This year’s VRMA National Conference was the biggest yet. Over 1400 property managers convened in Orlando for 3 days of networking, education and technology inspiration, and we had a lot of fun.

I was privileged to spend time with so many industry influencers, movers and shakers, and meet up with a lot of old friends, and make many new ones.

This conference seemed different from previous ones and I wasn’t sure why until I shared my takeaways with my friend David Angotti that I realised we’ve reached a kind of tipping point. As Steve Milo put it, if you embrace new technology and appreciate we’ve turned a corner in this industry and need to adapt to the changes, you may as well sell up and get out.

In answer to the question, ‘Is there a future for property managers’ the answer was ‘Yes, but not all of them”.

I sat down with David Angotti of Smoky Mountains.com for an in-depth discussion on what inspired us (and what didn’t) over the course of the conference. We talked about the general sessions; some of the breakouts we attended and explored the best and newest in technology and products in the Supplier Showcase.

You’ll hear:

• David’s take on the Keynote by Airbnb co-founder Nate Blecharczyk and what he felt was the significance of it.
• Why Home Away’s effort to control pricing in the market is a predicatble move and what the implications are.
• The reason you lose the right to complain when you choose not to develop your own brand.
• How 70% of bookings coming from online booking channels today and what you need to do to reduce that for your own brand.
• Why focus on content, photos and long-tailed keywords could keep you in business.
• How repeat business and remarketing are the key to survival.
• Who Steve Milo’s ‘lipstick on a pig’ comment referred to.
• How to create a ‘protective moat’ around your business.
• Why we should feel optimistic about Vacasa’s latest round of funding.

And much more……..

Links mentioned in this episode:

Smoky Mountains.com

VRMA National 2017: What We Learned

Market Maker

Rubarue

Properly

Hello Here

Hostfully

Your Welcome

Wes Melton’s Guide to navigating technology

Vacasa’s latest round of funding