Managing vacation properties is hard work. Anticipating the needs of guests, taking care of things as issues arise, planning proactive and preventative work, there’s a lot to think about – even more so when you’re operating business from afar. 

In this episode, we hear from a successful industry pro living in North America and operating in Europe to learn how she keeps everything in order. Lisa Byrne is the General Manager of VacationPerfect.com which has been hosting travelers overseas for over twenty years. We talk about operating a business in another country, getting customers from OTAs to your personal website, and creating real connections with guests.

VacationPerfect.com was started twenty years ago by three American sisters who had lived and traveled extensively in Europe. Its sparking global property offering is backed by a collected wealth of sensible travel advice and insights about each location.

Lisa oversees marketing, reservations, finance, and...

It’s time for #strsharesunday and today we are sharing the Palo Verde House!

This 1961 MidMod home by architect Hugh Kaptur is located in Palm Springs. We love how much information they are able to convey just in the bio of their instagram account: they give you the cool background info on the space, they let you know that they provide short-term or long-term stays, and that their space is dog friendly! We're intrigued already!

This home has a gorgeous outdoor space, 3 king beds and 3 ensuite bathrooms ()! One thing to keep in mind is that when people are going on vacation, the want to either stay on the same level or upgrade. If someone has a king bed in their home and they're used to sleeping in a king, it's hard to go to a queen!

Psst... a good way to add additional income is to add a pet fee! People love their animals and want to travel with them. But the best thing about Palo Verde House is that they give back a portion of their pet fees to their local animal...

We just got back from New Orleans where we had an incredible experience at the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit. It was impossible to see everything there was to see, so we enlisted the help of our Hosting Business Mastery Method members to divide and conquer! In this episode, we share our biggest takeaways from the event.

A massive thank you to each and every one of our Hosting Business Mastery Method members:

@lacroixcovington

@levinaia_estates

@gogorgegetaways

@aboveandabodeco

@velkommen.chico

@wunderschonvista

@thedigs.com

Resources:

• Visit thanksforvisiting.me/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
• #STRShareSunday: @thepaloverdehouse

It’s time for #strsharesunday and today we are sharing Style House Vacation Rentals!

Their bio says, "We are just a couple who loves to travel and stay in nice places. We are dedicated to providing stylish homes for your vacation stays" and we LOVE this. We know exactly what we're getting when we stay with them, and we love how they have been able to tie in what they are passionate about.

This is still a relatively new rental, so if you have yet to start up your STR, or if you're still in the preliminary stages and you're looking for some inspo going into the new year, check out their space. We love how they just dove right into hosting and how they share their story on instagram as they rehab their home.

Biggest takeaways? Share your story. Share your space. Share your why.... and watch the bookings come in.

We'd love to escape the winter blues and head to Florida to stay with you!

Style House Vacation Rentals on Instagram

Style House Vacation Rentals on AirBnb

•...

We are on location at the Ritz-Carlton for the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit this week, meaning we get to do some in-person interviews for the first time in quite a while. And this conversation with Stacey is quite the treat!

Stacey Rase is a Superhost from the New Orleans area who has found her passion in offering specialty stays at her short-term rentals. After raising four children, she is now an empty nester. She took on her first property three years ago on a gut feeling and has treated it like her fifth child! She's found a niche in the industry by catering to brides and bridal parties, helping to make their special weekend stays memorable and one of a kind. 

We dive deep into what happened when she decided to buy her first property and what makes her business so special.

Resources:

• www.lacroixcovington.com
• Sleepy Lagoon Cottage
• Visit thanksforvisiting.me/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
• #STRShareSunday: ...

It’s time for #strsharesunday and today we are sharing Elkhart Aframe!

This A-Frame is located in Wisconsin and we wanted to highlight this space because unique stays are on the rise, and this one is no different! We're suckers for wallpaper and we LOVE their use of wallpaper.

This home is located near a racetrack, and they do a great job in their description letting potential guests know that there might be some noise, and that some people who are race enthusiasts love it, but that others who are not race enthusiasts do not appreciate the noise. If you have something near you that might be something that some guests might love while others might hate, don't shy away from it! Let guests know in your listing what they can expect, that way, there are no surprises.

The hosts lived in this property for a year and a half before they rented it out, and you can really feel the love they put into this space!

Elkhart Aframe on Instagram

Elkhart AFrame on AirBnB

•

We would love...

In your short-term rental business, Airbnb is one of the biggest and best tools out there to get your spaces booked and busy. But as a small business owner, big platform updates can sneak past you, leaving you open for issues down the line. Don’t worry, we’ve got you, boo. Today, we take a deep dive into all of the recent Airbnb updates to keep you in the know and on top of your game.

On November 9th, 2021, Airbnb pushed out a massive update. 

• Update your Wifi speed from within the app

Airbnb is no longer recommending you take a picture of your Wifi speeds. Instead, you want to test it directly from the app and they will share that information with the guest. Wifi is one amenity people are paying close attention to, especially in the age of remote work. Make sure this is on your listing ASAP.

• Options for built-in pet fees

This is something we’ve wanted for a while, but unfortunately it’s still limited in its implementation. You...

It's time for #STRsharesunday and this week we are sharing the JB Beach House!

We LOVE a good back story and we love when hosts share the history behind their rentals. Ashley's origin story is full of heart-warming nostalgia and she's bringing memories of her grandmother's vacation home to their guests as they create their own memories!

Ashley is primed and ready to welcome her guests to her favorite spot, and she also rents her space out for content creators (think video filming or photography) as well as short-term rental guests.

Next time you're in Galveston, book Ashley's gorgeous space!

The JB Beach House on Instagram

The JB Beach House on AirBnB

•
We would love to feature YOU, so don’t forget to use #STRsharesunday to get your chance!

We’re continuing to bring our favorite speakers from the VRMA onto the show! This time, we’re joined by the wonderful Dana Lubner. As Head of Leadership Development at Rent Responsibly, Dana works closely with alliance leadership teams to build united voices at the local level. 

Previously, Dana led Effortless Rental Group, a Colorado-based property management company, alongside her brother. When Denver created an ordinance that threatened the future of short-term rentals in her industry, Dana jumped into action with her local advocacy group, Mile High Hosts, of which she is now the President. She also serves on Denver’s short-term rental advisory committee alongside members of the city council.

In Fall of 2020, Dana and VRMB’s Matt Landau launched a 10-part educational podcast titled “How to Save Your Vacation Rental Business,” with a second season in the works bravely tackling the difficult question of “What is fair...

It’s time for #strsharesunday and today we are sharing Black Barn Ranch! This beautiful space is located in San Luis Obispo, CA and hosted by Sean and Lindsey. 

This "barndominium" is on their 2.5 acre property and it is SO gorgeous. Located on the second floor of their barn, this space has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and also has a kitchen, living room, dining space, and even has a deck for you to watch the sunrise and sunset!   

Sean and Lindsey have really upleveled the experience, there's plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, it's kid friendly (and they include some kid-friendly tips!) the design is impeccable, and they've done an amazing job making their space inviting!  

Check out Lindsey's personal IG account @thepleatedpoppy! We love when our hosts use their personal accounts to promote their rentals.

Black Barn Ranch on Instagram

Black Barn Ranch on AirBnB

•

We would love to feature YOU, so don’t forget to use #STRShareSunday...