The Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) recently announced the organization is lowering its dues. The base fee remains $495, while the per unit fee decreases from $3 per unit to $1 per unit.
Vacation rental manager dues will be assessed as follows for 2015:
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5 units to 2,000 units…..
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$495 base fee plus $1 per unit
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2,001 to 5,000 units…….
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$495 base fee plus $1 per unit (cap $3,495)
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5,001 to 10,000 units…..
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$495 base fee plus $1 per unit (cap $6,495)
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10,001+ units……………..
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$495 base fee plus $1 per unit (cap $9,495)
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“I am extremely pleased with the reduction in dues recently passed by the VRMA board,” said Ben Edwards, VRMA President. “This reduction in dues simply removes a barrier to membership, allowing more members to join the association. As a result of this reduction, the association has increased its membership more than 20% creating tremendous momentum for the association.”
In 2009, the VRMA voted to add $3/unit to the dues structure. The fee was voluntary in 2009 and became standard for all manager members in 2010. At the time, it was widely understood that the $3 per unit fee would be used to fund marketing and distribution efforts involving the Switch project and the website DiscoverVacationHomes.com.
The Switch project was later tabled in 2013 following an internal shakeup at Pegasus Solutions, then technology provider for the project, along with a change in direction at the board level and a general shift in the marketplace.
“To me, the reduction in dues signals that the association objectives are again to provide a forum for education,communication, networking and political advocacy,” said Pedro Mandoki, CEO at Mandoki Hospitality and former VRMA President.
Several volunteer task forces and committees set out to work with past and present members to determine the best course of action moving forward with the goal of re-engaging large companies such as Meyer Vacation Rentals in Gulf Shores, AL.
“We appreciate the substantial effort VRMA has made of engaging members and collecting data from different task forces before arriving at this decision,” said Michelle Nelson, COO at Meyer Vacation Rentals. “I enjoyed being a part of the Member Value Task Force this year and know other members will also benefit from the initiatives we discussed, as well as the overall objectives of the association. Their willingness to be flexible to member needs further strengthens their reputation as a significant industry association resource and partner. ”
However, a segment of the membership expressed concerns that the lowered dues wouldn’t add to the sustainable growth or financial health of the association. Jim Morris, President at Lake Tahoe Accommodations, said, “We have been very successful in the past few years and credit VRMA for having contributed to our performance. The existing structure (dues) seemed ok for Lake Tahoe Accommodations.”
While several members found the existing structure feasible for their businesses, many welcome initiatives and policies which are also inclusive for larger companies.
“I am hoping it will bring back larger companies which found the dues cost prohibitive,” said Claire Reiswerg, at Sand ‘N Sea Properties in Galveston, TX. “Several of these companies still engaged with VRMA, but they found it more cost effective to pay the non-member rate to attend the conferences which they still felt were valuable.”
Reiswerg added, “The more companies that join the VRMA, the better the organization can promote professional management and provide education and awareness.”
Get information about joining the VRMA.
By Amy Hinote
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