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Artwork for Vacation Rental Success

Vacation Rental Success

Heather Bayer aka @CottageGuru
Vacation Rentals
Short-Term Rentals
Artificial Intelligence
Property Management
Vacation Rental Industry
Hospitality
Airbnb
AI Tools
Guest Experience
Direct Bookings
Trust
Accessibility
SEO
Storytelling
Coaching
Branding
Lodgify
Sustainability
Content Creation
Customer Service

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 homeown... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes686Founded14 years ago
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InvestingBusiness

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Artwork for Vacation Rental Success

Latest Episodes

This Episode is Sponsored by The Simon Lehmann Academy

Simon Lehmann STR Academy is a self-paced course for property managers growing from around 20 to 200 homes and beyond. Built around the journey "From Operator to CEO," it includes nine modules ... more

YouTube

This Episode is Sponsored by The Simon Lehmann Academy

Simon Lehmann STR Academy is a self-paced course for property managers growing from around 20 to 200 homes and beyond. Built around the journey "From Operator to CEO," it includes nine modules ... more

YouTube

This Episode is Sponsored by StayFi

Your ultimate tool for Vacation Rental WiFi marketing allowing you to collect guest emails automatically via custom captive WiFi login splash pages. Drive repeat direct bookings and convert your OTA bookings to b... more

YouTube

This Episode is Sponsored by StayFi

Your ultimate tool for Vacation Rental WiFi marketing allowing you to collect guest emails automatically via custom captive WiFi login splash pages. Drive repeat direct bookings and convert your OTA bookings to b... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ashley Ching
Founder and CEO of Inhaven
Inhaven
Episode: VRS684 - The Best Surprise Is No Surprise: Why Vacation Rentals Need Standards
Cristiana Carpini
Founder and CEO of Tara Home Consulting; founder of the Women's Vacation Rental European Conference
Tara Home Consulting
Episode: VRS683 - Why AI Cannot Fix a Broken Business Model
Andrew Kitchell
Founder and CEO of Wheelhouse
Wheelhouse
Episode: VRS681 - When 120 Property Managers Became Software Builders
Eloisa Jones
Founder of Gathering Memories Travel; travel designer specializing in autism-friendly and sensory-friendly travel
Gathering Memories Travel
Episode: VRS680 - What Autism Families Actually Look For In Your Listing
Rachel Alday
Co-founder of Abode Luxury Rentals; author of Please Do Disturb
Abode Luxury Rentals
Episode: VRS679 - How True Leaders Show Up When It Matters Most
Simon Lehmann
Industry expert, founder of AJL Atelier (rebranding to Simon Lehmann Academy), former leader at Interhome and Vacasa Europe
AJL Atelier / Simon Lehmann Academy
Episode: VRS678 - The Five Levels, and the Wall Most Companies Hit
Jodie Odlin
Author of Hospitable Hosts; founder involved in publishing and a hospitality training/acceleration program
Hospitable Hosts (publisher/author network)
Episode: VRS677 - Who Decides What Good Looks Like?
Orlie Benjamin
Founder of Lasoh (lasso.io), former attorney and corporate marketer
Lasoh
Episode: VRS675 - If You Don't Own Your Guest, You Don't Own Your Business
Richard Vaughton
Short-term rental consultant with ~30 years in the business, known for scaling companies and selling them
Independent consultant
Episode: VRS674 - What Hyperlocal Really Means, and Why the Owner Is the Real Customer

Host

Heather Bayer
Host of Vacation Rental Success; author and former CEO in the vacation rental space; long-time industry educator.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 278 ratings
  • Top Show!

    Thank you, Heather for sharing your wealth of information and expertise in this booming industry where it is easy to get lost among the giants.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Walter the Pole Vaulter
    Canadaa year ago
  • My favorite podcast.

    I’ve listened to every episode since June of 2017 and bought my first STR in August of 2017. By far the most informative and useful podcast about the STR market. Two thumbs way up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crüefan
    United States3 years ago
  • Expert advice and thoughtful conversations

    Heather is so wonderful in her interactions with guests. I’ve never met her but feel we are already friends. I’ve listened to so many of her episodes and continue to be challenged and learn. As a guest on the podcast, I found Heather’s professionalism exceptional but more than that she is the real deal, warm, kind and encouraging. She is a pioneer in this industry and has offered endless content and advice we can all learn from. I love that she is a continual learner and is so committed to this ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    goodwinfamily7
    United States3 years ago
  • Amazing resource

    Great solid advice from the amazing Fairy Godmother of short term rentals.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hostesswithmostess
    United States4 years ago
  • Great actionable content

    This is my favorite podcast to listen to for STR content. It’s no fluff! Just loaded with incredible, actionable content. Thank you for all the time you put into this amazing resource for your listeners!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Lodge on Twinkle Lane
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise clear, actionable guidance and no-fluff insights.
Content is consistently valuable across episodes, with practical frameworks and real-world examples.
Guests and host are described as warm, professional, and genuinely helpful.
Audience finds the show to be an essential resource for STR growth and AI adoption in hospitality.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

VRS683 - Why AI Cannot Fix a Broken Business Model
Q: Let's start with your background in the industry and how you ended up running Tara Home Consulting.
Cristiana describes a career shift from cruise industry to short-term rentals, driven by opportunity to lead and grow, eventually founding Tara Home Consulting during the pandemic to help Europe's property managers with acquisition, audits, and exits.
VRS681 - When 120 Property Managers Became Software Builders
Q: Who participated and what did the results look like?
120 participants from six continents joined; 40 built working prototypes, and 20 delivered demos. The event showcased beginner-friendly tracks and a diverse range of AI-enabled solutions, proving widespread interest and capability across skill levels.
VRS681 - When 120 Property Managers Became Software Builders
Q: Why open up Wheelhouse to builders and what does it mean for customers?
Opening up means customers and non-customers alike can build and customize tools on top of Wheelhouse, leveraging open APIs and chat interfaces to extend value, rather than forcing users into a monolithic, one-size-fits-all product.
VRS681 - When 120 Property Managers Became Software Builders
Q: What is a hackathon and how did you run your own?
A hackathon is traditionally an engineers' event where teams build something over a short period and present it; Andrew reframed it as a collaborative, supportive experience with structured sessions, live feedback, and judges from the industry, enabling non-technical participants to create working prototypes using Wheelhouse APIs and AI tools.
VRS677 - Who Decides What Good Looks Like?
Q: Where can listeners learn more about the Hospitality Summit and related initiatives?
Listeners are guided to the event's landing page and show notes for details, with emphasis on practical workshops, focus on startups and smaller operators, and a shift away from traditional conference formats.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Vacation Rental Success

What is Vacation Rental Success about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, practitioner-led show focused on vacation rental ownership, marketing, and operations, with a strong emphasis on direct bookings, guest experience, and the role of AI and technology in hospitality. Episodes blend founder stories, case studies, and how-to guidance on building sustainable, revenue-smart rental businesses, balancing human hospitality with automation, and using data to drive repeat bookings. Noteworthy is a consistent focus on actionable frameworks, brand voice, and AI-enabled workflows, often paired with vendor sponsors that illustrate real-world tools for guest data, website optimization, and direct-booking growth. These conversations tend to attract owners, managers, and aspiring operators seeking scalable strat... more

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How many listeners does Vacation Rental Success get?

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What are the audience demographics for Vacation Rental Success?

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How many episodes of Vacation Rental Success are there?

Vacation Rental Success launched 14 years ago and published 686 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Vacation Rental Success?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Vacation Rental Success?

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What guests have appeared on Vacation Rental Success?

Recent guests on Vacation Rental Success include:

1. Ashley Ching
2. Cristiana Carpini
3. Andrew Kitchell
4. Eloisa Jones
5. Rachel Alday
6. Simon Lehmann
7. Jodie Odlin
8. Orlie Benjamin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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