VRMA National 2017 Conference Highlights

Last week, the industry's finest gathered at the Omni Hotel in Orlando for one of the nation's leading vacation rental management conferences. Over fifty educational sessions covered everything from new industry regulations to practices for driving occupancy and creating great experiences for guests. Add in networking opportunities, parties and a stunning backdrop, and you have an unforgettable combination that will keep attendees coming back to VRMA National year after year.

Almost 1,400 of the #vacationrental industry's finest! #VRMANational pic.twitter.com/nlN2xPWtWm

— Mike Harrington (@MHarringtonNC) October 16, 2017

New updates from Kigo

This year’s VRMA National conference was a particularly exciting year for the Kigo team. On Tuesday afternoon, we hosted a reception for attendees where we shared game-changing product updates that are on the way. Attendees learned about how Kigo has evolved to become the one-stop digital destination, providing everything vacation rental professionals need to build their business.

Cheers to Kigo! We're having a blast with our customers and new friends at #VRMANational. pic.twitter.com/JUao9VkRIR

— Kigo (@kigoapp) October 16, 2017

Vacation rental industry education

Opening general session with Airbnb

In the opening general session, attendees had the opportunity to hear from Nate Blecharczyk, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Airbnb. Blecharcyzk told the story of how Airbnb started when his college roommates rented out an air mattress to conference attendees in their city, and how the company has emerged into a global superpower. He also shared what’s ahead for the industry, and how Airbnb is bringing together where you stay, what you do, and the people you meet — all in one place.

Is there a future for property managers?

Tuesday morning kicked off with a panel of industry leaders:

Simon Lehmann, Senior Advisor, Phocuswright
Ben Edwards, Manager, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties/Weatherby Consulting
Steve Milo, Owner, Vacation Rental Pros
Jodi Taylor Refosco, Owner, Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales

Rental stays are looking more and more like hotel stays. Guests expect a full service experience. @Phocuswright #VRMANational pic.twitter.com/qVvY1dNDDm

— Kigo (@kigoapp) October 17, 2017

The session covered ways property management professional can evolve and survive in a disruptive landscape. Topics from branding to online reviews and maximizing revenue were all covered in an animated conversation.

The vacation rental industry is rapidly growing. It is outpacing the growth of the travel sector. #VRMANational pic.twitter.com/o0gNJWPg5Z

— David Angotti (@DavidAngotti) October 17, 2017

Other notable session topics included preparing for disasters, marketing properties, and handling chargebacks.

There’s nothing like a face-to-face opportunity to truly engage and learn. VRMA National attendees left Orlando with inspiration, tools and new connections that will help propel their businesses to the next level. We're looking forward to another great conference next year at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas!