Kelly Rehan
The Vacation Rental Management Certificate Program consists of five online educational modules focused on the roles and responsibilities of a vacation rental manager working in the industry today: Business Operations; Business Planning and Organizational Management; Marketing and Promotion; Guest Relations; and Owner Relations. The modules are followed by an assessment, based on the knowledge gained from completing the online education.
Raymond Anaya, chief operations officer at Oceanfront Cottage Rentals and the Tybee Wedding Chapel based in Tybee Island, Georgia, is a proud VRMP – Vacation Rental Management Professional. He shares his insight and satisfaction with the program.
Arrival: What inspired you to pursue the Vacation Rental Management Certificate?
Ray: Honestly, because it was offered by the VRMA. The association is led by some of the most respected and experienced professionals within the vacation rental industry. I felt confident that any educational information, within the course, had been orchestrated by a team of short-term vacation rental industry leaders.
Arrival: What was the most valuable aspect of this educational experience for you?
Ray: The organization and prioritization of the content. The course information is extremely organized and obviously created to educate people on the most relevant information within our industry. There are a lot of different topics within the course, ranging from employee development to marketing best practices and more. It was reassuring to go through the modules and see that we are clearly executing within our business.
Arrival: How are you applying the knowledge you learned through your certificate at Oceanfront?
Ray: Since receiving my certificate, I have a new sense of importance on the organization within Oceanfront Cottage Rentals. Often, especially with a company that has been in business for 20+ years, it is easy to get caught up in the routines of the business rather than creating an organized system of procedures to help streamline operations. Things like simply taking the time to create handbooks, how-to manuals and other employee FAQ resources already are proving to increase productivity, create boundaries and make us more efficient.
Arrival: What advice do you have for people who are considering this certificate program?
Ray: Even if you just take away one thing from the course, it is worth it! One small takeaway could lead to you implementing a new business practice that takes your business to the next level.
Arrival: Is there anything else about the Vacation Rental Management Certificate Program that you want to make sure we share with our readers?
Ray: Really take your time! Go through the courses slowly, see what you can take away from every course and then apply it in your business.
