In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show - How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by John Stokinger, Director of Sales at Direct. Together, they explore: The camaraderie and communication of the vacation rental industry How some industry conferences could be improved to focus on education and cost efficiency Why it’s crucial for property mana…

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Michael B. Rubin, General Manager of Streamline Vacation Rental Software at Inhabit. Together, they explore: Streamline’s recent innovations How good customer feedback provides a solid foundation for future innovation The upcoming Streamline Summit Since the b…

This is a beginner focused episode and is part one of a two part series: Part one is focused on the making money side of churning and part two will be more geared towards points and award travel. Topics include a rundown of the credit card issuers to start churning sign-up bonuses with, some basic methods for manufactured spending, and the types of…

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show - How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by John An, Founder and CEO at TechTape and President at Ohana Stay. Together, they explore: Why there is technology fragmentation in the industry How to implement tech solutions Revenue management in 2024 John is Founder and CEO of TechTape, providing short-ter…

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Brian Olson of Beachcomber Vacation Homes. Together, they explore: The increasing trend of shortened booking windows The rebranding of Northwest Vacation Rental Professionals to VR Nation Fostering a culture of trust in your team Brian is the Owner of Beachcomber Vacation Homes, offeri…

The 12th monthly recap episode! Echo dots went on sale again and I had success with some smaller buying groups, which made for another great month. This episode also has a mini-trip report to Colorado to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park.By Connor

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Cara Shimizu of VR Decor. Together, they explore: How to make listing photos stand out Why you should make your property Instagrammable What colors rent well Cara is the owner of VR Decor, a specialist decorating company committed to helping short-term rental owners achieve maximum rev…

Send us a Text Message. Straight VR in this Emergency Episode discusses Governor Ron Desantis' final decision on SB 280 and what that means for Florida Property Managers. We also take a temperature check of the current marketBy Heather

A quick episode to recap our trips to LA to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and a week-long trip to Guatemala.By Connor

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Randy Hall of Liquid Life Vacation Rentals. Together, they explore: Marketing to new owners Hiring the right people as you grow Targeting the right areas for growth Randy is Owner and Team Leader of Liquid Life Vacation Rentals, bringing over 25 years of marketing and small business ex…

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the Straight Fire Summer Games where we pay tribute to those in the Vacation Rental Royalty. A leaner market means only the fittest will survive. Those who have been treading water the past year may be fated to sink in an untimely manner. Joining in the games is a returning guest and expert of Revenue Management t…

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide. Together, they explore how to boost your reputation through: Crafting your own narrative Becoming an expert in the industry Communicating interesting information regularly with owners Jessica is Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a specialist pub…

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Fred Boothby of Enjoy Unique Stays. Together, they explore: The value of mentorship across the vacation rental industry Why you should view each business operation as a separate entity The opportunities for inspiration that come from opening up your home In 2019, Fred co-founded Enjoy …

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Justin Ford of Breezeway. Together, they explore: Taking appropriate safety measures for hot tubs and pools Where the real risks lie with fire pits Guests’ increasing focus on safety Justin is the Director of Short-Term Rental Safety and Certification Programs Director at Breezeway, as…

This was another breakout month for me for buying groups as I was able to order over $200k worth of product, mostly from echo dots. I am very happy with the automation tools that I've set up for BGs and hoping for more deals like this in the future!By Connor

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Justin Ford of Breezeway. Together, they explore: Why accidents are so common in vacation rentals The most common causes of injuries and fatalities and how to prevent them The toxic mindset many are plagued with Justin is the Director of Short-Term Rental Safety and Certification Progr…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Mahwussh Alam, the CEO of One Perfect Stay. Join them as they: Dive into Mahwussh’s journey from starting in the vacation rental space during Airbnb's rise in Dubai to her aspirations of managing thousands of units across the Middle East Uncover the strategies…

Send us a Text Message. Season 2 Episode 13 : Paying the price of silence (Guests Scott Fasano, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Amy Hinote)By Heather

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Vickie Storm of iTrip. Together, they cover: Why to consider using a franchise model Key benchmarks when scaling a franchise Advice for switching to a franchise model How franchising often exceeds expectations Since 2016, Vickie has been involved with iTrip, i…

Send us a Text Message. Out in the open! Straight Fire VR speaks with guests about their outspoken opinions on three very important players in the industry: the three V’s, VRMA, Vacasa, and VRBO. Joining us this week in the crossfire are two outspoken industry experts: the Founder of Seattle Vacation Homes, Andy Morris, and the Co-Founder and Chief…

In this episode I chat with a member of the Slack on how one might be able to leverage churning skills towards other "AP" ventures such as sports betting and casino games. Resources discussed in the episode: Risk of Ruin podcast Circles Off podcast The Unabated Podcast Be Better Bettors podcast Gamberly (message to get into the Discord) Betbash con…

Send us a Text Message. Straight Fire VR is keeping an eye on the market that is heating up in time for summer. AirBnB’s stock prices have seen a rocket ride this past year and they have taken a bigger bite of the market share. Will it last and what does their high rise mean for the industry? Also, does Expedia need an exit ramp for VRBO? Our exper…

In this episode of How We Grow, host and vacation rental industry veteran Lynell Gordon is joined by Eric Goldreyer of bnbfinder. Together, they cover: Why property managers are driving direct reservations Eric’s advice for vacation rental managers: have a website How travelers are actively searching for the option to book direct Eric is CEO of bnb…

This month had it's ups and downs with some successes with Best Buy and Pepper but had a series of missing items shipping to buying groups. It was overall a solid month but I missed on a few key spots that could have made it even better. To join the free Slack group, head over to churninglife.com.By Connor

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Adam Knight of Recreation Vacation Rentals. Together, they cover: The four ‘C’s of hospitality What makes good communication with owners How to grow when you can’t afford to hire new team members How negative experiences can improve your approach to hospitalit…

Send us a Text Message. Vacasa, a onetime Unicorn in the Vacation Rental industry is now a struggling property management company. With prices as of April 9, 2021 of of over $200 a share to now trading under $6.00, where did it all go wrong? Straight Fire VR performs an autopsy to investigate the cause of death. Our Guests former Vacasa Sales Execu…

In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show: How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Tim Woodward of Local Social. Together, they cover: Strategies for leveraging vacation rental analytics How to maximize property revenue in each quarter Demand and price sensitivity in revenue management Rental management differences in East versus West Tim se…

Send us a Text Message. VRMA is the largest Vacation Rental Manager's association in the world. Recent low attendance and leadership shakeups has raised eyebrows in the industry. Our panel guests Scott Leggat and Amber Carpenter do a deep dive to try to uncover what is at the root of recent chaos.By Heather

Send us a Text Message. The firestorm that the vacation world has seen in the last few years may have cleared the forest floor a bit and allowed the surviving players to grow. In this week’s episode, our guests speak about the players that are left on the board and the new moves they may take to raise capital and grow using a leaner and more profit…

In this episode I talk with Logan from Aligned Incentives about how he started his gift card brokerage and how it operates today. To join the free Slack group, head over to churninglife.com.By Connor

In this episode of How We Grow, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit. Together, they cover: ● Inhabit’s history from start-up to industry leader ● How Inhabit is bringing products from residential properties to vacation rentals ● How Inhabit is solving property manager pain points Lisa is CEO of Inhabit, a leader in both the vac…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Jim Bizily of I Love Vacations. Together, they cover: Why a solid team and inventory are key to successful growth How to refine hiring to ensure the right people are in the right seats Why it’s crucial to define your mission and goals early Jim Bizily is Found…

Send us a Text Message. Message Received? Answer: MAYBE. Have you noticed your emails falling short lately? Many property managers may have noticed their emails being sent coming up short, and this could be due to new changes over at Google. If undeliverable messages and email kickbacks seem like a real “kick in the business,” it could be that your…

Business is continuing to go well with Best Buy with laptops and this month I was able to buy Playstation Portals for the first time. I did have a few issues with packages not getting delivered and I had my first missing items case with Amazon. I also recap my experience with the Bank of America business checking bonus and how I eventually got it t…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Lino Maldonado of BeHome 247 at the Streamline Conference 2023. Together, they cover: How to use technology wisely Why you should be aware of Hilton Hotel Group’s partnership with Tesla Why now is the time to introduce electric vehicle (EV) charging into your …

Send us a Text Message. If as a property manager you are feeling that the headwinds are quickly turning into a hurricane, you are not alone. Increasing labor prices, lowered ADR and shortened stays require a manager ro become more sophisticated with your marketing and data collection. Straight Fire VR Episode 6 goes in depth with Jeff Robertson and…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Rachele Hobbs of Hobbs Realty at the Streamline Conference 2023. Together, they cover: How to achieve high guest loyalty Why you need to know your business goals to grow Hobbs Realty’s unique care offering: Hobbspitality Rachele is CEO of Hobbs Realty, a famil…

Send us a Text Message. Women make up 70% of the vacation rental industry workforce but hold only a fraction of leadership roles. In this episode we speak with two female business owners about the landscape of the changing industry and technology challenges. We also touch upon recent domestic violence claims in the industry and how speaking up and …

A recap of our week-long trip in Miami and St Croix, USVI, where we had a really fun experience. I also discuss the latest Wyndham/Vacasa and Hyatt devaluations and what's next after Best Buy. To join the free Slack group and sign up for the mailing list, head over to churninglife.com.By Connor

Join Lynell Gordon as she sits down with Tiffany Edwards of Coletta Consulting LLC to ask Governor DeSantis to veto Senate Bill 280. This bill should be vetoed because it: Will harm Florida tourism and property rights Lacks consumer protection measures Makes it harder for families to find accommodation due to its maximum occupancy rules Allows a ta…

Send us a Text Message. SPECIAL ALERT EPISODE! An urgent CALL TO ACTION is needed. Our latest Straight Fire VR episode outlines Florida SB 280 which passed the house and now threatens the industry if Governor De Santis signs it. Our fellow vacation rental owners and industry experts, Tiffany Edwards and Ben Edwards talk about the lobbying efforts b…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by industry veteran Scott Leggat. Together, they cover: The current regulatory landscape facing short-term rentals The need for local alliances and trade organizations Why you can’t act like your business is safe from regulatory changes Scott is the Director of G…

Send us a Text Message. Spring may be the time of the year that the weather finally thaws winter's stronghold on the ground. This spring, as the weather gently warms across America it is also the time we are seeing bookings start to increase. The cooler markets of the last two years may be seeing a warming up as ADR drops. Property manager are look…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by John Suzuki of Finding Better. Together, they cover: The importance of setting goals Fostering inclusivity in the workplace Finding joy in work and personal life With a history in the vacation rental industry, John is now an Author and Speaker, committed to tr…

This month I didn't sign up for any new credit cards, but instead put a lot of effort into figuring out how to order from Best Buy and had good success with dropshipping Echo Dots. I also spent a lot of time at the Apple store on the Apple Vision Pros, which turned out to be profitable for me despite not being as good as we had expected. To join th…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Andy Newman of Newman Hospitality. Together, they cover: Why you need to learn how to delegate How Newman Hospitality has grown through playing The importance of knowing when to quit In 2014, Andy Founded Newman Hospitality, a Superhost on Airbnb and Premiere …

Send us a Text Message. Season 2 Episode 2: Team Pink and the Pink Slip examines the recent layoffs industry wide. From #Vacasa, #Expedia, #Sonders and #Frontdesk have rattled the industry. Returning Guest Michelle Marquis discusses with Host Steve Milo what is rooted in these layoffs and what it means for the industry in 2024. First quarter of 202…

Send us a Text Message. Straight Fire VR is back and no topic is safe from our sights. It is 2024 and we are ready to take score. In our sights this week we will be looking at women on the rise to powerful positions in the industry, decoding Airbnb “Hot Air” reports. We will also be taking a serious look at what the moral and ethical responsibiliti…

In this episode of How We Grow: The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon is joined by Jodi Cleer of I Love Vacations. Together, they cover: How community relationships and technology can help with fast-paced growth Avoiding the growing pains that come from growing too fast The true heartwarming spirit of hospitality Jodi is Chief Marketing Offi…

I start with a deep dive into what happened with the crypto collapse and the bankruptcy of "crypto lending" platforms, then discuss what we can learn from them and how to think about the risk with churning-related activities. To join the free Slack group and sign up for the mailing list, head over to churninglife.com.…