VRS573 - From Personal Touch to Operational Success: Innovative Hospitality with Nick Russell

When 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 Salah, from Barcelona, to discuss the essential elements of a successful marketing strategy for vacation rental businesses. Nihal is a marketing powerhouse with nearly 20 years of experience, bridging the worlds of big business and small startups. She started out as a data analyst at Nokia, where she got hooked on the power of data to shape effective marketing. But it wasn’t long before she found her true passion: helping entrepreneurs cut through the noise and build marketing strategies that drive real results. Today, as a fractional marketing officer, Nihal partners with businesses across industries, including the fast-paced world of short-term rentals. Her knack for blending consumer insights with practical, data-driven strategies has made her the go-to expert for creating marketing plans that work without all the fluff.    Revolutionize Your Employee Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials: Faster Training, Stronger Teams, Better Results! Discover how THRIVE Essentials accelerates onboarding for new property management staff, boosting performance and reducing turnover. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS585

In 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 memorable guest experiences and building a strong, value-driven team. Valerie Gangas is the founder of Juniper Holiday + Home, a distinctive vacation rental and property management company known for its personalized, luxurious experiences. With a background spanning hospitality, real estate, and spiritual coaching, Valerie has seamlessly integrated these diverse skills to build a business focused on creating "magic" for her guests. Her journey from working in the family restaurant business to becoming a sought-after spiritual entrepreneur has given her a unique perspective on hospitality, shaping a brand centered on exceptional guest service and a strong company culture. Revolutionize Your Employee Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials: Faster Training, Stronger Teams, Better Results! Discover how THRIVE Essentials accelerates onboarding for new property management staff, boosting performance and reducing turnover. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS584

In 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 poor hiring practices. Steve Trover is a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of Better Talent, a recruitment agency tailored to the vacation rental industry. With over 34 years of experience and having founded 16 companies, including All-Star Vacation Homes, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge in managing and scaling businesses. His expertise lies in building world-class teams and solving the complex challenge of getting the right people into the right seats, which can make or break a company's success. Revolutionize Your Employee Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials: Faster Training, Stronger Teams, Better Results! Discover how THRIVE Essentials accelerates onboarding for new property management staff, boosting performance and reducing turnover. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS583  

In 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 experience in the industry. Having started her journey as a live-in host and evolving into property management, Christine is now the founder of CS Consulting 101, where she helps businesses improve internal communication and team dynamics. Her expertise lies in fostering self-awareness and strengthening relationships within teams to enhance guest experiences. In this episode, Christine shares her insights on how understanding and refining the way we “show up” in the workplace can lead to better business outcomes. What You'll Discover: The Power of Showing Up: Christine explains the concept of "showing up" and why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are key to strong leadership and successful business operations. Internal Communication Matters: Heather and Christine talk about  how the way leaders communicate with their teams can trickle down to influence guest experiences, staff morale, and overall business success. Strategies for Better Team Dynamics: Christine shares actionable strategies to improve team communication, such as creating a safe space for open dialogue and addressing difficult conversations without fear. Guest Experience Starts from Within: Learn how the internal culture of your team directly impacts how guests perceive your service and how to ensure your management style supports positive guest interactions. Self-Development in Leadership: Christine talks about the importance of self-development and how leaders can grow by embracing challenges and learning from their emotional triggers. Improving Relationships with the Community: Heather and Christine discuss the vital role that strong relationships with local communities play in the success of vacation rental businesses and how leaders can show up for the community just as they do for their teams. You Will Learn: How self-awareness can transform leadership styles and team communication. Techniques to foster a safe space for honest conversations within your team. Why emotional intelligence is crucial for both guest relations and staff management. How internal team dynamics can impact the guest experience and business growth. Actionable steps to improve leadership presence and positively influence team morale. Methods to engage with and support your local community as part of your business strategy. Connect with Christine Smith: LinkedIn: Christine Smith on LinkedIn  Website: CS Consulting 101  Additional Resources: Book Recommendation: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown – A recommended read by Christine for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and communication within a team. Revolutionize Your Employee Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials: Faster Training, Stronger Teams, Better Results! Discover how THRIVE Essentials accelerates onboarding for new property management staff, boosting performance and reducing turnover. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS582

In 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. Tammi brings over a decade of experience in the short-term rental industry, having started her journey as a short-term rental home owner, and later transitioning to a role in a tech start-up. Now at Extenteam, she focuses on helping property managers connect with virtual assistants to streamline operations. Tammi has a deep understanding of hospitality, guest communications, and team dynamics, making her a key figure in supporting companies looking to scale with remote staffing solutions. ________________________________________________   Revolutionize Your Employee Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials: Faster Training, Stronger Teams, Better Results! Discover how THRIVE Essentials accelerates onboarding for new property management staff, boosting performance and reducing turnover. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS581

Hiring 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 down with business partner, Mike Bayer from the Vacation Rental Formula Business School to discuss how to transform new hires into top performers in a property management company by delivering foundational training in the early days of employment. ________________________________________________   Supercharge Your Property Management New Staff Onboarding with THRIVE Essentials – The Key to Efficient, Effective Training! Equip your team with the right skills fast. THRIVE Essentials streamlines employee onboarding, driving higher performance in record time. >> THRIVE Essentials Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS580

In 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. Simon Lehmann is a leading expert in the vacation rental industry and the founder of AJL Atelier, a global consulting firm that focuses on professionalizing the short-term rental and property management space. With over 20 years of experience, Simon has been instrumental in helping property managers navigate the complexities of the industry. His insights, drawn from working with both small businesses and large corporations, offer a roadmap to success in an increasingly competitive and fragmented market. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Secure your spot on the Vacation Rental Management Growth Accelerator Coaching Program. Join Heather and special guests in solving your business challenges: >> https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/vrm-growth-accelerator-program Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: >> https://vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar   Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS579

The 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 break free of the OTA stranglehold for those operators who see the folly in putting all their eggs in the Airbnb basket.  In this episode, Heather is joined by Jenn Boyles, one of Book Direct’s strongest advocates, to talk about dispelling myths around direct bookings, the benefits of shifting away from reliance on OTAs (Online Travel Agencies), and how to make more money with more control through targeted strategies. Jenn Boyles is a seasoned vacation rental industry expert and the driving force behind the Direct Booking Success Summit, an online event focused on helping property managers and hosts maximize their direct booking potential. With years of experience managing her own rental properties and a deep understanding of the challenges that come with relying on platforms like Airbnb, Jenn has dedicated her career to educating others on how to gain more control, increase profitability, and build sustainable guest relationships through direct bookings. Her summit brings together industry experts to share proven strategies and insights that empower hosts to reduce OTA dependency. _______________________________________________________________________ Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: >> https://vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar   Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS578

In 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 vacation rental industry as a means to support her rural lifestyle. With two of her own rental properties and a growing portfolio of managed homes in Vermont, Julie's expertise in regulatory issues and advocacy has positioned her as a key voice in the industry. She has served on the Government Affairs Committee for VRMA and is passionate about creating a network of owners and managers committed to responsible renting and improving standards in the vacation rental space. ____________________________________________________________________________ Secure your spot on the Vacation Rental Management Growth Accelerator Coaching Program. Join Heather and special guests in solving your business challenges: >> https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/vrm-growth-accelerator-program Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: >> https://vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar   Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS577

This 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, the industry’s leading expert in safety, Justin Ford, explores the ways property managers and hosts can get ahead of potential safety issues by taking simple steps to protect themselves, their homes in their care, and their guests.  Justin shares statistics that show how important safety is to the people who are seeking accommodation, and how focusing on this can actually boost business and impact the bottom line. With a background as a firefighter and Coast Guard officer, Justin's journey into vacation rental safety began after a life-altering incident involving a guest injury. Since then, he has dedicated his career to creating safer environments in the industry through education, inspections, and certification programs. As Breezeway's Director of Safety and Certification Programs, Justin has become a trusted authority, helping property managers around the world implement safety protocols that save lives. ____________________________________________________________________________ Secure your spot on the Vacation Rental Management Growth Accelerator Coaching Program. Join Heather and special guests in solving your business challenges: >> https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/vrm-growth-accelerator-program Discover the THRIVE Training System and attend an information session to get your questions answered about our foundational team training: >> https://vacationrentalformula.com/thrive-live-webinar Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS576