Unlocked by Matt Landau

Big Announcement from Matt Jul 24, 2024

We’re in between seasons of Unlocked, which means something new must be brewing!

In this episode, Matt shares details about his new business creative community Here Goes Nothin.

You can sign up at www.heregoesnothin.com and learn more about the upcoming retreat at www.heregoesnothin.com/costarica.

Shifting To Unlimited with Pamela Quinn Jun 21, 2024

This episode features Pamela Quinn, the Chief Experience Officer at LakeDays.Rentals. Pamela and Matt talk about purpose and vision, and how to align your team with them. They talk about how to get things done and the role of creativity in the process.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

The Next Big Leap with Dixie Taylor Jun 14, 2024

This episode features Dixie Taylor, Director of Operations at Current Tides Vacation Rentals in Alabama. This episode discusses the significant leap Dixie took when she left her old "gig". The episode emphasizes recognizing when to step into the unknown, into something new ...

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

Conway’s Law featuring Paul Waldschmidt May 31, 2024

This episode features Paul Waldschmidt, the co-founder and CEO of OwnerRez, a property management software that serves both small homeowners and large property managers. OwnerRez is also the sponsor of this season of Unlocked.

Paul and his team were part of the reason Matt decided to create this 12th season of Unlocked. In this episode, Paul and Matt talk about the OwnerRez retreat in the Dominican Republic back in 2023, where they, along with the OwnerRez team, started working on completing the employee manual. However, the retreat became much more than just completing it.

If you are interested in learning more about OwnerRez, visit www.ownerrez.com.

If you would like to join Matt and over 1200 of the most creative vacation rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

Force Majeure with Sean Breuner May 24, 2024

This episode features Sean Breuner, the founder and CEO of AvantStay. Today's interview focuses on innovation and includes discussions about intuition and risk-taking. Necessities that are needed to create and differentiate in the Vacation Rental Industry as we know it.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

How To Get What You Want with Julie Marks May 16, 2024

This episode features Julie Marks, who is the co-owner of Homestead Hospitality and the Founder & Executive Director of the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance.

This episode is marked as one of Matt's favorite interviews to date. Matt and Julie talk about advocacy, helping, and connecting with people, which comes with a challenge: drawing boundaries. This interview is all about re-evaluating priorities in your life and business...

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

Poetry vs. Plumbing with Henrik Kjellberg May 10, 2024

Today's episode features Henrik Kjellberg, CEO of Awaze. In this conversation, Henrik and Matt dive into "the new world". A world that requires adapting to change in more than just the Vacation Rental Industry, which is interesting but can be scary...

Henrik shares his take on innovation and creativity and how discipline, consistency, and leadership contribute towards growth in a constantly changing industry.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

“The Connector” with Ruth Manfredi Apr 26, 2024

Today's episode features Ruth Manfredi, owner of Cinque Terre Vacation Rentals in Italy. In this episode, Ruth and Matt talk about a shift toward creativity, authenticity, and originality within the VR industry. You will hear Ruth her passion and excitement while she shares her stories and experiences which involves more than just the VR industry.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

What’s Your Story with Maria Schuh Apr 12, 2024

Today's episode features Maria Schuh, owner of Mistiso's Place in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. In this episode, Maria talks about ways that effectively allow her to navigate the threats that seem to hold a lot of VR owners back and how dancing influences the way she goes about life.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, head over to community.vrmb.com.

Here Goes Nothin’ with Steve Hafner Apr 04, 2024

Today's episode features Steve Hafner, the co-founder and CEO of Kayak. Kayak is a search engine for travel services, including airline flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages.

In this episode, Steve and Matt talk about what it means to be a visionary, and how to be creative and bring ideas. Steve and Matt dive into the importance of storytelling, and Steve talks about how clarity helps to become more authentic.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, make sure to head over to community.vrmb.com.

Authentic Innovation with Barry Shimelfarb Mar 28, 2024

Today's episode features Barry Shimelfarb, who is a short-term rental operator, an executive coach to tech leaders in Silicon Valley, and a father of two.

In this episode, Barry opens up about one of the most difficult times in his life and how this has shaped his guest philosophy, the way he manages his businesses, and the way he tries to make the best use of every single day.

In addition, Barry shares how he used his years of hosting experience to create Super Host Bootcamp, www.superhostbootcamp.com , in which he shares his best secrets about how to boost bookings and increase profits in fewer hours.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that covers small homeowners and large PMs alike.

If you would like to join Barry, Matt, and over 1200 of the most creative Vacation Rental operators in the world, make sure to head over to community.vrmb.com.

Leading With Love with Antonio Bortolotti Nov 23, 2023

Today's episode features Antonio Bortolotti, who runs the vacation Rental World Summit with his wife, Christina. It's become the preeminent event in Europe and the Middle East for vacation rental professionals. In this episode, Antonio and I recount this most extraordinary moment on stage at the end of the Vacation Rental World Summit in Barcelona just a couple weeks ago. We go through some of the sequences that neither of us could have fathomed, along with the consequences of what happened on stage and these shifts in priorities that myself and Antonio and I'm guessing a lot of you are going through in life as we evolve.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

Playing it Safe with Justin Ford Nov 02, 2023

This episode features a conversation between Justin Ford and Matt Landau. Justin is a longtime industry advocate, having introduced professional safety protocols to the emerging industry of vacation rentals. In this episode, Matt and Justin talk about leadership and fear, and how certain experiences impact the way we think about, and handle, risk. The episode concludes with a conversation about safety in the vacation rental industry.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

I Got Stuck ... with Steve Schwab Oct 20, 2023

I GOT STUCK is my story but it could also likely be yours. As burnout started to rear its ugly head my relationships and projects started to wobble. I was forced to accept that I was lacking a clear vision for my future: I was without a firm foundation to create from. How does one become visionary? What does it feel like to grow in new ways? How do we adapt and unstuck ourselves as we enter an era of unprecedented change?

I’m particularly grateful to my business partner Steve Schwab, for his courage and patience and willingness to build our retreats company together in creative and curious new ways.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

Our Fathers Would Be Proud with Adam Strauss Oct 05, 2023

This episode features a conversation between two lifelong friends, Adam and Matt, who talk about their childhood, their fathers, and their heritage. In this conversation, they reflect on how travel reunited them in a very special place in this world, close to their roots. This episode is about exploring who they are as a person and creating life-lasting memories at their home away from home…

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

Everything Was Going Exactly As Planned ... Sep 28, 2023

In this episode, Matt talks with his friend and neighbor Robin. Robin‘s whole life seemed to be going according to plan -- great job, health, nuclear family -- until she got hit by the shitstorm of her marriage starting to unravel. In this episode, Matt and Robin explore themes of relationships, adversity, movement, and travel, and how to lead your children and loved ones by leading yourself.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

What's the Purpose of Your Trip with Guy Fomin Sep 21, 2023

In this podcast episode, Matt Landau and Guy discuss personal growth, business insights, and transformative experiences. Matt talks about his life-changing trip to Israel and how travel can trigger transformation. Guy shares his enlightening experiences with psychedelics and how they altered his perspective on life. The episode also covers Guy's journey into parenthood and its profound impact on him, emphasizing the role of children in shaping better individuals.

This podcast episode is an enriching exploration of personal growth, the art of delegation, business expansion, relationship-building, the power of storytelling, heightened awareness, and the transformative influence of life experiences and parenthood.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

From Mother to Son with Barbara Landau Sep 14, 2023

Join us for a conversation between Matt and his mother, Barbara Landau. This episode offers a glimpse into Barbara Landau’s rich life experiences and adventures. She reflects on her career choices, emphasizing the importance of building a network of mentors and allies for success. Barbara's impressive achievements are a testament to her dedication and determination.

Intriguingly, the episode delves into the core of Barbara and Matt's family dynamics, touching upon their Jewish identity and the role of religion and culture in their lives. Discover how these elements have played a significant part in shaping their values and perspectives.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

The Big Kahuna with Valerie Gangas Sep 07, 2023

Join us for a captivating conversation with Valerie Gangas as she shares her inspiring journey of growth, spirituality, and resilience. From starting a vacation rental company during the pandemic to exploring the depths of her spiritual awakening, Valerie's story is a powerful testament to the human spirit. Tune in for a dose of inspiration and insights into embracing change, seeking support, and creating exceptional guest experiences in the vacation rental industry.

This episode is brought to you by Breezeway, https://www.breezeway.io/vrmb the best-in-class property care and operations platform, and bnbfinder, https://www.bnbfinder.com/list, a book direct marketplace with a 20-year history connecting travelers with unique places to stay. No commissions, no processing fees, no service fees. Plain and simple.

Up in the Air with Christina Thoreson Jan 26, 2023

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/

2023 Trends and Predictions with Lino Maldonado of BeHome247 Jan 19, 2023

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/

Writing Your Professional Story with Alex Husner of Casago Jan 12, 2023

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/

The Quintessential Waverider with Matt Durrette of Cozi Vacation Rentals Dec 29, 2022

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://www https://www.eosworldwide.com/

Presidency with Karen Hunt Dec 22, 2022

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/

A Life's Work with Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes Dec 15, 2022

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/

One of a Kind with Sharon Walker of Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals Dec 08, 2022

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

BONUS: 2023 Trends with Nate Wysk of Point Central Dec 01, 2022

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/

Analytical with Eddie Love of Mountain Mama Cabins Nov 17, 2022

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

Leveling Up with Amanda Hoffmann of Highgate Homes Nov 10, 2022

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

The Case Against Consolidation with Simon Lehmann of AJL Atelier Nov 04, 2022

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/

Leading from the Heart with Lauren Madewell of Auntie Bellham's Cabin Rentals Oct 27, 2022

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/

2023 Keystone Awards Update with Terry Whyte Oct 21, 2022

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/

How Vacation Rental Laws Work with Tiffany Edwards of Coletta Consulting Oct 13, 2022

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/

Throwback to Hurricane Florence with Mike Harrington Oct 07, 2022

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/

Scaling Culture with Steve Schwab of Casago Sep 29, 2022

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/

Nailed it with Miriam Ramsey of VTrips Sep 22, 2022

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/

Validation with Michelle 'MJ' Boyle of My Tiny House Village Sep 15, 2022

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/

Pressure is a Privilege with Lukas Krause of Skyrun Vacation Rentals Sep 08, 2022

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/

Season Reflections with Jeremiah Gall of Breezeway Sep 06, 2022

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/

Our Foundation with Heather Bayer of Vacation Rental Success Jun 07, 2022

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/

"We scrape poop off toilets" with Stuart Hooper of Mangofish Studios May 26, 2022

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/

Mighty from Within with Victoria O'Connell of GoLightly May 19, 2022

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/

Family First with Tom Goodwin of Mountain Laurel Chalets May 12, 2022

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/

Would You Eat the Berry? with Michael Skinner May 05, 2022

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/

Are Short-Term Rentals at the Tipping-Point of Causing our Neighborhoods to Disintegrate with Kelly Hill of Done Right Management Apr 28, 2022

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 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/

Dog-Fooding your Vacation Rental with Paul Waldschmidt of OwnerRez Apr 21, 2022

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.

Join VRMB Communities: https://www.vrmb.com/membership/

The Local Hype Man with Miles Chew of Compass Resorts Apr 14, 2022

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.com/membership/

A 101 Short-Term Rental Research Update with Madeline List of Phocuswright Apr 07, 2022

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.

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/

The Passion Train with Brittany Blackman of Breathe Easy Rentals Mar 31, 2022

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 https://community.vrmb.com/

A New Galaxy with Jeff Brown of Loma Homes Mar 24, 2022

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.

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/

What Makes Your Heart Race with Virginia Ivy of Ivy Vacations Mar 17, 2022

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.

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/

Multi-Dimensional with Megan Carda of Lifestyle Properties Oregon Mar 10, 2022

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.

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/

Teaser: "Help, Don't Sell" Example with Megan Carda, Lifestyle Properties Oregon Mar 07, 2022

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/

The House Model Always Wins with Graham Donoghue of Sykes Cottages Mar 03, 2022

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.

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/

The Maker Society with Michelle Ruber, Shift Vacation Rentals Feb 24, 2022

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.

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/

EP125: Season 8 Announcement & Moving Mountains Jan 29, 2022

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

EP124: How Airbnb Changed My Life: And Then The World Oct 12, 2021

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.

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/

EP123: The Long Game with Ryan Bailey, CEO of Track Hospitality Software Oct 06, 2021

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.

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/

EP122: I Sued the City and Won Sep 28, 2021

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.

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

EP121: How Vacation Rental Hospitality Made My World Larger Sep 21, 2021

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…that you should take that leap even though it may seem terrifying. At least in Sallie’s case, hospitality has made her world larger, her life richer, and her stories hilarious to boot!

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/121

EP120: Matt Roberts, CEO of Vacasa Sep 14, 2021

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.

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. Both companies' leadership are featured in the middle of the episode talking about the other fondly.

Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/120

EP119: How Closing Communication Gaps Produce Happier Guests & Homeowners Sep 07, 2021

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 in Show:

Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/119

EP118: Counter-Viewpoint: I Don’t Want Short Term Rentals in My Neighborhood Aug 31, 2021

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:

EP117: Data and Revenue Management Conference (DARM) Summary Aug 27, 2021

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/

EP116: What Happens When A Rocket Scientist Becomes A Vacation Rental Professional? Aug 24, 2021

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:

Additional show notes can be found at www.vrmb.com/116

EP115: Making the Family Vacation Rental Business more Profitable After 30 Years Aug 17, 2021

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

EP114: You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a 1st Impression (Sarah & T Swap) Aug 13, 2021

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.

EP113: How to Spot Big Opportunities in Vacation Rental Consolidation with Eric Broughton of Inhabit IQ Aug 10, 2021

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

EP112: Thinking Beyond The Next Fiscal Quarter Aug 03, 2021

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

EP111: We Just Got Acquired by a Large Company. These Things Do Not Scale Jul 27, 2021

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

EP110: How To Create Your Vacation Rental Legacy Jul 21, 2021

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

EP109: The Trickiest Challenges of Vacation Rental Housekeeping And How To Solve (Some Of) Them Jul 14, 2021

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

EP108: Introducing Unglamorous with Matt Landau Jul 06, 2021

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 when listeners say they felt encouraged or emboldened to continue pursuing their craft. We are your cheerleaders!

But is there such a thing as too much positivity?

Yes! It’s called hype.

And over the last 6 months as our industry has recovered perhaps better than any sector in travel, we’ve noticed unprecedented levels of attention and headlines: from journalists, producers, travelers, and new potential owners and managers looking to learn more.

There is danger — when entering some place new for the first time with the wrong expectations.

If you expect one thing, and the reality is another, you open yourself up to major letdowns. This is true about destination branding too by the way: if guests coming to your destination aren't calibrated, they write negative reviews. We've all learned that experience the hard way.

So inside VRMB Communities, we started to talk a little more bluntly about how to best champion the industry but to do so accurately.

The best conclusion?

Be real. Tell both sides of the story. Show the truth, when it’s beautiful and when it’s....well...unglamorous.

We've spent the past 6 seasons showing you the most rosy side of our industry (and we’re not about to go completely negative on you or anything) but this season, we want to bring things down to earth and get real. We want to balance out the rose with the dirt it grows in.

EP107: Bob Pease of the Brewer's Association Jun 23, 2021

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.

EP106: 4 Ways to Configure Your Vacation Rental Magic Zone (Season Recap) Jun 09, 2021

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.

EP105: A Thoughtful Formula to Achieving Single Property Success May 26, 2021

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.

EP104: Introducing the CEO Series with Julie Brinkman, Beyond (Pricing) May 19, 2021

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.

EP103: Take a Vacation! May 18, 2021

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!

EP102: THE Masterplan for Vacation Rental Management May 12, 2021

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.

EP101: 7 Epiphanies from a Vacation Rental Startup Ceo May 05, 2021

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.

EP100: On Point with Finca Victoria May 04, 2021

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/

EP99: How 17 Years of Vacation Rental Housekeeping Discoveries Form a Checklist for the Future Apr 28, 2021

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

EP98: How To Create Moments of Engagement with Guests Apr 27, 2021

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/

EP97: Niches Are The Next Wave in Vacation Rentals Apr 21, 2021

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.

EP96: The Landmark Feature to Command Travelers' Attention Apr 20, 2021

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/

EP95: How to Uncover Hidden Bookings Left on the Table Apr 14, 2021

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.

EP94: 8 Deep Adjustments To Your Airbnb & Vrbo Listings Apr 13, 2021

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/

EP93: The Ultimate Recipe for Building a Vacation Rental Lifestyle Brand Apr 07, 2021

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.

EP92: How Vacation Rentals Helped Me Buy My Dream Family Home Mar 31, 2021

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.

EP91: Carl Shepherd (Part 2) from HomeAway on Vacation Rentals' Past, Present, and Future Mar 24, 2021

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.

EP90: Carl Shepherd (Part 1) from HomeAway on Vacation Rentals' Past, Present, and Future Mar 17, 2021

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.

EP89: Growth Secrets for 100+ Properties (Exit Strategy Included) Mar 10, 2021

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.

EP88: Sheron Scurlock of Scurlock Farms Mar 03, 2021

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.

EP87: Kyle Finley of Legalbnb.org Feb 24, 2021

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.

EP86: Stephanie Farr of Maya Luxe Feb 17, 2021

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.

Introducing Magic Zones with Matt Landau Feb 16, 2021

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.

EP84: The VRMB Keystone Awards with Terry Whyte Feb 09, 2021

In this special episode, Terry and Matt announce the winners of the 2021 VRMB Keystone Awards! The theme of this year's awards is agility and they cover property management software for any size vacation rental business as well as several categories of third party software.

Thank you to Vintory for bringing us this year's Keystone Awards. Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. Visit vintory.com/keystone for a free masterclass.

See more of the Keystone Awards here: VRMB.com/keystone-awards/

Terry's site: http://vacationrentalsoftwareguy.com

Resources named in the awards:

Streamline: https://www.streamlinevrs.com

Maxxton: https://www.maxxton.com

Track: https://trackhs.com

Ciirus: https://www.ciirus.com

Hostfully: https://www.hostfully.com

Avantio: https://www.avantio.com

Zeevou: https://zeevou.com

Key Data Dashboard: https://keydatadashboard.com

Transparent: https://seetransparent.com/en/

Touchstay: https://touchstay.com

RueBaRue: https://www.ruebarue.com

Rental Guardian: https://www.rentalguardian.com

Point Central: https://www.pointcentral.com

Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io

Stayfi: https://stayfi.com

Lynnbrook Group: https://www.lynnbrookgroup.com

EP83: Eric Thibodeaux of Current Tides Jan 27, 2021

As we prepare to launch a new season of Unlocked, Matt sits down with Eric Thibodeaux of Current Tides and Safer VR's for a very detailed discussion of growing and running a vacation rental business, the technology used for operations, incorporating long-term rentals into your portfolio and the upcoming Vacation Rental Business in Today’s World virtual summit, which kicks off of February 1st.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

VRMB Communities: https://community.vrmb.com

Safer VR's: www.safervrs.com

Vacation Rental Business in Today’s World virtual summit: https://www.safervrs.com/summit

Current Tides Vacation Rentals: https://www.currenttides.net

Vintory: https://vintory.com

Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io

Point Central: https://www.pointcentral.com

Fire Protection at Oklahoma Sate: https://osuokc.edu/FireProtection

Kaba Locks: https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en/solutions/products/vacation-short-term-rental-solutions/keyless-door-locks

Beyond Pricing: https://beyondpricing.com

Price Labs: https://hello.pricelabs.co

LiveRez: https://www.liverez.com

Airdna: https://www.airdna.co

KeyData Dashboard: https://keydatadashboard.com

NextPax: https://nextpax.com

Vrbo: www.vrbo.com

Google Travel: https://www.google.com/travel/

Perdido Key: https://www.visitperdido.com

Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com

Stayfi: https://stayfi.com

EP82: Our Wakeup Call with Dana Lubner Oct 14, 2020

In this special edition of Unlocked, we're airing the first episode of the How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business podcast and kicking it off with an exclusive intro from Matt and Dana. This new podcast is produced by VRMB Communities, hosted by Dana and something Matt's been passionate about for sometime, now.

Vacation rental professionals can no longer afford to ignore community based advocacy. In this episode you’ll meet Dana and hear from voices around the industry about the scope of the problem and how the pandemic has made regulation an even more volatile issue. We’ll explore the concept of advocacy and community and hear four key takeaways that are critical for your business right now.

How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business is brought to you by TRACK powered by TravelNet Solutions, providing integrated solutions to transform the way vacation rental hospitality works.

Resources mentioned in the show:

Expedia's government affairs contact: govermentaffairs@vrbo.com
Phil Minardi contacts: pminardi@expedia.com or pminardi@vrbo.com
Dana’s public contact: help@danalubner.com
VRMB Communities: https://community.vrmb.com

Thank you to our featured guests:

Phil Minardi, Expedia Group
Dave Krauss, Rent Responsibly
Paige Teel, Northeast Vacation Rental Professionals
Jennifer Frankenstein, Great Ocean Condos and Homes
Jonah Mechanic, Seabreeze Vacation Rentals
Megan Mccrea, Southbound Stays & NASTRA
Jessica Black, Moms Against Short Term Rentals
Eric Bay, ANP
Claire Reiswerg, Sand N Sea

This episode was produced by VRMB Communities at Mangofish Studios. Our theme song is the ‘STR savior theme’ by DJ Andy Lubner

EP81: Dr. Louis Rosenberg of Unanimous AI Oct 07, 2020

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

EP80: Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes Sep 30, 2020

There was no thought of a pandemic when Matt sat down with Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes at last year's LiveRez conference. The industry was already in turmoil, however, and Brian's 'everything's gonna be alright' philosophy came as a real comfort.

More importantly, his years of experience and deliberate approach to growing and maintaining a highly professional vacation rental business with his family are more relevant than ever.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Beachcomber Vacation Homes: https://www.beachcombervacationhomes.com

LiveRez Partner Conference: https://conference.liverez.com

Northwest Vacation Rental Professionals: https://nwvrp.org/

Northwest Stays: https://www.northweststays.com/

Peabody Ducks: https://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks

Everything's Gonna be Alright: https://youtu.be/OSzYUf2-GSs

EP79: Karen and John Bobe of Sunset Properties Sep 23, 2020

Before all of this pandemic madness started, Matt went to visit Karen and John Bobe on Alabama's Gulf Coast to soak up the sun, drink bourbon and talk vacation rentals. Karen and John have 18 years of experience running an extremely professional family vacation rental business. This episode is chock full of actionable advice that is more relevant than ever, now. It is also a lot of fun!

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Sunset Properties: https://www.sunsetproperties.com/staff/Karen-and-John-Bobe/3

Alabama's Beaches: https://alabama.travel/experience-alabama/beaches

VRMA: www.vrma.org

Carolina Beach Episode of the Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/uupcrFaZn-s

EP78: Harsha L’Acqua of Saira Hospitality Sep 16, 2020

Harsha L’Acqua runs Saira Hospitality, a non-profit transforming the way hotels connect with local communities through education. Her insights into hospitality, staffing and motivation provide a wealth of unique takeaways and actionable ideas for your vacation rental business.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Saira Hospitality: https://www.sairahospitality.com

Cornell's Hotel School Competition: https://sha.cornell.edu/faculty-research/centers-institutes/pihe/engagement/competition/

Chris Voss Masterclass Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT8mhoScU1w

The Cayuga Collection: https://www.cayugacollection.com

EP77: Pierre Becerril of Transparent Sep 09, 2020

Pierre Becerril is CEO of Transparent, a data intelligence provider for the short-term rental industry. Their analytics and dashboards help compare rates, improve pricing, analyse demand, supply and upcoming events and they recently released a free version you can try. Pierre and Matt sat down in person at last year's VRMA and dove deep into travel, hospitality and the vacation rental industry. This is a covid free conversation that is more relevant than ever for vacation rental businesses.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Transparent: https://seetransparent.com/en/pricing/

Lisbon Episode of the Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/as5pbKMiWNY

Altido: https://stayaltido.com

Dasheroo: https://www.dasheroo.com

EP76: Robin Craigen of Moving Mountains Sep 02, 2020

Robin has spent a lifetime in adventurous areas of hospitality and now runs a luxury, mountain oriented vacation rental business with his family. In this episode, Robin talks to Matt about finding balance on the journey, company culture and the challenges and hopes for high-touch hospitality in the new Covid era.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Vintory is the only sales and marketing agency in the vacation rental industry dedicated entirely to helping professional property managers add new homes to their programs. www.vintory.com/unlocked

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Moving Mountains: www.movingmountains.com

Zipwhip: https://www.zipwhip.com

Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io

Custom Puzzles: https://www.createjigsawpuzzles.com

EP75: Nathan Schneider of the Media Enterprise Design Lab Aug 26, 2020

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

EP74: Sarah Franzen of Natural Retreats Aug 19, 2020

In this episode, Sarah Franzen of Natural Retreats gives us deep insight into the world of revenue management. This is a practice that includes much more than just dynamic pricing and it should be part of every successful vacation rental business.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Natural Retreats: https://www.naturalretreats.com/us

Franzen Music: https://www.facebook.com/franzenmusic/?ref=py_c

Key Data: https://keydatadashboard.com

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co

Rented: https://www.rented.com

EP73: Margot Schmorak of Hostfully Aug 12, 2020

Margot is CEO and Co-Founder of Hostfully which services more than 17,000 vacation rental properties worldwide. She is also an Apple veteran and her focus on community-driven products brings a unique perspective to the vacation rental industry. In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she covers everything from finding focus in difficult times to automation in the vacation rental experience.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Hostfully: www.hostfully.com

VRMB Keystone Awards: https://www.vrmb.com/keystone-awards/

On grief during a Pandemic: https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

Maturity Model implementation and use: https://reports.hostfully.com/maturity-model

EP72: Jeremiah Gall of Breezeway Aug 05, 2020

Jeremiah Gall is the founder and CEO of Breezeway and a true vacation rental industry veteran. In this interview, he and Matt explore how the current challenges facing the vacation rental industry may help it forge a stronger, safer, and more professional future.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io/

Breezway's Free Covid 19 Resource: https://www.breezeway.io/covid-19

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

EP71: Casey Halloran of Namu Travel Group Jul 29, 2020

Casey Halloran has built a travel empire selling custom, upscale trips across Central and South America and operating a boutique hotel in Costa Rica. He is also an early mentor to Matt and the reason Matt first came to Latin America and got into vacation rentals. In this episode we explore the evolution of Namu Travel Group from its humble beginnings to its pre-covid status and dive into the difficult time since. Casey and his business have traveled a tough road in the last several months and he shares his thoughts with us on keeping a business alive and the travel industry as a whole. Matt and Casey also reminisce about their past with some can't-miss stories.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Namu Travel Group: https://www.namutravel.com

Villa Buena Onda: https://www.villabuenaonda.com

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Costa Rica Covid Travel Updates: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/statement-costa-rica-tourism-board-covid-19

EP70: Christina Thoreson of Chattanooga Vacation Rentals Jul 22, 2020

Christina Thoreson is an entrepreneur and self-described numbers person who runs Chattanooga Vacation Rentals with her husband Thor. In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she explores what makes a vacation rental business sustainable and looks at the future of drive-to destinations in the post covid world.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

AirDNA is the vacation rental industry’s leading provider of data and analytics. By tracking the daily performance of over 10 million listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA delivers powerful insights to help hosts, managers, and investors thrive in their vacation rental markets. https://www.airdna.co

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Chattanooga Vacation Rentals: https://www.chattanoogavacationrentals.com

The Site to Do Business: https://www.stdb.com

The Vacation Rental Show: www.youtube.com/vacationrentalshow

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

EP69: Shaun Stewart of Newlab Jul 15, 2020

Shaun Stewart is a visionary and seasoned tech leader with a hospitality background from companies like Airbnb and Jetsetter. He is now CEO of Newlab, which applies transformative technologies to things that matter. In this episode he joins Matt to talk about innovation in times of crisis, evolving attitudes about tech, and give unique perspective on the vacation rental industry.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Newlab: https://newlab.com

Shaun Stewart on social distancing tech: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/nyregion/new-york-reopening-coronavirus.html

Daversa (recruiting): https://www.daversapartners.com

X (formerly Google X): https://x.company

Waymo: https://waymo.com

VRMB's Reset Hub: https://reset.vrmb.com

EP68: Lynn Gallimore of Sinya on Lone Man Creek Jul 08, 2020

An African tent safari led Lynn to find the epitome of a limited edition vacation rental business and incredible glamping experience in Texas Hill Country.

In this episode she talks to Matt about the experience she continues to perfect, reconnecting with her property during crisis, and why one is enough.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Sinya: https://www.hillcountrysinya.com

About Lynn: https://www.hillcountrysinya.com/about-sinya

The VRMB Inner Circle: https://www.vrmb.com/what-is-the-inner-circle/

EP67: Michelle Williams of Atlantic Vacation Homes Jul 01, 2020

In this episode of Unlocked, Matt and Michelle Williams of Atlantic Vacation Homes and the VRMA Board of Directors change up the format and tackle a host of pressing vacation rental industry problems round-robin style. Dependence on listing sites, poor diversity, bad actors and bad regulation, tech madness and a whole lot more.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Atlantic Vacation Homes: https://www.atlanticvacationhomes.com

VRMA: www.vrma.org

VRMA Covid-19 Resources: https://www.vrma.org/page/covid19

EP66: Matthew Tesdall of Family Time Vacation Rentals Jun 24, 2020

Matthew and his wife Angela came to vacation rentals accidentally in the wake of the financial crisis and have since built a powerhouse business from Central Oregon to Southern Utah. In this virtual sit-down, Matthew gives a masterclass on the workings of a true lifestyle business where family is everything, employees are like family, and guests keep coming back. The two Matts also delve into Listing Site Non-Dependence and how to build resiliency against hard times like those we currently face.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Family Time Vacation Rentals: https://www.familytimevacationrentals.com

The Famous 'Orange Car' Logo: https://www.familytimevacationrentals.com/images/logo.png

Learn More About Listing Site Non-Dependence: www.vrmb.com

EP65: Viktoria Ujj of Sunny Maui Vacations Jun 17, 2020

Viktoria Ujj spent 16 years in leadership roles at luxury hotels around the world before settling in Maui and developing Sunny Maui Vacations. In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she talks about the tough realities facing the Hawaiian vacation rental market and how she is using all of her hospitality knowledge to keep her business and her 'Ohana' strong for a brighter future.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Sunny Maui Vacations: https://sunnymauivacations.com/property-management/

Budapest Episode of The Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/57zQEw0bCIU

VRMA Covid-19 Cleaning Guidelines: https://www.vrma.org/page/covid-19-cleaning-guidelines-1639

Hawaii Tourism Authority Travel and Quarantine information: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/

EP64: Rafat Ali of Skift Jun 10, 2020

Rafat Ali created Skift, the travel industry insider source for news, insight and trends. In this episode of Unlocked, Rafat and Matt explore a post-covid world and what it means for vacation rentals, travel, and business survival.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Skift: www.skift.com

Skiff's Daily Newsletter: https://skift.com/newsletters/

VRMA's Safe Home: https://www.vrma.org/page/covid-19-cleaning-guidelines-1639

Finish Big by Bo Burlingham: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/gp/product/B00AMOO9VK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

Small Giants by Bo Burlingham: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Bo-mBurlingham/dp/014310960X

Murder Hornets: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/us/asian-giant-hornet-washington.html

EP63: Heleena Sideris of Park City Lodging Jun 03, 2020

Heleena Sideris brings the best elements of her non-profit background to her family vacation rental business in Park City. In this virtual sit-down with Matt, she explores the bright post-covid future of outdoor destinations like Park City and talks about finding meaning and creating community with vacation rentals.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Park City Lodging: https://www.parkcitylodging.com

Protecting Open Spaces with Park City Lodging: http://thestarthrowers.com/park-city-lodging-utah/

The Vacation Rental Show Park City: https://youtu.be/UesUtMlEMXc

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Navis: https://www.naviscrm.com/services/call-center/

EP62: Chip Conley of the Modern Elder Academy May 27, 2020

Chip Conley has disrupted the hospitality industry on more than one occasion. First as 26 year old founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, which transformed an inner-city motel into the second largest boutique hotel brand in America. Many years later he would get a call from Brian Chesky to join Airbnb as the head of Global Hospitality and Strategy.

In this episode of Unlocked, Chip joins us virtually from Baja California Sur and shares insight on the future of hospitality and the role of vacation rentals in a post covid world. He also talks to us about his current effort, The Modern Elder Academy and the roles wisdom, culture, and emotional intelligence play in business.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Modern Elder Academy: https://www.modernelderacademy.com

Extended bio and link to Chip's five books: https://www.modernelderacademy.com/chip-conley

Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

EP61: Toby Babich of Breckenridge Resort Managers May 22, 2020

Toby Babich not only runs a successful vacation rental and management business, he has taken over as president of the VRMA during this difficult time for the industry.

In a virtual sit-down with Matt, he provides insight into how different vacation rentals are doing, gets into how he has kept his own business afloat and lays out what the VRMA has in the works for the industry.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

VRMA: www.vrma.com

VRMA SafeHome Cleaning Guidelines: https://www.vrma.org/safehome

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Breckenridge Resort Managers: https://www.breckenridgeresortmanagers.com

EP60: Dana Lubner of Effortless Rental Group May 20, 2020

In Dana's relatively short time in the vacation rental industry, she has emerged as an advocate and leader for responsible, professional rentals in a tough market. By pioneering 'The Good Neighbor Summit' in Denver, Dana learned how getting public and private stakeholders together can change the narrative about the industry and generate positive press.

In our first season 5 episode, she sits down with Matt remotely to talk about the summit and what it has meant for her business, as well as dogs, quarantine zoom dance parties and what the future holds.

Please visit our sponsors, which made this episode possible:

Breezeway’s operations platform makes it easy to ensure quality, safety, and cleanliness across your properties so you can deliver an amazing guest experience. https://www.breezeway.io/

PointCentral, the leader in business grade smart property solutions designed for rental properties. PointCentral's technology helps vacation rental managers increase property safety, reduce operational costs and improve guest satisfaction. https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

With over 1M Property Owners, Thousands of Property Managers, Hundreds of Software Partners and counting, RentalGuardian is one of the most complete and trusted travel and damage protection platforms in the industry. https://rentalguardian.com/

Other links and people mentioned in this episode:

Effortless Rental Group: https://effortlessrentalgroup.com

Cooper, Lola, Hendrix and Jake: https://effortlessrentalgroup.com/about-vacation-rental-property-management-company/

VRMB: vrmb.com

The Good Neighbor Summit: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/short-term-rental-owners-gather-for-good-neighbor-summit/73-2689a391-3691-40b1-8c78-f70b2cff00e5

COVID19 Update with Tammy Rowe of Mangofish Studios Apr 29, 2020

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

COVID19 Update with Stuart Hooper of Mangofish Studios Apr 20, 2020

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

Coronavirus Update & Season 5 Announcement Mar 27, 2020

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.

Matt's Top 20 Advocacy Tips for 2020 Feb 21, 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/

EP59: Tables Turned with Matt Landau Jan 22, 2020

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

EP58: 0-500 Properties in 5 Years with Brooke Pfautz Jan 15, 2020

Brooke Pfautz is the Founder of Vintory, one of the only companies that I am aware of that helps property managers grow their inventory. I traveled to meet Brooke in Maryland, where he lives with his family and where he built a property management business from 0-500 properties in 5 years.

Since he sold that business and now focuses full time on helping other managers grow, we focused the majority of our conversation on his growth tactics: how any manager anywhere in the world can identify the kinds of properties they want, message these property owners directly, and grow a hospitality business through the use of disruptive means.

This is a different kind of episode: less entertainment, more education. We finished our day of learning with some recording at my parents vacation rental on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

If you want to innovate like Brooke, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Vintory: https://vintory.com

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Ocean City, Maryland: https://ococean.com

The Cambridge Movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Movement_(civil_rights)

EP57: Homerun Hospitality with Jesse and Emily Cole Jan 08, 2020

This is probably the most unexpected podcast we've ever published. It features a couple, Emily and Jesse Cole, who epitomize a lot of vacation rental hosts using Airbnb to build a real estate portfolio. But that's the end of where the Cole's are normal. They also own a baseball team. Where the *MALE* cheerleaders dance on dugouts, kids find signed baseballs hidden like easter eggs, and tickets ($18) include food and drink. The stadium is sold out far into the future. It is one of the most outrageous sports entertainment and hospitality stories you will ever hear. Just so you have an idea, Jesse wears a full yellow tuxedo. All the time.

I wanted to change it up a bit this season. I didn’t just want to interview one kind of vacation rental stakeholder: that’s why we’ve got managers, owners, vendors, thought-leaders...etc. But I also thought it would be cool to feature a kind of vacation rental professional that is less noticeable by the VRM-industry yet arguably more impactful on the global markets: that is Lifestylists who use sites like Airbnb to make a real living. And perhaps unsurprisingly, their aspirational storylines are equally if not more zany and unexpected than the ones we’ve featured thus far. Jesse and Emily Cole are husband and wife, they’re co-owners of a few vacation rentals on Tybee Island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, and they’re also co-owners of a baseball team called the Savannah Bananas.

For the Coles, the industry that we know as vacation rentals are merely one pillar in their crazy, happy and fun-filled life. Our interview in their home has a bit of sound trouble but the stories and the ideas will keep you glued to the airpod or speaker or whatever.

If you want to innovate like Jesse and Emily, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

The Savannah Bananas: https://thesavannahbananas.com

Little Tybee Island: https://visittybee.com

Jesse and Emily's vacation rental properties:

https://airbnb.com/h/bluebanana

https://airbnb.com/h/breezybanana

EP56: Our Future with Carole Lynn Sharoff Jan 01, 2020

Carole Lynn Sharoff of Atlantic Vacation Homes in Massachusetts is one of the wisest vacation rental professionals I have met in my 10+ years of interviewing. You can tell a lot about someone from how others describe them. And when some colleagues like Jodi Refosco and Jennifer Frankenstein Harris heard I was launching a new season of the podcast, they were all unanimous: you have to interview Carole. No ifs ands or buts. And they were right. I didn’t know Carole personally before our sit-down but afterwards, she was right up there with the top people in our industry I’d personally aim to emulate.

Carole doesn’t shy away from thoughts on diversity and inclusion in an industry that admittedly struggles in those departments. She attends conferences to speak on the subject of social responsibility. She is basically one of those stewards the industry is fortunate to count on: one of those compasses steering us all in the right direction.

If you want to innovate like Carole, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

VRMA: www.vrma.org

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Atlantic Vacation Homes: https://www.atlanticvacationhomes.com

EP55: The Paragon with Tim Cafferty Dec 25, 2019

Tim Cafferty of Outer Banks Blue Realty in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina is one of the most admired and respected professional managers in the world. He is a paragon of professionalism and hospitality as a whole.

Tim’s region is something of a mecca for short term rentals in the USA, but when Tim started the business, he wasn’t expecting his business to take off the way it did. Many years ago, I had only heard rumblings this guy Tim Cafferty who was conducting the equivalent of a vacation rental orchestra of the Fortune 5000 caliber.

Then I began to listen to his podcast Sarah and T, and you start to get an idea. But when I finally met him in person, it suddenly all made sense. Tim’s stand-up personality and emphasis on relationships are quintessentially “all of us” -- Tim is the hospitality professional we all aspire to be. I had the chance to nab Tim for an interview during the VRMA International conference and his personal story is one that will motivate you to plan for your challenges, channel your inner entrepreneur, and soar.

If you want to innovate like Tim, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

VRMA: http://www.vrma.org

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Sarah & T Podcast: https://sarahandt.com

Unlocked John Dean Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MCtzrfaY2MQBwZjOGLM8k?si=AERNqbnoRbG6F7u91tF_Uw

EP54: Doing Things Properly with Tammi Sims Dec 18, 2019

Tammi Sims is the VP of Customer at Properly, an industry-leading cleaning app with a host of deeper applications. Perhaps more importantly, Tammi (along with her partner Alex Nigg) are visionary vacation rental leaders: they identified a need for this solution way back before anyone could even name the problem.

Tammi is a regular at industry conferences -- and it was at VRMA in New Orleans where Tammi was ‘in her element’ -- that I got the chance to sit in on a sushi lunch and then record a conversation that goes way beneath the surface (like any good thorough vacation rental professional would) to explore Tammi’s backstory, her borderline-obsession with small details, and some of her concerns and wishes for the future of this movement.

I have had the pleasure to watch Tammi and Alex grow their business over the course of the last few years and it’s been such a treat to watch them grow, but with the right values, the right priorities and the right attitude about how we should treat one another. This is a fabulous episode for any RBO or PM who likes to do things properly.

If you want to innovate like Tammi, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Properly: https://www.getproperly.com

VRMA: http://www.vrma.org

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

Touchstay: https://touchstay.com

Collapsible Funnel: https://www.worldmarket.com/product/collapsible-silicone-funnels-set-of-3.do

EP53: The Fisherman Niche with David Krauthamer Dec 11, 2019

David Krathamer never thought he’d be running a world-class hospitality business. Along with his wife Edna, David is the owner of D&E Landing in Guntersville, Alabama. I stop over for the evening and hang out and go fishing with David as often as I get the chance. And on this particular visit, I decided to record a podcast.

What’s most intriguing about David and his business is the precision and discipline with which he’s identified and maintained his niche: fishermen looking to hook bass on the famous Lake Guntersville. His repeat guest rate and occupancy rate are insanely high on paper: but more impressive is David’s work-life balance. He has created for himself a job -- a business -- that he loves. This is ultimately what our movement is all about.

If you want to innovate like David, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

D&E Landing: https://www.delanding.com

Lake Guntersville: https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/lake-guntersville-state-park

The Inner Circle: https://www.vrmb.com/what-is-the-inner-circle/

Autozone: https://www.autozone.com

EP52: The Conference Beat with Koryn Okey Dec 04, 2019

If there is one person that has been a steady constant throughout the last decade of vacation rental mayhem, it’s Koryn Okey. She started out with a company called FlipKey and now works as the VP of Sales at Breezeway (an awesome cleaning app you should demo immediately). If you have ever attended a vacation rental conference, chances are you have seen or met or at least heard Koryn laugh.

Her experience gives her an incredibly nuanced understanding of where we are right now. And it’s not often that we interview vendors this season, so I took the opportunity (after pulling Koryn away from her booth at the Streamline Summit) to ask some of the grittier questions like ‘where are VR vendors missing the mark?’ Koryn took the questions like a champ -- her interview is as fun as it is insightful.

If you want to innovate like Koryn, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Breezeway: https://www.breezeway.io

Streamline Summit: https://www.streamlinesummit.com

Flipkey: https://www.flipkey.com

Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com

TruPlace: https://go.truplace.com

EP51: The DNA of a Movement with Scott Shatford Nov 27, 2019

Scott Shatford is the founder of Airdna, which is (by my estimates) the most cited resource in the short term rental industry. I have been virtual friends with Scott since about 5 years back when he and I were sort of dueling vacation rental experts.

But soon thereafter, Scott took the relatively simple idea of compiling all the data on Airbnb properties, and built it atop a fascinating business model. Lately, AirDNA is getting more and more into the general vacation rental space, so the conversation with Scott is about much more than just AirBNB.

He was at VRMA in New Orleans so I stole the opportunity to ask about how Scott started the company (and continues to run it) with his Dad!?!? How he and his wife book vacation rentals when they go on vacation. And how the seemingly rude idea of “scraping” is actually a best practice that can help every stakeholder of our movement.

I also gotta say, Scott is also just really cool guy -- it’s been neat to watch him (like so many of our industry colleagues) building and evolving over the last 5 years. We all get to watch one another grow!

If you want to innovate like Scott, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

AirDNA: https://www.airdna.co

The Theory of Limited Edition: https://www.vrmb.com/ltd/

Future Stay: https://www.futurestay.com

EP50: Dirty Laundry with Elizabeth Maora Sickels Nov 20, 2019

Elizabeth Maora Sickels is one of those people with infectious energy: she’s one of those people who you can’t help but want to listen to and hang out with. I first discovered Elizabeth on LinkedIn where she was posting a regular stream of videos titled “Dirty Laundry” in which she’d address one less-than-savory aspect of the short term rental business. The videos are as hilarious as they are true to the bone. So when I learned that Elizabeth was going to be attending the Streamline Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, I took the chance to get her into the roving podcast studio for an interview.

Elizabeth’s Executive Goddess vacation rental work takes place in Indianapolis -- where she runs a fleet of short term rentals, in addition to providing rehab project management, design, furnishing, and property management services for others. She’s one of those professionals who build trust through helping (not selling): who endears guests and clients with honest storytelling. This episode is worth a thousand laughs.

If you want to innovate like Elizabeth, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Elizabeth Maora, LLC: https://elizabethmaorallc.com

Dirty Laundry (Elizabeth's Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-maora-sickels-8832605/

Rental Laws by State: https://www.landlordology.com/state-laws/

EP 49: The New Southern Hospitality with Corey Jones Nov 13, 2019

Corey Jones is the creator of Lucky Savannah, which in my humble opinion is one of the most impressive boutique vacation rental companies in the world. Corey got started in short term rentals, like many people, by complete accident. A visiting French student was secretly renting out historic Savannah property, and when she disappeared, she left him a note: you should continue renting this property on VRBO.

Today, Corey owns and operates a veritable short term rental empire, but he’s also stretching the definition of hospitality by purchasing and revamping a motel on nearby Tybee Island (complete with popsicle phone). The conversation takes place in downtown Savannah but represents some of the most comprehensive small business planning the hospitality world has ever seen.

If you want to innovate like Corey, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Lucky Savanah: https://www.luckysavannah.com

Mrs. Wilkes: https://mrswilkes.com

Little Tybee Island: https://tybeeisland.com/site/little-tybee-island/

The Royal Palms Motel: https://www.theroyalpalmsmotel.com

EP 48: Made for This with Jodi Refosco Nov 06, 2019

Jodi Refosco has built her Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations into a veritable empire in Deep Creek Maryland, but it wasn’t an easy start. She grew up with vacation rentals as the family business, but restarted in the depths of the financial crisis with a single property.

From paying cleaning staff by taking on late night snow-plow work to dealing with competitors, owners, and guests - Jodi has invaluable knowledge to share about every facet of the vacation rental business. More recently, she has begun to do this through her work with VRMA, and now at the 2019 VRMA event, I got a chance to sit down with her and capture her story for this podcast.

If you want to innovate like Jodi, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations: https://www.deepcreekvacations.com

Mike Copps Podcast Episode: https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep31-one-industry-voice-with-mike-copps-of-vrma/

VRMA: www.vrma.org

St. John Episode of the Vacation Rental Show: https://youtu.be/1-EZa7CH_ew

EP 47: The Forcefield with CJ Stam Oct 30, 2019

CJ Stam is a vacation rental legend to many who know him. He has built Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals into one of the best cabins getaway fleets in the American South, and now he is focusing on new purpose-built cabins for his vacation rental fleet.

I was road tripping recently and decided to stop and do an in-depth podcast with CJ. In-depth podcasting with CJ may or may not involve real estate site visits, laundry facilities, moonshine, fish, strange appalachian mists...you get the idea. Much like our Blue Ridge Vacation Rental Show episode, it was truly a next level adventure.

What emerged from all this isn’t just a portrait of one of the world’s leading vacation rental professionals -- its a veritable masterclass in a concept we’re calling The Forcefield. CJ lays out practical, in-depth tips for fortifying your business against against anything that may come. The protection this forcefield provides is also crucial for supercharging the growth of your business.

Get some!

If you want to innovate like CJ, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals: https://www.southerncomfortcabinrentals.com

Blue Ridge Georgia: https://www.blueridgemountains.com

The Appalachian Trail: https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/appalachian-trail/

Steve Milo: https://www.vrmintel.com/author/stevemilo/

VRMB: www.vrmb.com

EP 44: Finding Our Voice with Sarah Bradford Oct 23, 2019

Sarah Bradford of Winter Park Lodging & Steamboat Lodging Company not only grew to 160 highly-respected properties from just a handful, she also has her own vacation rental-themed podcast and strong opinions about Norwegian-inspired design.

I had a chance to sit down with Sarah at the Streamline Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sarah is a regular on the conference circuit and has developed a 360-degree understanding of the industry. Above all else, Sarah has the attitude of a winner: her positivity is infectious and nothing -- not even a huge hotel room wall -- can bring her down.

If you want to innovate like Sarah, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Sarah and T Podcast: https://sarahandt.com

Winter Park Lodging Company: https://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com

Steam Boat Lodging Company: https://www.steamboatlodgingcompany.com

The Phoenician Scottsdale: https://www.thephoenician.com

Streamline Summit: https://www.streamlinesummit.com

Mel Robbins: https://melrobbins.com

EP 45: The Advocate with Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris Oct 23, 2019

Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris built her Great Ocean Condos business in New Smyrna Beach Florida into a 300+ property empire after being unable to find a technology-forward management company for a single property. Now the largest manager in her area, Jennifer has played an important role in raising the standards and holding colleagues accountable in her region.

I had a chance to sit down with Jennifer during the recent 2019 VRMA International Conference in New Orleans and talk about the industry, why we shouldn’t call it an industry, advocacy and property rights, and growing up in New Jersey (for a whopping12 minutes!) Jennifer’s attitude about the industry and business in general is upbeat and laser focused. She’s fun to be around -- you can’t help but want to join in.

If you want to innovate like Jennifer, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

Great Ocean Condos: https://www.greatoceancondos.com

New Symrna Beach: https://visitnsbfl.com

VRMA: http://www.vrma.org

Rental Network Software: https://www.rental-network.com

US Constitution: https://constitutionus.com

Florida State College of Music: https://music.fsu.edu/programs

EP 46: Industry Pulse with Amy Hinote Oct 23, 2019

Amy Hinote is an industry legend and I finally managed to get her on a podcast prior to VRMA international in New Orleans, the first city she got drunk in as a teenager.

Amy rolled in with an entourage of vacation rental luminaries including Steve Milo, Simon Lehmann, and Heather Bayer, so the peanut gallery was intimidating...but that would not stop us.

In this interview, we learn the history of VRMIntel through Amy’s personal growth from finance and political science to vacation rentals. We then dovetail into a discussion about the venture capital pouring into the industry and what it means for independent owners and managers.

We also play out the worst case scenario for the vacation rental industry with players like Vacasa wielding so much clout. This interview is as fun and delightful as it is informative. And leave it to Amy to only do podcast interviews when they’re attached to cocktail parties.

If you want to innovate like Amy, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page):

https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and people mentioned in the episode:

VRM Intel: https://www.vrmintel.com

VRMB Inner Circle: https://bit.ly/2oVkOzr

VRMA: http://www.vrma.org

VTrips: www.vrtrips.com

Simon Lehmann: https://premium-speakers.com/en/speaker-presenter/simon-lehmann/

EP 43: VRMA Wrap-up with Terry Whyte Oct 18, 2019

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/

EP 42: Big Learnings and Takeaways [Season 3] Aug 29, 2019

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

EP41: Technology's Point Person with Sean Miller Aug 21, 2019

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/

EP40: Short Term Rent, Long Term Win with Matt Hoffman Aug 14, 2019

I've known Matt Hoffman for what feels like an eternity. I remember talking to him back when I was running my vacation rental business in Panama in 2008 and his passion and enthusiasm for vacation rentals has not faded since...if anything they've sharpened. Matt is the Senior Vice President and Product Leader at Kigo, which is a vacation rental management software company. Our conversation about Matt's childhood, education, and entrepreneurial spirit is jammed packed with useful insight: we examine the exciting and historic crossroads of real estate, technology, and hospitality. It's fair to say I left significantly smarter than when we started.

If you want to innovate like Matt, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Mentioned in this episode: Kigo: https://www.kigo.net/ Kigo Marketplace: https://www.kigo.net/marketplace/ Real Page: https://www.realpage.com/ Abstract City Maps: https://www.icanvas.com/canvas-print/abstract-city-map-of-amsterdam-jbl87#1PC6-26x26 Dana Young: https://www.vrmb.com/podcast/ep-37-voice-activation-with-dana-young/ Lynn Gallimore and Sinya on Lone Man Creek: https://www.hillcountrysinya.com/

EP39: The Noise Captain with Christine Saba Aug 07, 2019

There are certain people in our industry who, when you meet them, you just kinda get excited about everything. Christine Saba is one of those people. Christine is technically the Head of Growth at Noiseaware, which is the fire alarm for noise. But her roles and responsibilities tend to spill over into all kinds of areas. I had the chance to visit NoiseAware's headquarters in Dallas, Texas and the irony that we had noise challenges in the recording was only surpassed by the fact that we solved them.

If you want to innovate like Christine, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page):

https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Mentioned in this episode:

Noiseaware: https://noiseaware.io/ NoiseAware’s Booking.com Partnership: https://join.booking.com/lp/noiseaware/?utm_source=NA&utm_medium=inflG Heather's Vacation Rental Success Summit: www.vacationrentalsuccesssummit.com Dallas Pets Alive: https://dallaspetsalive.org/ One Million Cups: https://www.1millioncups.com/dallas Rent Responsibly: https://rentresponsibly.org/ Lyric: https://www.lyric.com/ Sonder: https://www.sonder.com/ The Guild: https://theguild.co/ VRMA International: http://www.vrma.org/page/international-conference

EP 38: Vacasa Buys Wyndham Vacation Rentals Jul 31, 2019

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/

EP37: Voice Activation with Dana Young Jul 31, 2019

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

EP36: A Theater of Growth with Cliff Johnson Jul 24, 2019

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/

EP35: Non-Perishables with Lee Zeller Jul 17, 2019

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/

EP34: No Time to Waste with Megan McCrea Jul 10, 2019

Megan McCrea is one of the most impressive leaders in the vacation rental industry. I get the chance to meet a lot of experts and ambassadors and people who are really good at what they do -- but Megan has one of the most unique blends of vision, standards, discipline, and hard work that I have ever come across in vacation rentals. Really, in any industry: she is just a veritable rockstar. I flew to Nashville, Tennessee specifically to interview Megan-- that's how great I think she is.

Her vacation rental business Nashville Vacation Homes eventually led into a consulting business the Hospitality Creator, and her advocacy contribution to our industry as the president of Nastra (the Nashville short term rental alliance) is historic and courageous. And here's a chance to learn a bit more about the woman behind the progress. If you want to innovate like Megan, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page):

https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links mentioned in this episode:

https://www.staynashvillevacationhomes.com/

https://thehospitalitycreator.com

https://nastra.org

EP 33: Picking the Lock with Guglielmo Scarpa Jul 03, 2019

Guglielmo Scarpa is a young Italian businessman who embodies the vacation rental pioneer spirit for me. He fell into the business somewhat accidentally, has successfully build a brand around his company Canguro properties in two countries, and he looks at everything through a realistic yet optimistic lens: if something works, he does more of it. If something doesn't work, he considers carefully whether or not he wants to try it again.

Today's unlocked episode is a bit different from the other tactical episodes in that the experiment that Guglielmo tried sort of failed. In aiming to make his business more efficient with technology, he realized he was actually losing some of the very essence that made Canguro special in the first place. I got a chance to sit down with Guglielmo in Barcelona Spain at the Kigoworld conference and archive this conversation for you all.

If you want to innovate like Guglielmo, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page):

https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

EP 32: The Keystone Awards with Terry Whyte Jun 28, 2019

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/

EP31: One Industry Voice with Mike Copps of VRMA Jun 19, 2019

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/

EP30: The GSV Technology Rollup in the Vacation Rental Industry Jun 17, 2019

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/

EP29: The Love Language with Heather Bayer Jun 12, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP28: Keeping it Commercial with Sarah Nie Jun 05, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP27: Our Vacation Rental Campaign with Phil Minardi May 29, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP26: Social Media Influencers with Kristi Kautz May 22, 2019

Kristi Kautz used to work in the digital entertainment space, so she was familiar with the world of influencers before her property manager Brad Klopman of The CoHost Company suggested offering a few free nights to some instagram influencers in exchange for a fresh set of photos. The tactic ended up becoming a way to unlock their vacation rental, Starship Landing Retreat, to the right kinds of travelers. If you want to innovate like Kristi, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links and profiles mentioned in the episode:

http://starshiplandingretreat.com/ https://www.thecohostcompany.com/ @julieetecson https://www.instagram.com/p/BxeFjuCj7A8/ @ashleyinwanderland https://www.instagram.com/p/BxnJatvHdrW/ @bradyknoll https://www.instagram.com/p/BwBT0AGjaQo/

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP25: A Different Kind of Sharing Economy with Bradie Beagley-Reiner May 15, 2019

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

Here are some links mentioned in the episode:

http://vacationrentalwomen.com

https://www.bluewatervacationhomes.com

https://www.liverez.com

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP24: The Biggest Lesson of My Career with Steve Milo May 08, 2019

I only met Steve a few years ago but he's been leading the PM charge for eons with his company VTrips and he can also be spotted on the speaking circuit at conferences around the world: shooting straight and saying some of the things that others may not like...but need to hear.

I had the chance to sit down with Steve in Barcelona, Spain this month after we bumped into each other at the airport en route to the Kigo Conference and what I learned in the conversation ranges from comic books to profit to traveling with his wife Kyung.

I think this kind of fly-on-the-wall interview style can help people get to know some of the more recognizable names in our industry...personally. If you agree, feel free to drop a review and let us know.

If you want to innovate like Steve, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links mentioned in the episode:

http://www.vtrips.com

https://www.bradfordexchange.com

https://www.kigo.net/kigoworld/

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP23: Diamond In The Rough with Danna Kittell of Starfish Luxury Rentals Mar 20, 2019

Danna Kittell is the founder of Starfish Luxury Rentals on the coast of Oregon. Her enthusiasm and positivity for the industry is eclipsed only by her hard work.

After doing some rehab to her family's vacation home, she and her husband Jeff realized the potential of having a renovation aspect to their management services: upgrading a diamond in the rough has now become Starfish's secret weapon.

It's not a quick tactic nor does it happen overnight, but if you are of the Limited Edition vacation rental mindset, you know that sometimes patience and deliberate improvements overtime can create some of the most precious business assets in our space.

If you want to innovate like Danna, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links featured in the show: https://starfishluxuryrentals.com

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP22: Handmade Pricing with Zaira Guzman of Bluewater Vacation Homes Mar 13, 2019

Zaira Guzman is the Director of Sales and Revenue Management at Bluewater Vacation Homes in San Diego. Since San Diego is such a competitive vacation environment, Bluewater's recent occupancy growth (month upon month) isn't attributable to much other than Zaira's dynamic pricing skills, which means changing the nightly rates of properties to generate a fair return for the owner and a great value for the guest. What's most reassuring about Zaira's magic is that it's not done with fancy tools or algorithms but manually, by hand the old fashioned way.

I had the chance to sit down with Zaira in New Orleans during the Vacation Rental Women's Summit.

If you want to innovate like Zaira, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links featured in the show: https://www.bluewatervacationhomes.com/

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP21: The Mood Board with Jean-Philippe Ramé of 2BeApart Mar 06, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP20: The Folio with Jeff Jensen of Utopian Luxury Vacation Homes Feb 27, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP19: Saving Grace with Mike Harrington of Carolina Beach Realty Feb 20, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP18: The Alliance with Eric Bay of ANP Feb 13, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP17: Listing Site Independence with Jeremiah Gall Feb 06, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP16: Follow The Wall with Durk Johnson of VRHP Jan 30, 2019

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

EP15: Diversified with Jeanne Dailey of Newman-Dailey Resort Properties Jan 23, 2019

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/

EP14: Top-Grading with John Dean of Only Provence Jan 16, 2019

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

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP13: Collaborative Wisdom with Brad Stewart of Stewart Mountain Lodging Jan 09, 2019

Brad Stewart of Stewart Mountain Lodging in Sundance, Utah is one of my best buddies in the industry. I think it’s fair to say that I admire his work as much as he appreciates mine.

More specifically, I really admire how Brad thinks in systems and processes. And as a property manager, one of Brad’s big turning points was with regards to his owners: like we’d strengthen any good relationship, he and Vicky created a way to close the communication gap with a conduit of communication.

This is a great lesson for anyone in the vacation rental industry looking to improve clarity with their team: think in benchmarks, standards, and common metrics: use technology to channel your voices into a central path.

If you want to innovate like Brad, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: https://www.stewartmountainlodging.com https://vrhp.org http://vrmintel.com/

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP12: The Acquisition with Alex Barba of BCN Apartments Jan 02, 2019

Alex Barba was the General Manager at BCN Apartments when we recorded this conversation -- it's a boutique vacation rental fleet in Barcelona, Spain. And while he's not there anymore, the way he helped change my perspective on start-ups, acquisitions, and problem solving in our young vacation rental industry still whispers at me regularly.

It's a creative solution for any property manager not satisfied with software solution, and perhaps a saving grace for any start-ups who are starting to doubt a spotlight exit.

Oh and if you want to innovate like Alex, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/ Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show: https://www.bcnapartmentrentals.com/ https://www.bedloop.com/

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP11: The Auctioneer with Mailie Green of Global Villas Ltd Dec 26, 2018

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/

EP10: My Flotilla with Lawrie Lawrence of Stay Lake Norman Dec 19, 2018

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/

EP09: Pretext Support with Bernardo Retana of Otium Residences Dec 12, 2018

Bernardo Retana of Otium Residences in Marbella, Spain has a great pedigree of hospitality and finance. But what I like most about his topic here is its unconventionality — it’s innovative in that no one taught him or instructed him to do this. But simple enough that pretty much all of us could do it too.

I was drinking beers with Bernardo in Barcelona, Spain at the KigoWorld event, when he shared the Whatsapp idea. So I asked if we could quickly move rooms and archive the idea for you all to hear.

The concept is to use Whatsapp as a concierge line of communication: to be there for anything the guest may need without necessarily feeling intrusive.

Oh and if you want to innovate like Bernardo, consider a demo with our friends at PointCentral (free HVAC Analytics included from this landing page): https://www.pointcentral.com/vrmb/

Here are some links that may or may not have been mentioned in the show:

http://otiumspain.com/

https://www.otiumspain.com/residences

https://www.whatsapp.com

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP08: The Limited Edition Episode Nov 15, 2017

The vacation rental industry has exploded in the last few years with big players. Big players like AirBnB, HomeAway & Booking.com have been rapidly consolidating the industry, creating an industry with more familiarity that’s palatable to the average consumer. But what does this mean for the “mom-and-pop” style businesses who don’t want to grow? Those who would rather create a small limited edition business infused with personality. In this round-table episode, we discuss the big picture history of the hospitality industry Andrew McConnell. We’ll learn how Kristie Wolfe creates and operates a boutique tiny home vacation rental business, and how Tara & Josh Conger walk the fine line of creating a scalable business while preserving their unique experiences.

Show Notes

Andrew McConnell

Understanding the differences between commodity and limited edition vacation rentals
How fragmented the vacation rental industry is
Andrew McConnell discusses the history of the “cottage industry”
How fragmented industries tend to consolidate
What the “big players” in the hospitality industry did that the “small players” didn’t
Building a lifestyle business versus a major venture backed business
How the nature of vacation rentals is designed not to scale
The hazards of being “stuck-in-the-middle” of a boutique personality based business versus a growing commodity business
Discussing the potential winners and losers in the future of the industry
Being unique versus pretending to be unique
Being something to everyone, versus being everything to someone

Kristie Wolfe

On building and designing tiny-home vacation rentals
Why Kristie prefers to not meet guests at her unique homes
How Kristie designs unique experiences for her guests (that sometimes involve trespassing)
Kristie’s unique advantage when building tiny homes
Kristie’s advice on doing vacation rental projects that get you excited

Tara & Josh Conger

Creating a limited edition vacation rental company that can scale
Having a private island as a vacation rental
Building custom homes to be vacation rentals
How Tara & Josh leverage concierge services
Building a new website for the business
Balancing the scaling of a business while maintaining a boutique personal touch
Using CRM systems to improve guest experiences

Resources

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)
Andrew McConnell With Rented.com
Steve Milo, Vacasa, Turnkey
Kristie Wolfe - Tiny House on the Prairie
Kristie Wolfe’s Hobbit Home
Kristie Wolfe’s Tree House
Conger Collection & Conger Brokerage Services

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP07: Managing an Overseas Vacation Rental & Overcoming Tragedies with Ralph Moorhouse Nov 08, 2017

Ralph and his wife Karen, like many people, fell in love with Paris. However, instead of doing what most people would of done, they began buying property in Paris & Nice. Since then, they have been successfully operating a vacation rental business remotely. In this episode we learn how Ralph and Karen have created a remotely operated business process, and how they’ve overcome the tragedies brought on upon by recent terrorist attacks.

Show Notes

How Ralph wound up in going from Houston to Paris
Picking out his first real estate property
Ralph’s encouraging thoughts on trying out the business
Developing processes and systems to automate a business
Packing Ralph packages multiple destinations in one trip for guests
How Ralph leverages his vacation rental websites
How tragic terrorist attacks impacted Ralph’s businesses in Paris & Nice
How to deal with adversities like natural disasters
Why Ralph resisted using AirBnB
Knowing when it’s right to quit the business
Using Youtube to fix random problems

Resources

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP06: Slowly Growing & Automating a Boutique Vacation Rental Management Business with Jan Stevens Nov 01, 2017

Jan Stevens’s journey in the vacation rental industry began when she inherited an old family fishing shack that they bought for $1,200 in the 50’s. Realizing she could leverage her talents as a professional interior designer, she turned the home into a vacation rental. As peers began to take notice of her business, they began asking her if she can manage their properties too. Jan shares her experiences growing into a boutique property manager, how she chooses properties to take on, and how she’s dramatically reduced her workload through automation and outsourcing.

Show Notes

How Jan’s family bought a fishing shack outside Vancouver for $1,200
How the financial crisis made Jan realize she can turn her home into a vacation rental
How a random painting turned into Jan’s first property management client
Jan’s transition from property owner to property manager
Why Jan only takes on properties that fit the business of her brand
How Jan streamlined her management process to dramatically reduce her workload
The value of outsourcing work
Why Jan prioritizes slow and steady growth versus rapid growth
Understanding the pressure and responsibilities on building a vacation rental management company

Resources

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)

Bowen Island Accommodations

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP05: Creating a Successful & Fulfilling Niche Vacation Rental Business with Rick Oster Oct 25, 2017

Rick Oster’s career has had many twists and turns. He spent most of his professional life climbing the corporate ladder as an overworked executive in the television & cable industry, and then took a detour to building his own aquatic installation company. Eventually, a curious insight led him to build his first vacation rental, a business he had zero experience in. Now, as the owner of Oster Golf Houses, Rick shares the insights and lessons that lead him to building a fulfilling niche vacation rental business.

Show Notes

How Rick’s went from a career in television to aquatic pond installations
How Rick thought of building his first vacation rental and mitigating risk
RIck’s process on researching competition to understand opportunities in the market.
Thoughts on how to eliminate competition by finding a niche
Why you should choose a destination you’re passionate about
Why Rick focuses on having fun while marketing
Why Rick chooses a lifestyle business over building a big business
Rick’s problems with OTA platforms like HomeAway/VRBO
Why Rick still feels a sense of urgency in improving his business

Resources

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)

Oster Golf Houses

Inner Circle

Kaizen

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP04: Infusing Personality (and Totem Poles) into Your Vacation Rental with Teena Kulakowski Oct 18, 2017

Teena Kulakowski is a former chemist who now runs the successful Four Seasons Lodge in New Hampshire. Her experiments have taken her from newspaper advertising to chainsaw artists to building her own website. Along the way we’ll find out that the “secret ingredient” to her vacation rental’s success is a high dose of good ol’ fashioned personality. You’ll leave here learning the value of knowing your audience, why it’s maybe time to hire that professional, and that it’s ok to call your guests “repeat offenders”

Show Notes

Teena’s experience getting started in the vacation rental industry in the 1990’s
Teena’s career transition from being a chemist to vacation rental entrepreneur
How she created her vacation rental to fit her personality
How Teena sees her business as more than a series of transactions
Why she got a giant custom totem pole installation at her property
Why understanding your target demographic is key for your vacation rental
How Teena gets most of her bookings from her own website.
How Teena uses her blog, “insider's guide”, & events calendar to drive repeat business
Why she invested in a professional copywriter & architectural photographer
Teena’s advice on how to learn more effectively

Resources

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)

Four Seasons Lodge

VRMB Inner Circle

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP03: From Side-Hustle to Big-Hustle with Darik Eaton Oct 12, 2017

Darik Eaton is the founder of Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals. After the 2008 financial crash Darik closed down his business in commercial finance, and transformed his vacation rental from a simple side business, to a full-time vacation rental property management company with over 45 properties. Darik shares his experiences growing his vacation rental business, exporting his business model to Hawaii and the most important lesson he learned along the way.

Show Notes

How Darik got started in the vacation rental industry as a matter of convenience
How Darik survived the financial crash of 2008
Darik’s “secret sauce” of renovation and restoration
Why Darik doesn’t like IKEA
How Darik turned his vacation rental from a side business to a full time property management business with 45+ properties in Seattle and Hawaii
How Darik went from excel spreadsheets to property management software that allowed his business to grow more effectively
Why Darik hires to make his business “Darik-proof”
How Darik manages a successful and growing property management business remotely.
The difference between a commodity business and a “Limited Edition” business
Why Darik prioritizes slow growth over fast growth

Resources

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)

Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals

Steve Milo

Kauai Real Estate Group

Princeville Vacation Rentals

Kapaa Vacation Rentals

Koloa Vacation Rentals

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

EP02: Building an Island Paradise Dream Life with Karla Gustafson Oct 12, 2017

Lot’s of people dream of unplugging from “the grind” and escaping to some far off exotic island paradise. Karla Gustafson, owner of Tropical Blessings, did just that. Frustrated with life as an English teacher in Dallas, Karla escaped to the Caribbean island of St. John where she became a “Moko Jumbie”, and then eventually found herself owning a vacation rental property with zero experience. In this episode, you’ll learn how Karla used her vacation rental to build her dream life, and how infusing your business with love and personality may be your biggest competitive advantage.

Show Notes

How Karla discovered St. John (the Caribbean island)
How Karla stumbled her way into her first vacation rental with no experience
Why Karla believed she could out-compete the local competition
Why she focuses so much on small details of her business
The importance of putting yourself in the shoes of your guests
Why having fun is critical to Karla’s vacation rental
How Karla balances financial success and personal satisfaction
Why being a little imperfect is okay
Why Karla hates templates for communication
The advantages of small business over large corporations

Resources

St. John

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)

Tropical Blessings

De Coal Pot

Moko Jumbies

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

EP01: Lumpy Mail & The Importance of Doing Things that Don’t Scale with Stan Horst Oct 12, 2017

Stan Horst is one of the world’s few vacation rental veterans. He’s been hosting guests before the days of AirBnB, HomeAway, and even before the internet itself. With his unique perspective, Stan shares how his business modeled has evolved in the digital age, and how he still uses old-school marketing tactics to drive extraordinary results. We hope this episode will stir up some latent creativity, and show you that it’s possible for a new dog to learn old tricks.

In this episode you’ll learn...

How Stan marketed his vacation rental before the internet
How Stan continues to use traditional offline marketing methods to stand out in a crowded online marketplace.
Stan’s annoyance with traditional “follow up survey” requests
Stan’s uniquely effective follow up email strategy to get reviews & repeat guests.
How Stan leverages “Lumpy Mail” and aliens to get a 1700% ROI
Stan’s strategic use of discounts to drive bookings
Why doing things that don’t scale create value

Resources

Rent Responsibly (Sponsor)

Cabin Creek Wood

Lastly….

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support us, please leave us a review and subscribe to us on iTunes (or whichever podcast platform you use). It makes a world of difference.

Learn more about the host, visit https://mattlandau.com/

Get marketing strategies for vacation rentals, visit https://www.vrmb.com/

Collaborate with other professionals in https://community.vrmb.com/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected