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I think this will be very useful in a number of way, for both the users and for the company, to whose future we hosts are at least somewhat tied:
1. The obvious. AI will automate things even more. Since hosts and guests exchange the same pleasantries and instructions at every interaction, this is not much of a heavy lift for the AI, and most hosts, being lazy like myself, will love it unless it acts badly or erraticly.
2. Will (hopefully) flag large issues before they get bigger. If a water leak, bad HVAC, noise complaint, or other major problem rears its head, reaction time is key -- both to get the issue fixed, but perhaps more importantly to respond to the guest and acknowledge the issue. If the new AI can message a guest and alert me in a timely way, that alone will be worth the monthly fee.
3. Shows that OwnerRez is committed to matching or beating the competition. While a skeptic might say that OwnerRez introduced AI because they were shit-scared that they would be eaten alive by other companies who beat them to the punch, a better perspective might be that they're going to fight to make their product competitive and feature-rich. This makes me feel that the time and money I've put into OwnerRez won't go to waste. I don't mind them being a little scared if it brings me a better product.
4. Makes co-hosting/property management more efficient, and this makes me more competitive. I can easily see myself lowering my rates to attract new customers even as AI makes me more productive so I can handle more clients without substantially more effort (on the customer side at least -- if only I could get the owners to stop taking up all my time...)
5. As the blog post mentions, it's just the beginning. I can imagine a ton of things that AI could help with...
...BUT...
To make this truly useful, I'm going to need to put the information and tasks that it generates into the hands of cleaners, owners, and tradespeople that I work with. And that means that the UI, particularly on mobile, needs to be a LOT more friendly. At the moment, I have to force people to use it, pretty much, and they just don't. All the AI in the world doesn't help if the messenger can't get in to deliver the message.
All in all, a great step forward, and unexpected. A nice surprise.
Natasha, It's clear you didn't read the details. This is an opt-in feature (optional) and it's free while in beta anyway. Could it be possible that caring about your guests would include quicker responses than you can humanly offer, including a response while you are sleeping? I'd suggest using it before you condemn it and offer your dead body in defiance.
Can we turn this off?
It's not on. You have to request access and get approved to even turn it on. For those that do, it's easy to turn off at any time. Look at the screenshot tour in the support doc.
Last thing I want is to be paying for an AI tool I will never use.
It will not affect your pricing if it is turned off.
I will never use AI to communicate with any guest, because I'm trying to have a personalized experience where I actually care about my guests.
Answering guests is only one part of Rezzy. The other super cool thing it does it watch communication and generate tasks based on what is said, and it's very accurate in the tasks it creates. Even for small host/PM shops that don't have staff, it's very helpful to see a list of management tasks to keep track of. Caring about guests is important, as you pointed out, so it's nice to have tools that keep track of action items so that don't forget things.
Will you be able to customize its tone so it doesn't sound so AI generated?
Yes. There is a conversation tone setting where you can write instructions on how it should sound. It is very good. You can say things like "Be informal, don't give long flowery answers, prefer short sentences to long ones" or other things. Use the Sandbox to play with that and see what kind of answers it gives.
In the future, we plan to add some enumerated options around tone so you can pick from a list if you don't want to have to customize it on your own.
Is it able to answer in any other language like Spanish?
Great question. At the moment, no. But that's a great one and definitely on the list of what we are looking to support, as we recently expanded our new guest forms to include other languages.
Then don’t use it.
over my dead body. Can we turn this off? In fact, this will make me consider leaving OR. Hmm. I guess I will have to research that. Last thing I want is to be paying for an AI tool I will NEVER use. I have already been pretty appalled by the crappy AI generated dragons in your ad. I will NEVER use AI to communicate with any guest, because I'm trying to have a personalized experience where I actually CARE about my guests.
Is it able to answer in any other language like Spanish?
Will you be able to customize its tone so it doesn't so AI generated?
I’ve been using ChatGPT to draft messages and would love to see this integrated into OR.
This sounds great! And I've been wanting housekeeping and task management that's built right in OR, I hope that this will help in that department.
This is exactly what I’ve been hoping for. I’ve tried a few third party tools, but nothing has really nailed it up to now. Would love to be part of the beta if there’s still room! Looking forward to seeing how Rezzy handles real guest scenarios.
Jennifer Whaling turned her passion for hospitality into CottageStays, a thriving vacation rental business in Ontario’s cottage country. What started with a single lakefront property has grown to over 50 homes, all managed with the help of her incredible team and a shared commitment to helping guests "Make Your Memories Happen."
CottageStays started, like so many great things, with a mix of passion, necessity, and just a touch of frustration. My journey here has been anything but traditional!
I’ve worn many hats in my life: municipal administration, tech (working on property tax software), farming, bookkeeping, and full-time mom life. When we started winding down our farming activities, we wanted to invest in a rental property. But long-term rentals? No, thank you! The landlord tenant laws here are wild, I couldn’t stomach the idea of someone not paying rent, trashing the place with five dogs, and my hands being tied. So, we pivoted to short term rentals.
We bought a beautiful lakefront cottage, something we could both enjoy and invest in. At first, we used a cottage rental agency, but I quickly realized: I could do this better. Then my cousin bought a cottage, then a neighbor… and before I knew it, I was managing five cottages in my first year! That’s when I knew I needed serious software to scale while still delivering a personal touch, enter OwnerRez.
As CottageStays grew my first hire was Lea, our reservationist and 'boots on the ground.' She had the perfect “Grandma” look, which came in handy when guests needed a gentle nudge. Picture this: monster trucks parked all over the lawn, Lea shows up, sweet as can be, and suddenly, those trucks are gone with zero drama. Because, honestly, who’s going to be mad at Grandma?
Then came Shauna, our Guest Services guru, reservationist, and marketing whiz. She’s a Jack of All Trades, literally. She also represents a different generation of travelers, which has been a game changer. Lesson learned: always hire someone different from yourself! On changeover day, she’s the master puppeteer, managing all guest communication while Brenda and I are on the road, fixing issues, supporting housekeepers, and making sure everything runs smoothly.
Speaking of Brenda, she stepped into Lea’s role last year and has been a rock for our housekeeping team. She has a "can do" attitude, which is a lifesaver when our day goes sideways (because, let’s be real, it happens a lot!). No matter what comes up, she tackles it head on and keeps everything running smoothly.
Let’s be real, this is a high stress job in a stunning location. We’re in the business of creating the backdrop for lifelong memories, which is why our tagline is: "Make Your Memories Happen." But let’s not forget, it doesn’t happen without an incredible team including an army of housekeepers who tackle all the behind the scenes chaos and garbage.
I grew up here and returned when we started our family. I live just 15 minutes from our own cottage, and all the properties I manage are within a 30 minute radius of my home. That way, if a toaster breaks, I can be there in person because no one wants to start their vacation without toast!
Honestly? The chance to help families make lifelong memories. There’s something special about knowing we’re providing the backdrop for those moments, kids catching their first fish, sunset bonfires, dogs splashing in the lake.
It’s also the perfect mix of left brain and right brain work. One minute, I’m deep into numbers, organization, and problem solving, and the next, I’m creating marketing campaigns and engaging with guests. No day is ever the same!! It’s never boring, that’s for sure!
Fraudsters. The guests who try to scam a refund for no good reason drive me nuts. And ironically, the ones who do have an issue rarely complain or let us fix it.
Regulations can also be a challenge, but my background in municipal administration gives me a different perspective. I know councillors are our representatives, not the enemy, so I take the time to talk with them and build relationships. That approach has earned me a lot of respect in the community, which helps in shaping fair policies.
Most everything pretty much. OwnerRez is the Hub of our business, from our marketing and website, to our reservation staff, guest services, housekeeping, maintenance, hot tub, snow removal and more. And of course our financials which is the whole point LOL. Most of our guest communication happens through OwnerRez with SMS and channel messages. We also integrate with a contact manager for email marketing, which fully syncs with OwnerRez (super cool, considering I used to sell Contact Managers!).
We use OwnerRez widgets on our website, linking to Google Analytics so we can fine tune our marketing. If someone starts booking but doesn’t finish, OwnerRez automatically emails us: “NAME has started Book Now,” giving us a chance to reach out and assist before they move on. OwnerRez links with PriceLabs exactly how I want it to and we have seasons setup as a backup. OwnerRez links with OpertoTeams our housekeeping/maintenance program creating all cleaning tasks, hot tub checks, and SNOW removal which has been a challenge this year ugghhh. Last week the roads were closed for 4 days and we had guests stuck up to 3 days longer than they expected.
When a booking is made, all the triggers kick in to collect security deposits, send rental agreements, send packing lists, rent linens, rent paddle boards/lake mats. And despite being a tiny company, just two of us working full time, we run like a much bigger operation. I see other companies my size with five full time staff members. Thanks to OwnerRez, we can stay small but mighty while still offering personalized service, like lavender gifts for couples or homemade dog treats with a handwritten note.
And the accounting integration? Absolute lifesaver. Invoices and deposits are automatically entered into our accounting software, and OwnerRez reporting lets me track revenue trends which is phenomenal. Now I can see that for March break this year we are doing way better than last year.
I love the automation, triggers, SMS, and channel messages. They make guest communication seamless. My latest trigger emails my head housekeeper a reminder 7 days prior to guest arrival (when there is only 2 guests) to schedule a Lavender gift (lavender bubble bath and a lavender sachet). My favorite SMS text is the one that goes out to guests who have a dog. This text goes out on day three of their stay:
"Hey DOGNAME🐾
Hope you're having a blast at COTTAGENAME!
Would you mind sharing a paw-some pic with us? We'd be thrilled to feature you on our social media pages! Just send us a pic or tag us @cottagestays on Facebook/Instagram...and maybe they will make it to our social media page
Can't wait to see your adorable face! 📸😊"
I originally asked people to tag us on Facebook and Instagram, but no one does. Then I asked people to share a picture of the sunset; we have the Top 10 sunsets in the world here. After that, around 10pm my phone would blow up with photos. That's not the engagement I wanted. Then I started asking for dog photos. Game changer. Guests love sharing, their friends engage like crazy, and our social media reach skyrocketed.
We also have triggers set up for garbage pickup day. It's a bit clunky, but it works. And our message again is fun:
"Thanks for being eco-friendly legends! 🌿♻️
Garbage day is tomorrow Monday - Please put garbage and recycling bins at the end of the lane on THIS side of the road Sunday evening or early Monday morning.
Please bring in after they have been picked up or let us know if you will be away.
Here is a helpful guide to what can go in your recycling container:
https://www.bra.org/material-guide/recycle-in-your-bluebox/
We do not have green bin pickup at this time
Have a Trash-Tastic evening LOL"
And we just implemented a guest AI (HostBuddy) which communicates right in my OwnerRez inbox so we can see all the guest communications. This will hopefully alleviate some work off of Shauna's plate, but also means guests can receive answers in the middle of the night. Shauna didn't want to work 24hrs a day for some reason?? LOL
Now managing over 50 cottages, CottageStays is known for personal touches, exceptional service, and its mission to help guests "Make Your Memories Happen." With OwnerRez powering her operation, Jennifer continues to grow while keeping her focus on the guest experience. We are excited to see her business continue to deliver amazing stays!
Need to add ability to save reports and have them automatically run and email a PDF copy on a schedule.
Nice idea, Marshall! I suggest that you add a Feature Request for this.
Need to add ability to save reports and have them automatically run and email a PDF copy on a schedule.
This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s new cancellation policy changes, emergency housing efforts in central Texas, and the latest attempts to regulate short-term rentals in Beverly Hills and Summit County. Plus, a fun new Smurfs-themed experience in Belgium. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb announced changes to its cancellation policies that will take effect on October 1st, 2025. All standard policies for stays under 28 nights will now include a 24-hour cancellation window, allowing guests to receive a full refund if they cancel within 24 hours of booking and at least seven days before check-in. A new policy, called "Limited," will also be introduced, offering terms between the current Firm and Moderate options. The Strict cancellation policy will be retired for new listings, and existing listings using Strict will be automatically converted to Firm unless hosts take action to opt out by October 1st.
Airbnb.Org is providing free emergency housing to those displaced by flooding in central Texas. In partnership with All Hands and Hearts, state and local officials, and local nonprofits, the initiative offers free stays to both displaced residents and first responders. Stays are completely free for guests, funded by Airbnb.Org and the generosity of donors. This effort is part of Airbnb’s ongoing commitment to support communities during crises, with similar programs launched during past disasters.
According to the latest Skift Travel Health Index report, vacation rentals are up 12% compared to May 2024. In contrast, hotels saw just a 2% year-on-year growth amid growing economic uncertainties. The rise in vacation rentals reflects travelers' increasing preference for privacy, flexibility, and space. AirDNA forecasts continued momentum for short-term rentals in the U.S., projecting 3–4% RevPAR growth from 2024 to 2026. Hotels, on the other hand, are under pressure to adapt, with many introducing apartment-style suites and new technologies to stay competitive.
The Beverly Hills City Council voted 4-1 to prepare new regulations that would ban short-term rentals entirely. Under the proposed rules, single-family properties would be restricted to lease agreements of at least 12 consecutive months, while multifamily properties could only offer leases of at least six months within a 12-month period. The city aims to address concerns over 'party houses' and redirect business toward local hotels.
On Wednesday, July 9th, an appeals court overturned Summit County’s vacation rental ordinance, ruling that it was improperly applied. The case, brought by a property owner who argued his due process rights were violated, centered on the ordinance functioning as an unauthorized zoning change. The court’s decision nullifies the county’s efforts to regulate short-term rentals under the contested ordinance. Legal experts say this could set a precedent for future challenges to local rental restrictions.
Airbnb has partnered with Paramount to launch a Smurfs-themed experience in the Belgian woods ahead of the upcoming Smurfs movie. Two families will be selected to take part in an exclusive four-hour experience near Annevoie. The event includes Smurf hats, themed activities, and a forest picnic hosted by the grandson of Smurfs creator Peyo. This fun event is part of Airbnb’s efforts to promote "experiences," with Airbnb reporting that 80 percent of family travelers now choose destinations based on available experiences.
As the vacation rental industry continues to evolve, expect more updates on policy changes, partnerships, and new experiences. Check back next week for the latest news!
Meet Jason and Mariah, the husband and wife team behind Gathering Tree. After years of running a college ministry and hosting international students, they brought their passion for community and hospitality to Flagstaff, Arizona. Starting with a modest real estate investment, they now design, build, and manage six ultra short-term rentals focused on creating memorable stays for families and friends.
I can remember just after college, releasing a big chunk of my income to rent every month and thinking there had to be a better way. We started with rehabbing a personal home, then flipping, then spec building, and now designing, building, and operating ‘ultra’ STRs from the ground up. Real estate has always been our source of both community and freedom. We currently run the 6 ‘ultra’ STRs we’ve built in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Our first purchase was a little building on the floodplain of the Ganges, just outside Calcutta, India. Once the fish left behind by the monsoon floods were evicted, the kids moved in! We left the home in the hands of some locals and Jesus, and over the years they have grown it into a much larger home and school for street kids. Seeing homeless kids gave me a new appreciation for “home” but also reinforced my goal of not being enslaved by working just to pay for one. We bought a home and “house hacked” long before that was even a word. I lived with brothers and friends and hosted international students, all while learning to renovate to increase home value. We moved back to our college town and renovated a tiny, dilapidated house by the university. Then we built an eight-room home right next to it. Over the next ten years we housed more than 200 students from around the world in our “International House,” inviting them to weekly dinners and taking them out to see the best people and places in our community. COVID shut down our international student population, so we pivoted to short term rentals and began flipping homes, then spec building homes, and finally designing ultra large purpose built STRs from the ground up.
Vacation rentals were a natural, though later, progression in a trajectory that always revolved around value-add and rental real estate investing.
We put a lot of our time and effort into the friendships we had with our international students, as well as college and missions ministry in previous chapters of life.
We had been in Flagstaff for 10 years before starting STRs. We only operate STRs in our town.
Flagstaff was an inherently attractive vacation destination where we’d already lived during college. We moved to Flagstaff to do college and missions ministry, but real estate was always going to be an essential aspect/criteria for where we lived.
Community and freedom for our family and others. We love seeing generations of families reconnect in these big homes and helping them see the best parts of our city. There’s a natural opportunity every day to teach our kids about business and creating value. It also provides a creative outlet to design and build places that bring people together while improving the appearance of some of our neighborhoods and employing locals to build, maintain, and manage these homes.
Wearing so many hats used to be fun and challenging. As we get older, the context shifting takes a bigger toll on our efficiency.
We couldn’t operate without OwnerRez. We list some properties in different ways: upstairs, downstairs, or whole building, bunkrooms included or excluded, etc. We’re also pairing properties now, which allows larger groups to book multiple homes as one listing and booking. It gets complex, but OwnerRez handles all of these options, and their linked calendars across multiple OTAs work perfectly. This allows us to present different offerings to the market from the same buildings while matching prices to the value provided. The website generated by OwnerRez has also been important in driving direct bookings. Guest communication, reports, and plugins all play a role in the value we get daily from OwnerRez. We have six locations but 16 listings because of the different listing options.
Calendar management is the most essential feature for us.
Jason and Mariah’s journey from ministry and student housing to custom-designed vacation homes reflects their heart for hospitality and community. We’re excited to see Gathering Tree continue to grow and create unforgettable stays for their guests in Flagstaff.
We’re excited to introduce Rezzy AI, our new built-in assistant designed to transform how you manage guest messages and daily tasks, all within OwnerRez.
Rezzy automatically reads incoming guest messages, suggests intelligent responses, and flags important tasks, so you stay one step ahead without lifting a finger.
✍️ Draft replies ready to go in your Inbox based on each guest’s latest message.
✅ Smart task detection from guest questions, booking issues, or mid-stay needs.
🔧 Customizable tone and signature so replies match your personal style.
🧠 Replies based on your existing property settings and configurations.
📌 You can also add property-specific FAQs to help Rezzy answer questions that aren’t covered by your normal settings.
🧪 A powerful Sandbox tool to preview how Rezzy thinks and what it knows.
⚡ Auto-replies, so Rezzy can respond instantly without you lifting a finger.
🗓️ Scheduling controls for when auto-replies go out.
💬 Incident tracking to better handle issues like “The A/C isn’t working”.
🧍♂️ Staff task assignment, including auto-assigning tasks to housekeepers or maintenance users.
💻 Website chat widget that answers guest questions using your property info, and sends anything else to your inbox. (coming later)
As stated above, Rezzy doesn’t just reply, it helps manage your workflow. You’ll find a brand-new Tasks area where Rezzy logs to-dos from guest messages. Track issues, add notes, attach files, and even create tasks manually. We believe this will have a massive impact on how property managers handle issues without the need for external tools.
Starting now, you’ll see Rezzy AI as a new top-level menu in your OwnerRez account. If you don’t have access yet, you’ll land on a special page where you can request to join. Once approved, you’ll unlock Rezzy’s full draft reply system, a new Tasks menu, and FAQ tools under each property.
Rezzy will be free throughout our private beta, and once it is publicly released, you can select it as an add-on for a reasonable monthly price, similar to our other premium features.
We chose a dragon named Rezzy as our AI assistant because we wanted something more memorable and meaningful than a generic magic wand or automation icon. Magic-style icons are everywhere when it comes to automation, but we wanted our AI to have a distinct identity that truly stands out.
Enter Rezzy: powerful, helpful, and just a little mysterious. Dragons symbolize strength, intelligence, and guardianship qualities that mirror how our AI helps you navigate and manage your vacation rental business. Rezzy isn’t just a flashy gimmick; it's a capable assistant you’ll come to recognize and trust. Plus, let’s be honest… dragons are awesome.
The future of short-term rental automation starts now. Try Rezzy AI and let it handle the busywork. Learn more by checking out our support doc here.
After leaving a corporate sales career and relocating to the Smoky Mountains, this property manager and his family turned their long-held vision into reality with Smoky Mountain Stays. Starting with a lodge and a few cabins, they now offer a beautiful collection of affordable luxury vacation rentals in and around Bryson City, North Carolina.
I actually graduated from Seminary with a B.A in Biblical Studies. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with that, so it led to me getting a job with Verizon Wireless; you know, to pay the bills and get married, ha. I knew I didn’t want to work in corporate America forever, so I began developing a business plan for a retreat lodge and rental cabins. Obviously, it wouldn’t happen immediately or 150 miles away from the location we wanted to start it. So we moved to the Bryson City area to see if we could make it happen.
I started with a couple of cabin rentals of my own and our retreat lodge in 2015 - 2017. For years, people would ask if I could manage for them, but since I didn’t have a broker’s license, the answer was no. During the pandemic, I decided to go ahead and get my broker’s license so I could take on additional properties. After deciding how I wanted to structure my property management company, I’ve been taking on new properties for the past two years.
Before becoming a Property Manager full time in 2019, I worked in sales for a technology company for 7 years.
I am not from the Bryson City area. My wife and I took a chance and bought a cabin here in the Smoky Mountains to see if I could make this a career and fulfill a dream. We moved here from just outside of Charlotte, NC, a place called Denver, NC.
The mountains, small town life, and just the natural beauty. Great Smoky Mountain National Park is our backyard. We love the outdoors, hiking, biking, etc. It’s called God’s country for a reason, and I felt it was the best place to have rental property and share the peacefulness with others.
I love being able to give people a place to get away from their normal everyday lives. The busy life slows down up here and it allows people to connect with family, friends, nature, God, and themselves.
Well, Airbnb lol. Ok, so Airbnb and “those guests” that we all get from time to time.
As an early OwnerRez partner, I use it for everything I can. Besides an integrated cleaning app and doing my own trust accounting, OwnerRez handles everything else.
That’s a tough one, because at this point there are so many features that are intertwined. I think the best way to answer that is by going back to why I first signed up. OwnerRez had the most robust options overall. Many of the other platforms I tried had a nice-looking calendar widget, but the communications piece was missing. Others had API integrations, but the calendar and interface looked like something from the 1980s. OwnerRez was the most complete and seemed to be headed in the right direction for the future. That turned out to be 100% accurate, just look at OwnerRez now compared to back then. Also, Chris and the staff at the time were incredibly helpful and extremely quick to respond and interact with us.
As a locally owned and managed company, Smoky Mountain Stays delivers genuine hospitality and memorable mountain escapes. OwnerRez is proud to highlight this business, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow.
I'd like to see a version of the ribbon calendar widget that works on mobile phones. The current one is not responsive at all.
I have two properties that id like to show on an integrated availability calendar on my website. The booking calendar in the monthly view is exactly what I'm looking for but there is no iCal export for it.
Love the guide!
With summer in full swing, this week’s Industry News reflects a fast-moving industry balancing strong demand with smarter oversight, clearer guest policies, and new opportunities.
North Carolina’s new law, effective July 1, 2025, requires hotel and vacation rental staff to complete NCDOL-approved human trafficking awareness training within 60 days of hire and retrain every two years, with a June 30, 2027, deadline for current workers. For vacation rentals listed on or after July 1, property managers must complete the training before the rental is listed. Officials say the measure could strengthen public safety in heavy tourism areas.
San Diego reopened short-term rental license applications in Mission Beach on July 1, marking the first new application round since late 2022, when nearly 1,100 licenses were issued through a lottery due to overwhelming demand. The current application period will run through August 15, after which the city will conduct a random lottery to determine processing order and wait list position. There will be no cap on the number of applicants accepted for the wait list, and the fee for a two-year license is $1,129. Officials say the move will improve oversight and compliance in one of the city’s most tourism-heavy neighborhoods.
California’s AB 2202, effective July 1, 2025, requires short-term rental platforms and hosts to disclose any cleaning fees or penalties upfront, along with a detailed list of guest checkout tasks tied to those charges. Fees can only be imposed if guests fail to complete the listed tasks, and both the charges and requirements must be acknowledged by the guest before booking. Supporters say the law will boost pricing transparency and reduce surprise fees for travelers booking vacation rentals. Check out the full section of the bill that applies to short-term rentals here.
Camp Margaritaville Resort in Crystal Beach, Texas, is investing $100 million to add 105 "Beach Bungalows," expanding its resort-style lodging options along the Texas Gulf Coast. The bungalows are designed as "turn-key" investment opportunities for buyers and will be rented through Margaritaville’s vacation rental program, allowing owners to share in the rental revenue. This expansion reflects ongoing demand from vacationers for private, upscale homes in popular tourist areas.
Maui County’s Housing and Land Use Committee resumed deliberations on Bill 9 this week, following emotional testimony and debate in June. As reported in previous Industry News updates (June 13th, June 6th) the proposal, introduced by Mayor Richard Bissen, seeks to phase out around 6,000 vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas to address the island’s housing crisis. Legal concerns over property rights and potential economic fallout continue to loom. After more than six hours in a closed executive session, the panel recessed and scheduled to reconvene on July 23rd to continue discussions.
As summer hits its stride, expect ongoing shifts in regulations, investments, and market trends shaping the vacation rental industry. Check back next week for the latest updates and insights.
Thank you Anne. OR providing links like this in its update articles would be helpful, as OR search function is severely lacking.
Summer's heating up 🔥, and July brought some game-changing updates. From the arrival of Rezzy AI, which handles messaging and task management, to the new Statement Taxes for PMv2 feature, and many other enhancements, we're serving up innovation that delivers real impact.
In case you missed the Introducing Rezzy AI: Your Smart Messaging & Task Management Assistant announcement on July 16th, OwnerRez has released our new built-in assistant designed to transform how you manage guest messages and daily tasks, all within OwnerRez.
Instead of requiring multiple AI tools, Rezzy AI manages all your guest messaging, property FAQs, and task needs directly within OwnerRez, making communication and coordination efficient and straightforward, including:
Get started with Rezzy AI today by requesting access to the Rezzy AI, reading our Rezzy AI Setup & Configuration support article, and letting Rezzy handle your busywork.
GST, or Goods and Services Tax (or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Canada), is a value-added tax applied to the sale of goods and services. Short-term rentals (typically less than 30 days) are considered taxable supplies under GST/HST, meaning PMs must register, collect, and remit the tax if they surpass revenue thresholds. While long-term rentals are exempt, short-term rentals in certain countries (e.g., Canada, Australia, New Zealand) are usually subject to tax and must be charged by PMs to the owner.
Because GST/HST taxes are only collected when generating owner statements, including GST/HST taxes in those statements was challenging, often requiring complex workarounds, especially if the property manager handled multiple properties. With our July 30th release, OwnerRez added PMv2 Statement Taxes, allowing PMs to apply additional taxes against certain owners or properties and specific expense categories (e.g., cleaning, commission, etc.), with an option to assign it granularly to bookings, properties, or just the owner statement, allowing it to be automatically generated and displayed in the Expense section of Owner Statements.
If your account is using PMv2, add your Statement Tax(es) by navigating to PM Settings > Statement Taxes > + Create Statement Tax. This allows you to configure your Statement Tax to apply to specific owners or properties and specific expense categories (e.g., cleaning, commission, etc.) and includes the option to assign it granularly to bookings, properties, or just the owner statement.
When configured, this new Statement Tax is automatically generated and displayed in the Expense section of Owner Statements.
Multilingual descriptions expand your guest pool beyond just English speakers, increase booking rates from international travelers, improve search visibility on global platforms, and demonstrate hospitality that enhances guest experience and reviews. While OwnerRez doesn't yet support sending more than one, before our July 2nd release, we only sent "English" property descriptions to the channels Airbnb, Vrbo, and more. But with this release, OwnerRez has added the ability to change the property description primary language indicator sent to the following channel integrations: Airbnb, Vrbo, and if supported by the listing channel, Avanti Florida Villas, Booking.com, Glamping Hub, Google Vacation Rentals, Got2Go, Hopper Homes, Houfy, LocalOTA, and Whimstay.
You can now properly signal to those channels the language that you're sending for your property description by navigating to your properties, selecting the specific Property > Listing Content > Description on the left menu, and clicking on the pen icon to change the Language.
It will appear at the top once you've saved your language choice.
Your language selection is applied to your channel integration, so your Airbnb listing is shown to guests in your chosen language. Here's an example on Airbnb.
Tag automations for your vacation rental business can increase efficiency, reduce errors, lower costs, boost productivity, and free up time for higher-value tasks, improving overall business performance.
Airbnb statuses, such as Super Host status, and other quality ratings, enhance search ranking, boost booking rates, justify higher prices, build guest trust, and unlock platform benefits like priority support and promotional opportunities. OwnerRez has added more Airbnb Quality Standards and Host Role information to the Airbnb Check Status with our July 2nd release.
New additions include 'Quality Percentage' and 'Is Guest Favorite' in the Quality Standards section. The Host Roles section now shows Super Host status in the Type section.
Thinking about adding new listing channels to your marketing plan? Explore all of OwnerRez's Channel Integrations.
Following up on our May 21st release of the Gap Night Field Codes, we felt that some of the names and descriptions were somewhat misleading, as these fields only allow one night before or after departure to be displayed. With our July 2nd release, OwnerRez has updated the names and descriptions of the Gap Night Field Codes.
| Field | Name | Description |
| {BADJOPEN} | Adjacent Open Arrival/Departure Night | A description of open arrival/departure night(s), before and/or after booking. |
| {BADJOPENARR} | Adjacent Open Arrival Night | A description of open arrival night before booking. |
| {BADJOPENDEP} | Adjacent Open Departure Night | A description of open departure night after booking. |
Photos can drive bookings by showcasing amenities, setting expectations, and building trust with potential guests. If you have one, they are displayed on your hosted website. However, there may be times when you want to get a new property up on your hosted website before you have a chance to get professional photos done.
OwnerRez now incorporates a generic placeholder image for multi-property hosted website listings without photos in search results. If your property lacks photos or images, the system automatically inserts the placeholder image into your multi-property hosted website's search results.
Still thinking about a website for your short-term vacation rental business? Explore OwnerRez's Hosted Website options.
OwnerRez offers various ways to accept guest payments, and we don't require specific payment methods. Instead, we connect with multiple payment options, allowing you to choose the best way to collect payments. With our July 23rd release, we've included a helpful in-app (Properties > your specific Property > Rules > Change > Offline Payments and Pending & Auto Cancellation sections) banner directing you where to set up these payment methods.
The Airbnb Transaction Sync improves booking accuracy and financial reporting by automatically pulling transaction data from Airbnb for all channel-integrated properties. As of July 1st, 2025, the Airbnb Transaction Sync is enabled on all remaining Airbnb channel-integrated accounts.
OwnerRez has removed the Airbnb Reviews import from the OwnerRez Channel Bridge tool, starting with the July 9th update. Recent major updates to Airbnb's system have made it impossible to retrieve reviews reliably. Instead of investing heavily in a temporary fix that would probably encounter the same compatibility issues, we've focused on improving our Airbnb channel integration as the long-term solution for our users.
Importing your Airbnb reviews into OwnerRez happens automatically when using the Airbnb channel integration, so there is no need for Channel Bridge.
OwnerRez continues to implement our new design. With the July 23rd release, we updated the design of the Property Management section, providing a cleaner interface and improved mobile responsiveness.
As part of our July 30th release, OwnerRez updated the design of the in-app Payment Method section and added sections indicating our Recommended and Integrated Partners, Third Party Payment Websites (PayPal), Supported Connections, and Deprecated Connections. This new design sets the stage for upcoming payment options.
Display Airbnb Booking Mode for Airbnb Channel Overview. We've added Booking Mode information (e.g., Instant Book (Automatic), Request to Book, etc.) to the Airbnb channel integration page, just like OwnerRez displays for other channel integrations.
Extend Cancellation Grace Period Maximum 'Hours Away' to 800 Hours. Following our April 30th Cancellation Grace Period release, OwnerRez decided to allow users to extend the Cancellation Policy > Grace Period > Free cancellation period after booking > "at least X hours away" up to a maximum of 800 hours.
Ribbon Calendar Now Snaps to Filtered Dates. Sometimes, the ribbon calendar did not update the view as expected after selecting available dates, so we enhanced it to quickly update the view after selecting available dates.
Remove Some Places Where the Public Booking Link is Available. Following our October 2024 Add Accessibility to the Global Landing Page Via "Public Link" release, we realized that adding the Public Booking Link to so many in-app areas was redundant, so we have removed the Public Booking Link from the following in-app areas: Individual Quote Overview > Copy to dropdown list; Individual Booking Overview > Copy to dropdown list; Booking List grid "edit this booking" dropdown list; and the Inquiry grid "edit this inquiry" dropdown list.
Reorder Tabs on Individual Channel Integration Page. OwnerRez has reordered individual Channel Integration tabs from left to right: Properties, Policies, Taxes, Sync Actions, and Instructions.
Skip Expedia Message Threads in Favor of Vrbo Message Threads. Unlike Expedia message threads, Vrbo message threads are more robust because they support attachments. We enhanced Expedia message threads by detecting and ignoring Expedia-specific threads, since Vrbo recommends using their native messaging system for all communication due to Expedia threads' inability to handle attachments. Now, we always use the Vrbo thread for Expedia bookings, including both Expedia and Vrbo threads when booked through Vrbo.
Improved Mobile Display for PM Statements & Payouts Pages. Button alignment, spacing, and dropdown menu widths were causing display issues on PM Statements and Payouts pages on mobile devices. We resolved these display issues to ensure that the PM Statements and Payouts pages are displayed correctly on mobile devices.
Upgraded Plug'n Pay Integration. OwnerRez upgraded our Plug'n Pay integration to their latest API, which preserves all current Plug'n Pay payment features while ensuring backward compatibility with existing payment methods.
Fix Address Country Defaulting to Afghanistan if No Country was Imported. This edge case happened when a channel booking was incorrectly displayed as Afghanistan if no country was provided. OR corrected this glitch to no longer default to Afghanistan if no country is provided.
Fix Airbnb Importer Failing to Import a Listing When There Are Partial Rules. The Airbnb Listing Import tool encountered import failures if the listing had incomplete or partial rules. We addressed this bug by adding checks to properly handle listings with incomplete or partial rules provided by Airbnb.
Fix Airbnb Review Submission With 5-star Ratings. Airbnb rejected 5-star guest review ratings when "No, I do not recommend this guest" was selected. OR corrected this glitch by automatically selecting "recommend guest" when all categories are rated 5-stars, and disables the option not to recommend the guest.
Fix Airbnb Message Thread Process Failing for Users with Incomplete Names. Occasionally, Airbnb channel messages failed when guests with incomplete name information were processed. We resolved this issue by properly handling empty name fields when processing Airbnb guest information.
Fix Custom Sources Being Created as Disabled During the Setup Intro Wizard. While custom sources added directly on the Custom Source page were active by default, those added through Theming or the Setup Intro were incorrectly disabled by default. OR corrected this glitch, and custom sources added through Theming or the Setup Intro will be active by default.
Fix Expenses on $0 Surcharges Not Being Saved. While non-zero expenses on $0 surcharges were correctly added on quotes, they were not included in the booking charges after the booking was finalized. We fixed this bug to ensure that non-zero expenses on $0 surcharges are correctly added to booking charges after the booking is finalized.
Fix Inbox Templates to be in Alphabetical Order. Unified Inbox message templates accessed from the Activity timeline and the Message pane were displayed in different orders. OR resolved this issue, and Unified Inbox message templates will be displayed in alphabetical order for consistency.
Fix the Missing "Require Gaps" Setting From Airbnb Channel Settings. The "Require Gaps" Setting was inadvertently removed from the Airbnb channel integration > Change page. We corrected this glitch to restore the "Require Gaps" Setting to the Airbnb channel integration > Change page.
Fix Notifications Not Being Sent to Team Members With Limited Property Access. Team access members with limited property access were not receiving system notifications. OR resolved this issue, and Team access members with limited property access will receive notifications for properties they have access to.
Fix Sending Listing Descriptions That Are Longer Than Airbnb Supports. Some property descriptions that exceeded Airbnb's maximum character limits could not sync successfully with Airbnb. OR corrected this glitch, and property descriptions that exceed Airbnb's maximum character limits are truncated and synced to Airbnb correctly.
Fixed Grace Period Being Incorrectly Applied to HA-XML Channel Bookings With Non-custom Cancellation Policies. HA-XML Channel Bookings (e.g., Avanti Florida Villas, Booking.com, Glamping Hub, Google Vacation Rentals, Got2Go, Hopper Homes, Houfy, LocalOTA, Vrbo, and Whimstay) that were configured to use standard cancellation policies were incorrectly applying the grace period from the property's custom cancellation policy. We resolved this issue so that channel bookings now correctly use only the cancellation policy (and related grace period) specified by the channel configuration.
Improve Airbnb Resolution Messages for Zero-Charge Bookings. Negative Airbnb resolutions for zero-charge bookings couldn't be processed, and cryptic process failure messages were displayed. OR improved the Airbnb resolution workflow, which has been refactored for better error handling and clearer messaging.
Fix Country Requirement When Adding a Guest Address. Due to a code regression, some users encountered errors when adding or editing a guest address without adding a country. We fixed this bug so users can add or edit a guest address without adding a country.
Fix Google Tag Manager Integration on Booking Pages. The Google Tag Manager (GTM) library wasn't loading properly for users with GTM configured on their accounts. OR resolved this issue to ensure the GTM library is properly loaded and data flows through it correctly.
Fix Hosted Photo Gallery Default Tab Selection. Hosted website photo galleries were not sorting photos in gallery tabs correctly. We fixed this bug to correctly sort and display photos by automatically hiding the top tab strip when 80% or more photos are configured to rooms.
Fix an Issue Where Imported Vrbo Messages Were Displaying With Import Timestamps Instead of Their Original Creation Dates. Imported Vrbo messages inadvertently displayed import timestamps rather than the correct original creation dates. OR corrected this glitch to display the Vrbo message's original timestamp.
Fix an Issue Where Stripe Card Verification Would Fail When Using Thai Baht. Stripe credit card verifications would occasionally fail when using Thai Baht. OR has resolved this issue by increasing the minimum verification amount to the equivalent of .50 USD or more to meet Stripe's requirements for cross-currency transactions.
Fix Missing Mouseover Details in Booking Summary Report. Due to a code regression, some mouseover details were inadvertently removed from the Booking Summary report. We corrected this glitch to restore those mouseover details on the Booking Summary report.
Fix Inquiry Widget Creating Excessive Listing Sites for Google Embeds. Due to rotating URL patterns, the Quote Acceptance form inadvertently generated excessive listing sites for googleusercontent.com embeds. OR fixed this bug to prevent the Inquiry Widget from generating listing sites for googleusercontent.com embeds and disabled existing googleusercontent.com listing sites.
Correct BBINFO Field Code to Account for Pre-authorized and Scheduled Payments. When the BBINFO field code was used in templates, pre-authorized and future scheduled payments were not correctly accounted for. We fixed this bug to ensure the BBINFO field code correctly accounts for and displays pre-authorized, future scheduled payments, and remaining balances when used in templates.
Correct Calendar Entries That Assume the Wrong Century When Entering Two-digit Years. When users entered two-digit numbers for the year, in-app calendar date pickers incorrectly assumed the wrong century (e.g., 1924 when 24 was input). OR resolved this issue to interpret two-digit years as the current century correctly.
Ensure All Resolutions are Identified When Any Resolutions in a Deposit Fail. Sometimes, an Airbnb resolution may fail during deposit processing, blocking the rest of the deposit from processing and calling out other resolutions that might need attention. We corrected this bug by recording the resolution processing failure and proceeding through the remainder of the Deposit processing to identify all resolutions needing attention.
Fix Error When Inquiries are Made With Unassigned Properties. Some inquiries made without an assigned property resulted in errors when viewing related Unified Inbox threads. OR corrected this glitch so that inquiries made without assigned properties are processed correctly.
Fix Inconsistent Date Calculations in Security Deposit Email Alerts. Some security deposit system email alerts contained inconsistent date calculations. We fixed this bug to ensure that security deposit system email alerts contained correct date calculations.
Fix Incorrect Sorting of Triggers by Description. Sorting by description on the trigger grid was not sorting correctly. OR corrected this glitch so that sorting by description on the trigger grid works properly.
Prevent Delay When Retrying the Processing of a Deposit. Instead of waiting for the next scheduled run of the settlement process service, OwnerRez will immediately retry deposit processes that failed to optimize deposit processing.
Prevent Error When Check Payment Method is Missing Address Information. Some guest booking forms encountered errors when the check payment method was configured, but some Send To Address fields were missing. We resolved this issue to prevent guest booking form errors when payment method address information is missing.
Prevent Failure to Import Independent Deposits When Other Resolutions in the Deposit Fail. Some individual Airbnb resolution deposit failures caused the entire resolution deposit import to fail if other resolution deposits were included. OR corrected this glitch to allow deposits to be properly processed even when individual resolution failures are encountered.
Prevent Sending Listings to Google Vacation Rentals Unless They Have Active Websites. Some inactive hosted websites were inadvertently allowed to be selected for a Google Vacation Rentals (GVR) landing page. We fixed this bug to prevent inactive hosted websites from being available to be selected for a Google Vacation Rentals (GVR) landing page. If a website becomes inactive, OR will fall back to sending the Global Landing Page to GVR.
Reinstate Missing Actions When Creating or Editing an Inquiry Trigger. Some previously available "Action Items" were not visible or available to edit when creating or editing an inquiry trigger. OR resolved this issue by reinstating the previously available "Action Items" so they are available when creating or editing an inquiry trigger.
Correct the Bookings Order in the Inbox Sidebar. Sometimes, mid-stay and post-departure bookings were displayed in an incorrect order in the Unified Inbox Guest Information pane when viewing guest SMS messages. OR resolved this issue to ensure mid-stay bookings appear above post-departure bookings in the Unified Inbox Guest Information pane when viewing guest SMS messages..
Correct Vrbo Guest Reviews Categorized as Host Reviews. Some Vrbo reviews were inadvertently classified as host reviews instead of guest reviews, causing them to appear incorrectly on the Reviews Host tab. We fixed this bug to categorize and display Vrbo guest reviews correctly.
Fix Copy to New Agreement Not Creating a Copy of a Rental Agreement. Due to incorrect URL parameters, the "Copy to New Agreement" link in the existing Renter Agreement dropdown list failed to create a copy. OR corrected this glitch so that the "Copy to New Agreement" link in the Renter Agreement dropdown list creates a copy correctly.
Fix Copy to New Template Not Creating a Copy of Email or SMS Template. The "Copy to New Template" link in the existing email and SMS template dropdown lists failed to create a copy correctly. We resolved this issue so that the "Copy to New Template" link in the existing email and SMS template dropdown lists creates copies correctly.
Fix Google Analytics Event Inquiry Sent Raised by Inquiry Widget. Due to an event ordering issue, the "Inquiry Sent" Google Analytics event was raised by the Booking /Inquiry widget before Google Analytics was fully initialized. OR corrected this glitch so that the "Inquiry Sent" Google Analytics event raised by the Booking /Inquiry widget is sent after Google Analytics is fully initialized.
Fix PSTPROV Field Code so Provinces for Non-US Addresses are Displayed in Templates. In templates, the PSTPROV field code did not correctly display provinces for non-US addresses. We fixed this bug to ensure templates display provinces for non-US addresses correctly.
Fix Update of Booking Lead Time so it triggers an Airbnb Sync. While a full resync sent availability rules to Airbnb, when a property's booking window lead time was changed, those rules failed to sync to Airbnb immediately. OR resolved this issue, and an Airbnb availability rules resync will be triggered when a property's booking window lead time is changed.
Remove Authed Label From Processed Scheduled Payments. The Authed label was displayed incorrectly even after scheduled payments were processed successfully. We corrected this glitch so that the Authed label is displayed correctly for scheduled payments.
Resolve Channel Bridge Error at the Start of Vrbo Export. Some users encountered Channel Bridge (CB) errors at the beginning of the Vrbo export process. OR fixed this bug with the updated Channel Bridge v13.18 to ensure users can complete Vrbo Exports in the CB process.
Correct Postal Code Field Placeholder Text Truncation. The Guest Contact Info postal code field placeholder text was inadvertently truncated. We fixed this bug to ensure that the Guest Contact Info postal code field placeholder text is displayed correctly.
Ensure Airbnb Channel Integration Trigger Full Sync Action is Properly Displayed. The Airbnb channel integration Trigger Full Sync Action dropdown list item was inadvertently removed. OR resolved this issue, and the Airbnb channel integration Trigger Full Sync Action dropdown list item is available again.
Ensure Spot Gap Rules are Always Observed. This edge case occurred when changeover restrictions changes made on the rate calendar were ignored. We corrected this glitch to ensure that gap rule changes made on the rate calendar are honored.
Fix Airbnb Transactions for VAT Fee Calculations. The Airbnb transaction sorting logic for value-added tax (VAT) was incorrect, resulting in inaccurate transactions with host fees. OR resolved this issue by correcting the transaction sorting logic for Airbnb bookings to ensure proper VAT fee calculations.
Fix Guest Travel Insurance Form Email Input Formatting. The email address field on the guest travel insurance purchase form was not formatted correctly. We fixed this glitch, and the page's guest travel insurance purchase form email address field is formatted and displayed correctly.
Fix Load Older Activities Link on Guest Conversation. The Load Older Activities link at the bottom of the Guest Conversation page was not functioning correctly, preventing users from viewing historical messages. OR corrected this bug to ensure that the Load Older Activities link at the bottom of the Guest Conversation page functions correctly, allowing users to view historical messages.
Fix Owner Statement Custom Formula Tooltip Display. Tooltips shown upon hover for owner statement custom formulas were not displayed correctly. We fixed this glitch, and tooltips displayed upon hover for owner statement custom formulas are now displayed correctly.
Fix PM Owner Statement With No Data Excel Export Error. Users who downloaded PM owner statement Excel exports with no data encountered errors. OR resolved this issue by disabling the Export buttons and including a tooltip explaining why, when an owner statement has no data to export.
Fix Payment Failures Caused by Long Vrbo Guest Names. The OwnerRez system didn't effectively process Vrbo guests with long names, sometimes causing payment failures. We resolved this issue by properly splitting or truncating Vrbo guest names to ensure payments go through successfully while maintaining name integrity for guests with longer names.
Fix Portal Access Settings for Owner Options. While the selections were unavailable, the portal access Owner selections that were usually disabled with strikethrough text were displayed with standard text to limited team access users. We fixed this bug to ensure that the portal access Owner selections are disabled with strikethrough text displayed to limited team access users.
Fix Property Rule Validation for Checks and Custom Payment Methods. The property rule validation check for checks and custom payment methods was incorrect. OR corrected this glitch, and the property rule validation check will ensure that property rules for checks and custom payment methods are honored.
Prevent Connecting Same Vrbo Account to Multiple OR Accounts. While OwnerRez's Vrbo channel integration cannot handle multiple active OR accounts connecting to the same Vrbo listing, we encountered an issue where disabled listings matched existing threads, resulting in Vrbo messages being added to the wrong OR account. We resolved this issue and will prevent disabled OR accounts from matching the same Vrbo listing.
Remove mention of Airbnb on the Import reviews from Excel Page. Since the Airbnb Reviews feature was permanently removed from our Channel Bridge tool with our July 9th release, OR removed language referring to Airbnb on the in-app Import reviews from Excel page.
Remove Duplicate Airbnb LQA Pet Fee Surcharge Error. Duplicate Listing Quality Analyzer (LQA) error messages were displayed for pet fee surcharges configured for properties that did not allow pets. We fixed this bug to only display one LQA error message for pet fee surcharges configured for properties that did not allow pets.
Remove Test API Credentials From Lynnbrook Group. Lynnbrook Group does not support the Test API Credentials functionality displayed on the Lynnbrook Group payment method page, so OR has removed that section.
Send Guest Email Address Correctly to Stripe for Fraud Detection. While OwnerRez sent guest emails within the metadata sent to Stripe, that method is not used to detect fraud. When creating a Stripe customer, we resolved this issue by including the customer's email address in the primary customer object, which helps Stripe's fraud detection systems.
Scott, you can adjust your Notifications by navigating to your Profile dropdown menu (top right corner) > Notifications. For more information, check out our Notifications Setup & Configuration support article.
With over 25 years in property management, this Isle of Palms host has turned a lifelong passion into a thriving vacation rental business. From managing luxury homes in Costa Rica to overseeing more than 55 upscale beach rentals with IOP Escapes, Amy combines her marketing background and hands-on experience to create exceptional guest stays and tremendous results for her property owners.
I’ve been in the property management field for over 25 years, starting at a young age when my parents managed mobile homes on our family property in Florida. After college, I began managing my own personal rental portfolio, which naturally evolved into professional roles, including managing luxury properties in Costa Rica. When the Costa Rica market shifted after COVID, I partnered with my current business partners to launch IOP Escapes, where we now specialize in managing luxury beach rentals on Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
I’m a wife and mother with a degree in Marketing and Business Administration from the University of Florida, and I’ve built my career around my passion for property management and travel. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, I’ve lived in the Charleston, SC area for over 25 years and have worked across nearly every aspect of the industry, from long-term rental management to vacation rentals to full-scale travel planning. Today, I’m fully dedicated to the management and growth of IOP Escapes.
I’ve always been involved in property management in some form. From childhood, helping my parents manage properties, to purchasing my first rental property after moving to Charleston, I’ve steadily built experience. Over time, I’ve progressed from managing mobile home parks to overseeing luxury vacation rentals in Costa Rica, and now to owning and managing a portfolio of over 55 luxury properties on Isle of Palms.
Property management has been a constant throughout my career, though I also worked as a luxury travel advisor for over 15 years. That blend of experience, combining deep knowledge of the travel industry with hands-on short-term rental management, gives me a well-rounded perspective and allows me to approach the vacation rental business from both the guest and operational sides.
I’m originally from Florida but have called the Charleston, South Carolina area home for more than 25 years.
I genuinely love the hospitality side of the business, knowing that our team plays a meaningful role in helping families create lasting memories. There’s something deeply rewarding about being part of someone’s special vacation experience.
I feel fortunate to work in a field I’m passionate about, but if I had to name one of the more tedious aspects, it would be the trust accounting and bookkeeping side of the business. As we’ve grown from managing just eight properties to over fifty, this administrative work has become more time-consuming, though, of course, it’s a critical part of running a smooth operation.
For our team, OwnerRez is truly our operational backbone. We rely on it as our central resource, encouraging team members to start there whenever they have questions. We fully utilize its features, from QuickBooks syncing and owner statements to channel integrations, and we’ve developed a customized OwnerRez-powered website that supports all aspects of our business.
For me, the standout feature is the ability to access the full power of OwnerRez from the mobile platform. As a small, hands-on team, we’re constantly in the field and on the move, so having the ability to quickly pull up reservations and make real-time changes from a mobile device is invaluable. The software’s fast load and response times are critical as well, we appreciate not being slowed down by delays when we need information at our fingertips.
From managing her own small portfolio to growing IOP Escapes into a leader in luxury beach rentals, Amy has built a business rooted in hospitality and efficiency. OwnerRez is proud to support her continued success and looks forward to seeing IOP Escapes continue to set the standard for exceptional stays on Isle of Palms.
Please, where are the Notifications settings?
Looks like TouchStay. Ai search/chat is cool!
Summer bookings are heating up, and now’s the time to make sure you’re optimizing your operations and maximizing your opportunities to grow. ☀️ Our July lineup is packed with live webinars and an in-person event designed to help you get the most out of OwnerRez and grow your short-term rental business.
This month, we’re offering hands on product demos, Q&A sessions, and expert led webinars in partnership with industry pros like Boostly and Breezeway. Whether you want to build a custom marketing plan with AI, fine tune your profile settings, or brush up on safety best practices, there’s a session for you.
Plus, don’t miss the 2025 STR Wealth Conference happening in Nashville July 23–25. OwnerRez will be there as a proud sponsor, so be sure to stop by our booth to meet the team, ask questions, and grab some swag!
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 live session designed exclusively for OwnerRez users, we’ll show you why most direct booking websites are broken and exactly how to fix yours in under 30 minutes.
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 Session with Steve from our Engagement Team.
In this live session, we’ll walk through common hazards, simple fixes, and how prioritizing safety protects not only your guests but your business.
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 demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.
Learn how to manage your OwnerRez Profile settings in this live webinar, including personal info, localization, notifications, two-factor authentication, and more.
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.
STR Wealth Conference Returns to Nashville for 2025! Taking place July 23–25 at the Music City Center in Nashville, this three-day event is designed for short-term rental hosts, managers, and entrepreneurs who are ready to scale. This event is focused on real results. Attendees will get practical strategies from industry leaders, access live deal funding opportunities, and connect with real operators. OwnerRez will be there as a proud sponsor, so be sure to stop by our booth to meet the team, ask questions, and grab some swag. Get your tickets now!
What to expect:
When: July 23-25, 2025
Where: Nashville, Tennessee
We’re excited to unveil our new integration with Extenteam, giving OwnerRez users a seamless way to optimize staffing and guest messaging around the clock.
From staffing to guest communication, our hybrid technology + expert-powered solutions are built to save you time, cut costs, and deliver 5-star guest experiences. Power your operations with a team that never sleeps. Discover how Extenteam helps you do more, with less.
Get started with Extenteam by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Extenteam.
From luxury brand investments, new local tax measures, and a top industry event on the horizon, this week’s vacation rental headlines reflect the continued investment and growth in the vacation rental space. Let’s take a look.
Exclusive Resorts has taken a minority stake in Accor’s Onefinestay, expanding its presence in the upscale vacation rental sector. The move signals that major hotel brands still see plenty of room for growth in the short-term rental market. While big players continue to invest, there’s still a clear lane for smaller, independent operators to thrive, offering more personalized service, local knowledge, and quality offerings.
Ocean City, NJ is moving forward with a 3% occupancy tax on short-term rentals. Expected to raise nearly $2 million a year, the tax excludes hotels and realtor-booked stays. The move reflects a growing trend of cities seeking new revenue from vacation rentals to offset rising costs and to fund local infrastructure projects.
Inspirato, known for its subscription-based luxury vacation rentals, is merging with Buyerlink, a digital marketing platform, in a $326 million reverse merger. Following Exclusive Resorts’ investment in Onefinestay, this is another signal that demand for upscale vacation rentals remains strong and that well-capitalized players are doubling down on brand, reach, and growth in the luxury vacation space.
The 2025 STR Wealth Conference is just a month away, taking place July 23-25 at Nashville’s Music City Center. Focused on real-world results, the event offers attendees practical strategies from industry leaders, live deal funding opportunities, and chances to network with operators actively growing their short-term rental businesses. OwnerRez is proud to sponsor the conference and will have three team members at our booth ready to answer questions. Stop by to connect, learn more, and grab some OwnerRez swag. If you’re looking to scale your rental business, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Get your tickets now.
Can we get updates when they expand and take off in Australia?
Could be a good system but checking their website the have 0 listings on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. So would generate even less bookings then VRBO/Stayz
