the no BS podcast

This week Tim Rosolio, Expedia Group's VP of Vacation Rental Partner Success, joins the podcast.

We discuss his journey from business consulting into the travel industry and how Tim's passion for vacation rentals extends throughout his life where he is involved as a traveler, shareholder, employee, and owner.  

There's so much growth potential within Expedia Group and Vrbo, it seems like the sky's the limit.

Episode Highlights

• Transitioning to HomeAway allowed Tim to focus on vacation rentals and the joy of helping people create memorable experiences
• The Importance of professional acting partners, delivering consistent quality, and community involvement
• The importance of diversity in the vacation rental industry
• Expedia Groups Accelerator Program is supporting new and fresh ideas
• The importance of proactive leadership in driving industry development
• Expedia's One Key Loyalty Program is introduced to unify various rewards programs from Expedia Group's acquired brands
• Tim discusses the importance of staying current and introducing innovations in the short-term rental industry
• Mateo raises the topic of developing commercial partnerships within the short-term rental industry
• Tim mentions the challenges caused by fragmented technology but believes there's an opportunity for seamless APIs to facilitate partnerships.
• John discusses the challenges of fragmentation within the industry and how standardization takes time to achieve

Episode Sponsors

- PriceLabs

Customize your pricing strategies and run your business just the way you want. Ensures your rates are always spot-on to match the local demand, supply, and market factors.

PriceLabs knows that each of your properties are unique, and that's why its smart calculations take into account the performance of your rentals, occupancy rates in your market, and even preferences, like minimum pricing and length of stay. stay ahead of the game with your pricing strategy.

Head to https://hello.pricelabs.co/thenobspodcast/ to snag a free 30-day trial of PriceLabs Dynamic Pricing and get a free Market Dashboard too.

Make sure to use the code THENOBSPODCAST to get your free trial and $10 off on your first bill.

- Direct

Deciding which property management software to use isn’t easy. Direct encourages everyone to demo a few options and see which is best for you now and for your growth. If you’re a host or property manager who is unhappy, it's a great time to talk with Direct!

Direct is built on a modern framework that's intuitive and seamlessly integrates operations, distribution, connectivity, accounting, and engagement tools all within the software.

Head to info.directsoftware.com/nobs and book a demo with John and receive $500 towards implementation costs. Direct wants to be part of the conversation.

This episode is a long time in the making. We welcome a fan of our show and Vacasa CEO, Rob Greyber to our podcast! Rob brings decades of work in the technology and travel industry, to a high-profile must-win situation at Vacasa's helm.

Additionally, what makes this episode extraordinary is that Rob agreed to answer questions submitted by our listeners "live" on the pod on top of all our questions.

Listening to this episode will leave you with a greater understanding of where Rob is coming from and hopefully optimistic about the future of Vacasa and its place in our short-term rental eco-system

Episode Highlights

• Rob reflects on his early career experiences, working with technology and witnessing the transformational power of tech solutions
• We discuss Rob's accidental but significant early career experiences that shaped his understanding of technology and its potential
• Rob emphasizes the company's commitment to serving owners and guests
• We address industry criticisms aimed at Vacasa and how it is navigated
• The significance of advocacy efforts in the industry and Rob's perspective on criticisms
• We address the notion of Vacasa not being "local" with "boots on the ground" and its impact on the company and industry
• Four questions from our no BS audience are highlighted and answered by Rob
• Industry Diversity - The value of various players, from boutique operators to larger brands, in contributing to the growth of the vacation rental industry
• Insight and vacation rental savvy that is unlocked when you process 31,000 reservations a weekend

* Donation Links to Help the Maui Communities Affected by The Wild Fires *

Red Cross of Hawaii — https://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii.html

Hawai’i Community Foundation “Maui Strong Fund” — https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong

United Way of Maui — https://mauiunitedway.org/

Maui Humane Society — https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/

Coconut Condos Ohana Relief - https://www.gofundme.com/f/6su93-lahaina-fire-relief

Episode Sponsors

- Direct

Deciding which property management software to use isn’t easy. Direct encourages everyone to demo a few options and see which is best for you now and for your growth. If you’re a host or property manager that is unhappy, it's a great time to talk with Direct!

Direct is built on a modern framework that's intuitive and seamlessly integrates operations, distribution, connectivity, accounting, and engagement tools all within the software.

Head to info.directsoftware.com/nobs and book a demo with John and receive $500 towards implementation costs. Direct wants to be part of the conversation.

- PriceLabs

Customize your pricing strategies and run your business just the way you want. Ensures your rates are always spot-on to match the local demand, supply, and market factors.

PriceLabs knows that each of your properties are unique, and that's why its smart calculations take into account the performance of your rentals, occupancy rates in your market, and even preferences, like minimum pricing and length of stay. stay ahead of the game with your pricing strategy.

Head to https://hello.pricelabs.co/thenobspodcast/ to snag a free 30-day trial of PriceLabs Dynamic Pricing and get a free Market Dashboard too.

Make sure to use the code THENOBSPODCAST to get your free trial and $10 off on your first bill.

We're excited to sit and chat with Jonathan, TopKey Co-Founder, and CEO, about his journey from growing up in a vacation rental town to building a tech-enabled financial operating platform for lodging and short-term rental operators.

Episode Highlights

• We discuss the growth and development of vacation rental destinations over the past decade, particularly the Gulf Coast of Florida.
• Jonathan explains how TopKey initially aimed to create a marketplace connecting property managers and homeowners and hit on the shift in direction after joining Y Combinator, which led to a deeper focus on the vacation rental industry.
• TopKey's recent $5.2 million raise and how different rounds are today compared to just a couple of years ago.
• The conversation explores how Jonathan's background led to the creation of TopKey, a financial operating platform for property managers and hotels.
• TopKey's primary focus is on helping operators streamline financial processes, such as expense tracking, account management, and owner transactions.
• Jonathan explains how TopKey issues Visa-issued credit cards tied to individual units, enabling real-time transaction tracking.
• TopKey's platform integrates with major accounting software and PMS systems, simplifying the monthly close process for bookkeepers and property managers.

Episode Sponsors

- PriceLabs

Customize your pricing strategies and run your business just the way you want. Ensures your rates are always spot-on to match the local demand, supply, and market factors.

PriceLabs knows that each of your properties are unique, and that's why its smart calculations take into account the performance of your rentals, occupancy rates in your market, and even preferences, like minimum pricing and length of stay. stay ahead of the game with your pricing strategy.

Head to https://hello.pricelabs.co/thenobspodcast/ to snag a free 30-day trial of PriceLabs Dynamic Pricing and get a free Market Dashboard too.

Make sure to use the code THENOBSPODCAST to get your free trial and $10 off on your first bill.

- Direct

Deciding which property management software to use isn’t easy. Direct encourages everyone to demo a few options and see which is best for you now and for your growth. If you’re a host or property manager that is unhappy, it's a great time to talk with Direct!

Direct's built on a modern framework that's intuitive and seamlessly integrates operations, distribution, connectivity, accounting, and engagement tools all within the software.

Head to info.directsoftware.com/nobs and book a demo with John and receive $500 towards implementation costs. Direct wants to be part of the conversation.

We sit down with our friend Adrian Johnson, Owner of SeaBreeze Vacation Rentals on Anna Maria Island on Florida's Gulf Coast.

We discuss Adrian's journey from the security industry to vacation rental property management, where he shares insightful experiences and challenges he faced along the way, what it takes to be successful, and dive deep into current and future technology in the short-term rental space.

Episode Highlights

• Adrian emphasizes the importance of attention to detail during the guest turnover process and the impact it has on guest satisfaction.
• Adrian shares his experiences dealing with natural disasters and the unpredictability of the business, touching on red tide, hurricanes, and the importance of preparedness.
• Preparing for the Future: Adrian emphasizes the importance of having a well-prepared hurricane plan in place for properties.
• Building In-House Services: Adrian explains how SeaBreeze expanded its services by bringing laundry, pool maintenance, and even construction in-house. He highlights the strategic approach of timing and quality over quantity.
• Focusing on the Guest Experience: Adrian shares how SeaBreeze treats owners and guests like family, providing a welcoming and warm atmosphere. He believes in going the extra mile to create exceptional experiences.
• The importance of finding a one-stop-shop platform to streamline operations for property managers.
• Adrian shares his thoughts on AI's impact on the industry and how it could revolutionize processes.
• We discuss the power of listening to customers' needs and avoiding a "my way or the highway" mentality.
• Adrian emphasizes the need for software companies to think outside the box and offer unique solutions to property managers.

Episode Sponsor - PriceLabs

Customize your pricing strategies and run your business just the way you want. Ensures your rates are always spot-on to match the local demand, supply, and market factors.

PriceLabs knows that each of your properties are unique, and that's why its smart calculations take into account the performance of your rentals, occupancy rates in your market, and even preferences, like minimum pricing and length of stay. stay ahead of the game with your pricing strategy.

Head to https://hello.pricelabs.co/thenobspodcast/ to snag a free 30-day trial of PriceLabs Dynamic Pricing and get a free Market Dashboard too.

Make sure to use the code THENOBSPODCAST to get your free trial and $10 off on your first bill.

We almost named this episode "Love Him or Hate Him, Just Don't Ignore Him". It was a 50/50 toss-up and we chose what we chose.

We LOVE this episode and are excited to share our conversation with Bill Faeth, Founder of Build Short Term Rental Wealth and Co-Founder of the STR Wealth Conference.

Bill is a super smart dude that has a solid grasp on business and numbers and how they all work together in a world where co-hosting is king and the words "professionally managed" might have a different definition or negative connotation depending on who's saying it.

There's so much to unpack and we align with Bill on many things... so much in fact that we put a VRMA International panel discussion together that was sparked from recording this episode.

For the betterment of our industry and alignment for the greater good, this is a MUST-LISTEN-TO episode!

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This is a recording from our Rent Responsibly webinar we did in April on how culture and sustainable thinking affects a business’s long-term success.

We were lucky to be joined by some amazing special guests!

Margot Lee Schmorak - Hostfully

Wes Smithe - Direct

Dawn Yeskulsky, SME - Inhabit®

Rob Greyber - Vacasa

David Krauss - Rent Responsibly

Vanessa de Souza Lage - Sustonica

Resha Shroff - Lynx Automation

Official presentation snippet below:

In their well-loved no-BS style, Mateo and John will host a meaningful conversation about how culture and sustainable thinking pedal the flywheel of your business’s long-term success. Designed for CEOs, founders, and leaders of companies big and small, this session will challenge you to consider your cultural mindset, how your decisions impact the ecosystem around you and vice versa, and the power our industry has to impact our world for the better through travel. But they won’t leave you hanging on those big questions. They’ll also provide actionable strategies to carry your hospitality business long into the future

In this week's episode, we have the incredible Brittany Blackman, the Owner of Breathe Easy Rentals, joining us as our guest.

Brittany captivates us with her inspiring journey. When we last spoke with her, she had 12 units and had no intentions of expanding. Fast forward to today, and she has reached an impressive 25 units, comfortably establishing her presence. We can't help but anticipate that Breathe Easy Rentals will soon be managing around 50 units the next time we catch up.

What sets Brittany apart is her genuine display of emotions. She wears her heart on her sleeve, which is a breath of fresh air in a world where appearances are everything. Her infectious passion for vacation rentals is both contagious and inviting.

As the leader of an owner-focused property management company, Brittany experiences the pressure to excel. Balancing work and personal life becomes a true test, and we commend her for the way she handles it.

This episode is an absolute must-listen, packed with valuable insights and a captivating story.

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No guests this week as we quickly recap the Shortyz (Vacation Rental Oscars) 2023 categories, short listers, and winners.

The 20 award categories were judged by an independent panel consisting of investors, consultants and experts, before a short voting period was held. All of the winners were decided by a 50:50 split between judge scores and the public vote, with more than 65,000 votes cast from around the world.

Shoutout to Paul Stevens for putting together another amazing industry event.

We end the pod talking about the two FREE Beach Bonfire networking events we throwing next week in the Florida Panhandle with our friends in the vacation rental industry celebrating property managers! Joining us (Direct and Guestor) are Lynx, PriceLabs, Safely, RealTech, and AirDNA for an evening of fun, networking, and a little bit of education.

Back next week with an amazing guest that is leading the way in Destin!

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You're going to be hard to find someone with more passion and love for the short-term rental space than Eric Thibodeaux CEO of Safer VR's, Current Tides Vacation Rentals, and HereStays... among other ventures.

Eric wants the vacation rental industry to be admired and respected for exceptional levels of safety. He helps property managers and owners craft and improve their safety and loss prevention processes. This helps with their profitability and improves the overall guest experience.

Eric has been managing and owning vacation rentals in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, since 2003. In addition, he has thousands of multi-family doors in several states.

Property management and real estate investment are a true passion and we dive into how he looks at investing and also utilizes Guestor as an investment platform. The key to his success... finding opportunities where he can invest passively.

This is a really great interview with one of the kindest and smartest men in vacation rentals.

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We did it! We made it to 100 episodes!

A huge thank you is in order to Matt Landau Founder at VRMB.com for joining us on our celebratory episode!

We're fans of Matt and appreciate all that he has done and continues to do for the short-term rental space.

When he got started back in 2006 things looked a lot different than how they are today. So much of who Matt is today was initially forged living in Panama living amongst the locals and establishing himself as a trusted community member. This allowed him to organize and demobilize street gangs in his and surrounding neighborhoods where he lived and operated vacation rentals.

Matt has done much the same for our vacation rental community where he has earned the trust of the industry by putting out best practices and bringing like-minded people and ideas together.

He challenges all of us to be the best of ourselves and continues to question his own direction all while continuing to find things he's excited about.

A wonderful episode with an amazing man.

Now for our next 100!

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