Today the Vacation Rental Management Association announced to its membership that it is partnering with Vrbo and “expanding its membership to include rental property owners, many of whom self-manage bookings through platforms such as Vrbo, part of Expedia Group.”
The entire announcement is below:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 27, 2021)—The Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA), the leading voice of the professional vacation rental community, announced today that it is expanding its membership to include rental property owners, many of whom self-manage bookings through platforms such as Vrbo, part of Expedia Group.
The move is part of a strategic decision to open doors to thousands of individuals who both directly own and manage less than six properties made available to guests and travelers for short-term stays. By connecting this growing market with VRMA’s community of property management and supplier members, the association will lead the way toward enhancing professionalism, expertise and the consumer experience across all facets of the vacation rental industry.
“We’re working toward the ultimate goal of driving industry growth and professionalism,” said VRMA President Toby Babich, and owner, Breckenridge Resort Managers. “By welcoming owners into our expanding community of management companies and suppliers, we can accelerate the exchange of ideas, information, knowledge and expertise to benefit the guests and communities we serve.”
Kevin Locraft, VP Partner Success, Vrbo, Expedia Group, adds, “We are excited to work with VRMA on this important initiative. For our platform partners who manage five or fewer properties, VRMA membership will provide them access to industry-leading resources to help solve everyday challenges with renting their vacation properties, and the added know-how to provide safe, clean, professional guest service.”
In addition to gaining resources, education, networking and data intelligence, owners also will benefit from VRMA’s advocacy efforts that work to protect vacation rentals and the industry. Together, owners and property management companies play a critical role in localized advocacy discussions that directly impact them and the communities in which they operate.
VRMA represents the full industry spectrum—from large management companies with properties throughout the world to individual owners, and also includes supplier companies that provide products and professional services.
About the Vacation Rental Management Association
Founded in 1985, the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) advances and advocates for the vacation and holiday rental property management and hospitality industries.
Headquartered in the United States, membership includes professional vacation rental managers, owners and suppliers in countries throughout the world—in addition to housekeeping professionals through our partnership with the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP).
VRMA provides news and research, education and networking opportunities, certification and accreditation, promotes the value of the vacation rental experience and drives industry growth and professionalism. To learn more, visit www.vrma.org.
About Vrbo
In 1995, Vrbo introduced a new way for people to travel together, pairing homeowners with families and friends looking for places to stay. We were grounded in one purpose: To give people the space they need to drop the distractions of everyday life and simply be together. Since then, we’ve grown into a global community of homeowners and travelers, with unique properties around the world. Vrbo makes it easy and fun to book cabins, condos, beach houses and every kind of space in between.
Vrbo is part of Expedia Group and offers homeowners and property managers exposure to over 750 million visits to Expedia Group sites each month. To learn more, visit www.vrbo.com.
It’s about time, VRMA. I first suggested this to VRMA in 2006, and every year after that through my retirement in 2015. Of course owner/managers should be able to join the VRMA; it will increase the ranks and further legitimize the industry. Even today, the vast majority of vacation properties are owner managed: it’s insane that this large population of potential members was actively ignored up until now. Good for you, VRMA: let’s just hope it isn’t too late.
They should really treat their employees properly instead of paying them 2 US n hr and expanding their workers and treating them like robots. Putting them to work all countries and working global dealing with both owners and property owners and going global!! Taking calls for country that they can’t even speak the language for…. That company is reall just disgusting