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Any timeline on roll out? We are hoping to put our 35 properties to the test.
thanks,
VWM
Can/will the Task area be available for everyone? I don't know how helpful AI will be for me but the Task Area would be a huge asset.
Thank you
Kimberly, this Tasks area is only available as part of the Rezzy AI private beta, but feel free to upvote the Task Management feature request. We take Feature Requests seriously at OwnerRez.
Thank you for replying.
AirBnB does a good job translating messages. Booking.com does not and direct booking via website has same problem. I send out messages in English, but they cannot read them. So requiring the guest to select a language will not work for me. Needs to be based on the language they use to ask a question or the address they use. Best would be English and the local language based on the address they use, until a language can be determined. They cannot figure out how to sign the lease or pay the deposit. Can you determine the language setting on the device they are using? Like AirBnB. Then translate everything automatically?
John, some of our guest forms can be translated by the guest to their preferred language. For more information, see our International Guests and Guest Culture support articles. But I suggest you also contact our Helpdesk directly for other suggestions.
Can/will the Task area be available for everyone? I don't know how helpful AI will be for me but the Task Area would be a huge asset.
Thank you
Thank you for replying.
AirBnB does a good job translating messages. Booking.com does not and direct booking via website has same problem. I send out messages in English, but they cannot read them. So requiring the guest to select a language will not work for me. Needs to be based on the language they use to ask a question or the address they use. Best would be English and the local language based on the address they use, until a language can be determined. They cannot figure out how to sign the lease or pay the deposit. Can you determine the language setting on the device they are using? Like AirBnB. Then translate everything automatically?
Will this be able to translate from other languages? Translate messages sent and received.
How will this work with direct booking from the website? Will there be a chat feature?
Great questions, John.
Regarding language translations, Paul stated above the following: "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."
Rezzy AI can respond to your direct booking guests in the Unified Inbox utilizing SMS messaging.
Regarding the hosted website chat feature, the blog post states: "💻 Website chat widget that answers guest questions using your property info, and sends anything else to your inbox. (coming later)" However, I don't have an ETA on that.
Give Rezzy AI a test drive, and feel free to add a Feature Request for a hosted website chat feature!
It says it will be an add on. If you aren't messing around with chatgpt or perplexity you are missing out on some serious fun and unbelievable tools ( for making life easier, more enjoyable, deeper). Your loss.
Will this be able to translate from other languages? Translate messages sent and received.
How will this work with direct booking from the website? Will there be a chat feature?
Same!! Our team is pumped.
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.
We are not too fond of AI ourselves, but this is a no-problem feature: it is OPTIONAL, you do not need to/do not have to turn it on.
This week’s roundup covers Dearborn’s new short-term rental rules, rising UK countryside bookings, a shift toward vacation homes among wealthy travelers, efforts to cut food waste in rentals, and European hotels challenging Airbnb’s over-tourism claims.
The Dearborn City Council approved new short-term rental regulations set to take effect January 1, 2026. The ordinance prohibits short-term rentals in single-family residential neighborhoods. A city representative said, “We believe that limiting short-term rentals to commercial areas, like our downtown districts, will protect housing stock for residents, including long-term renters."
Airbnb has shared its picks for the top ten family-friendly destinations in the UK this summer. The list includes seaside favorites like Dorset and Ceredigion, alongside popular countryside spots such as the Peak District and the Isle of Wight. According to Airbnb, family travel bookings to rural areas in the UK grew nearly 60 percent from 2019 to 2024, reflecting a broader trend toward quiet escapes. In 2024, the majority of guest nights stayed on Airbnb in the EU, almost 60 percent, were outside of cities.
According to a recent Forbes report, wealthy Americans are increasingly turning to vacation homes instead of traditional luxury hotels. Companies like Exclusive Resorts and Iconic House are seeing significant growth, driven by a demand for more privacy, space, and personalized services. Wealthy travelers are opting for the flexibility and intimacy of private stays over the standard hotel experience. This shift contributes to the global vacation rentals market, which, according to Statista, is expected to generate $105 billion in revenue this year and reach $125 billion by 2029.
A recent report highlighted in Parade points to food waste as a growing issue in short-term vacation rentals, with U.S. vacationers generating an estimated $2 billion in wasted food each year. Guests say they would welcome information on how to donate or compost unused food before checkout. With vacation rentals on the rise, these small steps could help reduce environmental impact while enhancing the guest experience.
Following our May 23rd and June 20th Industry News updates on Spain’s court ruling against unlicensed Airbnb listings, European hotel leaders are now challenging Airbnb’s recent report on overtourism. Airbnb’s “Overtourism in the EU” report claimed that hotels account for most tourist stays and suggested that short-term rentals help ease crowding by spreading visitors beyond city centers. The report also pointed to airlines and cruise ships as key drivers of overtourism. Meliá Hotels CEO Gabriel Escarrer pushed back, noting vacation rentals in Spain have grown 135 percent over the past decade, far outpacing hotels, which face stricter rules. Accor, another major hotel group, echoed the call for balanced tourism policies and stronger oversight of short-term rentals.
As the vacation rental industry navigates shifting regulations, market trends, and traveler expectations, we’ll be watching for what’s next. Check back next week for more industry updates!
Natasha,
The clue is in the word you used, "personalized." That means an approximation of personal, not quite personal, personal-ish. That is no doubt what you offer, it can hardly be otherwise if you have a lot of guests and you tell them the same thing every time. I mean, how many different ways can you lend a personal touch to "checkout is at noon" or "the patio light switch is just inside the side door"?
Furthermore, this is what the majority of guests want. For every guest who wants to spend hours getting to know you and telling you about their grandchildren, there are 10 who just want an easy check-in, clear instructions, appliances that work, and a comfy bed with NO personal interaction.
If you cared about your guests, 9 times out of 10 you'd just leave them alone. AI can help with that, leaving you time to lavish your personalized attention on the few who want it.
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.
