Podcast appearances and mentions of annie holcombe

Join Meaghan Myers as she interviews Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe, the legends behind the popular 'Alex & Annie: Real Women of Vacation Rentals' podcast. In this episode, the trio delves into the origin story of Alex and Annie's podcast, the challenges they faced, and their incredible success in the vacation rental industry. They also discuss their experiences on the property management and vendor sides of the business, the importance of company culture, and the inclusive nature of the vacation rental community. Tune in for inspiring stories, memorable moments, and valuable insights from two industry veterans. Connect with Annie and Alex: Annie Alex The Real Women of Vacation Rentals Podcast Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠Link⁠ Spotify - ⁠Link⁠ ⁠Hospitality.FM⁠ - ⁠Link⁠ ⁠Connect with Meaghan⁠ | ⁠Ask Meaghan⁠ — Workflows & Espressos is part of the ⁠Hospitality.FM⁠ podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM! Thank you to all of the ⁠Hospitality.⁠FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

This week we begin a mini-series on connectivity: interviews with people helping tour operators grow their B2B partnerships through tech tools that connect with other industry sectors.We start the series off looking at short term rentals. This is often a desired B2B relationship for tour operators, but one that's hard to decipher and connect with.Our guests are Karen Piscitelli, Founder of Explorabout and Annie Holcombe of the channel manager NextPax. Karen is building a platform to allow property managers to tap into inventory of unique bookable experiences, and Annie is an expert in the connectivity landscape for the short term rental market.We look at:how to understand the short term rental spacestrategies tour operators can use to creatively connect with property managerstech challenges in connecting properties to tours & activitiesworking with OTAs like Airbnb vs. direct relationships with propertieshow Explorabout and Nextpax are thinking about channel management andthe opportunity for designing tours in partnership with property managersopportunities in remote workersShow notes and more available at tourpreneur.com

Meet Annie Holcombe, a seasoned hospitality industry expert with a passion for vacation rentals and an impressive track record at major travel tech companies. Annie's journey in the vacation rental industry is nothing short of inspiring. Starting from property management, she moved on to pivotal roles at Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott, gaining invaluable insights into the world of travel and hospitality. In this episode, Annie dives into the current state of the industry, emphasizing the importance of standardization and safety in vacation rentals. She shares her thoughts on how new entrants can navigate the complexities of regulations and market demands and offers practical advice on building a brand that stands out in a crowded market. We'll explore the challenges and opportunities facing vacation rental managers today, discuss the role of OTAs in the evolving landscape, and consider the potential for loyalty programs within the industry. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Hostfully. Hostfully Digital Guidebooks are the easiest way to help your guests get to know your property and discover just how special the community that surrounds it is. Hostfully Guidebooks give you a dynamic place to store every bit of information you might want your guests to have — from the wifi password to how to work the hot tub to where to take the best selfies at golden hour. Hostfully empowers you with easy-to-use tools that help you feature a totally curated list of your favorite eateries, pubs, hiking trails, and more — OR Hostfully can automatically create a list of experiences through their Guidebook Wizard if you've got dozens of properties and just can't afford to curate a custom set of recommendations for each one. Learn more here! Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach? Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.

In this episode, Brian is joined by Annie Holcombe, Director of Technical Partnerships at Nextpax. Founded in 2006 by Erik Engel, Nextpax has seen rapid growth to become a leading channel manager specializing in providing seamless, two-way connections between property management systems and distribution channels worldwide. In addition to this role, Annie is a cohost of the popular podcast: Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals. Tune in to hear who Annie Thanks for helping her along the way.

In today's episode, I join forces with Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe to explore a journey of transformation, from overcoming personal and professional hurdles to embracing a life of abundance and happiness. We discuss the importance of gratitude, forgiveness, and accountability, and how adopting these values has reshaped my perspective on success. Through tales of my past, insights into the power of meditation, and the significance of asking for help, we uncover the essence of true fulfillment. This conversation is a deep dive into the strategies that have propelled me towards empowering over a billion people to find their own happiness and success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of "Alex and Annie, the Real Women of Vacation Rentals," listeners were treated to an insightful conversation with the dynamic duo of 30A Beach Girls, Hollie and Lisa. Nestled in a stunning vacation home with the aroma of a chef's creation wafting through the air, the podcast delved into the secrets behind the success of this female-led empire in the vacation rental industry.The Founding Story:Hollie unveils the fascinating journey of 30A Beach Girls, from a humble housekeeping and maintenance company to a thriving management enterprise. Discover how their evolution was fueled by proactive communication and a commitment to personalized guest experiences.Unreasonable Hospitality" and Beyond:Explore the unique culture of 30A Beach Girls, where going above and beyond guest expectations is the norm. Learn about their approach to building lasting relationships with repeat guests and the art of adding personal touches, such as holiday home decorations.Key Takeaways:

In this special first-of-the-month episode of 'Alex and Annie, the Real Women of Vacation Rentals,' hosts Alex and Annie take a nostalgic journey through 2023 and unveil exciting plans for the upcoming year.Book Announcement:Get ready for their upcoming book, "Connecting the Dots," where Alex and Annie delve into the biggest aha moments from their interviews with industry experts. Discover the insightful themes and lessons that will be explored in this must-read for anyone in the vacation rental sphere.Top Five Episodes of 2023:Join the hosts as they revisit their favorite episodes, including interviews with Marcus Räder from Hostaway, Kristin Brown from Concishare, and Melanie Brown from Key Data. Explore the valuable insights and memorable moments that made these episodes stand out.Predictions for 2024:Alex and Annie share their thoughts on the future of the vacation rental industry in 2024. Dive deeper into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and join the conversation by sharing your own predictions using #AlexAnnie2024.Alex and Annie Foundation:Learn more about the newly launched Alex and Annie Foundation, designed to support individuals in the industry looking to take the next step forward. Discover how you can get involved in their mission to elevate and empower the vacation rental community.As the episode concludes, Alex and Annie express heartfelt gratitude to their listeners and reiterate their commitment to providing valuable content and support. Stay tuned for their adventures in 2024, including conference appearances and the ongoing efforts of the Alex and Annie Foundation. Your journey in the vacation rental community just got even more exciting.This episode is brought to you by Rev & Research!Connect with Alex and AnnieAlex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

In this insightful episode, hosts Alex and Annie dive deep into the world of vacation rentals with a special guest, Sarah Bradford, co-host of Sarah and T Podcast, and former owner of two successful vacation rental companies in the picturesque landscapes of Colorado.Journey Through Experience:Sarah begins by unraveling her rich background in the vacation rental industry, providing listeners with an intimate look into her entrepreneurial journey. She candidly shares her experiences in selling not just one but two thriving businesses, shedding light on the highs, lows, and invaluable lessons learned along the way.Challenges of the Trade:The discussion seamlessly transitions to the challenges and pressures inherent in running a vacation rental company. Sarah delves into the complexities of navigating regulations and effectively managing staff, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the day-to-day operations of this dynamic industry.Key Takeaways:

Join us for an exclusive throwback to our most viewed episode of the year with Ben Coleman - Founder of Rev & Research, Vanessa Humes - Director of Sales & Marketing at InterCoastal Net Designs and Lance Stitcher - Broker/Owner at Seaside Vacations and Sales.In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by a panel of experts to help guide you on a pressing topic - How to Explain Changes in Revenue and Bookings to Your Homeowners.2023 is not turning out to be as profitable as expected for vacation rental managers, and naturally this is causing quite a bit of turmoil for property managers, especially those who got into the business during the golden years of 2020-2022.Some of the great insights discussed in this episode includes proactive, data-driven communication with your homeowners, as well as the importance of making sure you're pricing appropriately for 2023 instead of making decisions like it's still last year.Whether you're an individual property manager feeling the pressure of the current market, or a Vacation Rental company with hundreds of properties under management looking to safeguard your book of business - tune in to this episode to learn from our expert panel on exactly what steps to take to navigate the stormy seas of 2023 and beyond.This episode is brought to you by Rev & Research!Connect with Ben:Website | LinkedInConnect with Vanessa:Website | LinkedInConnect with Lance:Website | LinkedInConnect with Alex and AnnieAlex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

In this episode of Alex & Friends, Leslie Sonnier joins Alex for an in-person conversation set against the backdrop of Myrtle Beach. From a chance meeting three years ago in matching dresses at a conference, to reflecting on the emotional process of selling Rebl Rentals, a thriving vacation rental business in Scottsdale, Arizona, this episode is a rollercoaster of memories, lessons, and the excitement of new beginnings.Creating Memorable Experiences and Impact on Families:The conversation emphasizes the profound impact vacation rentals have on families and their cherished memories. Leslie discusses the importance of creating memorable experiences for guests.Life as a Balancing Act: Explore the challenges of finding a balance between work and personal life in the demanding vacation rental industry. Alex and Leslie share insights into the importance of self-care for those navigating this dynamic field.Key Moments:

In a twist of fate, Annie Holcombe's journey in the vacation rental industry began unexpectedly, as she found herself working at a hotel front desk while recovering from knee surgery. Little did she know that this serendipitous turn would ignite a lifelong passion for hospitality. But what challenges did Annie face along the way? And how did she overcome them to become a respected figure in the vacation rental community? Stay tuned as we dive into Annie's inspiring story of perseverance, mentorship, and the unexpected path that led her to success.“I think there has been a notion for a long time that you had to be enemies with the person that was running a competitive business, but they're really not. I mean, they're your partner in the industry, in the market. You're both trying to get the same thing to happen for people to come to your destination.” - Annie HolcombeIn this episode, you will be able to:Discover the power of mentorship for accelerated growth in the vacation rental industry.Learn how collaborating with competitors can lead to mutual success and increased market share.Harness the networking potential of LinkedIn to connect with other vacation rental professionals and expand your industry reach.Unlock the personal and professional benefits of mentorship, including enhanced skills, confidence, and career advancement.Cultivate a culture of kindness and grace in your business relationships, leading to stronger connections and shared success.My special guest is Annie HolcombeAnnie Holcombe is a highly experienced professional in the vacation rental industry, with a remarkable career spanning over 30 years in hospitality. She began her journey working at a branded franchise hotel in Florida before transitioning into sales and eventually finding her niche in vacation rentals. Annie's expertise in the industry expanded as she worked with a company that managed thousands of units and played a key role in establishing them as the largest management company in their region. Her impressive track record caught the attention of Expedia, where she served as a market manager for the Gulf Coast region, handling vacation rentals and alternative lodging. Annie's dedication to education and mentorship led her to co-host the "Real Women of Vacation Rentals" podcast, where she shares valuable insights and experiences to support and uplift professionals in the vacation rental industry. With her extensive knowledge and passion for mentorship, Annie is a trusted resource for those seeking growth and success in the field.Connect with Annie:https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-holcombe-vrgal/The key moments in this episode are:00:00:08 - Introduction00:01:27 - Annie's Background in Hospitality00:05:49 - Passion for Mentorship00:09:27 - Women in the Vacation Rental Industry00:10:07 - Conclusion00:14:02 - Learning from Others in Your Market00:15:32 - Putting Yourself Out There00:16:46 - The Power of Mentorship00:19:19 - Finding Purpose and Positivity00:28:10 - The Myth of Passive Income00:29:01 - Mentors and Mentees00:30:00 - Building a Network of Experts00:30:46 - The Power of Helping Others00:33:05 - What Direct Booking Success means to AnnieShow notes are available at: https://directbookingsuccess.com/podcast/Follow Jenn on Instagram:...

In this empowering episode of "Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals", we're reunited with a dear friend and the  very first podcast guest, Amber Hurdle, the CEO and founder of Employer Brand Central. Together, the A.H. Trio dives deep into the transformative power of confidence and personal branding.The Fluidity of Confidence:The conversation delves into the concept of confidence not being static, but something that needs continuous work and self-awareness. They discuss the vulnerability and insecurities inherent in everyone, challenging the misconception that confident individuals are immune to self-doubt. Amber encourages listeners to embrace their personal power and not let external validation or negative opinions affect their self-worth.Wrap-up:This episode serves as a reminder that confidence is a journey, and it requires self-reflection, resilience, and the willingness to step out of one's comfort zone. By embracing personal power, building a strong personal brand, and surrounding oneself with the right people, individuals can unlock their potential and navigate through life's transitions with confidence and purpose.Key Takeaways:

In this captivating episode of "Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals," we are thrilled to have Mark Simpson, the visionary founder of Boostly. Boostly is a game-changer for vacation rental hosts and managers, providing a unique blend of tools, tactics, and a supportive community.Boostly's Mission:Mark dives deep into how Boostly empowers short-term rental owners. The company focuses on securing more direct bookings, reaching the ideal guests, and giving hosts valuable time back through their personalized vacation rental websites.Exciting Announcement: The Boostly Documentary:Mark unveils a groundbreaking project that's been in the works – a documentary-style video series featuring the transformative journeys of two hosts implementing Boostly's strategies. This series promises an immersive experience, offering insider glimpses into their challenges, successes, and the strategies that elevated their direct bookings.Key Insights and Inspiration:The aim of the documentary is clear – to inspire and guide hosts looking to amplify their direct bookings. Mark shares the release date, December 26th, for this insightful series. But that's not all – a watch party will be held for viewers to join in, learn from these hosts' experiences, and be part of a community of thriving vacation rental owners.Key Takeaways:

In this engaging episode of Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals we are joined once again  by Ben Coleman, the visionary founder of Rev and Research, alongside the Chief Operating Officer, Rebecca Ballart.Rev and Research revolutionizes the vacation rental industry with their 100% done-for-you revenue management services. Beyond standard rate adjustments, the team, driven by a passion for data and numbers, conducts a comprehensive analysis of clients' businesses. From revenue discussions to sales budgets and overarching goals, their unique bottom-up approach has halved owner attrition in the first year. With a team of industry leaders and former operators, Rev and Research taps into the brightest minds in vacation rentals, maximizing occupancy at optimal rates. Their services not only pay for themselves but also reshape the landscape of revenue management in the industry.In this episode, Ben and Rebecca, together with Alex and Annie combine their expertise to dissect the current state of the vacation rental market. They stress the importance of understanding market demand and pricing strategies while underlining transparency and clear communication with homeowners regarding revenue projections and expectations. Dive into the challenges of managing diverse inventory, from urban markets to homes versus condos. Learn how staying informed about local events can be leveraged to boost bookings and adapt to the changing expectations of homeowners.The discussion concludes with a sneak peek into the upcoming DARM conference. Ben and Rebecca share insights on their sessions covering revenue management strategies and tackling underperforming units. Overall, the episode emphasizes the proactive, transparent, and knowledgeable approach required for success in vacation rental revenue management.

In this engaging episode of Alex and Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals we are joined once again  by Ben Coleman, the visionary founder of Rev and Research, alongside the Chief Operating Officer, Rebecca Ballart.Rev and Research revolutionizes the vacation rental industry with their 100% done-for-you revenue management services. Beyond standard rate adjustments, the team, driven by a passion for data and numbers, conducts a comprehensive analysis of clients' businesses. From revenue discussions to sales budgets and overarching goals, their unique bottom-up approach has halved owner attrition in the first year. With a team of industry leaders and former operators, Rev and Research taps into the brightest minds in vacation rentals, maximizing occupancy at optimal rates. Their services not only pay for themselves but also reshape the landscape of revenue management in the industry.In this episode, Ben and Rebecca, together with Alex and Annie combine their expertise to dissect the current state of the vacation rental market. They stress the importance of understanding market demand and pricing strategies while underlining transparency and clear communication with homeowners regarding revenue projections and expectations. Dive into the challenges of managing diverse inventory, from urban markets to homes versus condos. Learn how staying informed about local events can be leveraged to boost bookings and adapt to the changing expectations of homeowners.The discussion concludes with a sneak peek into the upcoming DARM conference. Ben and Rebecca share insights on their sessions covering revenue management strategies and tackling underperforming units. Overall, the episode emphasizes the proactive, transparent, and knowledgeable approach required for success in vacation rental revenue management.

In this episode, Alex and Annie are joined by David Angotti, the Chief Evangelist at Guesty, an end-to-end property management software designed for short-term property managers who seek to save time, increase revenue, and grow their businesses. David's journey in the vacation rental industry began after he exited his first company, SpeedyPrep, in 2009. Retirement at the age of 29 quickly lost its allure, so he purchased a few rental properties. This quickly evolved into a property management business from which he also exited. Afterwards, David shifted his focus to launching and managing a book direct business, ultimately leading him to his current role at Guesty.David breaks down the role of Chief Evangelist into two parts. The external part of his role strives to achieve a level of market education and awareness that makes sure Guesty is always part of the conversation when companies are evaluating property management software. The internal part of his role requires him to always have his finger on the pulse when it comes to current market trends and demand, and for him to advocate for both their existing clientele and the total addressable market to make sure that Guesty is always developing in a direction that best serves their market.Guesty is expanding their United States team, adding 40-50 consultative market managers who will serve individual markets across the US. Their purpose will be to ensure that Guesty's onboarding experience is much more refined, and that clients have access to a dedicated support team in their particular market that can serve them at a much higher pace and quality than what the industry is used to. The reason for this expansion is that Guesty is now moving into the traditional vacation rental markets, while their previous market share was typically in urban areas.A big focus of David's work is towards educating the market on how to build the right growth strategies. He considers the marketing agency model to be inefficient for smaller property managers, as great marketing agencies typically have large retainers that are way out of budget for your average property management company, and smaller agencies are less effective than hiring freelancers and contractors to take care of individual projects. Tune into the full episode to learn more about David's journey and expertise!HIGHLIGHTS:00:54 David's Journey Into Vacation Rentals10:22 Improving Your Book Direct UX15:41 How Guesty Helps With Marketing18:42 What Does a Chief Evangelist Do?26:14 Guesty's US Expansion Plan32:20 The Right Approach to Marketing39:42 Building a Recognizable Brand This episode is brought to you by Rev & Research!Connect with David:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie Holcombe

Welcome to a special flashback episode of Alex & Annie! Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the podcast, and we couldn't be more grateful for the road so far, and excited for what's to come!To celebrate, we decided to back the episode where it all started. Fun fact - the first time we tried to record it we needed 3 takes to get it right, as technology was getting the best of us.Here are the original show notes - In this inaugural episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, we explore the spark that started our journey to making this podcast. We provide a high-level overview of our industry background, and highlight two AHA moments that defined the future of our careers. Topics we cover:Who are Alex & Annie? The importance of having a good mentor Two AHA moments that defined our careersWhere will this journey take us? Vacation Rental Women's SummitThank you for joining us and helping this become a reality. We cannot wait to bring you more exciting stories from the PEOPLE behind the industry. CONTACT ALEX & ANNIEAlexandAnniePodcast.comLinkedIn | Facebook | InstagramAlex Husner - LinkedinAnnie Holcombe - Linkedin

For this November 1st of the Month Bonus Episode, Alex & Annie welcome Lance and Elaine Stitcher - Owners of Seaside Vacations & Sales - a full-service, boutique Vacation Rental company that operates in Chincoteague Island, VA, Ocean City, MD, and Captains Cove, VA. During the VRMA 2023 International Conference in Orlando they became the recipients of the Vacation Rental Management Company of the Year Award and are joining us today to talk about their road to winning this prestigious award.Lance and Elaine understand that to truly provide the best possible guest experience, you need to level up your service and go beyond the industry status quo. One of the ways they've done it is by bringing laundry in-house and including linens as a standard part of their service. This was a costly, uphill battle at first, but now they can proudly say that they're the only vacation rental managers in their market that do this - which takes a huge burden off of the guests shoulders. Spirits are high after the phenomenal VRMA conference in Orlando last week. Compared to last year's event in Vegas, the Orlando venue was much less populated by external parties making it easier to connect with industry peers - which is what vacation rental conferences are all about. This year, the DARM and Women's Summit Conferences are both right around the corner from the VRMA event, and we're expecting a strong follow-up to the Orlando event.When asked about revenue management in 2023, Lance reaffirms that the COVID high season is obviously over, however, they've still seen a 25% growth improvement compared to 2019 which puts them at an over 5% yearly growth rate for the last 4 years. Revenue management is no easy task, especially if it's one of the many hats you wear, which is why Lance considers Rev & Research and Wheelhouse must-haves for their business at this point.With the market no longer being as forgiving as it was during 2020-2021, Lance and Elaine are both focused on making revenue management their superpower. This year, they've learned an invaluable lesson about the importance of getting seasonal pricing right, and the market expectation of flexibility when it comes to cancellations and changes to bookings. Check out the full episode to hear the road that took Seaside Vacations & Sales to the VRMA Vacation Rental Management Company of the Year Award!HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 Lance & Elaine Receive the VRMA Award!02:21 Seaside Vacations & Sales Road To Victory05:03 Bringing Their Laundry In-House10:42 The Value of Conferences17:21 Revenue Management in 202324:52 How Consumers Choose Booking Sites30:52 Why Our Industry Rocks!This episode is brought to you by Rev & Research!Connect with Lance:Website | LinkedInConnect with Elaine:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by Marcus Räder - Founder & CEO of Hostaway. Hostaway is one of the fastest growing vacation rental management software companies, perfect for those with 5 to 1,000+ listings. They make it easy for you to get more out of your business while spending less time with tedious manual tasks by offering a variety of pre-made software-based solutions. Last time Marcus was on the show, we spoke about what companies really learn as they attempt to grow with investment capital, and this time he's joining us to discuss where our industry is heading in 2024 and beyond.Aside from the fact that Hostaway just raised the biggest venture capital round in vacation rental history at $175 Million USD, the reason why we decided to have Marcus on the show again is because his last year's appearance on here ended up being one of our favorite episodes ever. Between the entrepreneurial and career wisdom, plus the technical topics we discussed - the episode was so good we released it twice. And today's sequel does it justice.When speaking on the prioritization on what to develop for the Hostaway platform, Marcus reveals that their core philosophy stems from the fact that they need to be an all-in-one solution. There's too many moving parts in the day-to-day operations of a property management company to allow decentralization, which is what Marcus realized 7 years ago during the inception of Hostaway. The money trail that goes from renter to property owner is a complex route with many stops, which creates quite a few inefficiencies. Marcus draws a comparison to Amazon - the reason why they're so price efficient is because they remove a variety of steps from the money trail including logistics and wholesalers, allowing for true efficiency to be achieved. This same Amazon-esque philosophy is what he applies to how Hostaway serves their clients.Marcus speaks on the success of Hostaway being in large part driven by their company culture and hiring methodology. The reason why they've been able to achieve more with a team of 150 then their competitors with teams of 5-600 is due to them being zoned in on hiring the right talent and building a culture of winners. To help facilitate this type of environment, Marcus makes sure to meet with every single new hire, even though at times it might take 3 months to get it set up with his ultra busy schedule.Now that American Express is moving into the vacation rental space with their loyalty program, many speculate on the impact this will have on the market share between hotels and rentals. Marcus brings up a great point that these new programs won't fundamentally change the thinking of a buyer when choosing between a hotel or a rental property, so no impactful uptick is to be expected from this new program.Tune in to the full episode to learn more on how Hostaway has become a true staple in the vacation rental management software space!HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 Recalling Marcus's Previous Alex & Annie Appearance06:17 Hostaway's Development Prioritisation Strategy12:42 Approaching Customer Support The Right Way17:12 Building an International Company Culture Based On Success23:31 Marcus's Global Viewpoint On The 2023 Market29:42 The Impact of AmEx's Arrival To Vacation Rentals36:32 Marcus's Expectations For This Years Conference SeasonThis episode is brought to you by Casago and Rev & Research!Connect with Marcus:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

In today's rapidly changing job market, it has become increasingly uncommon to encounter individuals who have dedicated an entire decade to a single company. Yet, here we are, thrilled to engage in a captivating conversation with none other than Alex Husner, a true testament to steadfast commitment and professional perseverance. In this episode, we embark on a fascinating journey through Alex's career in the vacation rental sector, delving deep into the remarkable experiences and insights that only a decade-long tenure can offer.As we unravel Alex's story, we'll gain invaluable insights into the challenges and triumphs that accompany the decision to depart from a well-established, long-term career. Alex's journey reflects not only the evolution of the vacation rental industry but also the personal growth and adaptability required to navigate the dynamic landscape of modern employment. We'll explore the pivotal moments, the transformative experiences, and the lessons learned along the way, painting a vivid picture of the ever-shifting sands of professional life.Learn more about Alex:As newly appointed CMO for Casago, Alex will be helping grow the reach and exposure of the brand in both B2B and B2C capacities. Casago has more than 22 years of experience in vacation rentals, and has developed a franchise model for outside companies to benefit from our in-house technology, support and distribution. Locally owned businesses are at the heart of this industry, and as a franchise, we are now enabling these companies to compete at a national level while maintaining 100% ownership and control of their business.Alex previously served as CMO for Condo-World for 13 years, a vacation rental business based in North Myrtle Beach, SC that grew from 150 to 500 condos under management during this time and handled sales and marketing for an additional 5,000 affiliate properties across the Southeast.Alex is the Co-Host of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, with her partner Annie Holcombe. They share stories from the top leaders in tourism and business and were named as part of the Top 30 Hospitality Podcasts by the Global Hospitality Institute.Alex's Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexohusner/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-o-husner-%F0%9F%8C%8E-1844306/Podcast: https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/Connect with Veronica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/Master your role, nurture your team, prioritize your well-being, and elevate your marketing leadership. Get your free Rainmaker's Roadmap today and start your new journey towards advancing your career as a leader! http://bit.ly/3DFY6xFIf you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

In this episode, Alex & Annie are joined by two recurring guests: Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago, and Matt Landau, Founder of VRMB. Together, they have started a new joint venture called Keystone Retreats.These recurring cohorts aim to help those in the vacation rental industry break through to the next level through creative and educational workshops and events.Last year, Matt was feeling that burnout was creeping up on him.Not being his first rodeo, he knew exactly what the signs are, and decided to start pivoting towards Keystone Retreats - a new venture that would ultimately reignite his passion for the Vacation Rental Industry.Matt decided to join forces with Steve, who has over 22 years of vacation rental industry experience running Casago.Steve describes his time with Keystone Retreats as a real eye opening experience that has taught him how to better serve the vacation rental industry and become an even greater force in our space.Keystone Retreats is all about transformation.Instead of just focusing on just the business side of the vacation rental industry, the real purpose of these events is to help people unlock their north star by collaborating on new, creative projects and stimulating parts of their mind that might have been left unmoved since they were a kid.Steve shared their plan for future Keystone events - they are looking to step up their next iteration by having a clearer vision of what Keystone Retreats is, and constantly improving the value that's brought to the participants.Their next step is to cultivate more amazing thought leaders that will come in to share their journeys, workshops, and transformative paths that will help you break through to the next level.If all of this sounds a little bit fluffy to you, you're not the only one - even our host Alex was a bit skeptical about the creative workshop part of the events, but it ended up being the most memorable and transformative part of her Keystone Retreats experience, and one she fondly recalls to this day.Check out the full episode to learn more on what Keystone Retreats has in store for you!HIGHLIGHTS:01:15 - Matt's Journey with Burnout03:19 - How Steve Joined Keystone Retreats05:58 - The Meaning of Keystone Retreats10:25 - What to Expect in Future Keystone Events14:32 - Should You Indulge in Creative Activities?17:21 - Will Keystone Retreats Attract the STR Industry?23:45 - The World-Class Experience of Keystone RetreatsThis episode is brought to you by Casago and Rev & Research!Connect with Steve:Website | LinkedinConnect with Matt:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

Today joining Alex & Annie is Kimberly Miles, Executive Director of the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) - an international, professional trade association of the vacation and holiday rental property management and hospitality industries. Kimberly has been with the VRMA for 2 years, and previously had an impressive 19 year tenure at American Hotel & Lodging Association, where she advanced up to becoming their SVP of Operations.Our very own Alex Husner is also a board member of the VRMA, so on this episode Alex and Kimberly dive into highlighting the role of the Executive Board at VRMA. The 13 leaders that represent the board develop and drive the strategic course for the association and set out their goals and priorities to make sure the organization is always a valuable asset to the vacation rental industry and a true representative of the hospitality space.When Kimberly started with VRMA, they had just held their first in-person meeting since the pandemic. Associations were struggling in a remote world, so Kimberly had her hands full with reigniting the spark of in-person events. Within her first 6 months, she got up to speed with the task at hand and successfully held a staggering 1700 person event in San Antonio. After weathering the storm of returning in-person conferences, in 2022 Kimberly was able to shift her attention to the long-term planning and goals of VRMA and take a more strategic seat in her duties as Executive Director. The approach that the VRMA is taking to their growth strategy is centered around embracing change. The board is focused on adaptability, and their goal is to make sure that everyone in the industry has a place under the VRMA roof. The organization heavily emphasizes education as the best way to grow, and it's one of the reasons why they've become an industry leader.In order to maximize the reach of their educational efforts, the VRMA is always promoting their conferences and events, but they're also cognizant of the fact that not every vacation rental owner is doing this full time, meaning that lower-commitment educational sources like webinars and ebooks get the same amount of attention.There's a huge event on the horizon - The VRMA are hosting their International Conference in Orlando, October 22-25, 2023. The event is hosted at the Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, and Kimberly expects this to be a record breaker - so get your tickets now before they're sold out!!Tune into this episode to learn more about the exciting things that the VRMA have prepared for you, and we hope to see you all in-person in October at the 2023 VRMA International Conference!HIGHLIGHTS:01:58 What Does the Executive Board at VRMA Do?06:01 Kimberly's VRMA Post-Pandemic Onboarding10:03 VRMA's Growth Strategy14:35 Building Your Educational Engine17:15 Partnerships With Other Organizations21:40 What To Expect from the VRMA International Conference in October of 2023This episode is brought to you by Casago and Rev & Research!Connect with Kimberly:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

This episode is sponsored by OwnerRez. You can discover more about OwnerRez at our Virtual Vendor Showcase. Sign up using promo code VRF30 for 30% off the first 3 months https://vacationrentalformula.com/ownerrez Get access to the best education for your short-term rental business! Enroll in The Vacation Rental Formula Business School today and start seeing results tomorrow. Discover more about the VRF B-School: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/courses Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here:  https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS506

In this episode, Alex and Annie are joined by Mike Reinman, Owner of Casago Kona & Owner/GM of Casago Redwood Coast. Mike sold Redwood Coast Vacation Rentals to Vacasa at the end of 2019. After speaking with Casago CEO Steve Schwab, Mike decided to return to the industry and purchase a STR business in Kona. This is where his partnership with Casago began, and what laid the foundation for his next venture with Casago Redwood Coast.Mike started in the short-term rental industry by converting his garage into a rental space. He then managed to scale this business to a staggering 142 properties before ultimately selling and taking a sabbatical from property management.During his time running Redwood Coast Vacation Rentals, Mike had been approached for a franchise opportunity with Casago, but he ended up going in a different direction. When Mike sold his first STR business, Steve Schwab approached him with the opportunity to purchase a vacation rental business in beautiful Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and so their partnership began.Mike attributes his decision to invest in Casago Kona to the support system that Casago brings to the table for their operators. He had experienced dissatisfaction with the previous software providers and booking vendors he had used, and those experiences made him doubtful of ever wanting to get involved in the vacation rental space again, given the struggle of ensuring operational soundness and profitability.A big selling point for Mike was the community aspect of being a Casago business. Having the ability to confide in other vacation rental owners and get their expertise on how to better run a vacation rental business has been a game changer and brought many new insights to Mike's already astute understanding of the vacation rental industry.Mike's appreciation for the way Casago works with their property managers didn't appear from thin air. When he sold his first business to Vacasa, he wasn't a huge fan of the corporate atmosphere. To be a successful property manager, you must have a broad understanding of various aspects of the business, and Mike didn't feel like this was reflected in the conversations he had with members of the Vacasa team.Tune into this episode of Alex & Annie to hear more insights on what a proper support system can do for your vacation rental business!HIGHLIGHTS:02:01 Mike's Journey to California and the Inception of His STR Business06:58 How Mike Started Evaluating His First Casago Project10:25 The Struggles of Running a STR Business in Hawaii During COVID11:34 How Casago's Support System Closed Mike15:17 Growing Together With Other Successful Property Managers19:25 The Importance of Consistent Coaching25:05 Mike's Experience Working with Vacasa27:42 Mike's Approach to LeadershipThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Mike:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

Welcome to Episode 101 of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals - the celebration of passing the 100-episode milestone.Today, we are joined by Ed the Ghost Host, who's interviewing us about this wonderful journey we've been on since January 2021, and passing us the microphone so we can unveil some new projects and initiatives coming your way.To start, we'd like to thank everyone who has come along for the ride - from our wonderful guests to our plentiful listeners and those who engage with us on social media.We also appreciate those who aren't strangers when seeing us at vacation rental conventions and events. Your support, feedback, and communication mean a lot to us. It has been amazing so far, and there's so much more to come.It's beyond wild that we've been heard tens of thousands of times across six different continents and in almost 30 countries. This was not at all what we expected when we started this podcast two and a half years ago.So, what's next?We're now in the process of writing our first book that will highlight the stories of our guests. It's a passion project we've been thinking about for a long time, and we believe it's time that we create something tangible to further shine a light on the wonders that have been revealed during these 100 episodes.We are beyond excited.One thing is very apparent in our industry - there's a divide between the short-term rental space and the vacation rental space, and we're not fans of that at all.We believe that a unified voice between the two sectors should be the common goal. This will help both industries grow and avoid unwanted regulations, and we're dedicated to doing our part in bringing alignment between these two similar but different industries.We have a list of guests that we would love you to hear from on our show, such as:Marcus Räder from HostawayEd MylettHeather Monahan Rob Greyber from VacasaBill FaethBrian Chesky from AirBnBThis has been a really rewarding journey for both of us. Building our personal brands, beginning and nurturing new friendships, and hearing direct feedback from people we never thought were even listening to us. We're happy, grateful, humbled, and insanely excited for things to come.Stay tuned!00:00 Welcome to Episode 101 - The Celebration of Passing 100 Episodes00:45 Our First “Thank You” of the Episode01:34 Introducing our Guest Host03:37 What's next for Alex & Annie?05:04 Book Announcement!!08:29 New Narratives in the Upcoming Episodes11:28 What can STR's Learn From Our Industry and Vice Versa14:28 Dream Guest List - What To Expect19:05 The Most Rewarding Parts of Our Journey as Hosts22:26 Another Thank You!! This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

Joining the show today are the hosts of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals, Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe! Find out how a chance meeting in a hotel bathroom led to the launch of their podcast and learn some of the duo's favorite moments so far. Alex and Annie also give their insights on some of the current issues facing the short-term rental industry. "It's going to be interesting to me to see where the industry goes in the next 18 months because I think you're going to see a lot of people that are just going to walk away from it. The savvy people that understand that you have to really be mindful of how you're marketing and what channels you're participating in, and how you're putting your brand out there, those are the ones that are going to win in the end." - Annie Holcombe Follow the Destination Marketing Podcast on social media: Instagram Twitter YouTube TikTok Do you want to be featured on the show? Send us a voice message! If you're enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic's services,  please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

Welcome back to another exciting episode! Today, we have a special guest, Bart Sobies, who is an expert in vacation rentals and technology. Bart is the visionary behind The Accommodation Show and iBooked.Online. He has a long history of success, starting his first online business at just 15 years old. With his passion for technology, marketing, and investment, Bart has helped many hospitality owners generate extra revenue through direct bookings and digital products. He is also the founder of a thriving Facebook community where over 2000 industry professionals share valuable insights.In this episode, Bart shares practical tips for building a successful website and using direct booking strategies. He draws from his experience in helping restaurants with online ordering to highlight the importance of adapting to changes and recognizing the potential of direct bookings in vacation rentals. As the host of The Accommodation Show, Bart explores how emerging technologies like AI and Chat GPT are shaping the future of the industry. He discusses their impact on thought leadership, provides valuable tips for using Chat GPT effectively, and explores their implications for SEO.Additionally, Bart stresses the significance of building a brand and reducing dependency on booking channels. He shares his best practices for identifying the ideal guest and employing effective communication strategies to foster guest loyalty and drive direct bookings. Join us for an enlightening conversation as Bart Sobies shares his expertise, recommendations, and visionary outlook on the vacation rental industry. Gain valuable insights that will empower you to navigate the evolving landscape and enhance your success as a hospitality owner or manager!Highlights of the Episode:02:21 - Guest Intro: Bart Sobies03:46 – A little bit of history06:10 – Highly encouraged direct booking strategies09:12 – Focus on the audience you can speak to10:42 – Direct bookings or homeowner marketing14:19 – Getting into the vacation rental space19:16 – Chat GPT and where it's taking the industry23:52 – Will it replace original thought leadership?28:36 – Best tips on learning ChatGPT35:21 – How this applies to the future of SEO in the marketing world38:00 – Working with people in vacation rentals40:38 – Not depending on a channel and building a brand49:25 – Tying it all in to the guest experience53:15 – ClosingThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Bart:Website | Linkedin | Facebook | Instagram | 5-Day AI Challenge Connect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jeff Iloulian, the CEO of HostGPO, a game-changing buying group for short-term rentals. Discover Jeff's remarkable journey from lawyer to successful vacation rental operator. He founded HostGPO to solve the challenge of sourcing high quality, affordable products for vacation rentals. By leveraging collective buying power, HostGPO transforms the industry, making it easier for operators to access top-notch products at discounted rates.In this episode, discover how HostGPO helps vacation rental owners save money in the long run by sourcing durable, commercial-grade furniture. We explore the challenges of dealing with property managers and homeowners, along with the valuable consulting and design services offered by HostGPO. Dive into the delicate balance between standardization and uniqueness in unit aesthetics. We also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the vacation rental industry and how GPOs, like HostGPO, help alleviate decision fatigue for owners. Furthermore, we delve into the advocacy work for industry safety in vacation rentals. Tune in for insightful discussions on these topics and more, providing valuable insights for vacation rental owners!Highlights of the Episode:02:22 - Guest Intro: Jeff Iloulian02:49 – Jeff and the company06:11 – Company size and its operators07:04 – Working with hosts big and small08:15 – The process09:58 – Dealing with property managers and homeowners14:20 – Consulting and design service17:42 – Homeowners upgrading their units21:51 – Balancing standardization of units and uniqueness24:59 – Going to the all-white model28:33 – Covid exposed vacation rentals' weaknesses30:23 – Conversation with parents about transitioning from practicing law to short term rentals37:41 – Solving the decision fatigue40:57 – Advocacy work for industry42:08 – People are sleeping on safety49:44 – ClosingThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Jeff:Website | LinkedinConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of  ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

Join us for an insightful conversation with Adam Stoker, president and CEO of Relic Agency and guru in the world of tourism and destination marketing (DMO/CVBs/Chamber of Commerce). Discover how he stumbled into the tourism industry, built an 8-year relationship with the Cedar City, Utah Tourism Bureau, started the Destination Marketing Podcast and is now one of the largest DMO agencies in the country. In this engaging episode, we discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism industry, including the importance of building strong relationships with local stakeholders and vacation rental owners. Adam also shares his thoughts on how tourism destinations are now launching campaigns that focus on community pride, workforce development, and more. Plus, we explore the influx of short-term rental properties prior to the pandemic and how the oversupply in some areas had become a nuisance, but the pandemic has helped alleviate those issues.Don't miss our deep dive into the concept of branded media in the tourism industry and its role in the ever-changing competitive landscape. Adam explains the importance of involving all stakeholders in the vacation rental industry and how it has been a blessing for the industry. We also discuss the significance of paid, earned, and owned media as essential elements of a successful marketing strategy. Finally, we touch on the evolution and impact of AI in the tourism sector, including its role in content creation and SEO. Tune in for an episode packed with valuable insights and expert advice from Adam Stoker!Highlights of the Episode:02:22 - Guest Intro: Adam Stoker03:47 – Background and involvement in the DMO space 09:15 – Working with and without a budget in DMOs13:40 – Podcasting and establishing credibility in the industry16:14 – Recovery and what the future looks like for the tourism industry23:29 – Branded media and owning your own audience32:37 – Owned media for beginners 38:08 – AI and owned media44:46 – AI is going to eliminate mediocrity47:44 – AI and SEO51:42 – ClosingThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Adam:Website | Linkedin Connect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of  ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

Welcome to another first of the month bonus episode where it's all about advocacy and legislative issues with Tiffany Edwards, a strategic consultant specializing in short-term vacation rental organizations. Tiffany's expertise spans across various markets, assisting in navigating STVR regulations, state legislation, stakeholder engagement, and grassroots campaigns. Her remarkable achievements include receiving the 2021 VRMA President's Award for her exceptional work in reopening STVRs post-COVID and raising advocacy funding to over $1.5 million for the organization.In this episode, Tiffany delves into the current state of vacation rental advocacy. She shares her experiences engaging with governors and communities, highlighting the industry's significant contributions. Discover how Tiffany brings together individuals with different mindsets to drive positive change and gain insights into the hot-button issues shaping the vacation rental industry. Tune in and join us as we explore the exciting world of vacation rental advocacy and find out about regulations that shape our industry!Highlights of the Episode:02:32 - Guest Intro: Tiffany Edwards05:24 – General sense of advocacy at the moment07:29 – Involved in Governor Desantis' effort against Covid11:36 – In a better position to talk about what the industry represents17:41 – Bringing in people with different mindsets20:37 – Funds and what issues gets the most help25:14 – Hot button issues30:28 – Finding business licenses that haven't been enacted34:09 – Paying taxes35:38 – Pre-emption and what it means for a community40:56 – ClosingThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Tiffany:Instagram  | Email: tiffany@colettaconsulting.comConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of  ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

In this compelling episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Ryan Dame, a seasoned leader in the vacation rental and hospitality industry. As a Partner at Casago and Good Neighbor Tech, Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. What does it take to excel in a multi-market operation and how important is financial literacy for vacation rental operators? Tune in Now!Join us as we delve into his insights on excelling in a multi-market situation, the importance of strategic partnerships, and the intricacies of franchising at Casago. Additionally, Ryan sheds light on the significance of financial literacy in the vacation rental industry. Don't miss this engaging conversation with Ryan as we explore the keys to success in this dynamic industry!Highlights of the Episode:02:21 - Guest Intro: Ryan Dame03:00 – Ryan's background10:12 – Expanding to other areas17:34 – Deciding business names23:16 – What it takes to excel in a multi-market situation27:46 – What an ideal partner looks like32:16 – Franchises at Casago33:21 – Experience in the keyless lock industry39:15 – One thing that the industry should be talking about but isn't47:26 – What's next for Ryan50:06 – ClosingThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Ryan:Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Connect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of  ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Kristin Brown CEO of Concishare, a prominent lifestyle concierge management company to explore high-end concierge service for vacation rentals.  What does it take to provide a seamless experience and create an atmosphere of total relaxation for your guests? And what is the right mindset and strategies needed to excel in this space?Join us for an insightful conversation with Kristin as we explore the world of hotel-level concierge service tailored for vacation rentals. Discover her guests' most frequently utilized service, the intricacies of logistics, forging partnerships, and uncovering the realm of vacation rentals in various destinations. Don't miss out on this engaging episode - tune in now to gain valuable insights and enhance your understanding of exceptional concierge service in the vacation rental industry.Highlights of the Episode00:44 - Guest Intro: Kristin Brown01:12 – Kristin's background02:56 – Replicating hotel level concierge for multiple destinations06:13 – Seamless transition from hotels to vacation rentals09:32 – Most used service13:42 – Coordinating logistics19:15 – Dealing with big events and sellout situations22:04 – Repeat guests26:04 – Markets and finding partners for on off markets28:43 – Partners big and small31:11 – Vacation rentals in other destinations34:14 – Oddest request from a guestThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Kristin:Website | LinkedIn | InstagramConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

Craig is a financial expert, author, and speaker who founded Shore Term Rentals, a short-term rental and property management company in New Jersey. With over 25 years of experience, he started acquiring multifamily apartment buildings in 2014, grew to 9 complexes worth $6M+, and developed a property management company to manage several of his personal properties.In this episode, Craig shares how he's leveraging his background in finance to effectively run his property management business. Craig delves deep into the unique landscape of managing properties at the Jersey Shore, the ways in which short and long term rental management are different, and discusses regulatory issues that property managers face in the area. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion about the ins and outs of property management!Highlights of the Episode00:43 – Guest Intro: Craig Stevens01:32 – Steven's background03:18 – The Jersey Shore landscape for property managers04:22 – Experience carried over from long term rentals07:02 – Making decisions on software09:05 – Where most bookings come from15:18 – Growth plans18:37 – Hiring and workforce20:38 – Referral system and networking21:31 – The Multifamily side of business24:52 – Overbuilding of long-term housing in Florida26:35 – Forecasts of growth for a community28:25 – Regulatory issues in Jersey ShoreThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with CraigWebsite | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Connect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram 

Today's episode is a very special one, as we bring you a recent panel discussion we hosted at Rent Responsibly's 2023 Sustainability Summit. What does sustainability have to do with branding and company culture, and why is it more important than ever to focus on this way of thinking? Tune in to find out! Tune in as we dive into this topic with two of the smartest minds in hospitality marketing, Stuart Butler and Pete DiMaio. You do NOT want to miss this one!About the Guests: Stuart Butler After 20 years in the hotel industry, Stuart recently became the Chief Marketing Officer at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, the official destination marketing organization for the Grand Strand. A native of England, Stuart moved to the United States in 2001 and has spent the past two decades implementing marketing strategies for hundreds of hotels and destinations worldwide. With a degree in Rocket Science from the University of Kent at Canterbury, he leverages cutting-edge technology and takes a scientific and innovative approach to everyday marketing challenges. Pete DiMaioPete is the Chief Operating Officer at TravelBoom. With TravelBoom, Pete takes an analytics approach to hotel marketing and works tirelessly to ensure his clients are able to drive occupancy, increase RevPAR, and improve direct bookings; all while providing a granular level of reporting that proves the return on investment. Pete has over two decades of experience in hospitality marketing from both the traditional and digital sides of the business. Highlights of the Episode02:16 - Episode Intro by Dana Lubner, Head of Leadership Development at Rent Responsibly05:17 – Guest Intro: Stuart Butler CMO for Visit Myrtle Beach and Pete Dimaio COO for TravelBoom05:45 – What to consider when starting the brand08:11 – What happened to companies that did not start thinking about building the brand09:48 – Fundamentals for starters14:23 – How not to get bogged down in making the right decisions20:19 – Will the ability to customize by guest detract or build trust?24:02 – The importance of company culture32:29 – Assets that need to be protected41:12 – Testing and why it's so importantConnect with STUART:LinkedIn | LinkedIn Page |  Website | FacebookConnect with PETE:LinkedIn | LinkedIn Page | Website | Instagram | TwitterThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.

This is a must-see episode: Today, we are joined by Dana Lubner, Director of Community Development at Rent Responsibly and host of the podcast "How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business." With a background in marketing and advertising, Dana fell in love with the short-term rental industry while working with her brother's company, Effortless Rental Group. However, her real passion emerged when she witnessed the industry's need for advocacy and education. As a founding member of Mile High Hosts, Denver's short-term rental community, Dana has organized events such as the Good Neighbor Summit and educates hosts on responsible practices. Now, at Rent Responsibly, she helps short-term rental owners and managers across the country mobilize to advocate for fair and balanced regulations while building strong alliances and educating the community. With her podcast, Dana continues to share her knowledge and passion for the industry, empowering listeners to take action and create a healthy and sustainable vacation rental community.Don't miss out on this informative discussion with Dana. Discover how Rent Responsibly is advocating for short term rentals and promoting successful alliances for hosts. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and be part of the community-building efforts in the short-term rental industry!Highlights of the Episode:02:57 - Guest Background: Dana Lubner, Head of Leadership Development at Rent Responsibly06:25 – Rent Responsibly the last couple of years08:38 – The Good Neighbor Summit14:02 – A portal for opportunity16:52 – The year of reckoning or more regulations?21:00 – Bring everybody that has a stake to the discussion table25:23 – Partnership with the VRMA28:38 – Interactions with other channels around vacation rentals32:18 – What's next for Dana?This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Dana:Email: dana@rentresponsibly.orgLinkedIn | Website | Instagram | LinktreeConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram |

Simon Lehmann is back for our May 1st of the Month Bonus Episode! As one of the world's foremost experts on short-term rentals and vacation rentals, Simon is always first to spot emerging trends in our industry.  In this episode, we delve into the current state of acquisitions within vacation rentals and how the economy is influencing these deals, along with what companies should be thinking about if they're considering selling. Join us to gain valuable insights into the world of vacation rentals and learn how to navigate its changing landscape. Tune in now!Highlights of the Episode:00:43 - Guest Intro: Simon Lehmann01:18 – The state of the union as it is for vacation rentals09:54 – Sell now or wait?16:42 – Foreclosures as an opportunity for buying inventory21:24 – It's a good time to sell when markets are slowing down28:01 – Current valuations of deals 32:56 – What should we look forward to?39:19 – ClosingThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Simon:Website |  LinkedIn | Instagram | TwitterConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram |

Here's an episode you won't want to miss: We talk to Matt Durrette, Founder and CEO of Cozi Vacation Rentals, about their journey to success.Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country in Fredericksburg, Cozi is a premier 24/7 provider of property management and marketing services for its owners and a provider of unforgettable experiences for its guests. Originally founding the business out of Baltimore, MD, in 2014, Matt was able to grow his managed portfolio in this downtown market to 100 homes from 2014 to 2019 while working full-time for Northrop Grumman as a Global Business Development Representative and attending grad school at Saint Joseph's University, in Philadelphia, where he obtained his MBA in Marketing and Data Analytics in 2018.Matt was fortunate to meet his beautiful wife, Jenna, who is originally from Austin, Texas. In Summer 2019, Jenna easily convinced Matt to move back to be near her family. Upon moving, Matt left his full-time job at Northrop and pursued Cozi Vacation Rental full-time. In March 2020, COVID ultimately shut down Cozi's Baltimore City Market, and from this point, Matt chose to solely focus Cozi's growth on the drive-to tourism markets of the Texas Hill Country just south of Austin. Since April 2020, Matt has organically grown and scaled the Cozi Vacation Rentals unit portfolio in Texas from 0 to 250 units within two years.Tune in to our latest episode to find out how Cozi continues to thrive and learn a few secrets on how they do it as a team!Highlights of the Episode:02:25 - Guest Background: Matt Durrette, Founder and CEO of Cozi Vacation Rentals04:02 – Hill Country vs. Big Urban Area07:03 – High quality partners for high quality service10:37 – Bringing the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to Cozi14:20 – What the EOS does for company culture24:30 – The impact of EOS on company meetings33:14 – Predictive Index and Culture Index40:10 – Keystone Retreat45:58 – What's next for Cozi?This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Matt:matt@cozivr.com | LinkedIn | WebsiteConnect with Alex and Annie:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram |

In today's episode, Alex and Annie sit down with Graham Donoghue, the CEO of Sykes Holidays Cottages Group. When Graham was brought on Sykes, the brand was lacking a narrative and a story. They were large and profitable but departments were siloed with no real rallying cry to drive the company forward.Today, Sykes has 25 brands in its portfolio and 24,000 properties under management in the UK and New Zealand, making the brand a major player in the vacation rental industry. One interesting thing about Sykes is its approach to acquiring businesses. They intentionally retain the brand of the businesses they acquire to maintain continuity and protect the legacy of the local brand. This strategy helped Sykes grow while maintaining the values that made the local brands successful in the first place.Graham shares the technologies they developed during the pandemic, from their switchboard that optimizes cost per acquisition and push notifications on their app, to pulling insights from the data to provide value to end users. Learn more about accelerating growth and leveraging technology in this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.“REAL” TALKGraham: COVID presented a unique challenge and opportunity "During that 18-month period, we offered a hundred and 54 million sterling of refunds back to consumers. But when the government said that people could travel in the UK, and every week it was a different message, but as soon as they did say they could travel, then there were 10,000 people calling for their money back, but there were also 10,000 people calling or going onto the website trying to book a holiday. So it was like famine to feast in a heartbeat."Graham: Technology frees up your best people to deliver excellent service"The reason why we have 2000 people is we're a technology-driven company but we use people, we use our human capital to hopefully deliver exceptional service. What I'm always looking at is I don't want the really clever, smart people I have a doing tasks that could be done by technology, that don't have a lot of value to the end stakeholder. But actually being there, you know, 10 o'clock at night on the phone when there's a problem with your boiler and be able to service that and deal with it, that has value."Connect with Graham:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdonoghue/Website: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn| YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

In today's episode, Alex and Annie chat with David Weiss, the CEO of Whimstay. He shares his background in vacation rentals and the global payments space and his journey to becoming Whimstay's CEO.David discusses how last-minute bookings are their niche and that their goal is to increase incremental bookings while offering the best deals to travelers. He talks about the initiatives they have for this year like partnering with a technology company, intelligent pricing, and expanding into Europe.Whimstay believes in flexibility and offers broad payment options, including their patented Split Pay option, to create superior experiences. Find out more about how David and Whimstay serve the needs of property owners and travelers in this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.“REAL” TALKDavid: Superior experiences for both property owners and travelers"Our mission really is to offer exclusive and unique discounts to travelers with a superior experience, but really just the property owners and managers attract incremental guests and generate incremental bookings. The core of that mission is the last-minute window."David: Offer travelers the flexibility to pay how they want"The aspect of flexibility, which for us which would also be inclusive of making it easier to cancel and book and change and extend even with the type of value proposition that we have, in addition to saying let's give the traveler however they want to pay for their vacation. Let's give them the flexibility to pay how they want."Connect with David:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-weiss-aa39ba22/Website: https://www.whimstay.com/Email: david.weiss@whimstay.comThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

In today's episode, Alex and Annie sit down with Steve Trover, the Founder, and CEO of Better Talent. Knowing a person makes connecting their talents with the right jobs easier. Interestingly, Steve is also the one who brought together Annie and her current role today at Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Steve talks about the people stack and how optimizing human capital has a profound effect because it is most companies' single biggest cost. He shares how a company's integrator works with its visionary to execute the vision, as well as the difficulty in hiring for this role. Find out more about the best practices for acquiring your human capital, from full-time employees to consultants to virtual assistants, in this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.“REAL” TALKSteve: Optimize the people stack because it is the biggest cost"The people stack though, really lends itself and speaks to the fact that most companies today, if they're running optimally, don't just have full-time employees with big salaries. They might have full-time, part-time, independent contractors, consultants, global talent, you know, virtual assistance, that type of thing." "And what we do with our clients is really look at their overall cost structure, which by the way, if you look at a VRMs P&L, I've looked at hundreds, if not a thousand of them, the number one cost by far on every P&L of every VRM I've ever looked at is people."Steve: Integrators work with the team to execute the vision"If they don't have somebody to execute that vision or a group of individuals that again, are rowing in the right direction, that vision is not going to happen. And you know, I ran a really great company, I believe for a lot of years. I waited way too long to get my integrator. And so the integrator in EOS speak is really the person that takes that vision, works with the individuals on the team, the different departmental leads the leadership team to execute on the vision." Connect with Steve:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettertalent/Website: https://bettertalent.com/Email: steve@bettertalent.comThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

In today's episode, Alex and Annie welcome Steve Milo and Miriam Ramsey, the Founder/CEO and Regional Business Development Director of Vtrips respectively. They discuss the latest trends observed from the IMN Conference, the latest headlines from Vacasa, the new purpose-built cabins of Vtrips, fighting for smarter legislation, and organizing people in the collaborative committee of the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA).Inside Current HeadlinesSteve shares his experience as a panelist at the IMN Conference which was very different from the traditional vacation rentals conferences, with a much more investor-heavy crowd. He also points out how they're proactively lowering their ADRs to get occupancy, while Miriam highlights how important it is to communicate with homeowners this year in an unpredictable travel economy.Inside AdvocacySteve discusses how he helped set up the Texas Professional Vacation Rental Coalition. This organization is now lobbying for a bill that preempts local governments from regulating vacation rentals so we can be treated more like hotels, bed and breakfasts, and timeshares. Steve also brings to light how the VRMA collaborative committee helps the vacation rental industry lobby for smart regulation.Find out more about Steve and Miriam's industry insights and Steve's health tips in this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.“REAL” TALKSteve: The IMN Conference pulled in a lot of investors"In the course of two days, I met so many people representing funds, in some cases small funds, large funds, in some cases multi-billion dollar funds, who were all looking to get into the short-term rental on the asset side. So they were looking to like, how do we buy large pieces of vacation rentals?"Steve: Join the VRMA to lobby support for the vacation rental industry"The VRMA, because they raised so much money last year, is even giving grants to state coalitions and to local communities that are forming alliances like Tybee Island to try to fight some of these bad regulations. But the VRMA exists and so I hope more people join the VRMA."Connect with Steve:LinkedIn (Steve) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemilo/Email: steve.milo@vtrips.comConnect with Miriam:LinkedIn (Miram) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-ramsey-252213139/Email: miriam.ramsey@vtrips.comFind out more about VtripsCheck out our previous episode with Steve, our most downloaded episode of 2022 here. This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube| Facebook| Instagram |TikTok

Elevate a Vacation Guest's ExperienceIn today's episode, Alex and Annie welcome Mike Flaskey, Former CEO of Diamond Resorts International and Founder of Mike Flaskey Entertainment, as he gives his second public interview since leading the sale of Diamond Resorts to Hilton Grand Vacations in June 2021.COVID profoundly affected Diamond but innovation allowed them to rebound quickly. Mike shares how they did this and how they pioneered a new way to be valuated on multiples of EBITDA.He talks about the cutting-edge innovations that timeshare sales and marketing teams did alongside rental managers, as well as the success of Diamond's Events of a Lifetime. Mike also discusses why timeshare companies are not able to represent vacation rentals on the sales table even though the industries appear to coexist within the same ecosystem.Find out more about Mike and how he grew Diamond Resorts through strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and organic growth in this latest episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.“REAL” TALKMike: Drive EBITDA to increase market cap "If you bring Cole in and Cole Swindell does a concert, it's going to cost a thousand dollars per family to sit down and talk to me. But by the time you factor in that triple close, and you look at the EBITDA dollars that they drive to the bottom line, even though if you may have some slight margin compression, you're driving so many more dollars to the bottom line, that's how these companies are evaluated.""They basically get a valuation on a multiple of their EBITDA. So if you can drive more of these EBITDA dollars and you put that multiple to it, you're increasing the market capitalization of your company. And so we were a first mover and we saw that." Connect with Mike:LinkedIn | Website | EmailThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List. Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

In this special edition of Alex & Annie, Got2Go announces the “Mystery Guest” that has been hired to lead the company as Chief Business Officer. Jim Barsch needs little introduction; this experienced vacation rental technology veteran brings years of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the Got2Go team.Got2Go CEO Craig Musumeci shares their big plans for a membership model and event concerts, while Jim shares the path to get there by building strong connections. Tune in to hear more on this news and more updates on where the company is headed next!“REAL” TALKJim: Communicating the value of a channel to property managers"It's really building those relationships, partnerships, bringing in the additional inventory, building the awareness about who and what we are. It's going to be fun, it's going to be a number of different approaches to it."Craig: Watch out for free Got2Go trips coming soon"We're going to be giving away trips every month to people that book. They're going to get an entry every time they book anything. We're going to give away tickets like packages. We're going to be really unique in giving a lot away." Connect with the Got2Go team:Call (844) 446-8246 (844 I-GOT-2-GO)Jim Barsch | Craig Musumeci | Russ Johnson | Stephanie Baker | WebsiteThis episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List.Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

In today's episode, Alex and Annie welcome Ben Coleman and Rebecca Ballart, Revenue Management Consultants for Rev & Research. They share the trends they observe in today's market, with the most notable being shrinking lead times.They discuss how to communicate with homeowners, manage CEO-level expectations, and organize the portfolio according to lead time. With more competition and softening demand, Ben and Rebecca suggest being proactive and using a data-driven approach to achieve growth.Find out more about Ben and Rebecca's top tips and trends for vacation rentals in this latest episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.“REAL” TALKBen: Buying vacation homes today has a focus on ROI"I think the mindset from a rental perspective is changing in that of it's not just a place that I can take my grandkids or a place I'm gonna take my kids, or a place I'm gonna pass down to my grandkids. It's more of a, Hey, we want a good ROI on our asset. We want a good ROI on our investment."Ben: Manage expectations from the top due to softening demand"When I say expectations, I think it starts at the property management level, at the owner, the CEO level of creating true sales budgets, of creating true expectations on what is by the unit portfolio, What are those ADRs? As we see demand softening, like we were talking about, I think there is a good potential for RevPAR growth."Rebecca: Take a surgical approach to see where you are bleeding"We pulled a key data leaderboard report just for those spring rates and we organized it by the units, what their year-over-year revenue was, and we were able to pull out 10 units that were behind ADR, they were behind occupancy real quickly. And so we look at it and go, okay, occupancy's down. We go over, oh, their ADRs 30% over the year, over year. Well, there's a problem right there." This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech. Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services. Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie's List. Check out our previous episode with Ben:Bee Boppin' with Ben Coleman: Revenue Management vs. Revenue Performance Find out more about Ben: LinkedInGet to know Rebecca:LinkedIn | EmailConnect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

In this episode we showcase some of our most popular guests from 2022 and highlight their answer to the question I ask at the end of each episode: “What parting piece of advice would you give a Bombshell: a bold, brave, unwaveringly confident woman in business?” Tune in to hear the wisdom for the following episodes: Personal Development Cannot Happen Without Personal Disruption with Pauline Nguyen (120) Personal Growth as the Path to Personal Power with Annie Holcombe (148) Creative Careers: Making a Living with Your Ideas with Jeff Madoff (142) From Impoverished Immigrant to Successful IT Bombshell Business Owner with Alejandrina Aguilar (156) Surviving and Thriving Through an Economic Downturn with Tom Park (139) The 5 Step Formula to Moving Past “Failure” with Tiffany Napper (138) The Magic of Surrender with Kute Blackson (154) Up Your Leadership Game with EQ with Kathleen Riessen (136) Growing Your Brand with a “Wow” Factor with Robin Craigen of Moving Mountains (147) Where Business Strategy Meets Economics with Dr. Mary Kelly (133) Get Out of My Head with Andrew McConnell (127) Gender Equity and Empowering Women with Jane Finette (124) Money Mindset Madness with Chana Mason (119) We can't wait to record some new episodes with the amazingly talented guests we have lined up for you. Tune in on the website, on your favorite listening app or check it out on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Principles, Values and Culture are the Foundation of a Successful CompanyIn today's episode, Alex and Annie welcome Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago. He shares his unintentional entry into the vacation rental industry 22 years ago in Rocky Point, Mexico, and how working with the local community is at the core of his success. Steve also talks about Casago University, the company's in-house training institution that trains all staff and franchisees on the immutable principles of vacation rentals.“REAL” TALKSteve: The Immutable Principles Of Vacation Rentals"There are only a few things that are always immutable: transparency, trust, ethics, being centered on your homeowners, making sure they're well-taken care of, loving on your guests so they have an amazing experience to come back. These are sort of the immutable principles but everything else starts over each time, and be humble when you hear what a community wants and needs and don't try to tell them what's best for them."Steve: Benefits of the franchise model"If you look at the top 10 residential real estate companies in the world, they're all franchises, and there's a reason why; it's still a local business. We keep going back to those local realtors that know their area, they know their city, they love their city. They're beholden and accountable to their areas but they needed tech and they needed distribution and they wanted a recognizable name."Find out more about Steve and Casago's vacation rental franchise model in this latest episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals.Connect with Steve:Steve Schwab | Casago | EmailConnect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

“REAL” TALKLauren Madewell: The lack of ways to verify guests on Airbnb is concerning"Frankly, every bit of it is concerning. So you're getting their name and you're getting their cell phone number. Thank God you're getting their cell phone but you're getting a masked email. You're not getting their address. You have no way to verify their identity. You are trusting that this listing company, this tech company, Airbnb, has fully verified their identity and said, it's cool. It's cool. Everything's good."David Krauss: Create a voice for vacation rental on the boards                    "I think that's fundamentally the area of opportunity is to be proactive, not let this conversation kind of happen without engagement, but in terms of the CVBs and the boards and the DMOs, generally speaking, I think that the more that accommodation option is valued and seen as a valuable contributor and a complimentary activity, I think that's where the conversations are productive."John Flanagan: Regulations are actually good, restrictive bans are not"One thing that I think that I would impress upon anyone listening is that regulations are not a bad thing. We actually want regulations from both the supplier side and the operator side in our industry. The threat to what we're trying to do for travel and short-term rentals is restrictive bans and restrictions on short-term rentals. The reasons that those things come into fruition and happen is because of a lack of education on what a real professional operator does and a lack of regulation is standardization." This episode is brought to you by our Premiere Brand Sponsor, Casago, along with Co-Sponsors, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech.Special thanks to Rev & Research, Presenting Sponsor of Alex & Annie's List Connect with our guests below:David Krauss | Lauren Madewell | John FlanaganConnect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com If you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

IMPROVE YOUR GUEST EXPERIENCE WITH SEAMLESS TECHNOLOGYIn today's episode, Alex and Annie welcome Thomas Schaper, the Head of Product at DACK Inc. Thomas shares his experience in creating DACK as an app that improves the guest experience and makes vacations easier. He also discusses details about DACK's model from how it was named to how it works. Find out more about Thomas and DACK in this latest episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals. “REAL” TALKTHOMAS: FREE UP YOUR STAFF WITH AUTOMATION“If you free up your staff with automation and tech, then you can focus on the truly cool parts about hospitality. You can come up with more engaging conversations to  have with them, when every call doesn't have to be about what the Wi-Fi code is or how to how to turn on the hot tub, stuff like that. I think it kind of frees up your team to do more memorable, engaging, you know, personal things.” This episode is brought to you by Wheelhouse: The Ultimate Revenue Driving Machine.  Wheelhouse is a proud member of Alex & Annie's List, presented by Rev & Research Connect with Thomas and learn more about him and DACK:Thomas  Schaper | DACK | DACKInc.com Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com If you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Most people would describe Annie Holcombe as experienced, supportive and about as genuine as they come. This unassuming rock star came into my world, and let's just say neither of us let the other go! We, along with her podcasting partner in Crime, Alex Husner, became fast friends, all fully committed to being women who support other women, while still cheering on the guys, too, of course!   That's why it's been incredibly overwhelming for me to have a front row seat to her personal journey throughout the past year, watching how as her personal growth evolved, so did her personal power.    Since launching the Alex & Annie Podcast, Annie increasingly dismissed where her comfort zone even was, which skyrotted her as a vacation rental authority and the podcast was featured as a Top 30 Hospitality Podcasts by the Global Hospitality Institute having been on air for less than a year!!!   Join us as we have a transparent conversation about what it takes to go inward in order to shine your brightest outwardly. The week we recorded this, there were just so many wins for these two that my eyes might have leaked more than once. I think you will see what I saw in this Bombshell since the day I met her! Connect with Annie Holcombe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-holcombe-vrgal/ Alex & Annie Podcast: https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices