June 2023 Newsletter

In this month’s newsletter:

• Hot Off the Press: Deborah Labi leading vacation rentals down The Green Path
• Replay: Unlock Your Impact: Fundraising, Lobbying, and Political Engagement
• Spring conferences roundup from Alexa Nota, COO & Co-Founder at RR 👇

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Can you hardly believe it: we’re halfway through the year! I’ve spent this spring traveling to more conferences than any year prior, with little time in between to fully download each of them. But as I wrapped up Skift’s Short-Term Rental Summit in NYC last week, I could finally take an exhale (wildfire smoke notwithstanding) and pause to reflect. Here’s what I brought home:

VRMA Spring Forum in Kansas City, MO: In the fierce competition for great employees, defining your company culture and investing in people will win the day. Also of note: Oxford Economics’ sneak peek of VRMA’s upcoming housing study showing STRs’ near-zero effect on housing. Follow the VRMA to catch this when it comes out.

STR Wealth Conference in Nashville, TN: Short-term rentals may now be the stuff of massive investments and fun, splashy conferences, but our happenstance and entrepreneurial origin stories remain: a single mom needs to generate supplemental income, a couple falls into restoring an old property and discovers a small family business along the way, a retiree tries hosting on a whim to meet new people. We should tap into those roots as we grow.

VR Design Summit in High Point, NC: Vacation rental designers are on the front lines, not just of five-star experiences for guests but of propelling our industry forward in sustainability, inclusivity, safety, and accessibility. Investing in designers is a small (and stylish) hinge that will open big doors.

CityVision with NC Municipal League in Concord, NC: We still have a long way to go in rewriting the narrative about short-term rentals with our policymakers. Sitting down together in person is a great place to start.

Expedia Group’s Explore23 in Seattle, WA: My teammate Garrett puts it well: Explore23 reminds us that although the travel industry comprises various services and stakeholders across transportation, accommodations, and experiences, we all contribute to a singular travel experience from the traveler’s perspective. Therefore, we must collaborate and innovate with one another to benefit the customer, our individual businesses, and the industry as a whole. 

Skift’s Short-Term Rental Summit in NYC: While we may no longer be riding the highs of pandemic revenge travel, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about 2023 and beyond. Meanwhile, the industry is hungry for standards, accreditation of responsible properties and hosts, and more effort invested into fair, sensible regulation.

Keystone Retreat Cohort 10 in Waco, TX: Nothing is more powerful than connecting with people over meaningful conversations. A special thanks to Matt Landau and Steve Schwab for bringing these peer groups together. I took home many special lessons, but perhaps the most immediately practical one was the reminder that we work in the vacation rental industry, for goodness’ sake – we need to take more vacations ourselves!

We’re already looking forward to the fall conference season. In the meantime, I hope you’ll get to put your feet up by a pool somewhere. 🍹

Sincerely, 

Alexa Nota, COO & Co-Founder

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Operto Spotlight: Streamline your property operations this summer with Operto Guest Technologies

Operto’s smart access control system, automation capabilities, and seamless integration simplify processes, ensuring secure check-ins, personalized guest experiences, and efficient management. Stay ahead of the game with real-time notifications, centralized operations, and data-driven insights. Elevate guest satisfaction, optimize resources, and maximize revenue. 

Book a consultation with Operto and discover if it’s right for you!

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Hot of the Press

• Deborah Labi leading vacation rentals down The Green Path
• Unlock Your Impact: Fundraising, Lobbying, and Political Engagement
• Sarah and T podcast’s legacy of learning for vacation rental managers