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Hey Jenny,
Following up here, we haven't been able to make contact with you per our reply. Is there a good number or email address to reach you at? If you prefer, you can also send an email to, Adam@PaywithCause.com
The main advantage as I see it would be WhatsApp integration.
How is this different than Rezzy AI?
How is HelloHost different than using Rezzy AI?
This week’s roundup covers new short-term rental legislation in Pennsylvania, a major court decision in Spain, Airbnb’s push into lesser-known U.S. destinations, and a new pricing model from Lake.com. Let’s dive in.
Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced House Bill 2303 this week, which would create a statewide regulatory framework for short-term rentals. The proposal, if passed, would require vacation rental operators to register their properties through countywide registries, designate a 24/7 local contact, and comply with baseline health, safety, and occupancy standards. It also establishes three separate regulatory categories: homestays, vacation rentals, and corporate STR operations, with stricter requirements applied to larger-scale operators. The bill aims to create consistent, baseline standards for short-term rental properties while preserving flexibility for local communities. A public hearing is scheduled for March 25th. If you are a vacation rental operator in Pennsylvania, now is a great time to get involved, as the bill is still in its early stages.
Previously reported in Industry News on December 19th, the Spanish government fined Airbnb 64 million euros, or about 75 million U.S. dollars, for advertising short-term rentals without valid licenses or accurate registration information. This week, a Spanish high court ordered Airbnb to pay the fine, rejecting the company’s request to delay payment while it appeals the ruling. Airbnb says it still plans to challenge the fine. The decision reflects Spain’s continued push to enforce short-term rental regulations and hold platforms accountable for compliance.
Airbnb released its first-ever “America Off-the-Map” list this week, spotlighting lesser-known destinations where short-term rentals are driving new opportunities for tourism. The report highlights the role short-term rentals play in dispersing travel across smaller communities, rather than concentrating demand in already crowded destinations. Airbnb reports that in 2025, hosts earned more than $9.9 billion in areas with no hotels, accounting for nearly 40% of all U.S. host earnings, as interest in rural getaways continues to grow. The list includes emerging markets such as Sekiu, Washington; Matador, Texas; and Sodus Point, New York, among others.
Lake.com announced this week the launch of a new tiered membership model designed to give vacation rental operators more control over distribution and revenue. The new structure introduces two annual subscription plans: a Premium tier for independent hosts at $499 per year and a Portfolio tier for professional hosts at $3,999, both offering 0% commission on bookings. Hosts can continue using Lake.com’s standard pay-per-transaction option with a 10% commission, or choose one of the new annual subscription models offering 0% commission and direct booking tools. CEO David Ciccarelli said in a statement, “We’re giving them the option to choose the approach that works best for their business, whether that’s a commission model or paying once for the year and keeping more of what they earn.”
As new regulations take shape in the U.S. and listing platforms look to innovate, the vacation rental landscape continues to evolve this spring. Check back next week for the latest news.
This week’s roundup highlights rising demand tied to concerts and festivals, new short-term rental legislation in Washington, D.C., fresh data from AirDNA on the European market, and a helpful glimpse into what travelers are looking for before they book. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb released a report this week that highlights a surge in concert and festival-driven travel, with major events fueling triple-digit increases in search demand across cities like Boston, New York, Chicago, and more. In Boston alone, searches are up nearly 600 percent for BTS and more than 200 percent for artists like Noah Kahan and Ariana Grande. Airbnb also points to an emerging trend of increased group travel among Gen Z guests during these events, as friends book larger homes and turn concerts and festivals into shared travel experiences. For vacation rental operators, now is a great time to identify major events in your area that could drive demand and adjust your pricing strategy accordingly.
A newly proposed bill in Washington, D.C. could have notable impacts on the vacation rental industry in the city by expanding access to short-term rentals for tenants and introducing a new “special event” license. The proposal would allow renters to operate short-term rentals in their primary residence, marking a shift from current rules that largely limit hosting to property owners. The bill also introduces a “special event” license that would allow residents to rent out their homes during designated events and holidays without being present during a guest’s stay, similar to the temporary event-based permits Kansas City put in place ahead of the World Cup, covered in Industry News on November 14th.
AirDNA released its latest European market review on Wednesday, showing a slower start to 2026 as short-term rental supply continues to grow while demand softens in the "shoulder seasons" across many markets. The report indicates a more stable growth rate across Europe in the year ahead, with demand expected to be more concentrated between May and September. It also highlights that the ongoing conflict in Iran is starting to drive higher cancellation rates across European countries. At the same time, the upcoming solar eclipse in August is driving a noticeable increase in demand across Iceland and inland Spain.
Reader’s Digest released an interesting article this week highlighting the importance of carbon monoxide detectors in short-term rentals and hotels. The article notes that they spoke with three experts to identify the “one thing” every traveler should always check before booking any temporary home away from home, pointing specifically to the presence of carbon monoxide detectors. For vacation rental operators, this serves as a great reminder to always have and clearly highlight safety features in property listings.
As traveler behavior shifts and new regulations emerge, the vacation rental landscape continues to evolve. Check back next week for the latest news.
Yes, please. I would like to donate to my local P.E.O. chapter in Georgetown to be used forlocal scholarships for women.
That sounds great! Please shoot a quick email to adam@paywithcause.com and I can send you more info.
Adam Pierce
Sales Director
248-956-0434
Adam@paywithcause.com
Yes, please. I would like to donate to my local P.E.O. chapter in Georgetown to be used forlocal scholarships for women.
We’re excited to announce our new integration with HelloHost, which lets users automate guest messaging with AI.
HelloHost is the premier AI platform built for operators who want to fully automate their inbox. Instead of suggesting replies or handling only simple questions, HelloHost’s AI agent integrates with OwnerRez conversations and sends messages automatically on your behalf.
This is what HelloHost calls Autopilot: conversations are handled end-to-end without you needing to review, edit, or manually send replies. You only get involved when a real decision is required.
Behind the scenes, multiple specialized AI agents collaborate to handle different types of requests with high accuracy. Messages are sent from your OwnerRez inbox, and when your attention is required, HelloHost notifies you through the tools you already use: Slack, WhatsApp, or SMS, along with context and suggested next steps.
This approach goes beyond tools that only draft responses or answer basic questions. HelloHost is designed to handle real-world, operational situations, such as:
In these cases, HelloHost either resolves the situation automatically or escalates it with clear context and a recommended action, so you can make a quick decision and let the AI execute it.The result is a new standard for inbox automation. Many operators describe it as finally being hands-free from the inbox while still staying in control of the guest experience.
HelloHost offers simple, per-property pricing designed for growing portfolios, starting at $20/mo and scaling for larger portfolios. OwnerRez users enjoy a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Get started with HelloHost by visiting here, and check out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with HelloHost.
Does Pay With Cause allow me to choose a local non-profit rather than choosing from a list?
Hi Sheron,
That is exactly how we do it! We don't have a set list of options. It's the merchant's choice.
I'd be happy to send you some info if you'd like.
Adam Pierce
Sales Director
248-956-0434
Adam@paywithcause.com
Hello Jenny,
Yes, we use Authorize.net to link up with OwnerRez. Authorize.net is able to upload transaction data to QuickBooks automatically with the Commerce Sync plugin.
I'd be happy to get you some information on it if you'd like.
Adam Pierce
Sales Director
248-956-0434
Adam@paywithcause.com
Does Pay with Cause also handle integration of deposits to Quickbooks the way that Stripe and Lynnbrooke do?
Does Pay With Cause allow me to choose a local non-profit rather than choosing from a list?
Does Pay with Cause also handle integration of deposits to Quickbooks the way that Stripe and Lynnbrooke do?
Way to go!
Can we integrate multiple times from Ownerrez? The use case being different finances needed for different properties.
We’re excited to share our latest integration with ProhostAI, an all-in-one AI assistant for vacation rental hosts, helping OwnerRez users automate guest communication and streamline daily operations.
ProhostAI is the all-in-one AI agent for vacation rental hosts. From automated guest messaging and cleaning scheduling to upsells, reviews, guidebooks, and analytics, ProhostAI handles the busywork so hosts can focus on growing their portfolio. Trusted by hundreds of hosts managing thousands of listings worldwide.
The all-in-one platform includes:
14-day free trial. No credit card required.
Starter: Free forever
Pro: $15/listing/mo
View more pricing info here.
Get started with ProhostAI by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with ProhostAI.
April is here!🌻 As the temperature outside and bookings start to heat up, now is a great time to sign up for one of our live webinars.
This month’s lineup includes live demos, Q&A sessions, and Focus Sessions diving deeper into brand-new OwnerRez features, including the Quality Center and Broadcast messaging. Come learn more about OwnerRez, ask questions, and see how you can start using these new features in your workflow.
We’ll also be attending two in-person events this month, the 2026 FAVR Spring Forum in Panama City Beach, FL, and the 2026 VRNation Annual Conference in Denver, CO. If you’re planning to be at either event, stop by our booth to meet the team!
Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.
Join us for a live webinar on the brand-new Quality Center and reviews in OwnerRez. We’ll walk through how to use this new feature to improve your business and share practical tips for managing reviews.
Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.
Join us for a live Q&A! Please write in questions prior to the webinar so we can start off by answering those right away.
Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.
In this webinar, we'll show you how to expand your distribution to reach European and South American fans through the channels they actually book on.
Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.
Join us for a live webinar on the Unified Inbox and brand-new Broadcast feature in OwnerRez. We’ll walk through the Unified Inbox and show how the new Broadcast messaging feature lets you quickly notify guests during urgent situations.
Join us for a live Q&A! Please write in questions prior to the webinar so we can start off by answering those right away.
Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.
Join vacation rental professionals from across the region for a full day of connection, insight, and industry updates at the 2026 FAVR Spring Forum! Register here!
When: April 15, 2026
Where: Panama City Beach, FL
Where the vacation rental industry comes together to elevate standards, strengthen community, and build a world class future. This is the conference created by property managers, for property managers and hosts. It is education that matters, community that feels real, and collaboration that pushes the industry forward. Register here! Use Code OwnerRez for $75 off registration.
When: April 28-30, 2026
Where: Denver, CO
Hello Joel - if you have questions on taxes - please feel free to contact us at support@vidlesupport.com and we would be happy to help. We also have live chat on the site. By way of transactions - everything is done via Stripe (payments) so you as a host have access to your account records/payments for tax purposes, etc. Hope that helps - thanks!
Hello Linda - thank you for your comments. Regarding taxes - our transactions go thru Stripe so you have access to your records, etc. If you are having issues listing your properties, please feel free to contact us and we can have someone work with you directly to get set up - you can contact us here https://www.vidlehousing.com/host - thank you!
Hello Nathan - thank you for your comments. For more insight - our mid-term fully furnished rental listing platform specializes in servicing the healthcare travel sector (travel RNs, Allied - including PTs, OTs, etc). This sector continues to grow - it's actually bigger than it was was pre-covid (there was obviously a spike in needs during covid). Travelers work 13 week assignments at hospitals/healthcare facilities and many of them (60% or so) extend to 26 weeks. They receive stipends from the staffing agencies that place them on assignments. Those stipends are based on the GSA schedule. Ideally (depending on the location) monthly rent would be around $2500 per month. Healthcare pros are great renters and are there to work. Our booking system using Stripe (online e-commerce). Both Host and Renter create an account and that's how payments are made. For applicable taxes Stripe provides each around with records. Hope that helps - thank you! Any other questions feel free to email support@vidlesupport.com
Hello Navin - just to confirm - did you try to contact Vidle Housing at Support@VidleSupport.com? Was there a specific inquiry you had? Please let us know how we can help. Thank you!
I tried contacting them. Still haven't heard back from them. It's been 2 days. Sigh.
I don’t see the concern with taxes. For longer-term bookings, it’s acceptable to not use Instant Book. You can therefore just include in your listing that rates do not include xx% tax. Once you get an inquiry/booking, you can work out the final invoice.
An issue I’ve had with Furnished Finder is that their price filter only goes up to $2300+. I’ve reached out to them to try to get them to fix it with no luck. I don’t use their platform due to this issue. Too many guests trying to pay $2500 for a furnished monthly rental when the local market is $3000/month for an unfurnished annual lease.
Vidle goes up to $7500+ it appears which is appreciated to weed out people who have unrealistic expectations. Our monthly rates range from 4-10k/month.
I do think 12% commission is high for a platform that focuses on longer-term bookings. For example, a single booking could easily be a $1200 commission. Either way, the 12% will be passed on to the guest in the nightly rate. I think Vidle should look into the booking site “FloridaRentals” and see how they have things set up.
I don’t expect to get many/any bookings on this platform for a long time until there’s an increase on the demand side but I see no downside to setting up the integration.
Not sure why my post is showing up as “possible spam”. Maybe I should have been “glass half empty” instead.
How are payments processed? OwnerRez is structured to take two payments (an initial payment and a subsequent payment). I have not found that to work well for monthly renters who would prefer to make monthly payments.
Episode nine of Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals podcast is live!
Welcome to the Walk ’n Talk podcast, hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, CEO and CTO of OwnerRez. In this podcast, Paul and Chris share honest conversations about building a vacation rental software company and the lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re an experienced short-term rental host, manager, entrepreneur, or just curious how the industry works, this podcast is a great opportunity to listen in on real discussions and walk away with something that can make an impact on your business.
In Episode Nine, Paul and Chris talk about deep work, the importance of creating that intentional space, and the balance between staying focused and staying available to the team. They discuss how this balance impacts growth, the need to stay lean, and how learning to delegate and trust the team creates space for higher-impact work.
You’ll hear about:
It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Paul and Chris think about deep work, balance, and how they spend their time.
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.
Doesn't seem like this integration is ready for prime time. Aside from the tax issue, you have to totally recreate your listing. Not worth it for me. Hopefully they can improve the integration to automate creating the listing.
Taxes are a black hole for this integration...I'll pass.
This week, we are highlighting Jonathan Pacilio, founder of Blue Pineapple Rental Group. What began as a smart real estate investment strategy grew into a full-fledged vacation rental business that allowed Jonathan and his wife to step away from their corporate careers. Today, they manage more than 25 properties across five states, using strong systems and automation to run an efficient, remote operation.
Blue Pineapple Rental Group was born out of years of smart real estate investing. What started as a financial strategy gradually became something much bigger: a full-fledged business that allowed my wife and me to step away from our corporate careers and build something we're genuinely proud of. Today, we manage over 25 properties across five states, and we're always looking for the next opportunity that makes sense.
My background is in corporate finance. I spent years in that world, which honestly gave me a strong foundation for understanding real estate as an investment vehicle. The analytical mindset I developed there has been invaluable in knowing where to invest, when to scale, and how to run a lean, efficient operation.
Definitely a second career. Vacation rentals weren't something I set out to do; they were the result of our real estate investments performing well enough that we had a choice to make. We chose this, and we haven't looked back.
It's a mix, honestly. Some of our properties are in areas we have a personal connection to, and others we came to purely because the numbers made sense. Our portfolio spans North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Our philosophy is simple: we invest anywhere it makes sense. We let the market guide us rather than limiting ourselves to our own backyard.
The freedom. We run everything remotely, which means we're not tied to any one place. We've built systems and processes that let us manage 25+ properties across five states without being on-site. That kind of flexibility is something I never had in my corporate career, and it's something I genuinely treasure now.
As much as we've automated the critical pieces of this business, at the end of the day, you're still dealing with people, and people are wonderfully unpredictable. No system or process can fully account for human behavior. That keeps you humble, and it keeps you on your toes!
OwnerRez is really the backbone of our operation. With properties spread across five states, we need a platform that keeps everything organized and running smoothly without requiring us to be hands-on at every turn. We rely on it heavily for channel management, booking and payment processing, and reporting and analytics. It gives us the visibility and control we need to run a 25+ property portfolio remotely.
It's hard to pick just one, but the combination of channel management, rich integration options, and reporting has been a game-changer for us. Being able to manage our listings across multiple booking platforms from one place, connect seamlessly with the software tools we already use, and take advantage of flexible payment processing options gives us an incredibly versatile operation. Pair that with clear analytics to understand how our properties are performing, and you have exactly the kind of operational clarity you need when running a business at this scale. OwnerRez really does meet you where you are, whether you're just starting out or managing a larger portfolio like ours.
Taking an analytical approach to real estate, Jonathan has built a successful business across five states. We look forward to seeing Blue Pineapple Rental Group continue to grow in 2026!
Meet Sean and Carissa Reid, the husband and wife team behind Vacay In WA. What started as helping owners manage a few vacation homes in 2020 has grown into a collection of more than 20 homes across Eastern Washington. Drawing on their backgrounds in human resources and consumer electronics, they’ve built a strong, hands-on business focused on creating memorable guest stays while helping owners reach their investment goals.
My husband Sean and I are the team behind The RPM Group, where our vacation rental management division operates under the brand Vacay In WA. What started as helping manage a few vacation homes quickly grew into something much bigger. Today we manage vacation rentals across Eastern Washington in destinations like Lake Chelan, Leavenworth, and Walla Walla, with a focus on exceptional guest experiences and white-glove service for homeowners.
Before entering the vacation rental industry, my background was in Human Resources with a focus on employee development, while Sean spent many years in consumer electronics and car and home audio. Our previous careers taught us a lot about systems, operations, and customer experience; skills that translate really well into hospitality and property management.
Vacation rentals are actually a second career for us, and one that kind of chose us. When the world shifted during COVID in 2020, other homeowners began approaching us to help manage their vacation homes. As our portfolio doubled year after year, we realized it was time to say goodbye to corporate life and fully commit to building our own company.
Around that same time, Sean also became a licensed real estate agent and now specializes in buying and selling vacation rentals throughout Washington State. He helps clients explore the possibilities of owning a vacation rental by running numbers, creating Pro Formas, evaluating comps, and connecting buyers with trusted investors and lenders who understand vacation rental financing.
We live in Washington State and operate throughout Eastern Washington. Our homes and where we live are spread across the region, but we intentionally focus on areas where we can still stay hands-on with the homes we manage. Because of that, we also rely heavily on an incredible team that helps support our operations locally in each destination so we can continue providing a high level of service to both guests and homeowners.
Sean is also actively involved in helping support the vacation rental industry at the local and state levels. He serves on the board of the Chelan County Short-Term Rental Alliance (STACC) and the Washington Hosts Collaborative Alliance (WHCA), organizations that work to keep hosts informed and advocate for fair regulations for vacation rentals across Washington State. WHCA was also instrumental in partnering with Airbnb to successfully oppose the proposed vacation rental tax in Washington.
Eastern Washington is truly special. Once you cross the Cascade Mountains from Seattle, the weather changes dramatically. This side of the state enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year, which makes destinations like Lake Chelan, Leavenworth, and Walla Walla a perfect retreat for visitors escaping the gray and rain on the west side. These towns are full of charm, crystal-clear lakes, evergreen forests, wine country, and beautiful mountain scenery. We feel incredibly lucky that our work allows us to spend time in places that so many people travel to experience.
What we love most is helping create memorable experiences for guests while helping homeowners succeed with their investment properties. Whether it’s a family gathering, a ski trip, or a wine weekend with friends, these homes become the setting for some really special moments.
The vacation rental industry is still evolving quickly. Technology, regulations, and guest expectations are always changing, which means we spend a lot of time evaluating new systems and tools to make sure we’re choosing the right long-term solutions for our business. It can be challenging at times to keep up.
OwnerRez plays a central role in how we run our operations. We use it to manage reservations, automate guest communication, organize property details, and keep our business running smoothly across multiple destinations.
The automation tools, CRM, and property management modules are incredibly valuable for us. Automated messaging helps ensure guests receive the right information at the right time, while the CRM helps us maintain strong relationships with returning guests. Another powerful feature is how OwnerRez connects with our MarketMySTR account. That integration allows us to leverage guest contact data to increase direct bookings, welcome back returning five-star guests, and focus our marketing on our ideal guest audience.
Sean and Carissa have built a strong vacation rental management business in Eastern Washington through thoughtful systems and a hands-on approach. We look forward to continuing to support their work and seeing Vacay In WA continue to grow.
Looks like that's the tag I'm seeing. Thanks for clarifying!
