VRMA : Arrival: Features

A Welcome from VRMA’s New Executive Director

By: Megan Cohen | Aug 11

A welcome from VRMA's new executive director.

Member Spotlight: Don’t Lose Sight of Your Success

By: VRMA Administrator | Aug 4

Read a Q&A with Anna Lewis, head of growth at Gulf Coast Beachfronts. Lewis shares why she joined VRMA, how VRMA’s benefits and opportunities have impacted her career, advice she would give to others in the industry and more.

The Importance of Maintaining Relative Humidity in Your Vacation Rentals

By: Michael Driedger | Jul 28

Ensuring properties follow excellent cleanliness and hygiene procedures is a given, but property managers may also want to consider the air quality of their units. Including a simple humidifier in a rental can make a significant difference.

Train Your Staff to Show Hospitality When Enforcing Mask Requirements

By: Douglas Kennedy | Jul 21

Provide your staff with the training they need to de-escalate these encounters in the spirit of hospitality. Here are some tips to share with your guest contact staff.

Re-building Trust in a Post-pandemic World

By: Jessica Gillingham | Jul 14

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought much of society, and almost the entire global short-term rental industry, to its knees. During this crisis, we have also seen extraordinary displays of unity, resilience and service by those in the industry.

How to Use Video Email For Personalized, Narrated, Virtual Property Tours

By: Douglas Kennedy | Jul 8

As those who read train-the-trainer articles or attend my workshops know well, I am a huge advocate for using a “tech for touch” approach to stand out from the competition. Read more about using video email for personalized, narrated, virtual property tours.

5 Contact-less Mobile App Solutions for the Hospitality Industry

By: VRMA Administrator | Jun 29

As social distancing has become the norm, apps that allow customers to skip lines and avoid contact with others are critical. Here are five contact-less mobile app solutions that are helping the hospitality industry.

Obsess On Hospitality This Summer and Turn First-Timers into Loyal Repeat Guests

By: Douglas Kennedy | Jun 24

As in any industry, massive disruption creates massive opportunities. Smart operations and marketing leaders will capitalize on this chance to win the loyalty of first-timers, turning them into this year’s social media promoters and next year’s repeat guests. Here are a few training tips.

9 Tips to Improve Your Forecasting

By: Cady Stokes | Jun 18

Forecasting is important now more than ever for property managers to anticipate future business performance, deal with future uncertainties and plan accordingly. Here are 9 tips to improve your forecasting methods for better revenue management.

COVID-19 Prompts a Review of Storm Preparation and Disaster Recovery Plans

By: Sue Jones, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | Jun 8

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has businesses looking at new ways of doing their work and how that work gets done. To meet operations and staffing requirements, many businesses are expanding their workforce using a mix of employees, contractors and staffing agencies to provide more flexibility.

A Q&A with Kevin Locraft: Rebuilding Resiliency

By: VRMA Administrator | Jun 2

A Q&A with Vice President of VR Partner Success at Vrbo at Expedia Group, Kevin Locraft. Kevin talks about his start in the industry, how his business and team are overcoming current obstacles and where he sees the industry heading post-pandemic.

The Dynamics of Demand: Planning for the Future

By: Cady Stokes | May 27

A recent Air DNA update shows the developing dynamics within the vacation rentals ecosystem due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As travelers trade in short-term vacations for longer-term stays, this poses the question: Could mid-term stays save short-term rentals?

A Q&A with Vanessa de Souza Lage: Onward and Upward

By: VRMA Administrator | May 18

Q&A with Vanessa de Souza Lage, co-founder and CMO of Renters United. Vanessa talks about herself, how her business and team is overcoming current challenges and where she sees the industry heading post-pandemic.

VRMA Virtual Spring Forum Session Preview with Doug Kennedy

By: Douglas Kennedy | May 12

Doug Kennedy, president of Kennedy Training Network, previews what VRMA Virtual Spring Forum Experience attendees can expect to take away from his Tuesday, May 19 session, "Train Your Reservations Team for the Coming Wave of Deal-Seekers."

VRHP New Cleaning Guidelines in Light of COVID-19 with Durk Johnson and Michelle Williams

By: VRMA Administrator | May 6

Join Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP) Executive Director Durk Johnson and VRHP chairperson and VRMA Board member Michelle Williams as they discuss the new cleaning guidelines part of the VRMA & VRHP SafeHome campaign.

VRHP and VRMA Introduce New Cleaning Guidelines

By: VRMA Administrator | May 4

VRHP Executive Director Durk Johnson discusses The Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP), a subsidiary of the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA), augmented recommendations for cleaning vacation rental properties in light of COVID-19.

Share Your Story: From Impacted to Impactful

By: VRMA Administrator | May 1

Premier Vacation Rentals Group is partnering with its donating homeowners to offer immediate free lodging to families and individuals that have been affected by COVID-19. This temporary program strives to strengthen resources available in the Colorado communities PVRG operates in.

Share Your Story: Rewarding Heroes of the COVID-19 Crisis

By: VRMA Administrator | Apr 23

Great Ocean Condos and Homes is recognizing the hard work of first responders in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis by giving away free, week-long
vacations at its New Smyrna Beach property.

Potential Costs Associated with the Sale of Your Business

By: Ben Edwards | Apr 23

Operating a business requires diligence and focus to successfully propel the business. As vacation rental company owners consider selling their business, the same diligence and focus should be applied to understand the true cost of selling your business.

Managing Chargebacks Deluge Due to COVID-19

By: VRMA Administrator | Apr 16

The COVID-19 crisis has created unprecedented risks in the travel industry. Due to “shelter in place” orders, travelers that had vacations scheduled have been forced to cancel their plans and are taking actions to get their money refunded.

Weathering the Storm: Beyond the Pandemic

By: George Meshkov | Apr 1

Enduring scary situations like the coronavirus pandemic can feel like a test. Looking back, as well as forward, reminds us of our own capabilities and keeps difficult times in perspective.

VRHP: A Holistic View

By: Michelle Williams | Mar 30

The Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP) was founded in 1999 with the aim of helping vacation rental companies provide outstanding housekeeping services. Since then, VRHP has widened its scope to include all property management operations,

From Booking to Staying and Beyond

By: VRMA Administrator | Mar 23

Bring your rental into the future with these marketing tips and strategies.

VRMA Voice: Vacation Rental Messaging Guide Helps YOU Respond

By: Greg Holcomb, MPA | Mar 13

There is no shortage of regulatory issues facing vacation rental managers. We receive calls and emails from members and desperate property owners, asking how to respond to calls for more regulation in their communities. In many cases, these communities have already begun the process.

Women's Leadership: Creating for Growth

By: Jessica Gillingham | Mar 5

By making gender equality in the workplace a priority, businesses are able to give their attention to focusing on effective leadership skills and managing and growing successful property management companies within the vacation and short-term rental industry.

Get Prepared Now: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape

By: Matt Curtis | Feb 27

The vacation rental (or short-term rental) regulatory conversation is moving quickly through communities around the world. Government policy makers are stymied about how to find solutions for community concerns...

Hot Topics in Employment Law

By: Deborah Allen | Feb 21

These trending laws need to be on employers’ radars, including practical tips on how to navigate changes.

Industry Trends, #VRMAEurope, and Recent Vacasa News with Vacation Rental Expert Simon Lehmann

By: VRMA Administrator | Feb 18

Join VRMA Executive Director Mike Copps as he talks with Simon Lehmann, founder of AJL Consulting and featured speaker at the upcoming 2020 VRMA European Conference in Lisbon, 15-17 March.

The Ever-Evolving Vacation Rental Ecosystem

By: James Burrows | Feb 13

A business ecosystem is defined as a network of organizations ─ including suppliers, distributors, customers, competitors, government agencies and more ─ which is involved in the delivery of a specific product or service through both competition and cooperation.

Tips to Optimize Your Revenue

By: Wolfgang Pagl | Feb 7

Revenue management has been an important part of the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, yet adoption of revenue management technology has been slow. Most property managers today are not using technology and data consistently to make revenue management decisions.

Distribution, Marketplaces, and #BookDirect with Vince Perez

By: VRMA Administrator | Feb 5

Join VRMA Executive Director Mike Copps as he talks with Vince Perez, founder of FetchMyGuest. The two talk all things distribution, from the current state of listing sites and marketplaces in the vacation rental space to opportunities tied to #BookDirect.

A Q&A with VRMA President Toby Babich

By: Cady Stokes | Jan 31

VRMA talks all things 2020 with VRMA President Toby Babich. Learn more about Babich, how he got his start and what to expect in the upcoming year.

Durk Johnson, VRHP Executive Director and Master of the House

By: VRMA Administrator | Jan 30

Welcome to season two! Join VRMA Executive Director Mike Copps as he talks with Durk Johnson, Executive Director of the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals and Master of the (back of the) House.

What’s Your City’s Story and How Does It Attract Talent?

By: Sue Jones, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | Jan 23

America is teeming with cities that offer us treasures, experiences, and opportunities that spark a range of emotions. A sense of curiosity, adventure, and play abounds. The city can satiate our desires for new experiences or to repeat our favorite ones.

Tell Your Story

By: Margot Schmorak | Jan 16

Studies show that vacation rentals are good for the local economy. How can we amplify this narrative?

How to Talk Safety with Homeowners by Putting the Relationship First

By: Justin Ford | Jan 9

As we enter a new decade and vacation rentals grow to become more popular, it is a time to review maintenance and safety in vacation rentals.

How to Stay Ahead of Changing Trends

By: Rob Stephens | Jan 2

The rise of these online vacation rental platforms ─ combined with advances in technology and a customer base eager to book and stay at these properties ─ resulted in vacation rentals becoming a huge part of the travel industry.

Industry Trends & Revenue Management with Rented’s Cliff Johnson

By: VRMA Administrator | Dec 27

Join VRMA Executive Director Mike Copps as he talks with Rented Chief Commercial Officer Cliff Johnson. Cliff is also co-founder of Vacasa as well as VRMA board member and true subject matter expert.

Risky Business

By: Mike Copps | Dec 26

As VRMA heads into 2020 and its 35th anniversary as an association, it’s an ideal time to reflect on its past and position the association for the future. As a non-profit trade association, people don’t typically consider the risks inherent in a group like this.

VRMA Advocacy: Represented, Presented and Attended

By: Cady Stokes | Dec 19

As we head into a new year, taking a moment to step back and see the milestones made at even just a few of the events VRMA has had the opportunity to be a part of gives us even more reason to keep moving forward in 2020.

Change, Change, Change

By: Ben Edwards | Dec 12

As if the vacation rental business wasn’t hard enough already, right? We have a little consolidation happening, equity groups consolidating industry partners, management company consolidation and software consolidation...the only constant in the vacation rental industry is change.

North American Vacation Rental Survey Results with Transparent’s Pierre Becerril

By: VRMA Administrator | Dec 11

Join VRMA Executive Director Mike Copps as he talks with Transparent’s co-founder and CEO Pierre Becerril about their recent collaborative effort to launch a North American Vacation Rental industry survey.

Revitalizing Vacation Rentals to Maximize ROI

By: Kimberly White | Dec 5

If you own or manage a vacation home, and you’re feeling like it might be time for a refresh, you’re probably right. As vacation rentals continue to grow in popularity, it can be challenging to make sure yours stands out from the crowd and get the visibility—and love—it deserves.

Revenue Management 101

By: Toby Babich | Nov 28

The recent explosion of data providers within the vacation rental industry has afforded managers of all sizes the ability to utilize nuanced data to drive their reservation and marketing strategy.

VRMA Advocacy: Taking It to the States

By: Cady Stokes | Nov 21

This year, VRMA has made leaps and bounds regarding the development of advocacy efforts in the vacation rental space. Take a look at the efforts addressed throughout the states from 2018 to to now.

‘Self Check-in’ and the Issue of Meeting Growing Guest Expectations

By: Michael Driedger | Nov 14

It’s never easy meeting a guest’s expectations. When people come from all over the world to stay in a vacation rental, there can be differing views on what is and isn’t considered a standard amenity. One key area is around “checking in” to a property.

VRMA International Conference Recap

By: Mike Copps | Nov 12

The VRMA International Conference in New Orleans is a wrap; it was definitely a conference to remember. Take a look at the highlights from this year's events.

Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals Merge with Vacation Rental Management Association

By: VRMA Administrator | Nov 7

The Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) announced during its annual International Conference in New Orleans a merger with the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of vacation rental housekeeping professionals.

What VR Managers Can Learn from the History of Revenue Management in the Hotel Industry

By: Douglas Kennedy | Nov 6

In my 30-year career of providing training for the lodging industry, I have had the unique opportunity to work with leading companies in both the VR and hotel space. It always has been interesting to see how each sector evolves its processes and practices.

A Q&A with Fülhaus Inc. CEO and Founder Andria Santos

By: Cady Stokes | Oct 31

Arrival spoke with Andria Santos, CEO and founder of Fülhaus Inc. Read on to learn more about the start of Fülhaus, their Haus-in-a-Box services and where they're headed in the future.

Guests of the Future: The Race for Rich Experiences

By: Cady Stokes | Oct 24

As traveler numbers continue to rise, so does the sophistication of consumer expectations. The human touch of hospitality must be integrated with the technological innovation. What demands will the guests of tomorrow make?

8 Myths About Short-Term Rentals

By: VRMA Administrator | Oct 17

Transparent is the global leader in providing data intelligence for the short-term rental industry. Since 2016, the company has been building and maintaining data analytics products to empower and enhance knowledge of the short-term rental industry.

Women’s Leadership and Why It Matters

By: Jessica Gillingham | Oct 10

While writing the article on women’s leadership for this issue of VRMA Arrival, I had access to some great information about leadership, the workplace and the current landscape for women in the wider travel industry. This information came from a variety of sources and all of it was data driven.

How Your Housekeeping and Maintenance Affects Your Guest Experience

By: Cady Stokes | Oct 3

One of the most controllable factors when it comes to guest experience you have with your vacation rental software is your housekeeping and maintenance operations and how it communicates and interacts with your property management system (PMS) and reservation system.

A Diverse Culture Spurs Diverse Thinking - A Q&A with Vered Raviv Schwarz

By: Cady Stokes | Oct 1

VRMA invites you to consider these thoughts on diversity from Vered Raviv Schwarz, COO at Guesty, a property management platform for short-term and vacation rentals.

Do Diversity Marketing Well…and for All the Right Reasons

By: Michelle Williams | Sep 19

Diversity and inclusion initiatives in hiring have been part of human resources (HR) agendas for several decades now. While companies are making more of an effort to increase the diversity of their workforces, there are still gaps when it comes to inclusion and true representation.

The Importance of Trust Accounting

By: Cady Stokes | Sep 12

The heart of the operation can arguably be said that vacation rental trust accounting is the most important feature of a Property Management System (PMS). It can be tricky managing owner statements, advance deposits, security deposits, refunds and more.

A Q&A with Olivier Grémillon of Booking.com

By: Cady Stokes | Sep 5

As the VRMA International Conference quickly approaches ─ October 13! ─ what better way to get excited for the largest global event for the vacation rental industry than chatting with a returning session speaker? Arrival spoke with Vice President of Global Segments at Booking.com, Olivier Grémillon.

When it Comes to Safety and Security ─ Why is Every Manager for Themself?

By: Randy Bacik | Aug 29

CertiStay CEO Randy Bacik talks about why understanding issues around compliance, safety and security regarding vacation rentals will benefit not only guests, but yourself and property.

VRMA Advocacy: A Year in Progress

By: Cady Stokes | Aug 22

This year, VRMA has been made leaps and bounds regarding the development of advocacy efforts in the vacation rental space. Take a look at some of the impactful highlights from 2018 and 2019 to see the progress made as well as where VRMA is heading as 2019 continues.

A Q&A with Peter Andrews of Vrbo

By: Cady Stokes | Aug 15

Arrival recently spoke with Vrbo’s Senior Vice President Peter Andrews. Peter was able to delve into the highlights from his 2019 VRMA Spring Forum session, “Building Customers for Life: Delighting Guests Every Step of the Way!”

Future-Proofing the Vacation Rental Industry

By: Jessica Gillingham | Aug 8

We can look at minimizing risk not only a property level but also from the perspective of “future-proofing,” both on an individual business level and an industry level. By future-proofing, I mean ensuring that the vacation rental industry continues to be successful in the future...

Risk Management Considerations for Property Managers and Travel Insurance Companies

By: Cady Stokes | Aug 1

Most major decisions require some level of risk evaluation. In fact, we assess risk many times throughout each day — sometimes subconsciously. Risk management for business owners requires careful planning and attention to detail.

Risk Management Made Easy: Raising the Bar for Your Business

By: Cady Stokes | Jul 25

Risk management doesn’t have to be an anxiety-inducing aspect of business — it can become a prime opportunity to build best practices to support every area of your vacation rental operation.

Dream Destinations: What's the Deciding Factor?

By: Cady Stokes | Jul 18

In its first-ever U.S. Traveler Survey, Vrbo surveyed 1,067 adult American travelers of all ages to find out what people look for when, where and how they travel. Does your age determine how you vacation? As it turns out, it just might. Take a look at the results!

How to Stay Focused as a Vacation Rental Manager

By: Ben Edwards | Jul 11

There is no shortage of new technology, varied business models and operational tasks that compete for the attention of VRMs. It’s easy to shift your focus and chase seemingly more productive opportunities...Are these real problems or just distractions?

A Q&A with Nars Krishnamachari of RueBaRue

By: Cady Stokes | Jul 3

Arrival spoke with Nars Krishnamachari, founder of RueBaRue. Krishnamachari goes into detail about his journey with Smart Messaging and why this platform is changing the vacation rental game. Read more on why this feature is something property managers should keep top of mind.

A Brave New (Google) World: How Vacation Rental Property Managers can Navigate the New Google Ecosystem

By: James Burrows | Jun 27

Google has entered the distribution market of vacation rentals. The big question that many property managers are asking themselves is, “Where is Google heading and how can our business work in the best way possible with this new development?"

What's the "Risk" of Empowerment?

By: Douglas Kennedy | Jun 20

What’s unique about the vacation rental niche of lodging is that guests are emotionally invested in their experiences. Not only are they spending their own money, but they have much higher expectations and desires for their experiences to be memorable, fun and exciting.

Family Vacation: Are You Road Trip Ready?

By: Cady Stokes | Jun 13

Summertime is in full swing! It's time to pack your bags, grab your maps and fill up your gas tank! Before you hit the road, check out these facts from a recent AAA travel survey about family road trips and why it's a good idea to get behind the wheel and get out of town this summer!

Balancing Risk Mitigation and Guest Privacy

By: Michael Driedger | May 30

Operto CEO Michael Driedger talks about the balancing act of protecting guest privacy and ensuring property protection. It’s a great read in advance of the risk management focus of Arrival, Issue 3, May/June 2019.

Marketing Strategies for the Modern Traveler’s Journey

By: Kelly Rehan | May 23

Seventy percent of all reservations are driven by online channels, according to Phocuswright. Because of this, there’s no doubt that technology will play a major role in ever traveler’s journey this year. A large part of technology for travelers is in the form of a smartphone.

A Q&A with Tom Archer of ALTIDO

By: Jessica Gillingham | May 20

Arrival spoke with Tom Archer, co-founder of The London Residents Club, and one of the founders of ALTIDO to find out more about the motivation behind the merger and company’s plans for the future.

Vacation Rental Leaders: Attend Next Month's Inaugural VRMA Executive Summit

By: Miller Hawkins | May 16

VRMA has organized the inaugural VRMA Executive Summit that will be offered for vacation rental executives. Learn more about why industry leaders should attend this event here.

The Issue of Value Proposition and the Professional Vacation Rental Industry

By: Jessica Gillingham | May 9

Distinguishing your business from the crowd is one of the fundamental challenges for business strategy for any property manager. There are a ton of books and advice available out there to help businesses of all kinds both create and maintain an advantage in order to attract and keep customers.

Remembering John Kjellman

By: Mike Copps | Apr 29

VRMA Founder and first Executive Director John Kjellman recently passed away on April 18. John was incredibly well-respected and forward-thinking and had a long, successful life and career. He will be missed, and VRMA is forever in debt to his leadership and innovation.

This Year’s VRMA Spring Forum Wowed Me!

By: Natalee Pfeifer | Apr 29

In mid-April, I attended the inaugural VRMA Spring Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Historically, this event was broken into Eastern and Western Regional Conferences, but this year was the first time they were combined and named the Spring Forum.

Remembering Jean Siebert

By: Mike Copps | Apr 25

The VRMA member community lost an influential and respected voice. Jean F. Siebert, who owned and operated Siebert Realty in Sandbridge and Virginia Beach with her husband Jack, passed away on April 21, 2019.

Leverage National Travel and Tourism Week

By: Kelly Rehan | Apr 25

May 5-11, 2019 is National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual tradition for the travel community. Leverage this event using specially prepared resources from VRMA Advocacy.

Advocacy Series: Vacation Rentals Generate Jobs, Local Economic Stability

By: Russ Klettke | Apr 23

Rental managers are employers – and they contract out to other employers. Add to that how properties bring a steady stream of customers to yet more local employers.

Prague 2019: The Will to Exchange is Confirmed

By: Eric Bordier | Apr 18

Thank you all for the amazing vibe we felt during the 2019 VRMA European Conference, March 17-19, 2019. From pre-conference activities in beautiful Prague to the closing and through the warm foyer and active educational sessions, we could feel the need and will to share and improve from all.

Advocacy Series: State Preemption Laws – Protecting the Rights of Vacation Rental Property Owners

By: Russ Klettke | Apr 18

The nature of preemption laws: What they do, why they get support, what is the push-back and how they succeed in legislatures.

A Kiwi Capture for Sykes Holiday Cottages

By: Kelly Rehan | Apr 9

Travel Weekly announced earlier this month that Sykes Holiday Cottages has invested in New Zealand’s Bachcare. Read more from writer Phil Davies.

Q&A with Leslie Preston

By: Jessica Gillingham | Apr 9

Leslie Preston, founder and managing director of Bachcare Holiday Homes in New Zealand, took time to chat with VRMA at the end of last year. Enjoy her interview published in Issue 1 2019 Arrival Magazine. Then be sure to read the follow-up article regarding Bachcare’s recent news!

7 Questions with HomeAway's VP and GM of the Newly Formed Global Business for Property Managers

By: Kelly Rehan | Apr 4

Enjoy this preview article from Issue 2 2019 Arrival Magazine! Lisa Chen will be a featured speaker at the 2019 VRMA Spring Forum, April 15-16 in Charlotte, NC. Learn more about her priorities at HomeAway and her thoughts on the vacation rental industry.

Ray Anaya is a Proud Vacation Rental Management Professional

By: Kelly Rehan | Apr 4

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 certificate program.

The VRMA Community Remembers Pedro Mandoki

By: Kelly Rehan | Mar 28

An active contributor and past president (2005-2007), Pedro Mandoki died February 1, 2019. Read on for a glimpse of a life well lived.

Recent Changes in the Industry Favor the Progressives

By: Ben Edwards | Mar 21

With the current political environment, this title is sure to catch your eye. While I will not attempt to decipher the current political climate, I would like to discuss certain changes in the industry that will force vacation rental managers to review and possibly revise current business models.

HR Corner: How to Create an Employee Handbook

By: Kelly Rehan | Mar 14

Human resources professionals often advise companies about the importance of an employee handbook. But why are they so important?

The Power of Being Local in an Increasingly Global World

By: Jessica Gillingham | Mar 8

The topic of internationalization and the vacation rental industry is an interesting one. There are huge dichotomies at play here; because although the vacation rental industry is truly global in nature, at its roots, property management is fundamentally local.

Leisure guests travel primarily beca

What We Learned, Accomplished and Lost in 2018

By: Russ Klettke | Feb 19

The wins and losses in local and state regulations last year are more than a scorecard. They instruct us on how to win more in the future.

Anticipating the VR Industry Impact of a Government Shutdown

By: Alana Stramowski | Feb 5

From demoralizing federal employees to causing many to suffer financially, the 35-day government shutdown also had large impacts on the economy, including that of the local vacation rental business in the region surrounding Washington D.C., according to recent data from VRMA Insights.

Remembering Pedro Mandoki

By: Jodi Taylor Refosco | Feb 5

The VRMA community lost a dear friend late last week. Pedro Mandoki, a highly-respected and loved VRMA member and past president from 2005-2007, passed away.

Train Your VR Team To Become Location Area Experts

By: Douglas Kennedy | Jan 31

Over the years, a common theme of virtually all of my training articles and presentations has been that we are in the vacation experience business and not “renting units.”

OTAs, Direct Bookings and Why You Need Both

By: Matthew Barnes | Jan 22

Lessons and tips for building a content-centric, SEO-optimized booking website.

Technology for Marketing: Be Creative, But Be Smart

By: Steve Bjerklie | Jan 10

Technology is a tool, but in marketing it all depends on how you use it.

2018 Year In Review

By: Alana Stramowski | Dec 20

This year was a time of great change for VRMA and the vacation rental industry as a whole.

Short-Term Rental Ballot Initiative Results

By: Greg Holcomb, MPA | Dec 5

There were several local ballot initiatives that impacted the vacation rental industry on ballots across the U.S. on November 7. In four contests, the adverse results will affect the local vacation rental market and the local travel and tourism industry in those communities.

Financially Prepare Your Business for 2019

By: Ben Edwards | Dec 4

Right now, many vacation rental managers (VRMs) are gearing up for peak winter season. Whether you’re going into relaxation or ramp-up mode, all VRMs should be thinking about financially preparing your business for 2019.

2018 VRMA International Conference Largest to Date

By: Alana Stramowski | Nov 26

This year's VRMA International Conference in Las Vegas was the organization's largest to date. The conference attracted over 1,800 attendees, which was nearly a 28 percent increase in attendance from the 2017 conference.

Thinking About Reshaping Your Digital Strategy in 2019?

By: Alana Stramowski | Nov 15

As 2018 comes to an end and budgets are being finalized for 2019, one area to think about investing some money is in your company's digital strategy.

Advocacy Series: Smart Media Relations Is Essential to Your Business

By: Russ Klettke | Nov 9

One of the bigger problems facing the short-term rental (STR) industry is misconception. Very often we hear that alternative accommodations are causing problems that in reality don’t exist. Concurrently, we also see insufficient awareness of the benefits to local economies that extra visitors bring.

Rethinking the Performance Review Cycle

By: Sue Jones, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | Oct 30

How vacation rental businesses can harness insights from other industries to provide more timely, ongoing feedback to their teams.

A Pre-Conference Interview With Booking.com VP Olivier Gremillon

By: VRMA Editor | Oct 19

Arrival spoke with Olivier Gremillon to get a taste of what you’ll hear from him during his session at the VRMA International Conference in Las Vegas (starting October 27!).

The Age of Assistance

By: VRMA Editor | Oct 12

The VRMA International Conference in Las Vegas is right around the corner (starting October 27!). Get ready for Global Business Manager at Google, Shaun Aukland’s keynote presentation on October 28 – “Vacation Rentals in the Age of Assistance with Google."

Advocacy Series: Honolulu Rejects Overreaching Vacation Rental Bill

By: Russ Klettke | Oct 4

Activism by local vacation rental advocates influenced planning commissioners, but local regulations on this Hawaiian island remain unresolved.

World Tourism Day 2018: Disruptive Digital Technology

By: Alana Stramowski | Sep 26

This year, World Tourism Day highlights the importance of investing in digital technologies to help foster an environment for innovation and strengthen entrepreneurship in the industry to ultimately, grow tourism worldwide.

Impact of the US Travel Industry: Part III

By: Alana Stramowski | Sep 20

For the third and final part of the "U.S. Travel Answer Sheet: Facts About a Leading American Industry That's More Than Just Fun" study, we focused on the top 10 international markets traveling to America.

Take a look back at parts one and two.

Impact of the US Travel Industry: Part II

By: Alana Stramowski | Sep 13

This past spring, the U.S. Travel Association released its "U.S. Travel Answer Sheet: Facts About a Leading American Industry That's More Than Just Fun."

Make Sure Your VR Is Prepared For Anything

By: Alana Stramowski | Sep 5

In the wake of Hurricane Lane in Hawaii, wildfires throughout California and the potential for winter storms slowly getting closer, make sure that your guests, staff and vacation rental properties are prepared for anything.

New Netflix Series, “Stay Here,” is a Short-Term Rental Makeover Show

By: Russ Klettke | Aug 28

In the growing world of home sharing – in the richness of its many shapes, sizes, styles and locations – it only makes sense that we’d get a home-makeover reality TV show.

Impact of the US Travel Industry: Part I

By: Alana Stramowski | Aug 21

This past spring, the U.S. Travel Association released its "U.S. Travel Answer Sheet: Facts About a Leading American Industry That's More Than Just Fun."

Your Organizational Structure Enhances Your Business’s Performance

By: Sue Jones, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | Aug 7

A business strategy is a plan of action focused on reaching specific goals while maintaining strong relationships with internal and external customers.

Where Are We Headed?

By: Toby Babich | Aug 2

Just 10 short years ago, our company entered the Breckenridge travel industry as a “newbie” vacation rental manager. VRBO, HomeAway and Expedia were all different companies, built for different purposes.

5 Benefits Housekeepers Want From Technology

By: Kyle Cassidy | Jul 24

Empowering housekeepers with the right technology can help your bottom line. When you support your team with dynamic management software, you’ll start seeing more consistency, better reviews and an overall improvement in operational efficiency.

Global Segmentation and Software Spend Among VR Companies

By: Alana Stramowski | Jul 10

It's no secret that vacation rental companies are having a moment. With the increase in vacation rentals and vacation rental companies comes the need for additional software to effectively run and market these properties. See how the global segmentation and software spend in the industry stack up.

8 Steps to Building an Effective Team

By: Alana Stramowski | Jun 21

The dynamics of your VR team can truly make or break your business. Check out eight steps you can implement to make your team stronger and ultimately ensure the success of your business.

Home Improvements That Keep Housekeepers Happy

By: Kyle Cassidy | Jun 21

Striking the right balance between form and function is central to design theory. But when it comes to vacation home improvement, there’s one more layer to think about: Housekeeping efficiency.

Boosting Brand, Standing Out

By: Steve Bjerklie | Jun 12

Sand ‘N Sea grows its business with a new website and email approach.

VRMA Event Strategy Reimagined

By: Mike Copps | May 15

If you were one of the more than 1,500 attendees at VRMA’s three spring events, you likely heard VRMA President Mike Harrington or myself talking about our event strategy moving forward.

Advocating for Professional Managers with a Unified Voice

By: Andrew Ricci | May 9

Over the past decade, technological advances have made it easier than ever for businesses and individuals to enter the short-term rental marketplace by allowing consumers to easily find, book, pay for and stay in rentals when away from home.

Celebrate National Small Business Week 2018

By: Alana Stramowski | Apr 30

To celebrate National Small Business Week 2018, see the latest stats on the small business landscape, and how your company compares.

Western Conference Wrap-Up

By: VRMA Editor | Apr 19

Thank you to all who were able to make it to the Western Regional Conference last month in Portland! Check out some highlights from the event.

A Bold New Era: Part 2

By: VRMA Editor | Apr 10

We’ve entered the age of empowerment — guest empowerment. Today’s traveler is embracing the power to customize their experience.

A Bold New Era: Part 1

By: VRMA Editor | Apr 4

In an age where guests have never been more empowered to book on their terms, vacation rental mangers can look to four trends to keep them on top in 2018.

Branding for Vacation Rental Managers: Part 2

By: Alana Stramowski | Mar 27

As a vacation rental manager (VRM), here's what you need to know when branding for your company. If your company has already been through branding, use these guidelines to check if your branding strategy is as strong as it can be.

VRMA Europe 2018: Reflections from Paris

By: Jessica Gillingham | Mar 21

I’ll never get tired of the absolute awesomeness of La Tour Eiffel, especially sparkling at night and spotted through the glass roof of a riverboat on the Seine, as we enjoyed on the Monday night of the VRMA European conference.

Branding for Vacation Rental Managers: Part 1

By: Alana Stramowski | Mar 20

Navigating Uncertainty With Excitement

By: Michael Harrington | Mar 15

Hear from VRMA's new President Mike Harrington on the latest from the association.

Generation ABCs: Making Sense of What Wants What and Why

By: Steve Bjerklie | Mar 6

What do they want? Every vacation rental manager asks that central question with each rental. What do our guests need? What do they expect? And how can I give them what they’re looking for so they’ll become regular guests?

Uncovering Vacation Rental Trends Abroad

By: Mike Carrozzo | Feb 28

Hear more from Properly's Alex Nigg on the differences between vacation rental management in North America and abroad.

Deep Thoughts on Deep Cleans

By: Ellie K Madsen | Feb 20

It’s a common misconception that after every clean, homes are left nothing short of perfect. Until a place has been thoroughly deep cleaned though, there will always be something more that could have been done.

VRMA's Worldwide Reach

By: Alana Stramowski | Feb 16

The 2018 VRMA European Conference is right around the corner! Check out where some members traveled from for last year's European Conference in Amsterdam.

5 Lessons That Helped Form a Successful Vacation Rental Management Company

By: Barry Cox | Feb 7

Read how Barry Cox went from a 22-year career at IBM to start his own successful vacation rental management company.

National Plan for Vacation Day

By: VRMA Editor | Jan 30

Today is National Plan for Vacation Day. Join Project: Time Off to encourage Americans to declare their vacations for the rest of the year now.

Vacation Tech 2018: An International Perspective

By: VRMA Editor | Jan 30

Vanessa de Souza Lage, chief marketing officer with Rentals United, knows a thing or two about technology. She has discovered some trends on the state of vacation rental tech, and will share findings during a presentation at the 2018 VRMA European Conference, March 4-6 in Paris.

Be Disruptive Without Being Disrupted

By: VRMA Editor | Jan 23

For a long time, technological change in the vacation rental industry meant, almost entirely, systems improvements. This consisted of better accounting, marketing, reservation tracking and other process efficiency upgrades.

Seeing Your Property From a New Angle

By: VRMA Editor | Jan 17

Drone videography is here, it’s time we take advantage. Vacation rentals have come a long way from the classified ads and word-of-mouth marketing of years past.

Vacation Rental Reservations: When Is the Right Time to Refund?

By: Douglas Kennedy | Jan 9

As a provider of guest services training for both traditional lodging and vacation rental agency models, over the years I’ve become keenly aware of the similarities and differences. One especially notable difference is the impact of refunds.

The European Vacation Rental Landscape: Q&A with Eric Bordier

By: VRMA Editor | Jan 5

As we get inch closer and closer to the VRMA European Conference in Paris March 4-6, Founder and CEO of RENTeGO and leader for LiveRez Europe Eric Bordier shared his thoughts on the biggest opportunities, and challenges, facing vacation rentals in Europe.

Memory Makers: Highlights from 2017

By: VRMA Editor | Jan 2

Thank you to all who submitted photos of properties for our Memory Makers column in Arrival last year. Here are some highlights from 2017.

Be Prepared for Emergency Weather: Part IV

By: VRMA Editor | Dec 19

As the fourth, and final, part of the series on how to prepare for unexpected natural disasters, this week we zero in on earthquakes.

Be Prepared for Emergency Weather: Part III

By: VRMA Editor | Dec 14

As the third part of the series on how to prepare for unexpected natural disasters, this week we hone in on winter weather, and how vacation rental managers can prepare for everything from avalanches to below freezing temperatures.

On the Shoulder: New Research Finds Big Differences in Shoulder-Season Trends

By: VRMA Editor | Dec 5

New research by HomeAway on shoulder season trends, marketing and pricing reveals that shoulder seasons ─ those periods between peak and low seasons ─ vary widely from region to region, even in regions that otherwise are similar in climate and guest attractions.

Be Prepared for Emergency Weather: Part II

By: VRMA Editor | Nov 29

As the second part of the series on how to prepare for unexpected natural disasters, this week we hone in on wildfires, and how vacation rental managers can prevent them.

Hurricane Irma: Rick's Story

By: Kyle Cassidy | Nov 28

On August 31st, as Hurricane Irma turned its eye toward Key West, Vacasa’s local community manager Rick Haskins experienced a moment of clarity amidst the approaching storm.

VRMA’s Strategic Path Forward

By: Mike Carrozzo | Nov 28

It’s a bold new day for travel. Guests have never been more empowered to book trips on their terms—with the power to customize their experience due to the ease of information at their fingertips.

VRMA Member Spotlight: Owner of Seaside Vacation Rentals

By: VRMA Editor | Nov 21

To celebrate all members and better show prospective members why VRMA can be a great choice for themselves and their businesses, we turned to some current VRMA members to share why they choose VRMA, and why they continue to renew their memberships year after year.

Member Spotlight: Why CEO of Mandoki Hospitality Chooses VRMA

By: VRMA Editor | Nov 15

Be Prepared for Emergency Weather: Part I

By: VRMA Editor | Nov 9

Whether it be extreme cold or a hurricane, it is vital to the safety of VRM's renters and employees to have a well thought out plan that can be seamlessly executed when bad weather strikes.

Strength in Numbers at the VRMA National Conference

By: VRMA Editor | Oct 31

Professionals from across all walks of the vacation rental industry came out in big fashion in Orlando, representing a strong and vibrant market full of opportunities. Record attendance was indeed among the major headlines from the VRMA National Conference, held October 15-18.

VRMA National Conference: What We Learned

By: Andrew McConnell | Oct 23

Now that we are back from Orlando, and the largest VRMA National Conference in history, I have had some time to reflect on my time at the conference, and what I learned while I was there.

Overcoming Objections

By: Douglas Kennedy | Oct 6

Not long ago, vacation rental rate structures were simple and straightforward. Rates were set in advance with the property owners prior to when the “annual vacation planner” went to print. There were no flash sales or last minute discount email blasts.

Powerful Pitch

By: VRMA Editor | Oct 5

Five current and former conference planning committee members sat down to discuss just what makes a good presentation and presenter, and how to pitch a topic once you are ready to present.

VRMA 2017 National Conference Speaker: Doug Kennedy

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 28

Doug Kennedy of Kennedy Training Network will be speaking at the VRMA National Conference in Orlando, October 15-18.

VRMA 2017 National Conference Speaker: Durk Johnson

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 27

Join Durk Johnson at the VRMA National Conference October 15-18 as he facilitates a Housekeeping Bootcamp.

World Tourism Day: Travel. Enjoy. Respect.

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 27

In honor of World Tourism Day today, the World Tourism Organization has launched a traveler's competition as part of the "Travel. Enjoy. Respect" campaign taking place within the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development 2017.

VRMA 2017 National Conference Speaker: Paul Hanak

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 20

Hear from Paul Hanak, director of digital marketing at InterCoastal Net Designs, at the 2017 National Conference October 15-18 in Orlando, Florida.

Mitigating Fraud for Vacation Rental Managers

By: Missy Zak, Ascent Processing | Sep 20

Fraud mitigation is now integral to the operation of any successful business. For Vacation Rental Managers (VRMs), CNP (card not present) transactions are highly susceptible to fraud, for which merchants are held liable.

VRMA National Speakers: Dawn Yeskulsky and Michael Charalambous

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 19

Don’t miss the session, ‘Payment Processing: It’s All About YOUR Money!’ scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16th at 11 am, which will address the idea of seamless merchant processing.

Ascent uses Interchange-Plus Pricing, which is designed to make payment processing simple, so merchants can focus on runnin

Play to Win

By: Ben Edwards | Sep 19

Sports and business have unlimited comparisons. The obvious similarities are team work, focus and a desire to win. When playing a ball game the scoreboard clearly depicts the winner and the loser. However, success in a vacation rental business is often difficult to discern.

After the Storm: What to Know Next

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 15

Following the recent events associated with hurricanes Harvey and Irma, many of our members are asking the question: What does this mean next?

Three Big Questions

By: VRMA Editor | Sep 12

Sheila Hauser, Marketing Director for Collins Vacation Rentals, Inc. answers three big questions about legislation, competition and technology in the vacation rental industry.

The New Vacation Rental Website – A Multi-Media Information Hub

By: Heather Bayer | Aug 30

Vacation rental managers can create an all-encompassing platform on their website where visitors can find a one-stop-shop for their vacation needs.

Now, this seems like a great solution, but transforming a website into a comprehensive information hub comes with a caveat. To be seen in this increasi

How to Improve Your Employee Retention

By: Sue Jones, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | Aug 15

Why is it we spend so much time on hiring and finding the right people, but when it comes time to employee retention, managing performance and recognition, we often fall short?

One-On-One with Airbnb’s Jonathan Lesser

By: VRMA Editor | Aug 3

Kicking off VRMA National Conference this October, don’t miss our Hands-On Distribution User Groups. These sessions, to be held Sunday, October 15, will feature leading OTA companies who will provide the latest on new offerings, new features and functionality.

Data-Driven Marketing Part Two

By: Brandon Sauls | Aug 1

Modern technology has changed the face of marketing in the vacation rental industry. Today, we have access to far more in-depth data than ever before, doing away with the need for the “spray & pray” marketing strategies of decades past.

Data-Driven Marketing Part One

By: Brandon Sauls | Jul 25

Embracing Virtual Reality Vacation Rentals

By: Debi Steigerwald | Jun 27

In 2017, virtual reality will continue to transform the vacation rental industry for managers, marketers, owners, and guests. At Vacasa, we’ve explored this firsthand through our partnership with Matterport, which provides virtual tours of nearly all of our 4,600 U.S. homes.

The Smart Home Automation Trifecta

By: VRMA Editor | Jun 13

You can hardly watch TV, scan the Internet or walk around a retail store these days without seeing smart home technology. Big players are producing and marketing smart home products faster than you can say “automation” — and they’re just getting started.

Balancing Change & Challenge in the Year Ahead

By: VRMA Administrator | Apr 19

After the wild, strange and wholly unexpected outcomes of the vacation rental industry in 2016, it might seem daunting to forecast the trends and issues that will impact business owners and managers this year.

Aftershocks: Riding the Waves of 2016 to Prepare for the Future

By: Andrew McConnell | Dec 1

This year has been momentous for the vacation rental industry. After acquiring HomeAway in 2015, Expedia saw the exodus of much of the executive team, including co-founder and CEO Brian Sharples, and very clearly pivoted to focus on professionally managed properties...

Captivate Your Audience

By: VRMA Administrator | Dec 1

Renting a vacation home is a universal luxury. People of all ages enjoy a good time away from their typical day-by-day; but it’s important to note that while all ages seek that time away, how they go about finding where to stay is vastly different.

When All You See is Change

By: VRMA Administrator | Aug 1

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” So wrote the classic science fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft back in the 1920s.

The New Vacationer

By: VRMA Administrator | Aug 1

A recent survey shows how millennials are taking over – and redefining – travel.

Home Inspections as a Branding Opportunity

By: VRMA Administrator | Apr 1

A vacation ruined over a corn flake on the kitchen floor!

Guests who pay good money to spend time in a vacation rental expect perfection and a perfect experience. This includes arriving at a perfectly clean home.

Second-Chance Bookings: Closing the Deal

By: VRMA Administrator | Apr 1

With just a little effort from a VR, potential guests who are on the fence can be nudged into making the decision that will give them a great vacation and give the VR a new customer.

Making the World a Better Place: The Sonder Project

By: VRMA Administrator | Apr 1

The desire to do good in the world can produce astonishing results. In a single year it can build two new schools in a poor, far-away country, get two new water wells drilled in a parched African nation, and collect thousands of food items for hungry Americans.

Buying a Vacation Rental Company? Here’s What to Consider

By: Andrew McConnell | Apr 1

Last issue, Steve Bjerklie covered Ben Edwards’ 2015 Annual Conference session on selling your vacation rental management company. But what if you’re on the other side of the equation?