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, a ...
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WeNeedaVacation.com provides an innovative means of matching Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket vacationers and homeowners efficiently and inexpensively. Our goal - to support the vacation rental homeowner to create awesome beach vacations. Starting with just 100 listings on Cape Cod in 1997, WeNeedaVacation.com now lists more than 3,500 property listings.
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VRS598 - Lessons Learned from a Disaster Scenario with Nick Massey - Proper Insurance
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55:46In this third week of SSTIR Crazy 2025, StayWise Rentals grapples with an insurance nightmare when a malicious pool party threatens to ruin their business. This episode of the podcast and SSTIR Crazy Month is sponsored by Guesty your all-in-one platform for hospitality businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of your operations. ***Use code…
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VRS597 - When Vacation Rental Safety Systems Fail: Lessons from the Field with Justin Ford
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41:17In this second week of SSTIR Crazy 2025, StayWise Rentals grapples with a critical turning point: a safety crisis threatening their direct bookings. Easter Egg #7 [Justin] - >> SSTIR Crazy Registrants can enter this phrase in the gamification section on the app to earn big points towards the 2 VIP Tickets to VR Nation Conference, Austin, TX, April …
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VRS596 - From Questionable to Trustworthy: A Trust Transformation - with Chris Maughan
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49:54In this first week of SSTIR Crazy 2025, StayWise Rentals grapples with a critical turning point: a trust crisis threatening their direct bookings. Easter Egg #3 [Guest-Centric] - >> SSTIR Crazy Registrants can enter this phrase in the gamification section on the app to earn big points towards the 2 VIP Tickets to VR Nation Conference, Austin, TX, A…
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VRS595 - Navigating Change: Why, When and How to Switch Your PMS with David Angotti
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47:15There comes a point in every property manager’s journey where they have to consider whether their chosen property management system is still the right fit. For those who made a strong and well-researched choice early on, this may not be an issue, but for many, that tipping point arrives and needs to be addressed. This episode of the podcast and SST…
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VRS594 - SSTIR Crazy 2025: Tackle the Tough Topics, Win the Grand Prize
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41:56Around this time last year, we had an idea that grew out of a LinkedIn post by Justin Ford. He had expressed his disappointment at the limited attention given to some topics at the 2023 VRMA conference and questioned how we could get more interest in the foundational elements of our business. SSTIR Crazy Month is the perfect FREE online event for a…
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VRS593 - AI at Work: Real-World Applications in the Vacation Rental Industry With Steve Trover
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51:01If you’ve ever wondered how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in the vacation rental industry, you’re in for a treat. Steve Trover has been a driving force in our industry for over 28 years, and through his company, Better Talent, he’s helped over 300 property managers refine their recruitment strategies and operations. But here’s w…
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VRS592 - From Trends to Tactics with David Angotti
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53:50Happy New Year! This special episode - our annual reflection on the last 12 months and a look at where we are going in 2025 - features none other than David Angotti. David’s been in the short-term rental world for years and has done it all - co-founding tech startups, building a successful property management company in the Smoky Mountains, and now…
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VRS591 - Carving Your Niche: Strategic Marketing with Nihal Salah
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49:232024 showed us that direct booking isn’t dead. On the contrary, the appetite for building a strategy for independence from the OTAs is as strong as ever, if a little more challenging. For it to be successful, there’s work involved, but for those with enthusiasm and commitment, it will be fulfilling in the long run. Joining us in this episode is Nih…
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VRS590 - Co-Hosting vs. Traditional Management: What Property Managers Need to Know with Thibault Masson
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48:27Is Airbnb’s new co-hosting network a game-changer for property management, or a challenge for traditional operators? In this episode Heather is joined by the founder of Rental Scale-up and Global Head of Product Marketing at PriceLabs, Thibault Masson, to discuss the opportunities, threats and potential of Airbnb’s latest endeavours. Thibault Masso…
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VRS589 - Creating Spectrum-Friendly Vacation Rentals with Suzanne Hacker
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50:051 in 36 children in the U.S. have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which represents a significant increase from previous years with the prevalence of autism in the U.S. increasing by 312% since 2001. While these are staggering statistics, they also represent an opportunity for vacation rental owners and managers to create the in…
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VRS588 - From Content to Conversion: SEO Essentials for Vacation Rentals
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55:23Is SEO dead in the short-term rental space? According to experts, it remains a vital and evolving component of digital marketing strategies for vacation rental businesses in 2024 and beyond. In this episode, host Heather Bayer sits down with Jill McGee from InterCoastal Net Designs (ICND) to discuss SEO strategies for vacation rental websites. Toge…
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VRS587 - Thanksgiving at Work: Your Guide to The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
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51:14In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with her business partner and son, Mike Bayer, to explore The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. Together, they discuss how these principles can be applied in vacation rental management to motivate, retain, and inspire team members. Mike Bayer is the …
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VRS586 - Unpacking AI Tools for Short-Term Rental Success with The CEO Host
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55:38Following an AHA moment at the VTSTRA Conference in Vermont in early November, where AI was mentioned in just about every presentation, this episode introduces Kate Stoermer from The CEO Host to discuss the practical uses of AI in vacation rental management, from simplifying workflows to optimizing guest experience. Kate Stoermer, founder of The CE…
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VRS585 - From Goals to Execution - Mastering Your Marketing Strategy with Nihal Salah
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57:18When we talk about marketing it’s often about tactical aspects like posting on Instagram, making reels or how to manage influencers. But without a sound marketing strategy behind the tactics, the chance of them succeeding is low. In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with marketing strategist Nihal Sal…
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VRS584 - Hospitality Meets Spirituality: Building a Unique Guest Experience with Valerie Gangas
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54:48In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Valerie Gangas from Juniper Holiday + Home to discuss how diverse life experiences can shape success in the vacation rental business. Valerie shares how her background in hospitality, real estate, and spirituality drives her unique approach to creating memorab…
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VRS583 - The Power of People: How to Hire and Retain the Best Talent with Steve Trover
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55:39In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Steve Trover from Better Talent to discuss the intricacies of hiring, team building, and finding the right people for the right roles. Steve shares his experience in helping vacation rental businesses build strong, impactful teams and avoid the pitfalls of poo…
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VRS582 - From Team Dynamics to Guest Experience: The Power of Showing Up
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45:26In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Christine Smith from CS Consulting 101, to discuss how showing up in the workplace impacts communication, relationships, and ultimately, the success of a vacation rental business. Christine Smith is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years of exp…
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VRS581 -The Ultimate Guide to Hiring and Onboarding a Virtual Assistant Within Your Vacation Rental Business
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53:09In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Tammi Sims, Vice President of Partnership Experience at Extenteam, to discuss the benefits of hiring virtual assistants for short-term rental businesses, and how property managers can integrate remote team members to enhance efficiency and guest experience. Ta…
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VRS580 - From Day One to Rockstar: Transforming New Hires into High Performers with a 7-Step Process
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45:31Hiring and onboarding new team members is a significant activity within a property management company, yet it gets limited attention in posts and articles. But as Better Talent’s Steve Trover said recently, “A well structured onboarding plan increases the chance of long-term success and retention by over 80%”. In this episode Heather Bayer sits dow…
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VRS579 - The Future of Property Management: Navigating Airbnb’s Co-Hosting Revolution with Simon Lehmann
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53:54In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Simon Lehmann, founder and CEO of the consulting firm AJL Atelier, to discuss the impact of Airbnb’s Experienced Co-Hosting Program on the property management industry and the challenges professional property managers face in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. Simo…
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VRS578 - Unlocking the Power of Direct Bookings with Jenn Boyles
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54:32The best way to introduce new team members to Vacation Rental! Sign them up for our new THRIVE Essentials Program... Find out more: >> https://vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-essentials-PMC _______________________________________________________________________ Over the past 3 years, the Direct Book movement has matured to a dedicated effort to br…
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VRS577 - Strength in Numbers: The Power of Local Alliances in the Vacation Rental Industry with Julie Marks of VTSTRA
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53:51In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Julie Marks from the Vermont Short-Term Rental Association (VTSTRA) to discuss the importance of local alliances, networking, and navigating regulations in the short-term rental industry. Julie Marks is a dedicated homesteader who began her journey into the va…
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VRS576 - Safe Rentals, Secure Profits: Why Safety is the New Selling Point with Justin Ford
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57:35This week brought a 2022 tragedy into focus as two vacation rental property owners plead guilty to multiple misdemeanors and code violations in a fire that killed 2 young women. Sadly, this is just one incident among many that could have been so easily avoided, yet safety in our business remains a topic that gets minimal attention. In this episode,…
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VRS575 - Unlocking Expertise: How Fractional Executives are Transforming Vacation Rentals with Alex O Husner and Michelle Marquis
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58:01We all know about virtual assistants and how valuable they can be to a company looking for flexible, short-term or part-time help with guest services, administrative tasks and social media management. But what if you need more executive level assistance but aren’t ready to take on someone full-time? This is where fractional leaders come into their …
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VRS574 - Storytelling Strategies to Elevate Your Vacation Rental Business
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53:04Jeff Bartsch has edited over 100 episodes of the hit show, American Ninja Warrior, over the last 11 years. He says that when you can take five hours of video footage and create a 90-second piece that shows who the contestant is, what they do, and why they are so different, it makes a powerful piece of content. And now he’s joining Heather to talk a…
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