CONFERENCE GUIDE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Welcome to the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit 5 Conference Schedule 7 Ritz-Carlton Conference Map 8 Agenda Grid 10 Emcee and Keynotes 13 Basic Information 15 Breakout Session Descriptions by Time 26 Conference Sponsors (Alpabetical)
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MUST-SEE CONFERENCE SESSION
Making 2022 Another Growth Year is Going to Take GRIT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1 | 4:15 PM | LA SALLE ROOM 2021 was an all-hands-on-deck kinda year that stretched everyone. Delivering more growth in 2022 and beyond is going to take Guts, Resilience, Initiative, and Tenacity. In this session, we’ll review ways to transform your team’s “hero” moments into scalable operating procedures using creative processes and modern technology. Come learn how property managers like you are saving thousands of labor hours, driving revenue capture across their teams, and boosting company valuations.
Operating Software
Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
Marketplace
“We generated over $1.7 Million in outbound revenue. We would not have done that without TRACK.” — Anna Maria Vacations —
http://tnsinc.com
W
elcome to the 2021 Vacation Rental Women’s Summit! We’ve been looking forward to having you here for over two years, and we’re so glad you’re here.
Our goal is to celebrate, motivate, educate, and inspire you during this event, and we have a lot planned over the next few days.
It’s been an undoubtedly challenging couple of years. As we round out 2021, this is a great week to let our guards down, connect and reconnect with likeminded industry professionals, and encourage each other to be the best we can be.
As you’ve likely noticed, we don’t have a “vendor hall” like other conferences. The reason is that, here, we recognize that all of you are part of the vacation rental industry ecosystem. Regardless of the role you’re in, you play a vital part in an industry that makes people’s lives better every day.
It is a proven fact that vacations save lives; and this industry takes it even further, giving people the ability to gather with family and friends in such a unique way that they create memories that last a lifetime. Therefore, here, we are all equal.
As you know, this show is a judgement-free zone. I hope that you’ll challenge yourself to ask at least one question out loud in a session. There are three reasons for this. First, it is very likely that others have the same question and didn’t want to ask, so you’re helping all of us learn when you do. Second, when you ask a question in a session, inevitably someone will come up to you after the session to tell you they had the same question or to offer some words of wisdom or advice, deepening our connections with each other and building our network of resources. Third, I’ve watched a dynamic over time in our industry: the same people who ask questions out loud at conferences end up being asked to be on committees or panels for another. And the people who are on committees or panels become presenters and thought leaders at the next. So grab a mic and ask about anything you want to know.
In this conference guide, you’ll find an easy way to plan your time here. With the maps, information, the conference grid, and session descriptions, you can create your own unique Women’s Summit experience. And don’t worry too much about missing out by choosing one session over another. We’re recording everything except a few of the deeply personal sessions in the 1st level Audubon room. You’ll get a log in to the videos two weeks after the conference is over. Thank you so much for being here. I hope you’ll enjoy this event, get rejuvenated, and prepare for an amazing 2022! Sincerely,
Amy Hinote 3
RELAX. YOU’RE AMONG FRIENDS. Proud Supporters of the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit 2021
Suzi Cusack, Chief Financial Officer
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Rebecca Lombardo Chief Marketing Officer
Melanie Wynne Vice President of Operations
TruPlace.com | 301-972-3201
Tara Jones Account Services Manager
Conference Schedule
Tuesday, November 30 5:00 – 6:00
Meet-and-Greet Happy Hour sponsored by Beyond, Ritz-Carlton Courtyard, 3rd Level
Wednesday, December 1 10:00 – 11:00
VRWS Opening and Keynote: Velvet Machete Leadership, The Confident, Compassionate Path to Personal Power with Amber Hurdle, Author, The Bombshell Business Woman, Grand Ballroom
11:00 – 12:00
Spirit of New Orleans Brunch sponsored by Barefoot Technologies, Grand Ballroom
12:15 – 1:00 1:15 – 2:00 2:00 – 3:00
Breakout Sessions Breakout Sessions VRWS Signature High Tea sponsored by TruPlace and Changing Guest Perceptions, Behaviors, and Expectations for Private Home Rentals with Jennifer Hsieh, Homes & Villas by Marriott International, Grand Ballroom
3:15 – 4:00 4:15 – 5:00
Breakout Sessions
5:30 – 7:30
80’s Cocktail Party sponsored by Red Sky Travel Insurance, Red Fish Grill
Breakout Sessions
Thursday, December 2 8:00 – 9:00
French Quarter Breakfast sponsored by Safely, Grand Ballroom
9:00 – 10:00
The 2022 Vacation Rental Ecosystem from Startups to SPACS with Jen Ford, Amy Hinote, Kimberly Lang, and Margot Schmorak, Grand Ballroom
10:15 – 11:00
Breakout Sessions
11:15 – 12:00
Breakout Sessions
12:00 – 1:15
VRWS Pioneer Award Luncheon, Grand Ballroom
1:15 – 2:00
Keynote: NY Times Bestselling Authors, Drs. Amelia and Emily Nagoski, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Grand Ballroom
2:00 – 2:30
VRWS Pioneer Awards Reception and Book Signing sponsored by TravelNet Solutions, 2nd Level Foyer
2:30 – 3:15
Breakout Sessions
3:25 – 4:10
Breakout Sessions
4:15 – 5:00
Champagne Closing: Overcoming Adversity (And Getting Out of Your Own Head!) with Karen Fleck, CFO, Rented, Grand Ballroom
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“Bottom line, Barefoot makes me money— we leverage upsell opportunities for our guests, we have one place to manage our OTA relationships, and we support owner retention and growth through the owner portal.” Jim Leavitt, Principal, Grand Cayman Villas & Condos
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Boardroom
Lafayette West
La Salle
Lafayette East
Maison
Orleans FOYER
Vermilion
Evangeline
Baronne
FLOOR 2
GRAND BALLROOM
GUEST ELEVATORS
RESTROOMS
GALLERY FOYER
FLOOR 1
AUDUBON
CONFERENCE MAP
St. Charles Carondelet
Acadia
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ROOM
WEDNESDAY
Lafayette East
Audubon
10:00 11:00
WELCOME AND OPENING KEYNOTE: VELVET MACHETE LEADERSHIP: THE CONFIDENT, COMPASSIONATE PATH TO PERSONAL POWER with Amber Hurdle (Grand Ballroom)
11:00 12:00
VACATION RENTAL WOMEN’S SUMMIT SPIRIT OF NEW ORLEANS BRUNCH sponsored by Barefoot Technologies (Grand Ballroom)
1:00
Leadership Propels Employee Engagement and Retention with Sue Jones
Career Paths of the Industry’s Most Successful Tech Executives with Julie Brinkman, Jennifer Hsieh, Vered Raviv-Schwarz, Margot Schmorak, and moderated by Rebecca Chapman
Resilience Sprinkled with Self-Care with Ali Cammelletti
1:15
2:00
2021 State of the Vacation Rental Industry (ADR, RevPAR, Booking Window, LOS, and Channel Performance) with Key Data’s Melanie Brown
The Complete Guest Experience with Brittany Blackman, Karen Bobe, Sarah Bradford, Alex Husner, Lauren Madewell, and moderated by Adrienne Clark and Anne Toal
How to Spot Sex Trafficking in Your Home Rental(s) with Margaret Cascio and Michelle Marquis
2:00
3:00
12:15
VRWS SIGNATURE HIGH TEA SPONSORED BY TRUPLACE, CHANGING GUEST PERCEPTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND EXPECTATIONS FOR PRIVATE HOME RENTALS with Jennifer Hsieh, Vice President, Homes & Villas by Marriott International (Grand Ballroom)
4:00
Homeowners Who Love You Don't Leave You with Sarah Bradford
An Honest Look at Work-Life Balance with Kerrie Racicot-Baitx, Brittany Blackman, Ashley Kubiszyn, Tyann Marcink, and moderated by Koryn Okey
Author Dr. Emily Nagoski Discusses Her New York Times Bestselling Book, Come As You Are
4:15
5:00
The Magic Fairy Dust of Guest Loyalty with Tyann Marcink Hammond
5:30
7:30
How to Successfully Pursue New Homeowners with Sarah Bradford, Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris, Annee Martin, and Sharon Walker
Impact of Violence and Abuse on Professional Women and the Workplace with Vanessa de Souza Lage, Sue Jones, and Tammi Sims
80s COCKTAIL PARTY sponsored by Red Sky Travel Insurance, Red Fish Grill
8:00
9:00
FRENCH QUARTER BREAKFAST sponsored by Safely (Grand Ballroom)
9:00
10:00
2022 VACATION RENTAL ECOSYSTEM: HOW FUNDED STARTUPS, PE ROLLUPS, SPACS AND INDEPENDENTS FIT TOGETHER TO MAKE UP THIS CRAZY INDUSTRY with Jen Ford, Kimberly Lang, Margot Schmorak, and Moderated by Amy Hinote
3:15
THURSDAY
Lafayette West
10:15 11:00
Exclusive First Look: Findings from Rent Responsibly’s 2022 State of the STR Community Report with Alexa Nota, Jenna Fuhrman, and Brianne Pope
Sold! When and How to Sell Your Baby with Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris and Michelle Hodges
Create a Powerful Brand: Lead & Grow a Passionate Business Following with Amber Hurdle
11:15 12:00
Rise of “Voice” within the Hospitality Industry with Amazon's Dana Alia
A League of Their Own: Polish through Professionalization with Brandy Canaley, Violet Carlsberg, Ashley Kubiszyn, Joy Ritter, and moderated by Jinnie Templin
From "Hot Mess" to Less Stress: 5 Tips for Self-Care and Personal Growth with Lynell Eaddy Gordon
12:00
1:00
BIG EASY LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY VRBO AND 2021 VRWS PIONEER AWARDS (Grand Ballroom)
1:00
2:00
KEYNOTE: BURNOUT: THE SECRET TO COMPLETING THE STRESS CYCLE with New York Times Bestselling Authors Drs Amelia and Emily Nagoski
2:00
2:30
2021 PIONEER AWARDS RECEPTION AND BOOK SIGNING sponsored by TravelNet Solutions (2nd Level Foyer)
3:15
The Three Ps of Brand Standards: People, Process, and Promise with Koryn Okey
Combating Harmful Vacation Rental Regulations in Leisure Destinations with Sarah Bradford, Tiffany Edwards, Amy Gaster, Claire Reiswerg, and Lee Zeller
3:25
4:10
Navigating Negative Reviews with Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris and Ashley Kubiszyn
Be the Change: Channel Your Passion Building a World-Class OTA: Podcast for the Vacation Rental Industry into Hosts Alex & Annie Put Got2Go in the Community Involvement with Tiffany Hot Seat with Annie Holcombe and Alex Edwards, Cyndi Nguyen, Claire Reiswerg, Husner and Claiborne Yarbrough
4:15
5:00
2:30
Burnout Keynote Q&A with Drs. Amelia and Emily Nagoski
CLOSING CHAMPAGNE KEYNOTE: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY (AND HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR OWN HEAD!) with Karen Fleck, CPA and COO, Rented (Grand Ballroom)
La Salle
Orleans
Acadia
The Gold in Vacation Rentals: Increase Profits with Amenities and Design with Elizabeth Carson Ellington
Creating Safe and Enjoyable Guest Experiences with Susie Cross and Monica Snyder
Social Media Success Framework with Jodi Bourne
Long-Term Value Building for Executives: Building Value in Your Business to Accomplish Long-Term Goals and Exit Strategies with Wells Fargo’s Tracey Gillespie
Workshop: Evolution of Hiring and the Workplace with Sue Jones
Revenue Management, More Than Just Pricing with Desiree Garcia
Getting to the Big Leagues: Short-Term Rental vs Hotel Revenue Management with Deena Sewihy
Seven Best Practices for Increasing Direct Bookings with Debi Steigerwald
Group Therapy & Bourbon: Sharing and Learning from Tackling Our Craziest Guest Experiences with Amber Harris and Amanda Martins
Making 2022 Another Growth Year is Going to Take GRIT with Michelle Marquis
How to Capture Additional Income from Each Booking with Shauna Simmonds
Open-Forum Vendor Workshop with April Burns, Koryn Okey, and Dawn Yeskulsky
Self-Hypnosis for Everything: A Guide to Getting Your Life Under Control with Heather Bayer
Using Virtual Tours to Stand Out and Win Inventory with Ashley Kraft, Rebecca Lombardo, Alex Husner, and Jill Schott
2022 Ecosystem Session Follow Up and Q&A with Jen Ford, Kimberly Lang, Margot Schmorak, and Amy Hinote
Career Growth: Navigating Jobs, Life, and Personal Passions with Margot Schmorak
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Brainstorming Workshop with April Burns, Carole Sharoff, Resha Shroff, and Michelle Williams
Making the Most of Vacation Rental Insurance with Rhonda Abedsalam, Tracy Cappel, and Shannon MacPeek
Fundamental Shifts Shaping the Digital Marketing Landscape with Vanessa Humes
Recognition: The Key to Success in Business and in Life with Audrey Leeds Miller
Tips to improve Housekeeping Productivity with Rocio Lane
Does Your Org Chart Drive Revenue with Sharon Keefe
From "I Want to Quit" to "I’m Going to Win" with Devin Schaeffer and Katy Waldschmidt
Sales Techniques: B2B Consulting and Sales for Vendors in the Vacation Rental Industry with Michelle Marquis
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Servicestack
EMCEE, GENERAL SESSION, AND KEYNOTE BIOS
VRWS EMCEE APRIL BURNS With over 25 years of demonstrated success in working in hospitality marketing, advertising, and education, April Burns currently serves as Senior Account Executive at ICND. However, her unofficial title is Managing Director of Fun, a role she was born to play. April is skilled in sales, event management, leadership, and recruiting within the hospitality industry. At ICND, she is focused on delivering conversion-focused websites that drive direct bookings, and she specializes not only in marketing and business strategy, but also in team building and creating a strong company culture. This is her second time emceeing the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit and will be our Managing Director of Fun for the next few days.
JEN FORD With a background in e-commerce, retail, travel, and technology, Jen Ford has worked in both public and private companies, from startup to Fortune 100. She has led successful teams in a broad range of functions, including strategy, finance, investor relations, business intelligence, revenue management, and human resources. Notable roles include her position as CCO & CFO at TurnKey Vacation Rentals and head of Investor Relations and a member of the IPO team at HomeAway. Jen has an extensive fundraising history, having brought in more than $125 million of equity and debt while in the CFO seat, in addition to the $750 million raised while leading Investor Relations. She has been involved in more than 15 acquisitions, including HomeAway’s acquisition by Expedia for $3.9 billion and TurnKey’s acquisition by Vacasa, and has led due diligence and integration activities. In 2018, she was recognized in Austin Business Journal’s list of Most Influential Women. In 2019, Jen was awarded the Austin Woman Product Innovation Award and was a finalist for Austin’s CFO of the year.
KIMBERLY LANG Kimberly Lang serves as Inhabit IQ’s Managing Director of its vacation division and heads up the teams at Streamline, LiveRez, VRM, Bluetent, Q4, Bizcor, Rental Guardian, Lynnbrook, LSI Tools, and other vacation rental proptech companies that Inhabit has acquired over the last several years. In this position, Lang works across the division to drive strategic initiatives and client advocacy programs that accelerate the future of vacation rental technology and deliver greater value for the vacation rental industry. With more than 20 years of experience in the technology and software space across property management, real estate, and payment processing, Kimberly recently served as Chief Business Officer at CheckAlt and as COO at ExamSoft. Previously, Lang spent more than a decade in various leadership roles with RealPage, a multinational property management software corporation.
MARGOT SCHMORAK Margot Schmorak is CEO and cofounder of Hostfully, a software platform for short-term and vacation rental managers founded in 2016. Margot was formerly at Apple where she launched the iPhone Developer Program in 2008, and she served as head of marketing for a $250 million business unit at ServiceSource. Margot is also a mom of three young kids and married to Ari Schmorak. She sings in an a cappella group, writes songs, and volunteers for DEI initiatives in the vacation rental industry and in her kids’ schools. She also loves mentoring other founders—especially women and people of color.
KAREN FLECK Karen Fleck, CPA, currently serves as CFO at Rented and is an experienced executive with proven success leading the strategic and tactical oversight of operational, financial, and human resources to drive revenue performance in highly competitive markets. As a tireless advocate for efficiency, teamwork, and the seamless integration of front and back office operations, Fleck is accustomed to collaboration, agile decision-making, and a wide span of functional management. She received her BS and MS degrees at the University of Connecticut and currently resides in Los Angeles. 10
EMILY AND AMELIA NAGOSKI Emily Nagoski is the author of Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life. She has a PhD in health behavior with a minor in human sexuality from Indiana University, and a MS in counseling, including a clinical internship at the Kinsey Institute sexual health clinic. She has been a sex educator for twenty years and currently works as the inaugural director of wellness education at Smith College.
Amelia Nagoski is a conductor with a DMA in conducting from the University of Connecticut. An assistant professor and coordinator of music at Western New England University, she regularly presents educational sessions discussing the application of communications science and psychological research for audiences of other professional musicians, including “Beyond Burnout Prevention: Embodied Wellness for Conductors.”
Emily’s Masters’ degree is in counseling, and Amelia’s is in choral conducting; one day they realized they both got graduate degrees in how to listen and feel feelings, which maybe says something about their shared childhood? They both live in New England with a variety of cats, dogs, and spouses. Yes, they’re twins. Yes, they’re identical. Yes, one time they pretended to be each other; it did not go well.
In 2018, the twins came together to coauthor the bestselling book, Burnout: The Secret to Completing the Stress Cycle, about what causes burnout, what it does to our bodies, and how we can move through the emotional exhaustion. This groundbreaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men—and provides a simple, science-based plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life.
Emily and Amelia are here to help end the cycle of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Instead of asking us to ignore the very real obstacles and societal pressures that stand between women and well-being, they explain with compassion and optimism what we’re up against—and show us how to fight back.
AMBER HURDLE As the CEO of Amber Hurdle Consulting, Amber uses both science and marketing principles to strengthen customers’ brands from the inside out. By uniting the power of unified personal, employer, and business brands she helps overcome business problems like ineffective marketing and recruiting, losing market share, underperformance, and leadership gaps. Amber understands how to accelerate success as a teen mom turned powerhouse businesswoman, having worked with celebrities, executives, and Fortune 100 companies. She was recognized among the “Top 40 Under 40” by the Nashville Business Journal, the Nashville Area Chamber’s Emerging Leader Awards, and by Global Gurus in the top 30 brand professionals for both 2020 and 2021. Her clients include large brands such as FedEx Ground, Marriott Hotels, and Stella & Dot, as well as small businesses who want to play big. Her book, The Bombshell Business Woman: How to Become a Bold, Brave, Female Entrepreneur is the perfect complement to her weekly podcast, Velvet Machete Leadership Podcast with Amber Hurdle, both of which were designed to serve driven, professional women.
“This book is a gift! I’ve been practicing their strategies, and it’s a total game-changer.” —Brené Brow
JENNIFER HSIEH Jennifer Hsieh is Vice President of Homes & Villas by Marriott International, leading the development and growth of Marriott’s first entry into the home rental business. Prior to this role, Jennifer served as VP, CX Innovation, guiding enterprise innovation for the largest hotel company in the world. In her role, she brought together innovation, business strategy, and a deep understanding of consumers to innovate for Marriott’s portfolio of 30 brands. Prior to Marriott, Jennifer led strategic growth initiatives as part of Target Corporation’s Strategy & Innovation division and at Deloitte Consulting, advising on customer and market strategies that drive top-line growth. Jennifer received her MBA from Darden Business School and her BA from the University of Virginia. She resides in Bethesda, MD with her husband and three sons. 11
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BASIC INFORMATION REGISTRATION LOCATION AND INFORMATION DESK The registration and information desk will be open in the Ritz-Carlton’s second level, just outside the elevators, through 2:00 pm on Thursday, December 2.
ALL-DAY BEVERAGE STATION COURTESY OF STREAMLINE AND XPLORIE Thirtsy? Streamline and Xplorie are sponsoring an all-day beverage station on the second level. Coffee, water, and sodas are available for attendees through 4:00 on Thursday.
WI-FI SPONSORED BY ICND
CONFERENCE APP BY TOUCH STAY
ICND is sponsoring the conference Wi-Fi network for VRWS attendees. Look for the RitzCarlton_Conference network, and use password icndrocks!
For conference information, session descriptions, attendees, and more, access our conference app at touchstay.com/vrwomen.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTO STUDIO SPONSORED BY HOSTFULLY Do you need a new professional headshot for yourself or your team? Hostfully is sponsoring a photo studio located in the Baronne room with our favorite industry photographer, Stephanie Rounds Anderson. Get an updated professional photo for your social profiles, websites, and your future speaking engagements.
SPA HAND TREATMENTS SPONSORED BY MĀLIE Sanitize and nourish your overworked hands with a Mālie Organics’ Hand Treatment! FREE treatments are available in the Baronne Room:
Wednesday and Thursday: 8:00 am – 10:00 am, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm, and 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
MEETING ROOM AND DEMO LAB Need to have a conversation or demo a product with a vendor? We’re offering meeting/work space in the Vermilion room and the VRWS Demo Lab in the Evangeline room, both on the second level.
VIDEO PACKAGE BY VRM INTEL We don’t want you to feel like you’re missing out by choosing one session or another. Therefore, VRM Intel is recording all the sessions except for some of the ones in the Audubon Ballroom on the 1st level (because some of the sessions in Audubon are deeply personal). You will get a login to access videos on December 17.
RITZ-CARLTON SPA The hotel spa is currently under construction (delayed due to Hurricane Ida), but they are still providing massage and facial services located on the 3rd level. To book an appointment, email Christy Watzke at christy.rantz@ritzcarlton. com or call (504) 670-2929.
80s PARTY SPONSORED BY RED SKY TRAVEL INSURANCE Red Sky is hosting an 80s cocktail party, Wed, 5:30 – 7:30. Break out your best 80s outfit and join us at Red Fish Grill, 115 Bourbon St. You will need to show your vaccination card or negative COVID test to get in. There are two entrances on Bourbon. (Inside scoop: There is also a shortcut through the Hyatt Centric Hotel.)
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SOLUTIONS POWERED BY COLLABORATION
Software for Exceptional Spaces™ 14
BREAKOUT DESCRIPTIONS BY TIME TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM MEET-AND-GREET HAPPY HOUR SPONSORED BY BEYOND, RITZ-CARLTON COURTYARD, 3RD LEVEL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM VRWS OPENING AND KEYNOTE: VELVET MACHETE LEADERSHIP, THE CONFIDENT, COMPASSIONATE PATH TO PERSONAL POWER WITH AMBER HURDLE, AUTHOR, THE BOMBSHELL BUSINESS WOMAN, GRAND BALLROOM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
ecutives in the vacation rental industry to find out how they carved out their paths, the challenges they faced along the way, what they’ve learned, how they balance their personal and professional roles, and what advice they can offer to those who would like to follow in their footsteps.
RESILIENCE SPRINKLED WITH SELF-CARE Presenter: Ali Cammelletti, Spark Your Mindset Room: Audubon, 1st Level
Do you feel like you have successfully adapted during 2021? Ali Cammelletti is still standing, and she is here to share how she believes resilience made the difference and how you can tap into it for your life and team moving forward. The sprinkles on the top include making time for self-care to have the bandwidth to support yourself and your team during challenging times to bounce back with grace.
SPIRIT OF NEW ORLEANS BRUNCH SPONSORED BY BAREFOOT THE GOLD IN VACATION RENTALS: USING DESIGN AND AMENITIES TO INCREASE PROFITS TECHNOLOGIES, GRAND BALLROOM
Presenter: Elizabeth Carson Ellington, Vacation Rental Profit Lab
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM LEADERSHIP PROPELS EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION Presenter: Sue Jones, HR4VR Room: Lafayette East
The gap between what employees want and what their employers are offering has widened significantly since COVID-19 first appeared. With rampant levels of burnout and high levels of exhaustion, employee retention has fallen significantly for employers both large and small. Nearly 30 percent of US workers are actively job hunting, and it is projected that that 56 percent of the workforce will jump ship in 2021. Since COVID, people have a new frame of reference with what’s important. During this session, Jones will discuss ways leaders can ensure attrition slows and retention grows.
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION: CAREER PATHS OF THE INDUSTRY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL TECH EXECUTIVES Panel: Julie Brinkman, CEO, Beyond; Jennifer Hsieh, Vice President, Homes & Villas by Marriott International; Vered Raviv-Schwarz, President & COO, Guesty; Margot Schmorak, CEO, Hostfully; and moderated by Rebecca Chapman, VRM Intel Room: Lafayette West
What does it take to get to the top in a field that’s been historically dominated by men? VRM Intel’s Rebecca Chapman wanted to know, so she pulled together a group of top-tier ex-
Room: La Salle
Elizabeth Carson Ellington made a $3,000 investment in her property in Fiji, and over nine years, this single amenity brought in $112,000 above her normal income. In another property, she did a splash-out, spa bathroom in a 330-square-foot suite for $7,000, which increased her income by $11,000 per year; and when she sold the home three years later, she made a six-figure profit on a $165,000 property. Ellington will share all of her secrets of using design and amenities to 1) increase both profit and occupancy, 2) welcome guests that you WANT to have stay at your properties, and 3) consistently get 5- star reviews. Elizabeth with focus on visually rich presentation, how to choose design inspiration, ways to save money to focus on ROI, and how to up your game each and every year.
CREATING SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCES FOR YOUR GUESTS Presenters: Susie Cross and Monica Snyder, Brivo Room: Orleans
Your guests expect a seamless and enjoyable experience while at your property. You expect a solution that delivers security and convenience that improves property management, increases revenue, and creates a memorable guest experience. Join this workshop and learn how Brivo helps you: manage hundreds of properties from one cloud-based dashboard, save time and money with our vacation rental home automation platform, eliminate rekeying costs from guests losing or forgetting keys, increase guest satisfaction with easy and remote check-in and check-out, and improve security by locking and monitoring your vacant properties.
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Give your homeowners peace of mind by knowing who is staying in their home and by providing comprehensive coverage when something goes wrong.
ahead of the market on vacation rental security. Their innovative approach added nearly 20% to my revenue, and real peace of mind to my homeowners.
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Guest Screening – Prevent the worst guests from wrecking your homes
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Instant Coverage – Up to $1,000,000 of property and bodily injury protection is automatically attached to every reservation
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Quick & Easy Claim Payments – Submit your claim in 5 minutes and get paid in one to four business days
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Triple Coverage – The Safely insurance program protects your business, your homeowners, and your guests
Safely builds trust into your vacation rentals program anywhere backed by up to $1 million in primary commercial insurance.
Scott Drexel, Founder of Rentl.
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hello@safely.com
www.safely.com
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
SOCIAL MEDIA SUCCESS FRAMEWORK Presenter: Jodi Bourne, Bourne Creative Marketing Room: Acadia
Social media and marketing expert Jodi Bourne will guide you through how to create a social media strategy that grows your audience, strengthens your brand, and books your rentals.
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM 2021 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY: HOW DID THE YEAR PLAY OUT AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN 2022? Presenter: Melanie Brown, Key Data Dashboard Room: Lafayette East
Key Data’s Melanie Brown will share exclusive data showing how VRMs performed in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020 and will share KPIs (including ADR, RevPAR, occupancy, booking window, and length of stay) across key destinations and regions. Brown will also examine actual performance by channel and will look at 2022’s bookings to help PMs forecast for 2022.
THE GUEST EXPERIENCE: INSIGHTS AND IDEAS FROM LEADING PMs Panel: Brittany Blackman, Breathe Easy Rentals; Karen Bobe, Sunset Properties; Sarah Bradford, Winter Park Lodging Company and Steamboat Lodging Company; Alex Husner, Condo-World; Lauren Madewell, Auntie Belham’s Cabin Rentals; and moderated by Adrienne Clark and Anne Toal, Xplorie Room: Lafayette West
What does guest experience mean to you? Does it include the discovery phase and the post-stay? Or just the stay itself ? We’ll be talking to some of the brightest property managers in the industry about when the guest experience begins (and ends) and what they do to enhance it. Sit in with Adrienne Clark and Anne Toal of Xplorie as they delve into these questions and more with a panel of experts who will share insights, ideas, and best practices on the guest experience.
HOW TO SPOT SEX TRAFFICKING IN YOUR HOMES Presenters: Margaret Cascio, Sudara, and Michele Marquis, TravelNet Solutions Room: Audubon, 1st Level
The hospitality industry unwittingly plays a part in sex trafficking around the world and, more importantly, in our own backyards. With philanthropic partners, Sudara and The Guardian Group, this session will 1) review the latest data of this global epidemic, 2) share how to identify and prevent trafficking, and 3) identify the best ways to engage the authorities if you or your team suspect something is wrong. Attendees will take home new awareness and communication tactics to disrupt the sex trafficking of women and children. Learn to be
a part of the solution, not the problem.
LONG-TERM VALUE BUILDING: FOR EXECUTIVES, BUILDING VALUE IN YOUR BUSINESS TO ACCOMPLISH LONG-TERM GOALS AND EXIT STRATEGIES Presenter: Tracey Gillespie, National Director Business Transition Planning, Wells Fargo Room: La Salle
You are busy building your business, but are you building the value of your business? Understanding the fundaments of business value is the key to creating a valuable enterprise which you can convert to personal wealth, funding your lifestyle, retirement, or family legacy goals. Courtesy of Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Gillespie’s session will review VRM market trends and valuation dynamics which can inform your value-creation strategy, examine the impact of risk, answer your questions regarding ownership transition options, and discuss best practices successfully used by other company owners as they prepare for their future.
WORKSHOP: EVOLUTION OF HIRING AND THE WORKPLACE Presenter: Sue Jones, HR4VR Room: Orleans
Today’s workplace is evolving quickly, prompted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Managers are facing new challenges when it comes to sourcing new talent. Employees are now asking themselves about the purpose and meaning behind the work that they are doing, with many choosing to leave their jobs. The competition to attract and retain talent is a threat to businesses everywhere. Join us for a lively discussion on this topic and questions such as: What strategies are you deploying to recruit and retain talent? How has the evolution of the hybrid model has impacted your recruiting, onboarding, and employee culture? How effective is your employer brand? What are you doing to grow and retain internal talent? How are you incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workforce?
REVENUE MANAGEMENT, MORE THAN JUST PRICING Presenter: Desiree Garcia, RevMax Room: Acadia
RevMax cofounder and CEO Desiree Garcia presents an overview of all of the factors that are important and often overlooked when creating a pricing strategy.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM VRWS SIGNATURE HIGH TEA SPONSORED BY TRUPLACE AND CHANGING GUEST PERCEPTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND EXPECTATIONS FOR PRIVATE HOME RENTALS WITH JENNIFER HSIEH, HOMES & VILLAS BY MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, GRAND BALLROOM 17
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM HOMEOWNERS WHO LOVE YOU DON’T LEAVE YOU Presenter: Sarah Bradford, CEO, Winter Park Lodging Company and Steamboat Lodging Company, and Host of the Sarah and T Podcast Room: Lafayette East
The secret to homeowner retention is building relationships that are based on trust. This session will cover innovative (yet easy!) ways you and your team can build trust, respect, and loyalty with your homeowners. Bradford will cover specific, regular one-on-one communication ideas as well as en masse unscheduled touch points, how to speak the truth, how to gift and entertain them, and tips to surprise and delight. Avoid having a homeowner leave your program because they simply didn’t feel like they connected with you or knew what you were doing for them. If you save just one homeowner with this session, it’s worth your time!
AN HONEST LOOK AT WORK-LIFE BALANCE Panel: Kerrie Racicot-Baitx, Tahoe Truckee Vacation Properties; Brittany Blackman, Breathe Easy Rentals; Ashley Kubiszyn, River Ridge Rentals; Tyann Marcink Hammond, Touch Stay, Missouri Haus, Branson Family Retreats, and Natty Media; and moderated by Koryn Okey, Breezeway Room: Lafayette West
Our commitments are endless: never-ending inboxes, a barrage of phone calls, family obligations, soccer games, a dog that always needs to be walked, and relationships that need our attention. No matter which form this takes, it’s difficult to balance it all with just 24 hours in a day. But if you can reach the promised land of work/life balance, euphoria awaits in both your personal and professional lives. Now more than ever, it’s important to hear what work/life balance really means, how it changes throughout your life/career, and understand what can be done to set manageable boundaries. Join this interactive panel discussion to understand the challenges these professionals have faced and how they have evaluated, re-evaluated, and ultimately prioritized what’s most important in their lives both personally and professionally. We won’t pretend to have all the answers, but through a candid discussion, we can discover practical takeaways from one another to help us find more balance.
COME AS YOU ARE Presenter: Dr. Emily Nagoski Room: Audubon, 1st Level
It may be wildly inappropriate for an industry conference, but let’s talk about sex! Before our keynote speaker Dr. Emily Nagoski coauthored Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, she penned the NY Times bestseller Come As You Are. While we have Emily with us, we would be remiss not to tap into her knowledge and expertise. Come As You Are is an essential exploration of why and how women’s sexuality works
that will radically transform your sex life into one filled with confidence and joy. Cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines tells us that the most important factor for women in creating and sustaining a fulfilling sex life is not what you do in bed or how you do it, but how you feel about it. Which means that stress, mood, trust, and body image are not peripheral factors in a woman’s sexual wellbeing; they are central to it. Once you understand these factors, and how to influence them, you can create for yourself more profound pleasure than you ever thought possible.
GETTING TO THE BIG LEAGUES: SHORT-TERM RENTAL VS HOTEL REVENUE MANAGEMENT Presenter: Deena Sewihy, Beyond Room: La Salle
There’s no denying we’re in a new era of revenue management for the short-term rental industry. But let’s be honest, we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible. Join revenue managers from Beyond as they relive their years in hotel revenue management—the good and bad—and discuss the biggest revenue opportunities for the short-term rental industry in 2022.
SEVEN BEST PRACTICES FOR INCREASING DIRECT BOOKINGS Presenter: Debi Steigerwald, Rented Room: Orleans
In 2021, the percentage of direct bookings dropped by double digits, a trend we’ve been seeing for the last three years. Join this fast-moving session that will provide specifics on how to increase direct bookings. Although we all want this, it can be overwhelming and there are multiple strategies you can implement. Debi will look at how to improve SEO, paid ads, social, email, and more to get more bookers coming directly to you. If you are just getting started or looking for creative insights, Debi will provide actionable steps to improve your guest acquisition blend.
GROUP THERAPY & BOURBON: LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND SHARE YOUR WORST GUEST EXPERIENCES AND HOW YOU RESOLVED THEM Presenters: Amber Harris and Amanda Martins, Safely Room: Acadia
“Amber, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what this guest did!” We believe you. And we want to hear more! Come hang out with Amber and Amanda from Safely, and let’s share our best and worst guest stories. In this relaxed, interactive session, we will laugh, cringe, and encourage each other. But—more importantly—we will learn from each other about how to handle our most challenging guests. We can’t wait to hear about the craziest things you have been pushing through this year! Oh yeah, did we mention that there will likely be bourbon and mimosas involved? 19
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM LESSONS FROM GUESTS: THE MAGIC FAIRY DUST OF GUEST LOYALTY Presenter: Tyann Marcink Hammond, Touch Stay, Branson Family Retreats, Missouri Haus, VR Mastered Room: Lafayette East
Guest loyalty is directly related to profitability, brilliant guest experience, and social responsibility. Learn how to build your own private army of loyal guests with an action plan and examples of true guest stories on how to (and how not to) achieve it.
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE NEW HOMEOWNERS Panel: Sarah Bradford, Winter Park Lodging Company and Steamboat Lodging Company; Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris, Village Holdings; Annee Martin, Sanctuary Vacation Rentals; and Sharon Walker, Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals Room: Lafayette West
We now have a whole new industry, thanks to an influx in demand of consumers wanting to stay in private residences. Many owners who are currently renting are wondering if there is a better property management service available; RBOs are considering moving into a managed service; and more owners than ever are starting to consider renting out their homes for the first time to get into this “new” and growing market. How do you set yourself apart? How do you get their attention? How do you close the deal? In this panel, Sharon Walker, owner of Walker Luxury Vacation Rentals, along with some fierce leading ladies that aren’t afraid to close a deal, will dig into the most steadfast and original methods of portfolio growth through organic owner acquisition. Come to this very focused session to hear some of the most successful managers and industry leaders share who, how, and when they target new clients, their value propositions, marketing secrets, and strategies for closing the deal.
THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE ON PROFESSIONAL WOMEN AND THE WORKPLACE Panel: Vanessa de Souza Lage, Rentals United; Tammi Sims, Hospitality Consultant; and Sue Jones, HR4VR Room: Audubon
One out of four women in the US has been violently attacked, and in an industry in which the majority of team members are women, we can’t pretend that this is not a major issue. In April 2021, after a violent attack by her boyfriend—who was also an investor and on the board of directors at her company—Vanessa de Souza Lage demonstrated extraordinary courage by holding him accountable (he was sentenced to ten months in prison) and by sharing her story. However, recovery is ongoing, especially with continued threats. As she wrote, “Five days after the attack, he was speaking at a conference while I was un20
der antidepressants, incapable of leaving the house, in physical pain, and in utter fear.” In this candid session, Tammi Sims and Sue Jones will talk to Vanessa about her experience, discuss recovery, and identify things we can do to spot warning signs, help others, and build supportive environments.
MAKING 2022 ANOTHER GROWTH YEAR IS GOING TO TAKE GRIT Presenter: Michelle Marquis, TravelNet Solutions Room: La Salle
2021 was an all-hands-on-deck kind of year that stretched everyone. Delivering more growth in 2022 (and 2023, 2024, etc.) is going to take GRIT (guts, resilience, initiative, and tenacity). In this session, we’ll review ways to transform your team’s “hero” moments into scalable operating procedures using creative processes and modern tech. Come learn how property managers like you are saving 1,000s of labor hours, driving revenue capture across their teams, and boosting company valuations.
HOW TO CAPTURE ADDITIONAL INCOME FROM EACH BOOKING Presenter: Shauna Simmonds, BNSellit Room: Orleans
BnSellit’s COO, Shauna Simmonds, will discuss a new and exciting way to capture additional revenue from your shortterm rental properties. Introducing BnSellit’s innovative app that gives rental operators a platform to sell or rent items to guests during their stay. Short-term rental guests will enjoy a unique shopping experience to enhance their stay. Learn about the enticing customized marketplace kit, full of curated items and essential products. BnSellit believes there is more to earn than just booking income from your vacation home(s).
OPEN-FORUM WORKSHOP FOR VACATION RENTAL INDUSTRY VENDORS Panel: April Burns, ICND; Koryn Okey, Breezeway; Dawn Yeskulsky, Consultant Room: Acadia
Since COVID-19, the world for PMs changed dramatically, but it also changed for our vendor community. In the first of its kind, this open-forum roundtable workshop for vendors—led by empathetic industry sales and customer support veterans— will discuss how selling and marketing to VRMs has changed, setting realistic expectations, dealing with evolving roadmaps, navigating conferences, the industry’s domino effect, rapidly changing org charts, career growth, and balancing life on the road. Bring your questions and challenges, and this group will help you find solutions.
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 80’s COCKTAIL PARTY SPONSORED BY RED SKY TRAVEL INSURANCE, RED FISH GRILL
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM FRENCH QUARTER BREAKFAST SPONSORED BY SAFELY, GRAND BALLROOM
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM THE 2022 VACATION RENTAL ECOSYSTEM FROM STARTUPS TO SPACS WITH JEN FORD, AMY HINOTE, KIMBERLY LANG, AND MARGOT SCHMORAK, GRAND BALLROOM
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK AT FINDINGS FROM RENT RESPONSIBLY’S 2022 STATE OF THE STR COMMUNITY REPORT Presenter: Alexa Nota, Jenna Fuhrman, and Brianne Pope, Rent Responsibly Room: Lafayette East
Harmful regulations are the biggest threat to our industry. After years of one bad policy after another, why are even long-standing VR destinations still struggling to find ordinances that work? And how do we solve the problem once and for all? Doing so requires a two-way conversation with our local governments, and this inaugural study dives deep into both sides of it: the needs and challenges of city staff charged with managing VR and STR programs, and the opportunities that responsible, professional operators have to cement their footing in their local tourism economies. In this session, attendees will get an exclusive first look at key findings from the study, including quantified benefits VRs bring to their communities, opportunities to bridge the gap with local governments, and other insights for win-win solutions in every destination. Plus, we’ll share how to use this new information to strengthen your business and build a robust 2022 advocacy strategy—no government relations experience required.
SOLD! WHEN AND HOW TO SELL YOUR BABY
CREATE A POWERFUL BRAND: LEAD & GROW A PASSIONATE BUSINESS FOLLOWING Presenter: Amber Hurdle, Amber Hurdle Consulting Room: Audubon, 1st Level
How to brand and differentiate yourself from your competition and build trust with your customers, potential customers, and employees can be wildly frustrating without the right road map. In this fast-paced session seasoned brand expert, Amber Hurdle, walks you through the #1 secret to brand clarity; how to leverage the connectivity of a business brand, personal brand, and employer brand; empowering you to get a head start on marketing and recruiting; and how to create THE essential statement that will guide not just your marketing, but your leadership for years to come. Through this engaging presentation attendees will leave with the vision and confidence to craft their brand promise and a plan of action to share their brand story with the world—eliminating confusion, awkward elevator pitches at networking events, shoddy social media posts, ambiguous website copy, and more. Freshly equipped with next steps, participants will boldly attract the right customers and employees who are perfectly poised to pay for or promote the product or service they offer.
SELF-HYPNOSIS FOR EVERYTHING: A GUIDE TO GETTING YOUR LIFE UNDER CONTROL Presenter: Heather Bayer, CottageLINK Rental Management Room: La Salle
This is a how-to session with practical demonstrations on using self-hypnosis to manage many areas of your life. You’ll learn induction and deepening techniques as well as a variety of tactics to deal with stress, procrastination, and the challenges of a hectic business.
USING VIRTUAL TOURS TO STAND OUT AND WIN INVENTORY
Presenters: Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris, Village Holdings; and Michelle Hodges, SH Enterprises
Presenters: Ashley Kraft, Vintory; Rebecca Lombardo, TruPlace; Alex Husner, Condo World; and Jill Schott, Tahoe Moon Properties
Building your vacation rental company is like raising a child. You nurture and grow something that takes all the time, energy, and passion that you have. At some point, you know it is time to “let it go.” After negotiating three separate purchase contracts, Great Ocean Condos was sold to Village Realty Holdings in November 2020; and in 2021, Meyer Vacation Rentals sold to Vacasa. Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris and Michelle Hodges will walk through the ins and outs of negotiations, valuations, and heart palpitations. There is life outside of ownership!
What exactly is a virtual tour? And how do you know which type is right for your home(s)? Vrbo estimates a 15-18 percent higher lift on properties with a virtual tour, and TruPlace found an average 3-10 minutes of viewing time on tours when guests are booking direct. Homeowners are also looking for companies that are going to offer their property something unique to increase bookings. Takeaways include the differences between virtual tour options, deciding whether to do virtual tours inhouse or outsource, and what’s worked well for other vacation rental companies.
Room: Lafayette West
Room: Orleans
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS
2022 ECOSYSTEM KEYNOTE FOLLOW UP AND Q&A Presenters: Jen Ford, Amy Hinote, Kimberly Lang, and Margot Schmorak Room: Acadia
Following the morning’s general session, we’ll follow up with more in-depth discussion about funding options, venture capital, private equity, and the path to IPO. If you’ve been wondering about how all these businesses in our industry are moving through funding cycles, what these funding types actually mean for the companies, whether funding is right for you, how to protect your interests as you add investors, or how to take your company to the next level, this is a great opportunity to sit down with industry experts.
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM RISE OF “VOICE” WITHIN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY Presenter: Dana Alia, Sr. Manager Business Development, Alexa Smart Properties, Amazon Room: Lafayette East
Learn how voice technology can delight your guests and improve your property’s productivity from the experts at Alexa. Alexa Smart Properties for Hospitality provides device fleet management to build Alexa capabilities at scale. Simplify guest tasks—play music, check the weather, research local activities, contact the property manager, and even check out—all with Alexa. Find out how “voice” can help your property increase revenues, reduce costs, and improve guest satisfaction like Amazon is doing now with Disney Resorts.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: POLISH THROUGH PROFESSIONALIZATION Panel: Brandreth Canaley, Sextant Stays; Violet Carlsberg, Castle Vacation Rentals Hawaii; Ashley Kubiszyn, River Ridge Rentals; Joy Ritter, Sojo; and moderated by Jinnie Templin, GuestView Guide Room: Lafayette West
There’s momentum behind a professionalization movement in the vacation rental industry, but the path to professionalizing looks different for all of us. From property operations to guest communications, there are endless opportunities to step up our hospitality game. During this panel, we’ll discuss both tactical and soft skills that will help you professionalize your business practices, as well as how to strike the right balance between automated technology and irreplaceable human elements.
FROM “HOT MESS” TO LESS STRESS: 5 TIPS FOR SELF-CARE AND PERSONAL GROWTH Presenter: Lynell Eaddy Gordon, LSI Tools Room: Audubon, 1st Level
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As businesswomen we carry an enormous amount of responsibility. In the midst of this stress we want to thrive, flourish, and
grow personally. Let’s explore five tips to clear your head, calm your heart and create a habit of self-care.
CAREER GROWTH: NAVIGATING JOBS, LIFE, AND PERSONAL PASSIONS Presenter: Margot Schmorak, Hostfully Room: La Salle
Thinking career change? Design-thinking can guide you when options seem daunting and you’re suffering from burnout. Join Margot Schmorak, CEO and cofounder of Hostfully, as she reflects on her career switch from a corporate marketing executive to startup founder while balancing her love for motherhood and personal growth. Hear life coaching frameworks you can use to find your passions, prioritize what’s important, and leave space for creativity. Join us to play with these ideas so that the next time you want to make a change, you can decide on and embrace whatever comes next. Good vibes only!
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) BRAINSTORMING WORKSHOP Panel: April Burns, ICND; Carole Sharoff, Atlantic Vacation Homes; Michelle Williams, Atlantic Vacation Homes; Resha Shroff, Lynx Room: Orleans
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are no longer just buzzwords, amounting to little more than a compulsory annual training; and leaders are learning that when DEI is a priority, it improves every facet of the organization. It’s not about reaching certain demographic quotas or professing blindness to difference. Instead, it’s about understanding the importance of your employees’ intersecting identities, honoring differences, and rooting out the effects of systemic inequity hidden in company cultures. In this open-forum roundtable format, we’ll discuss what building a DEI culture means and brainstorm ways to build companies that attract more diverse talent. We’ll also talk about what we can do as an industry to build an ecosystem that embraces our differences and recognizes that these differences make us stronger.
MAKING THE MOST OF VACATION RENTAL INSURANCE Presenters: Rhonda Abedsalam, Tracy Cappel, and Shannon MacPeek, Generali Room: Acadia
Maximize your travel insurance and damage protection sales, brush up on best practices, and learn more about regional solutions for coastal and mountain properties. In this session, we’ll explore the ways vacation rental insurance can help protect your guests and owners and grow your business.
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM VRWS PIONEER AWARD LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY RENTED AND VRM INTEL, GRAND BALLROOM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Q&A WITH DRs. AMELIA AND EMILY NAGOSKI
KEYNOTE: NY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS, DRS. AMELIA AND EMILY NAGOSKI, BURNOUT: THE SECRET TO UNLOCKING THE STRESS CYCLE, GRAND BALLROOM
Panel: Drs. Emily and Amelia Nagoski, and moderated by Amy Hinote
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM VRWS PIONEER AWARDS RECEPTION AND BOOK SIGNING SPONSORED BY TRAVELNET SOLUTIONS, 2ND LEVEL FOYER
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM THE THREE Ps OF BRAND STANDARDS: PEOPLE, PROCESS & PROMISE Presenter: Koryn Okey, Breezeway Room: Lafayette East
With increased focus on contactless check-in and less one-onone interaction with guests, it’s critical for teams to be aligned on company brand and service standards. How do you hire (and train) your team to execute on internal processes? How do you empower your staff to do their part in delivering your brand promise to owners and guests? In this session, Koryn Okey, vice president of client experience at Breezeway, will discuss the three Ps of vacation rental brand standards: people, process, and promise and the importance that each component has on elevating and showcasing your hospitality brand.
BATTLING VACATION RENTAL REGULATIONS IN RESORT/LEISURE DESTINATIONS Panel: Sarah Bradford, Winter Park Lodging Company and Steamboat Lodging Company; Amy Gaster, Tybee Vacation Rentals; Claire Reiswerg, Sand ‘N Sea; Lee Zeller, Accommodations in Telluride; and moderated by Tiffany Edwards, Coletta Consulting Room: Lafayette West
We hear a lot about debilitating short-term rental regulations in urban city centers, but what happens when harmful regulations get introduced within communities that are built upon and reliant on vacation rentals? The women on this panel have put their hearts and souls into protecting their destinations’ economies and will share what they’ve learned about the best ways to address city officials and work with other stakeholders. They will also share their experiences about what to do when residents in the communities they serve turn against them and how to take lemons and make lemonade. Each of these panelists is in a different stage of the regulations journey, so we’ll get a broad view how harmful regulations get introduced, how opponents garner public support, how to talk to city councils, and how to work within the community to protect its economy and real estate values.
Room: Audubon, 1st Level
Following their keynote, the Nagoski twins will answer your questions about their session and their bestselling book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.
FUNDAMENTAL SHIFTS SHAPING THE DIGITAL MARKETING LANDSCAPE Presenter: Vanessa Humes, ICND Room: La Salle
Do you need digital marketing when things are good? You may have been up to speed on marketing tactics and trends preCOVID, but vacation rental marketing is rapidly transitioning― with the demand for SEO to drive direct bookings and traffic at its core. What have you missed during the last year? From targeting restrictions to algorithm updates to travel personas, Humes will take us through changes in marketing tactics that are impacting the vacation rental sector, including the future of usable data after mandated restrictions are implemented. More importantly, some of these updates are putting more power in your hands than ever before, allowing you to out-market your marketing company and smoke the competition!
RECOGNITION: THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE Presenter: Audrey Leeds Miller, Cottage Connection of Maine Room: Orleans
If you want to have more fun at work and at home, create a company that your competition cannot compete with, build employee, customer, and owner loyalty like you have never seen before, and build influence that may even get your husband to turn off the TV and the kids to get off their iPads. Well, maybe that’s pushing it a little, but this session is for all who want better communication with those around them. Recognition creates a positive culture and opens doors to communication amongst those that may not always see eye to eye. By developing a way to recognize those around you, you increase your influence and ultimately your happiness and success.
TIPS TO IMPROVE HOUSEKEEPING PRODUCTIVITY Presenter: Rocio Lane, Cleancio Room: Acadia
Cleaning is one of the highest priorities for hosts and shortterm rental managers. Due to the pandemic, the stakes have been raised. Guests expect their rentals to reach hotel standards. How do we adjust to changing market conditions and ensure that these high standards are met? Let’s dive into all the moving parts of the housekeeping world, as well as the solutions we’ve implemented to streamline operations. 23
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
3:25 PM – 4:10 PM NAVIGATING NEGATIVE REVIEWS Presenters: Jennifer Frankenstein Harris, Village Holdings, and Ashley Kubiszyn, River Ridge Rentals Room: Lafayette East
We all do it. We let the rare unhappy guest (or owner) steal our joy and crush our self-esteem no matter how unreasonable their complaints are. Why do we allow this? Because we are passionate, caring, hardworking professionals who work tirelessly to make everything perfect. In this session we will talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of handling negative reviews. Get ready to share your worst review with your peers as we navigate together how to take negative reviews and turn them in to positive growth.
BE THE CHANGE: CHANNEL YOUR PASSION FOR THE VACATION RENTAL INDUSTRY INTO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Panel: Tiffany Edwards, Coletta Consulting, Cyndi Nguyen, City Council, New Orleans; Claire Reiswerg, Sand ‘N Sea; and moderated by Claiborne Yarbrough, Barefoot Technologies (and elected Director of the Henricopolis Soil and Water Board) Room: Lafayette West
Did you know that you can affect positive change? Policy, local elections, and serving on boards might sound tedious and boring, but if you are willing to donate some of your time, you truly can be a person that make positive change for yourself and others. This panel will be a discussion about how you can get involved locally, whether as an elected official or as a board member of your local nonprofits, to support tourism/hospitality/vacation rentals. Along with success stories and lessons learned, this “get real” conversation will answer the questions: Wait, can I really do this? Where do I start? What are the options? What are the elected positions? Board positions? How do I go about getting involved? What is the time commitment? How do I successfully manage, work, volunteering and family? Is it stressful?
BUILDING A WORLD-CLASS OTA: ALEX & ANNIE PUT GOT2GO IN THE HOT SEAT Presenters: Annie Holcombe, Lexicon Travel; and Alex Husner, Condo-World Room: Audubon, 1st Level
Coming to you LIVE from the Ritz Carlton New Orleans, the Alex & Annie Real Women of Vacation Rentals Podcast puts an emerging OTA in the hot seat, and you don’t want to miss it. Joined by the founders of Got2Go, you’ll hear the unique inside story behind this new OTA, how the founders will differentiate Got2Go from the others in the marketplace, and you will even have the opportunity to share feedback that will help shape the future of this partner-focused platform. Alex & Annie will dive into the issues professional managers face when 24
working with larger OTAs and examine what strategic steps Got2Go is taking to change the narrative. Audience participation is a must, and you won’t want to miss the giveaway at the end of the session!
DOES YOUR ORG CHART DRIVE REVENUE? Presenter: Sharon Keefe Room: La Salle
We all hear that “data is king,” “communication is key,” and “people are what sets you above the rest,” but what internal processes and communication standards do you have around these essential components of your business? Learn how to establish the five fundamentals that will enable your team to thrive while giving management built in accountability measures: Vision, People, Data, Issues, and Traction. Sharon Keefe will demonstrate the significance of people and the processes they follow in every corner of your organization. Wouldn’t you like to free up your team’s capacity, and create more time and energy to move your business ahead?
FROM “I WANT TO QUIT” TO “I’M GOING TO WIN” Devin Schaeffer, OwnerRez, and Katy Waldschmidt, Shenandoah Rentals Room: Orleans
Are you a people pleaser who struggles with the emotional demands of the vacation rental industry? You’re not alone. Come laugh, cry, and color with us while we help you to build skills and develop strategies to deal with all of the bad guests, parties, unhappy rude people, and general craziness that comes along with this business. Whether you’re a homeowner or a property manager (or both at the same time!), you’re sure to hear some tips for dealing with emotional burnout, and also maybe find some commiseration and humor along the way.
SALES TECHNIQUES FOR VENDORS: B2B CONSULTING AND SALES IN THE VACATION RENTAL INDUSTRY Presenter: Michelle Marquis, TravelNet Solutions Room: Acadia
What makes the difference between a good salesperson and a great salesperson? There is a big difference between these two profiles, but truly the differences are found in the small things. Michelle Marquis has been successful as an individual contributor, but has also built several large sales organizations with a strong focus on standardization based on what works best to be a top performer. This session is designed for vacation rental industry vendors and is great for anyone involved in B2B business development.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM CHAMPAGNE CLOSING: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AND GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN HEAD WITH KAREN FLECK, CFO, RENTED, GRAND BALLROOM
CONFERENCE APP BY TOUCH STAY For conference information, session descriptions, attendees, and more, access our conference app at touchstay.com/vrwomen.
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SPONSORS
For over 20 years, Ascent Payment Solutions has provided both clients and partners the highest level of payment processing expertise, service, and security in the vacation rental industry. Ascent’s services are designed to help our clients and partners achieve the success they deserve. ascentpaymentsolutions.com
Vacation rental management companies want to provide the best experiences for their guests and owners. Whether you are an experienced property manager with hundreds of properties or an enterprising startup, Barefoot provides an affordable and tailorable property management system, that includes all the accounting, operations, and booking components that you need. And, with direct integrations to third-party platforms, you can drive bookings easily, leaving you free to provide the best rental experiences for guest with concierge services and retain owners with client for life strategies. We are here to help you grow your business your way. barefoot.com
Beyond (formerly Beyond Pricing) is a complete revenue management solution for short-term rental managers and owners to get, grow, and keep revenue. Our easy-to-use platform includes a dynamic, demand-driven pricing tool with extensive market data that pairs with OTA distribution and a best-in-class booking engine. We’ve helped thousands of property managers and property owners like Island Realty, Royal American Beach Getaways, and Coquet Cottages, get the most out of their listings. To date, we have supported over 340,000 properties in more than 7,500 cities worldwide. Founded in 2013, Beyond is headquartered in San Francisco. beyondpricing.com
Founded in the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, Bluetent is a digital agency with 18 years of experience serving the vacation rental industry. Our team of more than 75 experts are dedicated to our clients. We help vacation rental brands of all sizes develop well-rounded digital presences through direct booking websites, channel management, and digital/email marketing. bluetent.com/connect-with-us 26
SPONSORS
BnSellit is a complete end-to-end e-commerce platform that allows shortterm rental property owners, managers, and operators earn significant additional revenue by selling or renting items located on the property to guests during each stay. Using the BnSellit app you can quickly and easily create your exclusive marketplace with items, souvenirs, and other things you think your guest might purchase and take home with them after their stay. Why not rent your bicycles, golfclubs, etc. for even more revenue? Need some ideas? Sign up for the BnSellit Marketplace promotional kit. It is no-risk and no-cost, and if you qualify, we will send you a complete kit of products we know your guest will be excited to purchase and use during their stay. The possibilities are endless with BnSellit. bnsellit.com
Breezeway’s property care and operations platform helps coordinate, communicate, and verify detailed work at properties and deliver the best service experience. Breezeway’s software and mobile apps have facilitated over 6 million property tasks across 100+ million square feet, and have helped hundreds of short-term rental operators and hospitality professionals meet detailed service standards. Created by the founder of FlipKey (acquired by TripAdvisor), the Breezeway team is building the future of property care and service. www.breezeway.io
Brivo Smart Home for Vacation Rentals is the global leader in cloud-based physical security and smart home automation. Brivo increases your efficiency while creating a better and safe rental experience. Manage hundreds of properties from one cloud-based dashboard, save time and money with our vacation rental home automation platform, and increase revenue for owners and create a better experience for your guests. brivo.com
Manage smarter with Escapia Vacation Rental Software. Escapia is a proven, full-featured property management solution offering business guidance you can trust and automation to simplify. With innovative tools backed by Expedia Group data, it’s never been easier to optimize your vacation rental business. Escapia is rolling out game-changing functionality focused on increased distribution, business intelligence, and automation. Contact us today to see what’s new with Escapia! Call 877-238-2287 to learn more. escapia.com 27
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When you partner with Generali, you’re working with a company with 30 years of experience and backed by one of the world’s largest insurance providers. Our success is built on our reputation for assisting travelers in the most difficult of circumstances and delivering travel protection solutions designed to meet your needs. generalitravelinsurance.com/sales/vacation-rental
Golightly is the first private platform for women to list and rent vacation homes and short-term rentals. All listings are owned or managed by women. Members are vetted, verified and connected to provide a safer, more accountable experience. While only a member within the community can list or book, she can travel with whomever she wishes and can see how she’s connected to her guest or host. Golightly is free to join and keeps fees low to support the mission of safety in travel for women. Since our launch in 2020, Golightly has grown to 7,500 members in 90 countries. wegolightly.com
Got2Go is the premier marketplace platform for travelers of vacation, leisure, and business to secure amazing bookings of the best short- and longterm rental properties in the United States. With its eye-appealing design and user-friendly functionality, combined with some of the lowest fees in the market, both hosts and guests can “feel good again” about the value of going somewhere remarkable. Sign up and “Go” explore today! got2go.com
Guesty’s property management platform provides short-term rental and independent hotel property management companies with an end-to-end solution to simplify, streamline, and automate the complex operational needs of managing flexible inventory. With Guesty, users can manage properties across multiple online travel agencies, including Airbnb, Booking. com, Vrbo, Agoda and TripAdvisor, and utilize the company’s guest-centric tools including: Unified Inbox, Automation Tools, Accounting, 24/7 Guest Communication Services, Payment Processing and more. guesty.com 28
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Hostfully’s award-winning software helps vacation rental companies provide 5-star hospitality. With property management and guest experience software for short-term rentals, Hostfully helps property managers automate, streamline, and grow their businesses. Hostfully’s Property Management Platform is the most open-source software in the industry and includes dozens of integrations, pipeline management, upselling tools, owner reporting, a centralized calendar, and a platform for widespread channel distribution. Further, Hostfully’s Guidebooks Platform also allows managers to supply travelers with mission-critical property information, local recommendations, and a custom welcome message featuring their unique brands. hostfully.com
HR4VR is an HR consulting firm specializing in helping vacation rental management companies with their human resource needs. Whether you are looking for guidance on creating handbooks, social media policies, recruitment plans, or more strategic initiatives, HR4VR has the industry expertise and business acumen to scale appropriately and meet all your Human Resources needs. hr4vr.com
Conversion-Focused Websites & Digital Marketing. Founded in 1999, InterCoastal Net Designs (ICND) is an independently owned, forward-thinking company specialized in vacation rental website development and strategic marketing solutions to drive conversions. Whether that’s more reservations, leads, or owners, our solutions lead to direct revenue for your company. We are dedicated to being first-to-market with features and functionality that will keep you at peak performance by providing a better user experience for guests and value for your owners. Our experienced digital marketing team is committed to providing the latest technology and techniques to maintain and improve your online presence and drive qualified traffic to your website. Our marketing and web development services, together with our superior customer support, provide the ideal agency experience to gain exposure and maximize online reservations. icoastalnet.com/contact
Inhabit IQ is a unique collective of tech-forward companies serving the vacation and property management industries. Our brands’ strategic partnerships deliver best-in-class software solutions and services while fostering innovation and collaboration with like-minded entrepreneurs and industry leaders. We believe that property managers should have the opportunity to choose platforms that best support their business goals and benefit from strategic partnerships across our ecosystem. inhabitiq.com 29
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Key Data is the vacation rental industry’s trusted source for real-time data & analytics. VRM Intel, VRMA, and over 1,600 of the leading property managers worldwide turn to Key Data for accurate, up-to-date insights into what’s happening in the vacation rental space. Our dashboards offer property managers around the globe better visibility into their own performance, as well as the most accurate view of benchmarking in their local markets. For more information reach out to us at sales@keydatadashboard.com. keydatadashboard.com
LiveRez goes beyond the standard vacation rental management software. With LiveRez, you can replace your accounting software, booking software, CRM, and operations software. Add to that, a brand-new website that’s built to convert and support from our staff, and you have a powerful connected ecosystem of features that will help you reach your goals. liverez.com
A one-stop-shop for property automation, Lynx Automation provides pre-programmed hardware, installation, and a management dashboard for smart devices like locks, intercoms, noise monitoring, thermostats. Lynx’s guest portal is customized with your brand and gives you the ability to upsell services along with real-time notifications from guests and staff for workflow automation. getlynx.co
Mālie Organics premier spa and beauty brand offers an extraordinary line of luxurious organic amenities for the prestige vacation rental market. Mālie Organics is committed to environmental responsibility and saving resources by minimizing the use of single-use plastics with organic Eco-Refill amenities. By refilling bottles, we’re saving 1,600 single-use plastic bottles with each Eco-Refill gallon! Dedicated to using only natural and organic ingredients, our amenities are not only safer for your skin, hair, and the air you breathe, but they also work in harmony with your body for more deeply therapeutic results. Offering botanical blends from Mālie that deliver a nourishing and hydrating cleanse along with luxurious moisturization. Mālie (pronounced mah-lee-ay) is calm, serene, and tranquil. Join us in reducing our carbon imprint to ensure earth’s extraordinary natural resources will bless future generations. malie.com
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SPONSORS
OwnerRez
OwnerRez is a comprehensive booking management engine, built by people who have vacation rentals of their own. It integrates with channels like Vrbo, Airbnb, and Booking.com to seamlessly synchronize availability, rates, rules, and listing content while taking online bookings, managing inquiries, and communicating with guests. OwnerRez provides modern fast websites, guest checkout with e-sign renter agreements, and can process payments directly, including auto-scheduled future payments. All emails sent to the guest are template-able, and you can schedule your own emails to go out automatically. OwnerRez also provides travel insurance and damage protection insurance, as well as integration with QuickBooks, property management/owner statements, and other power features. Manage many properties, automate your communication, and get detailed statistics and reports without needing to hire a staff. ownerreservations.com
Red Sky Travel Insurance has been providing coverage exclusively to the vacation rental industry in coastal, lake, ski, and mountain destinations since 2008. We meet both the needs of guests and the business goals of vacation rental managers through our comprehensive travel insurance plan designs including Sun Trip Preserver, Ski Trip Preserver, Ski Pass Preserver, and Mountain Trip Preserver. Our team of experienced vacation rental travel insurance veterans personally provide “high touch” service, support, and training to vacation rental management companies, vacation planners, and valued guests. Frequent, on-site, personal training helps with the successful growth in sales and promotion of travel insurance. Founded on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, our years of experience helping vacation rental managers weather the storm of unforeseen disruptions to their guests’ vacations make Red Sky a trusted advisor. Thorough planning and quick response are in our nature. With Red Sky, you’ll experience the best of both worlds: the personal attention of a core team of professionals to address your needs and the strong reputation of our underwriter. redskyinsurance.com
Founded in 2019 by cofounders David Krauss and Alexa Nota, Rent Responsibly is a community-building and education platform for local short-term and vacation rental alliances. Our tools and alliance management services equip local leaders to build successful, self-sustaining organizations of owners, hosts, property managers, and all other stakeholders. We make it easy for leaders and members to connect, collaborate, solve common challenges, advocate for themselves, steward their communities, and rent responsibly. rentresponsibly.org/join
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RentalGuardian digitally automates all facets of the sales and service of travel protection and property protection solutions. We have partnered with world-class underwriters like Nationwide, Lloyd’s of London, and Berkshire Hathaway to bring custom protection products built specifically for the needs of the vacation rental industry. With the RentalGuardian platform, via our web-based tools and API integrations, our insurance providers have the ability to offer unique products to travelers and homeowners within a connected vacation and holiday rental ecosystem. rentalguardian.com
Rented is your partner in vacation rental revenue management. Meet Art, the Automated Revenue Tool! Rented’s dynamic pricing software for vacation rentals is built by industry pros for industry pros. Art helps rental managers set the right price for every property, every night. We know that no piece of software will replace your expertise, but Art will help you and your team save time, stay in control, and price confidently. Art delivers dynamic pricing recommendations, helps you make informed adjustments, and automatically updates your rates across your property management system (PMS) and major booking channels. You’ll benefit from advanced pricing models, simple yet powerful customization tools, and easy PMS integration. Contact us for a demo and free trial account. rented.com
Safely is the leader in vacation rental protection for professional property managers. Safely’s platform provides the most comprehensive guest screening on the market with tailored bodily injury, property, and travel insurance bringing trust and safety to short-term rentals and peace of mind to property managers. safely.com
Sand ‘N Sea Properties is a (legacy) vacation rental company located on Galveston Island, in Texas. Bert Feinman, Claire and Anne’s mother, founded it in 1974. Today, Anne and Claire run Sand ‘N Sea, and Bert spends her time doing what she wants and forwarding industry articles (including those from VRM Intel Magazine) that she thinks we shouldn’t miss. Along with being a vacation rental company long before the words Vrbo or Airbnb were around, we are proud to be longtime fans of Amy Hinote and VRM Intel! sandnsea.com 32
SPONSORS
NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc. is a 100-year-old company with almost $3 billion in revenue and a leading designer and provider of innovative displays. We offer the widest range of display products on the market. NEC is orchestrating a brighter world with the quality and reliability of its products and outstanding customer service. NEC Display Solutions offers the personal touch of a small business but with global outreach. GuestView Guide from NEC Display is a wall-mounted digital concierge to help vacation rental management companies earn more from each guest’s stay, reduce their support burden, and delight their guests for higher ratings and more direct repeat stays guestviewguide.com
Ali Cammelletti, founder of SPARK Your Mindset (previously Cammelletti Consulting), brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry focusing on leadership and sales. Ali helps leaders build resilience and improve performance by bringing awareness to opportunity behaviors and sparking mindsets. She offers one-on-one leadership and sales coaching, team building, and sales education sparkyourmindset.com
Streamline is a powerful vacation rental/property management software built by property managers to help maximize conversions, efficiency, and revenue. Features include CRM/Lead Management Pro for higher conversions; RevMaxMD with dynamic pricing tools and revenue management to increase revenue; HomeOwner Recruitment’s tools to grow your business; next-gen communications and automation to improve the guest experience; StreamPhone’s call technology for better guest relationships; direct OTA distribution for seamless bookings with OTA partners; and an open API to build your business how you want to build it. Streamline is the industry’s TRUE all-in-one solution. Find out why so many of the industry’s largest and most successful vacation rental companies partner with Streamline. streamlinevrs.com
We’re all about happy guests! Touch Stay digital guidebooks help hosts and property managers put a bigger smile on their guests’ faces. Happy guests ask fewer questions and leave better reviews. They remember, refer, and book again too. Replace in-accommodation binders with a digital version of everything your guests will ever need to know—before, during, and after their stay. Guests feel communicated with. Hosts and managers have a single point of property information. Answering guest questions is as simple as pointing them to a section of the guide, if they ask at all. App-like in functionality, completely customize it to your brand, including your brand colors and logo. Your insider inspiration and practical tips are supported by easy and intuitive navigation. Touch Stay is designed to improve communication with guests and reduce the headaches of guest management. In helping to make guests happier, it’s part of your revenue growth arsenal. touchstay.com 33
SPONSORS
TravelNet Solutions (TNS) is on a mission to transform how hospitality works. Our Atlas digital marketing and website services help independent hoteliers and property managers of all sizes reimagine how they drive direct bookings, while our flagship TRACK software platform makes their operations more efficient and sophisticated. Modern tools have helped level the playing field, but the game is changed; and you can’t keep playing it the same way. Capture and convert more guest leads, operate more smoothly, and outperform your competition with TNS. We are on a mission to transform how hospitality works. Our Atlas and TRACK solutions make your operations more efficient and sophisticated. We help capture and covert more guest leads, operate more smoothly and help you level the playing field. tnsinc.com
TruPlace improves the overall guest experience by providing vacation rental brands with full-service photography, virtual tours, and video needs. Launched in 2003, TruPlace is known for its one-of-a-kind Interactive Floor Plan and knowledgeable customer service. With over 100,000 virtual tours created and 16 million photos processed, TruPlace is a trusted source in the vacation rental industry. go.truplace.com
The #1 property acquisition platform, Vintory is the first and only CRM and sales & marketing automation platform designed exclusively for vacation rental managers to grow their inventory. Growing your business is hard, and managing the many demands that come with it is even harder. Vintory is your simple-to-set-up, easy-to-use solution to cut the clutter and consistently add new properties to your program. Grow smarter, faster, and bigger with built in automation that will keep you organized and one step ahead of the competition; capture more homeowners through our omnichannel marketing approach; convert more leads with automatic lead nurturing and personalized AI; and know which campaigns are hitting the mark with centralized dashboards. Whether you’re a new business or growing enterprise, Vintory has the technology, community, and expertise to accelerate your growth. Capture more leads, close more deals, and grow your revenue with Vintory, your inventory growth machine. vintory.com
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SPONSORS
The Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors specializes in helping business owners—especially those in the VRM industry—plan for successful financial outcomes. Through conversation and discovery, we help clients prioritize what is most important and craft plans that are result-oriented. It’s all about having a plan—whether it is retirement lifestyle, business transition planning, estate and legacy, or philanthropic. With a plan in place, we can evaluate results and make adjustments when priorities change. The practice is managed by Bill Whichard and John Woolard, who both are private wealth financial advisors, and we are able to coordinate with a team of specialized professionals and leverage the vast resources of Wells Fargo & Company. These resources allow us to work with clients who have highly complex and demanding wealth management needs. Our practice is passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients. We enjoy helping people achieve meaningful life financial goals whichardwoolard.wfadv.com
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We partner with the best vacation rental managers and build relationships with the top activities each destination has to offer, to provide the leading guest experience program in the US and Canada. Since 1996, we have delivered turnkey activity programs to many of the vacation rental industry’s most successful and prestigious property management companies. Our activity programs are integral to our participating partners’ efforts to boost occupancy, drive revenue, and differentiate each property they manage from that of the competition. With Xplorie, partners can provide guests an unforgettable vacation experience with our free-to-guest activity programs; Xplorie Enabled Voice Assistants; a full suite of Xplorie Program marketing assets including dynamic program emails; and so much more. xplorie.com/partner
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Simple. Powerful. Rented.
Rented’s dynamic pricing software for vacation rentals is built by industry pros for industry pros. Art helps managers set the right price for every property, every night. We know that no piece of software will replace your expertise, but Art will help you and your team save time, stay in control, and price confidently.
Art Helps Your Team: Save Time
Stay in Control
Price Confidently
Get a huge head start on your pricing strategy with Art’s recommended nightly rates.
Make custom adjustments with just a few clicks using blocks, tagging and other unique to RM methods.
Art uses pricing models based on carefully curated datasets that are actually relevant to your market.
Visit rented.com/art/ and get started for free! 37
RED SKY TRAVEL INSURANCE OFFERS DESTINATION SPECIFIC COVERAGE FOR VACATIONING GUESTS IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL PERSONAL SERVICE AND SUPPORT FOR VACATION PLANNERS AND PARTNER VACATION RENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY OPERATORS.
Coverage is underwritten by Arch Insurance Company (a Missouri corporation, NAIC #11150) with executive offices located in New York, NY. Not all insurance products or coverage are available in all jurisdictions. Coverage is subject to actual policy language.
866.549.5283 · redskyinsurance.com 38