Do people really think about their impact on the environment when they go on vacation? Do they actively seek out locations and properties that clearly state their sustainability features?   Reports and statistics are telling us that Gen Z is the most enlightened generation when it comes to responsible tourism, and we should be hooking into that and making it a part of our marketing and operational strategies for the future. In today’s episode I am joined by Marc Ribail, the co-founder and Head of Sustainability at Inspired Living Solutions, and founder of QALIA, a sustainability certificate program for the luxury market.   This episode is a part of   SSTIR Crazy Month which is sponsored by Proper Insurance‍ Proper Insurance is committed to providing short-term rental owners with a comprehensive insurance solution.  Call Proper Insurance today at 1-888-631-6680  Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS548

VRS548 - Beyond the Stay: Crafting Sustainable Vacation Experiences with Marc Ribail

Heather Bayer, author of Renting Your Recreational Property for Profit, former CEO of a highly successful cottage rental agency, and a popular blogger, hosts the Vacation Rental Success podcast.  With many years experience of owning and managing multiple vacation rental properties, Heather brings her knowledge and views on every aspect of the business, together with interviews with vacation homeowners and industry experts.  Heather has appeared as a guest on CTV Canada, CBC Radio, Rogers TV, and Chex TV and is frequently interviewed on real estate and travel topics by magazines and daily newspapers.

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This episode is sponsored by Lodgify, an all-in-one solution that will help you start, manage, and grow your short-term rental business.  > Click here to visit Lodgify.com to start your free trial today Being a property manager is more than just acquiring homes, sourcing guests and creating experiences for them.  It’s about making a mark in the local area and being seen as an effective community partner and advocate. In this episode, Heather is joined by industry veteran, Kirsten King from Curate Telluride, a vacation rental management company with a strong community focus. Kirsten shares her journey from starting Big Sky Vacation Rentals to her current venture, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of running a vacation rental business in small, destination towns. She draws on these experiences to share advice and suggestions for vacation rental managers who want to integrate community-centric practices into their business models. Kirsten talks about the strategic shift in her business approach towards community involvement, partnerships with local non-profits, and how these collaborations make the  guest experiences so much better while contributing to  community well-being. Heather and Kirsten delve into the dynamics of managing vacation rental properties in competitive markets, the role of trust and values in business operations, and the potential impacts of short-term rentals on local communities.  ______________________________________________________________________ Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: https://thrive.vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar  Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS557

VRS557 - Beyond Bookings:  Unlocking the Power of Vacation Rentals for Local Good with Kirsten King

 This episode is sponsored by Lodgify, an all-in-one solution that will help you start, manage, and grow your short-term rental business.  Use Code VRF10 for 10% off their Professional and Ultimate yearly plans  > Click here to visit Lodgify.com to start your free trial today Getting involved in advocacy means more than just making a token appearance at a council meeting when they are discussing short term rental issues.  It means having a voice and getting a seat at the table.  When Ben Pereira started to build his Yukon-based business, he took this seriously and realized that you have to show up to be heard.  Now, as the Chair of the Housing Committee on Whitehorse City Council, he can make his stakeholders' views known and considered. In this episode, Ben talks about the uniqueness of his business, which involves a wide range of guest personas, from sports teams and adventure seekers to families preparing for imminent childbirth.   It’s a fascinating look into a model of business that requires a good deal of flexibility, tolerance, and empathy.  On top of that, there’s the ever-present threat of regulations, and we hear how Ben uses his position to share the benefits of short-term rentals in his community.  ______________________________________________________________________ Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: https://thrive.vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar  Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS556

VRS556 - Voices from the Yukon:  Ben Pereira’s Pioneering Approach at Neighbourly North

 This episode is sponsored by Lodgify, an all-in-one solution that will help you start, manage, and grow your short-term rental business.  Use Code VRF10 for 10% off their Professional and Ultimate yearly plans  > Click here to visit Lodgify.com to start your free trial today Today’s guest is on a mission to solve industry- wide problems that few others are prepared to trial. She says it’s for good reason – because they aren’t easy. Undeterred (or just belligerent) Rachel rolls her sleeves up, weighs stinky bins, asks a lot of questions, raises funds and collaborates across the industry to create change. It’s a great story. In 2011, with a very small baby in tow, Rachel started renting her cottage. She ran it for 4 years before she set up New Forest Escapes, partly with the goal of encouraging more people to holiday in the UK, reducing travel emissions and making UK holidays an alternative to overseas family travel. Her experience in sustainable projects and travel over the years makes her uniquely suitable to be leading the way in greener tourism.  We hear how and why she went down the route of gaining B-Corp certification and what she is doing now to ensure those who stay in her properties benefit from the work she’s done. The whole conversation about sustainability is so relevant to the work we’re doing on our THRIVE training system.  In the module on Responsibility there’s a lesson on Environmental Responsibilities, and now I can put the New Forest Escapes website into the Resources section and include information on B-Corp Certification. This is the joy of continuous learning - that it never stops evolving as we come across new things to share.  If you are interested in finding out more about THRIVE, just check below. In the episode, Rachel shares:   Her journey into sustainable rentals   Why you shouldn’t mention the ‘S’ word & the better alternatives   What goes into B-Corp certification   A simple furniture change that will wow your guests (and their feathered friends)   How weighing stinky bins can help change minds   Simple things that make a real difference   Ways to help guests get greener     Links: New Forest Escapes B-Corp Certification Intrepid Travel Exodus Travels Pura Aventura Much Better Adventures Sawday’s THRIVE   ___________________________________________________________________________ Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: https://thrive.vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar  Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS555

VRS555 - Sustainable Stays: Rachel Parsons and the New Forest Escapes Revolution

 This episode is sponsored by Lodgify, an all-in-one solution that will help you start, manage, and grow your short-term rental business.  Use Code VRF10 for 10% off their Professional and Ultimate yearly plans  > Click here to visit Lodgify.com to start your free trial today In a thirty-year period, every industry will show massive change and it takes resilience, toughness, and a lot of flexibility to navigate through it in the way Valerie Hawkins has done with Perdido Realty. Valerie has been a prominent figure in the vacation rental business since 1994. Starting with just three properties, she has grown her business to 167 units, focusing on the importance of trust with property owners, guests, the local community, and her team. From the early use of paper catalogs to the current implementation of advanced property management systems. Valerie stresses the importance of adapting to new tools to improve efficiency but also underscores the necessity of keeping personal interactions at the forefront of guest services. She shares her experiences with implementing the Entrepreneurs Operating System (EOS) and updating HR practices to improve team management and company efficiency. She is justifiably proud of the reputable legacy she's building for Perdido Realty and reflects on how the company has evolved and how the team culture has shifted to include younger members, bringing new perspectives to the business. In this episode Valerie shares her 30-plus-year journey and why she’s just as motivated today as she was at the beginning.   ____________________________________________________________________________ Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: https://thrive.vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar  Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS554

VRS554 - From Tape Charts to Technology: A 30-Year Journey with Valerie Hawkins of Perdido Realty Vacations

  In this special episode of the podcast, we’re diving into a topic that’s not only close to our hearts, but poised to transform the vacation rental property management industry: the THRIVE Training System. Designed to elevate business performance by aligning team culture with the core values of Trust, Hospitality, Responsibility, and a Vibrant Environment, THRIVE promises to reshape how property management companies operate and engage with their key stakeholders: guests, owners, community, and their team.   Register to attend an information session to get your questions answered about THRIVE: https://thrive.vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS553

VRS548 - Beyond the Stay: Crafting Sustainable Vacation Experiences with Marc Ribail

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