Reflecting on VRMA Las Vegas: Connection, Compliance, and Readiness for the Season Ahead

Generali Global Assistance
12/8/2025

Sponsored by Generali Global Assistance

Each year, the VRMA annual conference brings together vacation rental professionals from across the country for a few days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration—and this year’s VRMA Las Vegas delivered exactly that. The energy in every session and booth conversation reflected a shared goal: building stronger, more resilient, and more guest-focused vacation rental businesses.

Our team was proud to connect with hundreds of property managers who share our commitment to providing exceptional guest experiences and reliable travel and damage protection solutions. From in-depth discussions on risk management and compliance to hands-on insights into optimizing booking paths and guest communications, VRMA Las Vegas was a powerful reminder that preparedness and customer care are the foundation of long-term success.

A Look Back at Our Sessions

We were honored to contribute to the education program with two well-attended sessions that inspired meaningful discussion and takeaways that property managers could immediately apply.

1. “From Culture to Conversion: Making Travel Protection Part of Your Business Strategy”

Hosted by George Meshkov, senior vice president of travel insurance sales, Shannon MacPeek, director of lodging property account management, and Tony Santilli, director of lodging property – sales, this session explored how travel and damage protection can and should become a natural and integrated part of a company’s culture, not just a product offering. The conversation walked attendees through the life cycle of implementation:

• Building internal buy-in from leadership to frontline staff
• Creating a culture of consistency and best practices through training and communication
• Offering protection effectively across digital booking paths and phone reservations

The discussion emphasized that travel protection isn’t simply an add-on; it’s an essential part of the guest experience and a reflection of a company’s values. When teams understand its purpose and can communicate it confidently, attach rates rise, guest satisfaction increases, and homeowners benefit from stronger revenue stability: what we refer to as the “triple-win.”

2. “Storm-Ready Strategies: Disaster Preparedness in Action”

Moderated by George Meshkov, Generali Global Assistance’s senior vice president of sales, and featuring Tea Popaja, Prime Vacations’ director of operations, Rachele Hobbs, Hobb Realty’s Hospitality CEO, and Shannon MacPeek, Generali Global Assistance’s director of lodging property – account management, this panel highlighted real-world best practices in preparing for natural disasters. Topics ranged from communication plans, SOPs, and guest safety protocols to readiness tools and business continuity strategies.

Panelists discussed how proactive planning, including access to seasonal resources such as the Generali Global Assistance Hurricane Kit, Winter Storm Kit, and Wildfire Kit, can make all the difference when the unexpected happens. Attendees also received two valuable resources to take back to their teams: a Natural Disaster Preparedness Checklist for Property Managers and an Emergency Planning Worksheet: two tools that should be top priorities to complete before the next storm season.

The takeaway was clear: Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and having the right tools and partnerships in place before a storm strikes is key to protecting both guests and revenue.

Now Is the Perfect Time for a Compliance Check

As the year winds down, this is the ideal time to take a closer look at your travel and damage protection materials—from your website to your rental agreement. Regulations and product wording can evolve, and even small inconsistencies in how protection is described can create compliance gaps or guest confusion.

Our account management team is available to help coordinate with our in-house compliance and legal teams for a review of how our travel protection products are offered on your websites. A quick review may include:

• Assessing how our product is offered on your website or booking path
• Refreshing product disclosures and eligibility wording
• Aligning your rental agreement and marketing materials with the current plan terminology

This type of proactive checkup not only reduces risk—it helps you present travel protection as transparent, professional, and trustworthy products.

Preparing for the Holidays and What Comes Next

With the holiday season fast approaching, families are reconnecting, celebrating, and already planning their next vacations. That makes this the perfect moment to ensure your team is refreshed and ready to promote travel protection.

Our account managers can help organize a refresher training tailored to your business, whether it’s a short update session or a more in-depth workshop. These trainings are designed to:

• Reinforce compliant, empathetic ways to discuss protection with guests.
• Review the different regional protection plans and their key benefits.
• Share talking points and FAQs to make conversations easier for your staff.
• Highlight helpful tools such as our Vacation Rental Toolbox and seasonal preparedness kits (Hurricane, Winter Storm, and Wildfire Kits).

A confident team can make all the difference—not just in sales performance, but in the overall guest experience. When your team feels knowledgeable and supported, travelers notice.

Let’s Keep the Momentum Going

A sincere thank-you to everyone who joined us at VRMA Las Vegas, attended our sessions, or stopped by our booth to chat with our team. Your ideas, questions, and collaboration help shape the way we continue to innovate and support our partners throughout the year.

As we move into the busy winter travel season, our focus remains on helping you stay prepared, compliant, and connected—with the tools and resources you need to help keep your guests protected and your business thriving.

Please reach out to your dedicated account manager.

Together, we’ll continue to bring guests and property managers from distress to relief—anytime, anywhere.

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