The Faces of Kigo: Meet Richard Baker

At its core, Kigo is about so much more than software—it's about people. We created the Faces of Kigo series to share the unique stories that collectively make up our brand.

Meet Richard Baker, an Account Manager based in Dallas, Texas. Anyone who knows Richard will tell you that he has a heart of gold. His love for people is evident in all he does, and Richard truly embodies our company mission: to serve customers above all other priorities. Read on to learn Richard's advice for vacation rental management professionals.

Tell us about yourself!

Hello, my name is Richard Baker. I was born and raised in the city of Detroit, and have lived in Dallas Texas for over 22 years.  I am married with two children, and my family is my life. I enjoy reading, traveling, and just spending time with my family.  A majority of my spare time is spent running my Outreach Ministry at church.  This is where I get the chance to reach out to others in our community that are less fortunate in whatever situation or circumstance they may be facing and provide encouragement through my time, talent, or treasure.

I have also been running my own AAU basketball organization for the past twelve years.  In this organization, I not only teach children from ages 8 -17 years the game of basketball, but I also mentor them in life skills that will prepare them for their future.  My passion truly is to help others reach their highest potential, while keeping them humble along the way.

What do you do at Kigo? Why do you love your job?

I currently hold an Account Manager position with Kigo. Here, I get a chance to help clients understand the real value in Kigo and how it will help them with their current and future business.

The reason why I do this job is because I truly enjoy people. I get a chance to meet and work with people from all walks of life.  The people are what I love most about my role, and I could not ask for a more suitable position.

What do you look for when you travel?

When I travel, it is very important to me where I stay.  I look for places that have breath-taking views, where I know the pictures I take could fit very well on postcards.  The location has to have several amenities, comfortable and safe surroundings. Location is also very key for me.  If the area looks to be unsafe, or few options are available as far as sightseeing, then I look in the other direction.

What advice do you have for vacation rental owners?

Property owners can make their properties more appealing by adding as much exciting detailed information as possible about the property in vacation rental listings. It’s also important to keep up-to-date with things that are going on in the world of vacationing. Last, make sure your properties are every bit of what you claim they are. This should include areas like location, area, amenities, square footage, and most of all cleanliness.

As we continue to explore the Faces of Kigo, you will meet more members of our global team working every day to create the best products in travel. Stay tuned!