Vacation Rental Success

Heather Bayer aka @CottageGuru
  • 4.9 (25)
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Vacation Rental Success

Heather Bayer, author of Renting Your Recreational Property for Profit, former CEO of a highly successful cottage rental agency, and a popular blogger, hosts the Vacation Rental Success podcast. With many years experience of owning and managing multiple vacation rental properties, Heather brings her knowledge and views on every aspect of the business, together with interviews with vacation homeowners and industry experts. Heather has appeared as a guest on CTV Canada, CBC Radio, Rogers TV, and Chex TV and is frequently interviewed on real estate and travel topics by magazines and daily newspapers.

  1. 17 HRS AGO

    VRS608 - Are You Born to Lead? Lessons in STR Leadership with Ali Cammelletti

    Most short-term rental operators didn’t plan on becoming leaders. They started as solopreneurs - cleaning toilets one day, managing a team the next. If you’ve ever found yourself in a leadership role and thought, “How did I get here?”, this episode is for you. In this powerful and relatable conversation, Heather is joined by leadership coach Ali Cammelletti, who has spent over 20 years helping hospitality professionals grow into confident, emotionally intelligent leaders - often without any formal training. Together, they explore the very real challenges of leadership in the short-term rental world and how to navigate them with grace, strategy, and self-awareness. 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/VRS608

    46 min

  2. APR 16

    VRS607 - Leading with Intention: Matt Landau on Breakthroughs, Burnout, and the Power of Pause

    In this special episode, we kick off our brand-new Leadership Series with someone who’s been part of this journey from the very beginning - Matt Landau. Matt’s been on the show more than 20 times over the years, but this conversation feels different. It’s deeper, more reflective, and marks a shift in how we talk about leadership in the vacation rental industry. From managing boutique vacation rentals in Panama City’s historic Casco Viejo to founding The Vacation Rental Marketing Blog and The Inner Circle, Matt has always led by example. But over the last few years, he’s taken a big step back - literally and figuratively - to re-evaluate what leadership really means. His latest project, Here Goes Nothin’, is all about helping short-term rental professionals find clarity, reconnect with purpose, and lead from a place of authenticity. 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/VRS607

    52 min

  3. APR 9

    VRS606 - AI Meets Hospitality: Shahar Goldboim on Building the World’s First AI-Powered PMS

    What happens when a vacation rental entrepreneur, his tech-savvy brothers, and a close-knit team of hospitality veterans come together with a mission to solve the biggest operational headaches in property management? You get Boom - the world’s first AI-powered property management system (AIPMS). In this episode, Heather sits down with Shahar Goldboim, the dynamic founder of Boom, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the vacation rental industry - without sacrificing the personal, human-centered heart of hospitality. From automating time-consuming tasks to interpreting emotional cues in guest communication, Boom is more than a tool - it's a vision for the future of property management. Shahar shares how Boom was born out of real-world frustration, why AI isn’t replacing hospitality, but making room for more of it, and how his family-run team is scaling technology with soul. 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/VRS606

    51 min

  4. APR 2

    VRS605 - Using AI to Work Smarter, Not Harder with Mark Simpson

    In this episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, host Heather Bayer sits down with Mark Simpson, the founder of Boostly, to discuss the practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for vacation rental hosts. Mark shares how AI can help streamline operations, enhance guest experiences, and optimize marketing efforts—without losing the personal touch that makes direct bookings successful. Mark Simpson is the founder of Boostly, a platform dedicated to helping short-term rental hosts and property managers increase their direct bookings. With years of experience in digital marketing and hospitality, Mark has become a leading advocate for independent hosts looking to take back control from OTAs.  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/VRS605

    53 min

  5. MAR 26

    VRS604 - Cutting Through the AI Noise: How to Choose the Right Tools for Your STR Business

    This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Guesty, your all-in-one platform for hospitality businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of your operations. ***Use code SSTIRCRAZY for 50% off your first annual plan***  >> Discover more about Guesty in the Virtual Vendor Showcase We’re back with Part 2 of my chat with AI educator and vacation rental marketer, Nihal Salah - and trust me, if you thought the first conversation was packed, this one goes even deeper. In this episode, we tackle the challenge so many of us are facing right now: how do you choose the right AI tools without getting overwhelmed by the endless options? With over 32,000+ tools out there (yes, really), it’s easy to fall into analysis paralysis or end up subscribing to a dozen platforms you barely use. Nihal and I share our favorite go-to tools, what we’re using in our own businesses, and how to evaluate which platforms are truly worth your time and money. We also explore the difference between individual LLMs (like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini) versus aggregator platforms (like Abacus and Poe), and how each one fits into a short-term rental operator’s toolkit. We even take a side trip into dog diet planning using Claude (yes, AI really can do that), and why being intentional is the most important skill you can develop when integrating AI into your business.   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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/VRS604

    56 min

  6. MAR 19

    VRS603 - AI-Powered Marketing for Vacation Rentals: What You Need to Know

    This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Guesty, your all-in-one platform for hospitality businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of your operations. ***Use code SSTIRCRAZY for 50% off your first annual plan***  >> Discover more about Guesty in the Virtual Vendor Showcase AI-Powered Marketing for Vacation Rentals: What You Need to Know Wondering how AI can make your vacation rental marketing more efficient and impactful? From crafting compelling property descriptions to optimizing SEO and automating guest communication, AI is changing the game. But how do you use it effectively - without getting overwhelmed? In this episode, marketing expert Nihal Salah joins Heather Bayer to break down practical AI use cases for short-term rental marketing. You’ll discover how AI can help streamline content creation, enhance guest experiences, and drive more direct bookings - all while saving you time. Why AI Matters for Your Vacation Rental Marketing AI isn't just a trend - it’s a powerful tool that can help hosts and property managers work smarter, not harder. Nihal shares how AI can: Improve your property listings with optimized descriptions and compelling titles Boost your SEO strategy to increase visibility and direct bookings Analyze guest reviews to uncover hidden trends and key selling points Repurpose content efficiently across multiple platforms Enhance guest communication through AI-powered assistants and chatbots If you’ve been curious about AI but unsure where to start, this episode will give you clear, actionable steps to integrate AI into your marketing strategy. 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/VRS603

    54 min

  7. MAR 12

    VRS602 - Unlocking Efficiency: Exploring AI Solutions in Vacation Rentals with Brooke Pfautz

    This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Guesty, your all-in-one platform for hospitality businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of your operations. ***Use code SSTIRCRAZY for 50% off your first annual plan***  >> Discover more about Guesty in the Virtual Vendor Showcase Brooke Pfautz is the innovative mind behind Vintory and Comparent and has been a trailblazer in the vacation rental industry for over 17 years. He’s also fully immersed in AI to not only streamline operations but also supercharge growth and efficiency, particularly in owner acquisition. In this episode Brooke shares the platforms he uses the most and offers advice and recommendations on their use. 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/VRS602

    46 min

  8. MAR 5

    VRS601 - Is Your ChatGPT Showing? - with Amber Hurdle

    This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Guesty, your all-in-one platform for hospitality businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of your operations. ***Use code SSTIRCRAZY for 50% off your first annual plan***  >> Discover more about Guesty in the Virtual Vendor Showcase In a recent post on Linkedin, Amber Hurdle said: “Your ChatGPT Is Showing….and it’s stripping the authenticity out of your brand. ”Whether it’s an over-use of hyphens, emojis or particular sentence structures, most of us have used enough of them to be ‘seen’ as ChatGPT users, and the grammar police aren’t taking prisoners.   It’s time to take back our humanness and our attention to sharing personal brand in a way that makes us unique.If you have ever been in a room where Amber Hurdle is speaking, you’ll appreciate her passion for branding and marketing, and will have come away with a renewed enthusiasm for making your mark.   In this episode, Amber brings the zest she shares in her opening keynotes to the topic of strategic use of AI in the ways we communicate and build our brands.‍ 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/VRS601

    1 hr
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    4.9
    out of 5
    25 Ratings

    About

    Heather Bayer, author of Renting Your Recreational Property for Profit, former CEO of a highly successful cottage rental agency, and a popular blogger, hosts the Vacation Rental Success podcast. With many years experience of owning and managing multiple vacation rental properties, Heather brings her knowledge and views on every aspect of the business, together with interviews with vacation homeowners and industry experts. Heather has appeared as a guest on CTV Canada, CBC Radio, Rogers TV, and Chex TV and is frequently interviewed on real estate and travel topics by magazines and daily newspapers.

    Information

    • Creator
      Heather Bayer aka @CottageGuru
    • Years Active
      2013 - 2025
    • Episodes
      609
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © MOSO Partnership Inc.
    • Show Website
      Vacation Rental Success

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