Meet Jodie Willey, founder of 365 Blue Vacations. Born and raised in Colorado, Jodie has spent her career in hospitality, working her way from the front desk to General Manager of a timeshare resort in Breckenridge. After more than a decade in resort operations, she launched 365 Blue Vacations in 2021, combining her timeshare experience with short-term rentals to help owners maximize their investments. Today, Jodie manages a portfolio of over 60 short-term rentals in Breckenridge, using OwnerRez as the foundation of her business.
Can you tell us a little bit about your history?
I was born and raised in Boulder, CO, and now live in Breckenridge, CO. I have worked in hospitality since graduating from Colorado State University. I moved to Breckenridge in my late 20s, and while I have left a few times, I moved back permanently in 2006. In 2008, I became the General Manager of the Hyatt Residence Club in Breckenridge, where I spent the next 13 years. That role gave me a stronger understanding of resort operations, owner relations, and the ins and outs of timeshare.
In 2020, at the start of COVID, I was working 60+ hours a week and decided it was time to prioritize my family. I started a more traditional 9-5 for a while, thinking about starting my own business. I missed hospitality, especially working directly with owners and guests. That’s what led me to start 365 Blue Vacations, where I combined my knowledge of timeshare with short-term rentals.
What is your background?
After graduating from CSU, I started my career in the hospitality industry at the front desk and worked my way up to General Manager of a timeshare resort. My experience in timeshare showed me a missing link for many owners. Some could no longer use their week due to changing family dynamics, while others wanted to turn their ownership into a rental revenue source. When I decided to build a business around helping those owners, a friend introduced me to OwnerRez, which became the foundation I needed to manage timeshare rentals.
Were you always in vacation rentals or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?
Yes, I have always been involved in hospitality to some degree. What I do today is an extension of that background, just in a more focused way.
Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later?
I’m a true-born-and-bred Coloradan. I’d love to eventually expand my business beyond Breckenridge, but for now, this area is keeping me plenty busy!
What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?
For me, it’s the relationships with my owners. Of course, I enjoy helping guests make memories and offering fantastic experiences, but when I left Hyatt, I truly missed the relationships I had built with owners. Starting 365 Blue Vacations allowed those relationships to grow again, just in a different way.
What do you dislike the most about it?
Letting anyone down, whether it’s an owner or a guest. You can’t always rent every week, and with timeshares, it’s often the one week an owner owns. If that week doesn’t rent, neither of us sees any revenue, and that’s always hard for me.
How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?
OwnerRez is integral to the operation of my business. I looked at many software companies, and very few work in a way that truly supports timeshare rentals. Timeshares are weeklong reservations, and every owner has a different week, so the setup must be flexible.
I manage 67 properties but work with over 350 individual owners, which adds another layer of complexity. It took me a bit to really dial everything in, but OwnerRez offers so many powerful tools, templates, triggers, tags, credit card processing, API connections, seasons, mutual blocking, and more. I’m sure there’s always more to learn, but I feel like I’ve gotten it dialed in well.
What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?
OwnerRez offers so many features that are vital to my operation, it’s hard to pick just one. Channel management, seasons, and the ability to easily adjust minimum and maximum night stays are essential. Rezzy AI has also become a valuable tool, along with many other features that help keep my business running smoothly and successfully.
Jodie’s background in hospitality and timeshare operations allows her to deliver excellent guest experiences and strong returns for owners. With OwnerRez supporting her business, we look forward to seeing 365 Blue Vacations continue to grow.