VRMA Successes of 2018

This year was a time of great change for VRMA and the vacation rental industry as a whole. For VRMA, 2018 saw much success when it came to educational offerings at our four VRMA conferences. From 2017 to 2018, we saw an increase of 48 educational sessions offered, from 122 in 2017 to 170 in 2018. In addition, the 2018 VRMA International Conference was the largest to date, with more than 1,800 individuals registered, compared to 1,413 in 2017 and 1,026 in 2016. Hear from VRMA President Jodi Refosco and Board Treasurer Jason Voelpel about how 2018 went from their perspectives, and what we can expect in 2019. 

Photo: VRMA 2018 International Conference

"2018 was a stellar year for VRMA! With record numbers at our conferences and increased international membership, we are truly the voice of the vacation rental industry. One of the year’s highlights was the launch of the VRMA Certificate Program. It has been in development for years, and it is great to see all of those efforts come to fruition. Created with member enhancement in mind, it is a way to stand out as a professional manager who meets a demonstrated standard of excellence.

In 2019, I predict property management brands will stand stronger than ever. By focusing on the customer experience, we can set ourselves apart from the OTAs and increase our independence. With the advancement of technology and the investments being made into this space, I foresee opportunities for the smaller property management companies to become the vacation rental heroes for 2019. We have the power to provide better service and a more personal experience that is truly meaningful to our guests."

-Jodi Refosco, Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales

Photo: VRMA Western Regional Conference 2018

"Over the past year, our industry has once again seen exponential growth. This advancement has been championed by the VRMA which has also experienced record-setting growth and membership. With many successes in 2018, the VRMA has continued to invest in education, released a Certificate Program, launched VRMA Insights, held numerous interactive conferences including the new VRMA Connect series, seen international expansion and spearheaded government relations involvement to name a few. As we look ahead to 2019, we can expect this trend to continue as new opportunities emerge."

- Jason Voelpel, Emerald Isle Realty

Photo: VRMA Eastern Regional Conference 2018

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The Year in Advocacy

From the perspective of the industry, as a whole, 2018 saw numerous ups and downs, and many regulatory changes. Take a look back at the results from the November 2018 elections that threw some regions of the United States for a loop, as well as the first two articles from the VRMA Advocacy Series covering media relations and Honolulu's latest attempt to regulate vacation rentals. Hear more from VRMA's Government Relations Director Greg Holcomb on where we landed as an industry in 2018.

"This past year vacation rental regulations changed across the globe. Strict rules continued to develop in many urban markets. However, numerous efforts occurred to protect the industry from onerous rules. In the U.S., localities were prevented from outright banning vacation rentals in Tennessee and Indiana this year; three other states had similar bills introduced but did not pass. VRMA members in San Diego and Palm Springs were successful in fighting bans in their respective communities. Traditional vacation rental destinations like Breckenridge, Colorado, continued a dialogue with professional managers to create and enforce reasonable rules with over a 97 percent compliance rate. The continued growth and increased outreach by vacation rental professionals are bringing awareness to an often-misunderstood industry."

- Greg Holcomb, VRMA

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For Your Business in 2019

As you and your team start to make plans on how to grow your business even more in 2019, take a look at some of the growing destinations worldwide from Kayak's latest report. And for more on global strategy, be sure to check your mailboxes for issue 6 of Arrival magazine.

For more even content, check out the top five articles of 2018 from Arrival online. 

1. New Netflix Series, “Stay Here,” is a Short-Term Rental Makeover Show
2. Global Segmentation and Software Spend Among VR Companies
3. Housekeeping Management Rules to Live By
4. Voice-Controlled Guest Services: A Q&A with Properly’s Alex Nigg
5. Moving Mountains in Name and Practice