by Paris Achen | Nov 1, 2023 | Advocate Engagement, Community Engagement, Leadership, Local Government, Politics & Elections, Press and Media, Short-Term Rental Regulation, STR Advocacy 101
Despite vacation rentals’ tenure and a pandemic-driven spike in popularity, misconceptions about VRs abound. Hearing them called Airbnbs can be particularly divisive. Nevertheless, Airbnb has become the deonym for all short-term rentals. “Airbnb … got lucky because...
by Paris Achen | Oct 3, 2023 | Advocate Engagement, Community Engagement, Leadership, Local Government, Organization, Politics & Elections, Short-Term Rental Regulation, STR Advocacy 101
An important part of running a vacation rental alliance is advocating for reasonable regulations and defending against oppressive restrictions. But as busy professionals, alliance leaders can’t be everywhere at once. Having a lobbyist to be your eyes and ears and to...
by Paris Achen | Aug 2, 2023 | Advocate Engagement, Community Engagement, News, Organization, STR Advocacy 101
A short-term rental alliance is a powerful way for vacation rental owners and operators to act and speak as a united front. But to tap into your full potential for advocacy, continuing education, and social responsibility, your alliance needs to generate revenue....
by Paris Achen | May 19, 2023 | Community Engagement, Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Nuisance Prevention, Professional Development, Responsible Renting, Rules and Regulations, Social Responsibility & Giving Back, Supporting Local Businesses
Sarah Bradford and Tim Cafferty recently marked a milestone with the recording of their 150th episode of Sarah and T: The Professional Vacation Rental Manager’s Podcast. Every other Monday for nearly six years, they have released a new 30-minute episode packed with...
by Paris Achen | May 2, 2023 | Community Engagement, Hosting and Management, Local Government, Marketing, Professional Development, Self-Growth, Social Responsibility & Giving Back, Team Culture, Wellness
Tyann Marcink, front-center, at the CASA Justice is Served fundraiser in 2022 Have you ever heard the quote, Help yourself by helping others? According to research, helping others, aka volunteering, can also help your vacation rental business. Volunteering can help...
by Paris Achen | Apr 12, 2023 | Community Engagement, Humans of Short-Term Rentals
The concept for the Alex & Annie Vacation Rental Podcast got its start in the middle of the Covid pandemic inside an exclusive Clubhouse group called STR Professionals. It was a time when vacation rental professionals and others were looking for ways to stay...
by Paris Achen | Apr 4, 2023 | Advocate Engagement, Community Engagement, Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Local Government, Property Care, Rules and Regulations, Short-Term Rental Regulation
Like many in the short-term rental advocacy sphere, proposed regulations at the local City Council brought hosts Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian together. Both had come to speak at the Columbus City Council meeting in spring 2018 to oppose a proposal that would have...
by Paris Achen | Jan 10, 2023 | Community Engagement, Local Government, Responsible Renting, STR Advocacy 101, Supporting Local Businesses
More than half of the housing units in the mountain town of Truckee, California, are considered vacant, according to the 2020 Census, the most recent statistics available. The properties are largely second homes that sit empty when their owners aren’t staying there or...
by Paris Achen | Nov 10, 2022 | Advocate Engagement, Community Engagement, Organization, STR Advocacy 101
Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Black Friday, is a global celebration of generosity when individuals and businesses find ways to support their communities with donations of time, talent, and money. As a short-term rental alliance, you can harness the spirit of the...
by Paris Achen | Jun 14, 2022 | Community Engagement, Leadership, Local Leaders Series, Organization, Partner Features, Politics & Elections, Powered by Vrbo
After an abrupt loss of income in 2009, Elaine and Mark Fekete faced a choice: either short-term rent their home year-round in Sandbridge Beach, a coastal neighborhood in Virginia Beach, or leave the community. Vacation rentals in Virginia Beach had not ever crossed...
