Celebrating Excellence, Building Momentum, and Supporting Our Industry

Sean Kemper
10/10/2026

What an incredible way to wrap up another VRMA conference in Nashville! If there was one message that came through loud and clear, it’s that operations are no longer just part of the conversation. They’re becoming a driving force behind our industry’s success. Our operations-focused educational sessions were packed with professionals eager to learn, share experiences, and tackle real challenges. From maintenance communication and departmental handoffs to onboarding properties and building stronger housekeeping systems, these sessions reinforced something the VRHP Council has championed for years: great guest experiences begin long before the guest arrives. A huge thank-you to our speakers, panelists, and everyone who participated. The energy in those rooms tells us our industry is hungry for practical, real-world education, and we’re just getting started!

Let’s give a big round of applause to our 2026 VRHP Excellence Award winner, Dave Roberts, vice president of operations at Outer Banks/Sandbridge Blue, and his incredible team! Cheers to you and your team, Dave! Your dedication to operational excellence and the people behind the guest experience deserves this recognition. A special thank-you to Tim Cafferty, owner and fellow VRHP Council member, for being such a strong supporter of VRHP and our industry’s professionals. We also want to recognize every outstanding candidate nominated for this year’s award: Ashley Griffin (Tides to Pines), Danny Whelan (CoralTree Hospitality), Logan Campbell (The Dream Clean Team), Andrea Plested (Casiola), Karl Bithorn (The Dream Clean Team), and Ann Marie O’Rourke (Sandpiper Management & Vacation Rentals). Each represents the talent, leadership, and commitment that make our industry stronger. While we celebrate one winner, we applaud every nominee and the teams they represent. You are all champions in our book!

Beyond Nashville, the VRHP Council continues working to expand educational opportunities throughout the year. We’re collaborating with VRMA on an upcoming housekeeping webinar featuring real operators tackling real challenges, from building scalable checklists and verifying cleaning quality to performance-based compensation and advanced laundry operations. No textbook theories, just honest conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and how we can improve together. As we carry this momentum forward, I encourage everyone to bring those Nashville ideas home, invest in your teams, and challenge the processes that may be holding you back. Operational excellence isn’t built overnight. It’s built through education, communication, and consistency.

Finally, as I write this, Hurricane Isaias is approaching our Gulf Coast communities, with our friends and colleagues along the Florida Panhandle preparing for potentially significant impacts. Living here in coastal Alabama, I know how quickly these storms can change our priorities. To our vacation rental professionals, housekeeping teams, maintenance crews, and families in the storm’s path, please know your VRHP community is thinking of you. Properties can be repaired, schedules can be rearranged, and turnovers can wait. People come first, always. Stay safe, follow local emergency guidance, and look after your neighbors. When the skies clear, I know our incredible community of Dream Makers will be there to help put things back together.

Here’s to the people behind the properties, the teams behind the experience, and the professionals who make our industry shine!