely profitable and sustainable vacation rental business.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
3 Mar 2021
EP88: Sheron Scurlock of Scurlock Farms
In this episode Matt talks finding your niche and your balance with Sheron of Scurlock Farms. Sheron mixes a working farm, famous art, pet friendliness and a friendly family to create the ultimate limited edition vacation rental business.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
24 Feb 2021
EP87: Kyle Finley of Legalbnb.org
In this episode, Matt sits down with Kyle Finley of Legalbnb and Briefhomes to talk about how Kyle went from the wild west of vacation rentals to helping other hosts legalize their businesses. They also cover tools and operations, finding work life balance, and recovering from Coronavirus.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
17 Feb 2021
EP86: Stephanie Farr of Maya Luxe
It's the the season premiere of Unlocked Magic Zones! In this episode, Steph Farr of Maya Luxe walks us through every aspect of her vacation rental business. From owner relations, giving back to the community and thriving during a global pandemic, Steph is one of the most limited edition vacation rental managers we’ve ever seen.
This episode is brought to you by Point Central, the leaders in smart home automation, and Breezeway, the best in class property care and automations platform.
playlist_add
16 Feb 2021
Introducing Magic Zones with Matt Landau
VRMB is thrilled to announce Season 6 of Unlocked by Matt Landau, a podcast that invites you to be a fly-on-the-wall with some of the most creative vacation rental professionals in the world. The first episode premieres Wednesday February 17th, 2021.
playlist_add
9 Feb 2021
EP84: The VRMB Keystone Awards with Terry Whyte
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.co…
playlist_add
27 Jan 2021
EP83: Eric Thibodeaux of Current Tides
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://beyondp…
playlist_add
14 Oct 2020
EP82: Our Wakeup Call with Dana Lubner
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…
playlist_add
7 Oct 2020
EP81: Dr. Louis Rosenberg of Unanimous AI
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
playlist_add
30 Sept 2020
EP80: Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes
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…
playlist_add
23 Sept 2020
EP79: Karen and John Bobe of Sunset Properties
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: ht…
playlist_add
16 Sept 2020
EP78: Harsha L’Acqua of Saira Hospitality
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/c…
playlist_add
9 Sept 2020
EP77: Pierre Becerril of Transparent
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. ht…
playlist_add
2 Sept 2020
EP76: Robin Craigen of Moving Mountains
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://…
playlist_add
26 Aug 2020
EP75: Nathan Schneider of the Media Enterprise Design Lab
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
playlist_add
19 Aug 2020
EP74: Sarah Franzen of Natural Retreats
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, Ai…
playlist_add
12 Aug 2020
EP73: Margot Schmorak of Hostfully
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 re…
playlist_add
5 Aug 2020
EP72: Jeremiah Gall of Breezeway
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 Air…
playlist_add
29 Jul 2020
EP71: Casey Halloran of Namu Travel Group
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.co…
playlist_add
22 Jul 2020
EP70: Christina Thoreson of Chattanooga Vacation Rentals
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 perf…
playlist_add
15 Jul 2020
EP69: Shaun Stewart of Newlab
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 Partne…
playlist_add
8 Jul 2020
EP68: Lynn Gallimore of Sinya on Lone Man Creek
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 trav…
playlist_add
1 Jul 2020
EP67: Michelle Williams of Atlantic Vacation Homes
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 co…
playlist_add
24 Jun 2020
EP66: Matthew Tesdall of Family Time Vacation Rentals
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:/…
playlist_add
17 Jun 2020
EP65: Viktoria Ujj of Sunny Maui Vacations
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 a…
playlist_add
10 Jun 2020
EP64: Rafat Ali of Skift
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.…
playlist_add
3 Jun 2020
EP63: Heleena Sideris of Park City Lodging
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 t…
playlist_add
27 May 2020
EP62: Chip Conley of the Modern Elder Academy
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…
playlist_add
22 May 2020
EP61: Toby Babich of Breckenridge Resort Managers
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…
playlist_add
20 May 2020
EP60: Dana Lubner of Effortless Rental Group
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…
playlist_add
29 Apr 2020
COVID19 Update with Tammy Rowe of Mangofish Studios
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
playlist_add
20 Apr 2020
COVID19 Update with Stuart Hooper of Mangofish Studios
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
playlist_add
26 Mar 2020
Coronavirus Update & Season 5 Announcement
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.
playlist_add
20 Feb 2020
Matt's Top 20 Advocacy Tips for 2020
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/
playlist_add
22 Jan 2020
EP59: Tables Turned with Matt Landau
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
playlist_add
15 Jan 2020
EP58: 0-500 Properties in 5 Years with Brooke Pfautz
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.…
playlist_add
8 Jan 2020
EP57: Homerun Hospitality with Jesse and Emily Cole
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…
playlist_add
1 Jan 2020
EP56: Our Future with Carole Lynn Sharoff
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, conside…
playlist_add
25 Dec 2019
EP55: The Paragon with Tim Cafferty
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 you…
playlist_add
18 Dec 2019
EP54: Doing Things Properly with Tammi Sims
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 shoul…
playlist_add
11 Dec 2019
EP53: The Fisherman Niche with David Krauthamer
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 epis…
playlist_add
4 Dec 2019
EP52: The Conference Beat with Koryn Okey
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 som…
playlist_add
27 Nov 2019
EP51: The DNA of a Movement with Scott Shatford
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 ou…
playlist_add
20 Nov 2019
EP50: Dirty Laundry with Elizabeth Maora Sickels
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 ep…
playlist_add
13 Nov 2019
EP 49: The New Southern Hospitality with Corey Jones
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 mention…
playlist_add
6 Nov 2019
EP 48: Made for This with Jodi Refosco
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…
playlist_add
30 Oct 2019
EP 47: The Forcefield with CJ Stam
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…
playlist_add
23 Oct 2019
EP 46: Industry Pulse with Amy Hinote
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 PointCen…
playlist_add
23 Oct 2019
EP 44: Finding Our Voice with Sarah Bradford
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…
playlist_add
23 Oct 2019
EP 45: The Advocate with Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris
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…
playlist_add
18 Oct 2019
EP 43: VRMA Wrap-up with Terry Whyte
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/
playlist_add
29 Aug 2019
EP 42: Big Learnings and Takeaways [Season 3]
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
playlist_add
21 Aug 2019
EP41: Technology's Point Person with Sean Miller
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/
playlist_add
14 Aug 2019
EP40: Short Term Rent, Long Term Win with Matt Hoffman
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 Ma…
playlist_add
7 Aug 2019
EP39: The Noise Captain with Christine Saba
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…
playlist_add
31 Jul 2019
EP 38: Vacasa Buys Wyndham Vacation Rentals
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/
playlist_add
31 Jul 2019
EP37: Voice Activation with Dana Young
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
playlist_add
24 Jul 2019
EP36: A Theater of Growth with Cliff Johnson
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/
playlist_add
17 Jul 2019
EP35: Non-Perishables with Lee Zeller
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/
playlist_add
10 Jul 2019
EP34: No Time to Waste with Megan McCrea
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.pointcentra…
playlist_add
3 Jul 2019
EP 33: Picking the Lock with Guglielmo Scarpa
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 fr…
playlist_add
28 Jun 2019
EP 32: The Keystone Awards with Terry Whyte
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/
playlist_add
19 Jun 2019
EP31: One Industry Voice with Mike Copps of VRMA
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/
playlist_add
17 Jun 2019
EP30: The GSV Technology Rollup in the Vacation Rental Industry
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/
playlist_add
12 Jun 2019
EP29: The Love Language with Heather Bayer
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…
playlist_add
5 Jun 2019
EP28: Keeping it Commercial with Sarah Nie
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.poprental…
playlist_add
29 May 2019
EP27: Our Vacation Rental Campaign with Phil Minardi
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-5…
playlist_add
22 May 2019
EP26: Social Media Influencers with Kristi Kautz
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…
playlist_add
15 May 2019
EP25: A Different Kind of Sharing Economy with Bradie Beagley-Reiner
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.…
playlist_add
8 May 2019
EP24: The Biggest Lesson of My Career with Steve Milo
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…
playlist_add
20 Mar 2019
EP23: Diamond In The Rough with Danna Kittell of Starfish Luxury Rentals
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 va…
playlist_add
13 Mar 2019
EP22: Handmade Pricing with Zaira Guzman of Bluewater Vacation Homes
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 strategie…
playlist_add
6 Mar 2019
EP21: The Mood Board with Jean-Philippe Ramé of 2BeApart
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 http…
playlist_add
27 Feb 2019
EP20: The Folio with Jeff Jensen of Utopian Luxury Vacation Homes
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/…
playlist_add
20 Feb 2019
EP19: Saving Grace with Mike Harrington of Carolina Beach Realty
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://w…
playlist_add
13 Feb 2019
EP18: The Alliance with Eric Bay of ANP
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 o…
playlist_add
6 Feb 2019
EP17: Listing Site Independence with Jeremiah Gall
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.vrm…
playlist_add
30 Jan 2019
EP16: Follow The Wall with Durk Johnson of VRHP
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
playlist_add
23 Jan 2019
EP15: Diversified with Jeanne Dailey of Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
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/
playlist_add
16 Jan 2019
EP14: Top-Grading with John Dean of Only Provence
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…
playlist_add
9 Jan 2019
EP13: Collaborative Wisdom with Brad Stewart of Stewart Mountain Lodging
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…
playlist_add
2 Jan 2019
EP12: The Acquisition with Alex Barba of BCN Apartments
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…
playlist_add
26 Dec 2018
EP11: The Auctioneer with Mailie Green of Global Villas Ltd
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/
playlist_add
19 Dec 2018
EP10: My Flotilla with Lawrie Lawrence of Stay Lake Norman
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/
playlist_add
12 Dec 2018
EP09: Pretext Support with Bernardo Retana of Otium Residences
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.wh…
playlist_add
15 Nov 2017
EP08: The Limited Edition Episode
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 “…
playlist_add
8 Nov 2017
EP07: Managing an Overseas Vacation Rental & Overcoming Tragedies with Ralph Moorhouse
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 righ…
playlist_add
1 Nov 2017
EP06: Slowly Growing & Automating a Boutique Vacation Rental Management Business with Jan Stevens
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 ma…
playlist_add
25 Oct 2017
EP05: Creating a Successful & Fulfilling Niche Vacation Rental Business with Rick Oster
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 busin…
playlist_add
18 Oct 2017
EP04: Infusing Personality (and Totem Poles) into Your Vacation Rental with Teena Kulakowski
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 re…
playlist_add
12 Oct 2017
EP03: From Side-Hustle to Big-Hustle with Darik Eaton
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…
playlist_add
12 Oct 2017
EP02: Building an Island Paradise Dream Life with Karla Gustafson
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 rent…
playlist_add
12 Oct 2017
EP01: Lumpy Mail & The Importance of Doing Things that Don’t Scale with Stan Horst
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…
playlist_add