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Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback, Mar Bella. We appreciate you!

Wow, this is a big release, full of new features I will use daily. Thanks especially for the Repeat Guest trigger. This will allow us to truly personalize our communications for repeat guests.

Your product is amazing - it's a cornerstone of our business! Keep up the great work.

Ocean South Properties has grown into a thriving vacation rental business from a single beachfront condo to managing 40 properties along Alabama’s stunning Gulf Coast. What started as a personal investment turned into a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences and expertly managing properties—all while balancing full-time jobs and family life.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

Our family lives in Louisiana but has always vacationed on the Alabama Gulf Coast, which is 4 hours away from us. We purchased our first beachfront condo in May of 2009 and used a large rental company in the Orange Beach area to rent it for us. We weren't satisfied with their performance, so we began managing the condo ourselves. After much success with that one, we purchased a second beachfront rental a few years later. With rentals continually increasing and many happy guests, we decided to start our own property management business. My husband and I both had full-time jobs and three children, but we took real estate classes in the evenings, got our licenses, became Keller Williams agents, and then began Ocean South Properties. Currently, we manage 40 beachfront properties in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Ft. Morgan, Alabama.

What is your background?

I have a marketing degree from LSU, and my husband has a degree in electrical engineering from LSU and an MBA from the University of West Florida.

What did you do before managing properties?

For over 20 years, I worked in Advertising Sales for newspapers in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, Austin, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Are you from that geographical area, or did you move there later?

We still live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, we have a home in Orange Beach, Alabama, and make bi-monthly visits there to check on condos, replenish our supply room, and meet with our two employees (maintenance and customer service rep). Many are surprised by this, but we have a very successful business even though we manage it from another state! It can be done with the help of OwnerRez.

Is there something that drew you to that area?

We love the white sand beaches, boat life, and laid-back atmosphere of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama. It is a beautiful vacation area and a great place to raise a family!

What do you love the most about the VR business?

I love the property owners who have entrusted their condos/homes to our care.  They've become family to us and allow us to do whatever needs to be done to make their condos nicer and more appealing to guests. I also LOVE helping decorate/stage these condos. I love a good Before & After! I also love that our oldest son, Ben, is now part of the business. He handles the day-to-day...answering quotes, booking reservations, etc. He loves creating triggers in OwnerRez!

What do you dislike the most about it?

After so many years of answering phones morning, noon, and night, I couldn't do it anymore. So, I hired a local customer service rep to answer phones and stay in touch with our guests. She is also a runner and helps me with decorating projects. 

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

We use most, if not all, of OwnerRez's features to manage our reservations, from quotes to bookings to closing out each month. We use OR to integrate with Vrbo and Lynnbrook credit card processing. We love the automatic triggers and SMS feature to keep in contact with guests from their initial booking to check-out.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

Our website is managed through OwnerRez, and we absolutely love it! Our website is expertly managed through the incredible platform OwnerRez, and we couldn’t be happier! The ease of use and powerful features have truly transformed our online presence.

It’s amazing to see how Melissa and her family have turned Ocean South Properties into a thriving business, managing 40 properties while balancing family and full-time careers. Wishing them continued success as they bring their passion for exceptional guest experiences and property management to the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast!

June's Product Update features the addition of same-day booking support and a handful of Unified Inbox updates, including Drafts and various event indicators. There are also lots of design changes around the app to review, and much more, including some welcomed enhancements around PM and channel integrations, all to enhance your short-term vacation rental business workflows.

• New Features
  • Same-Day Bookings
  • Unified Inbox
    • Drafts
    • Event and Date Indicators
    • Vrbo Cancellation Request Indicators
    • Guest Information
• Design Progress
  • Properties
  • Reports
• Enhancements & Tweaks
  • PM Expenses Booking Status Filter
  • PMv2 Owner Statement Booking Expenses
  • Airbnb Channel Integration
  • Vrbo Cancellation Policy Default
• Bug Fixes
  • June 4th Release With 7 Bug Fixes
  • June 11th Release With 19 Bug Fixes
  • June 18th Release With 9 Bug Fixes
  • June 25th Release With 17 Bug Fixes

New Features

Same-Day Bookings

Same-day bookings allow hosts to capture last-minute travelers, fill calendar gaps, reduce vacancy rates, and maximize revenue from spontaneous demand (or those whose other accommodation didn't work out for whatever reason) while maintaining a competitive advantage over properties requiring advance notice. This has been available for a long time with Airbnb, but its expansion all changed in June. You voted, and OwnerRez delivered! With our June 18th release, OwnerRez introduced the capability for hosts to permit same-day bookings for direct bookings, and some channel integration bookings (not including Vrbo, they do not support same-day bookings).

Easiest way to configure same-day bookings is at the property level by navigating to Properties > their specific Property > Rules > Change > Booking Window > Lead Time, selecting the Allow same-day bookings (guests can book today) button, and choosing the cut-off time (12:00 AM midnight is the default) that you allow guests to make a same-day reservation.

Only want to offer same-day bookings on specific listing channels? If supported by the listing channel, you can also configure same-day bookings in the settings for the following channel integrations: Airbnb (like it has for a long time), Avanti Florida Villas, Booking.com, Glamping Hub, Google Vacation Rentals, Got2Go, Hopper Homes, Houfy, LocalOTA, and Whimstay. Again, Vrbo does not support same-day bookings, so this feature does not change that fact.

To set at the channel level, navigate to Settings > Channel Management > Channel Integrations > your specific Channel Integration > Change > Booking Window & Duration > Lead Time, selecting the Allow same-day bookings (guests can book today) button, and choose the cut-off time (12:00 AM midnight is the default) that you are comfortable with for guests to make a same-day reservation.

Unified Inbox

Drafts

Creating Draft messages enables staff collaboration, ensures consistent messaging across team members, allows supervisor review before sending, reduces response errors, and maintains professional communication standards while managing multiple guest conversations efficiently. OwnerRez has added the ability to create draft messages directly in the Unified Inbox with our June 11th release.

After the message is written, click on Save Draft.

Draft messages are shown in the left message list with the red text "Draft to: ". All Drafts can be viewed by selecting Drafts from the Inbox dropdown list.

In the message pane, the draft message is outlined in red dashes with the author's name, date, and time listed below it. This allows other team members or supervisors to review or send the draft message. The Edit option is only available to the original author of the draft message. You cannot edit another user's draft; you can only delete it and create your own or send it as the original draft author.

Event and Date Indicators

Event and date indicators in OwnerRez's unified inbox provide instant context for guest communications, enabling quick prioritization, efficient response timing, and seamless workflow management. To enhance clarity with our June 18th release, we've included clearer event (e.g., inquiry, booking, etc.) and date indicators in the Unified Inbox messaging pane.

Vrbo Cancellation Request Indicators

Nobody wants to see a booking canceled, but sometimes life happens. When Vrbo cancellation requests occurred in the past, hosts didn't receive notifications from OwnerRez but from Vrbo only, which felt disjointed. With our June 25th release, you can now stay ahead of guest cancellations with Vrbo cancellation request notifications and Inbox indicators displayed directly in your OwnerRez Unified Inbox - eliminating surprises or revenue gaps.

Just like other Unified Inbox event indicators, Vrbo cancellations are displayed directly in the message pane.

Then, following cancellation, the Inbox indicator is updated to now show it was canceled.

A new Booking Cancellation Requested notification has also been added. You can subscribe via email and/or push notification.

Here's a preview of the Booking Cancellation Requested email notification sent to users, and if configured, team access users.

Guest Information 

Displaying past guest booking history enhances personalized service, fosters guest relationships, helps staff understand preferences, reduces repetitive questions, and creates seamless experiences for returning guests. With our June 11th release, OwnerRez updated the Unified Inbox Guest Information panel to intelligently group multiple bookings, quotes, and inquiries organized by type and status, with current bookings always displayed at the top.

To view older grouped bookings, click on the upper-right arrow.

Design Progress

Properties

The in-app OwnerRez Properties area is the core for managing all aspects of your rental property settings and is a powerful foundation for your rental business. As we did with our January 22nd Amenities release, we turned our attention to the Properties area with our June 25th release. Let's review the changes.

Not only does the Properties area look refreshed with this updated design, but new functionality was also added. First off, the Properties > specific Property > General Info page was updated. 

There are two primary ways to edit items for your Property information. If available, when you click on the pencil icons in the upper right of each section, you'll be taken to the corresponding property area, such as Rules, where you can continue editing by clicking Change at the top of the page, just as in the past.Another way to edit Property items is to check and uncheck each item on other Property pages quickly and efficiently. If available, after you've checked an item, you can add additional information by clicking on the Edit button to the right of the selected item. These new check and edit options are now available on the Property > Accommodations, Guest Instructions, Health and Safety, and Location pages.

The Property > Accommodations page has been updated.

The Guest Instructions page now has a fresh new look and improved functionality.The interface and visual layout of the Health and Safety page have been upgraded, too.And the Location page, along with the associated sections, has been modernized.

The Rooms, Photos, and Rules pages will be receiving further redesign in future releases. Stay tuned!

Reports

As part of our June 25th release, OwnerRez has updated all in-app Report designs to feature a more horizontal layout style.

Enhancements & Tweaks

PM Expenses Booking Status Filter

Organizing and categorizing property management expenses is essential for reviewing property operational costs. For better insight into your expenses, OwnerRez has added a Booking Status (Pre-Arrival, Mid-Stay, Post-Departure, Canceled) option to the PM > Expenses grid and the individual Bookings > Expenses grid filters as part of our June 18th release.

In the PM > Statements & Payouts > Expenses grid filter, the Booking Status option allows you to select expenses by Pre-Arrival, Mid-Stay, Post-Departure, or Canceled.

When selected, you can select individual expense(s) and use the following buttons: Categorize, Set the Vendor, Restore, or Delete to process them in one bulk action. We renamed the "Remove Exclusion" button to "Restore" and made it available as a bulk action in the grid, allowing you to restore multiple excluded expenses simultaneously.

The Booking Status option is also included in the individual Bookings > Expenses grid filter. And when selected, you can select individual expense(s) and use the following buttons: Categorize, Set the Vendor, Restore, or Delete to process them in one bulk action.

PMv2 Owner Statement Booking Expenses 

Managing a property requires careful oversight of expenses, effort, and time. To simplify the expense inclusion logic of booking expenses on PMv2 owner statements, expenses will now only be included when the related booking is remitted, removing the ability to include expenses from previous or future unremitted bookings with our June 25th release.

Here's an example of the previous owners' statements regarding booking expense options.

You'll now see that the owners' statement booking expense section has been removed, along with a descriptive banner explaining that booking expenses will only be included on owner statements when the related booking is remitted.

Have you started managing properties for other owners? Explore OwnerRez's powerful Property Management premium feature!

Airbnb Channel Integration

Staying current with Airbnb API updates allows OwnerRez to deliver seamless property synchronization and accurate price quotes for competitive hosts. Our June 4th release optimizes our Airbnb channel integration to support their latest API for price quotes, improved accessibility feature support, and supported room names and configurations.

📋 Updated Room Names (User-Visible Changes)
🏠 Better Room Type Handling
🔄 Removal of Room Ordering Requirements
♿ Improved Accessibility Feature Support
🔗 Legacy Room Type Mapping to Closest Alternatives

Vrbo Cancellation Policy Default

Based on guidance from Vrbo, cancellation policies for all new Vrbo channel integration connections will default to Moderate with our June 18th release. Users can still select other cancellation policies (e.g., Strict, Firm, No Refund, Relaxed) as desired.

Bug Fixes

June 4th Release With 7 Bug Fixes

Fix Full Commission Not Being Displayed After Importing a Booking.com Booking. This edge case occurred when a Booking.com (BDC) booking failed to display the full commission after import. OR fixed this bug, and BDC bookings will display full commissions correctly after import.

Fix Not Detecting Fully Remitted Bookings in Property Management v2. Fully remitted PM v2 bookings were not correctly identified, resulting in bookings not being PM Locked after inclusion on owner statements. We corrected this glitch to detect fully remitted PM v2 bookings correctly.

Fix Older Vrbo messages Not Properly Displaying Sent Status. Very old sent Vrbo messages incorrectly displayed "Message Queued," when it should have displayed the correct "Message Sent." OR fixed this bug to display "Message Sent" for very old sent Vrbo messages correctly.

Fix Sending Quotes With $0 Line Item Instead of Actual Line Items When Using the {QHCTAB} Field Code. The {QHCTAB} field code failed to populate charges correctly, resulting in quotes with $0 line items. We resolved this issue so that the {QHCTAB} field code populates charges correctly.

Fix Showing Incorrect Options When Editing a Yes/No Trigger Condition. Any trigger conditions that should be only Yes/No options, displayed other incorrect options in the dropdown list. OR corrected this glitch to only display the correct Yes/No options in the dropdown list for trigger conditions.

Fix Slow Loading Times for Listing Quality Analyzer (LQA). Even while filtering for one property, users with a large number of properties were experiencing slower-than-expected LQA load times. We resolved this issue by optimizing the LQA for faster loading times.

Fix Viewing the Inbox After a Guest is Deleted. After a guest was deleted, the Unified Inbox was not rendered or displayed correctly. OR fixed this bug, and the Unified Inbox will be displayed correctly after a guest is deleted.

June 11th Release With 19 Bug Fixes

Add Saint Barthélemy to the Country Selection Options. We've added Saint Barthélemy, also known as St. Barts, to the country selection options at a user's request.

Adjust Anchor Link Positioning for Bay Grande Templated Hosted Sites. The anchors added to Bay Grande templated hosted websites were not positioned correctly, obscuring the text in the top banner. OR resolved this issue so that anchors added to Bay Grande templated hosted websites will function correctly.

API for Channel Integration Now Returns 403 Instead of 500 for Invalid Keys. The API for Channel Integration endpoints would return 500 errors when given invalid keys or channel types. We corrected this glitch with the API, which now correctly returns 403 responses with clear error messages when validation fails.

Ensure Consistent Drop Shadow on Hosted Site Headers With Spill Segments. Drop shadows did not display consistently on hosted website headers and were displayed incorrectly when a segment was set to "spill." OR fixed this bug, and drop shadows will now appear consistently across different header configurations.

Ensure Correct Formatting for Extra Rows in Excel Exports. When generating report export files that contained more rows than those preformatted in the template, the file included unformatted rows. We resolved this issue so that report export files contain the correct formatting for extra rows.

Ensure Photos Unassigned to Rooms Sync Correctly to Airbnb. While it was possible to assign a photo to a different room, once photos were assigned to rooms in OwnerRez, it became impossible to reassign those photos to listing-level photos after syncing. OR fixed this bug to ensure that photos unassigned to rooms sync to Airbnb correctly. 

Ensure Skipped Properties in Channel Bridge Reviews Import are Correctly Processed. Even when some properties were selected as "Skipped," reviews were incorrectly added for that property in the Channel Bridge reviews import process. We resolved this issue to prevent skipped property reviews from being imported during the Channel Bridge process.

Fix JavaScript Error for Partial Google Analytics Configurations. Some JavaScript errors occurred when loading hosted websites with partially configured Google Analytics because conditions prevented the tracking code from functioning correctly when only some tracking IDs were supplied. OR corrected this glitch so JavaScript errors will not occur when partial Google Analytics tracking IDs are provided.

Fix PayPal Payments Pro Security Deposit Re-authorization by Ensuring Unique Invoice IDs. Some PayPal Payments Pro security deposit re-authorizations encountered failures due to duplicate invoice IDs. We resolved this issue by adding timestamps to PayPal Payments Pro security deposit re-authorization invoice IDs to ensure uniqueness for each transaction.

Fix Special Character Encoding in Links on Guest Conversation Page. Special characters in links were not displayed correctly on the guest conversation page. OR fixed this bug to correctly render and display those special characters in links on the guest conversation page.

Prevent Airbnb Updates From Altering Listing Sync Status Without User Interaction. This edge case occurred when a user discovered that their Airbnb listing sync status was updating without requesting the change. We resolved this issue by ensuring that the sync status of the Airbnb listing cannot be updated without user action.

Prevent Confirmation Loop When Creating Airbnb Accounts Through OwnerRez. Some users inadvertently got caught in a confirmation loop when creating Airbnb accounts directly in OwnerRez. OR corrected this glitch to prevent the confirmation loop when creating Airbnb accounts directly in OwnerRez.

• Remove Bookings and Expenses Columns From Owner Statement Grids. Potentially misleading Bookings and Expenses columns on PMv2 Owner Statements and PM Statements grids often displayed values that differed from actual statement amounts when using statement views that contained hidden expenses, causing confusion for property managers and owners. We fixed this bug by removing the Bookings and Expenses columns on PMv2 Owner Statements and PM Statements grids.
• Fix 404 Error When Removing PM Expense Exclusion. Clicking the Remove Exclusion button for expenses marked as "permanently excluded" incorrectly caused a 404 error. OR corrected this glitch to ensure that the Remove Exclusion button functions correctly.

Remove Deprecated Payment Methods. The following deprecated payment methods have been removed from OwnerRez: BridgePay, Innovative, NMC, NETBilling, PSiGate, Redsys, Sage Payments, SecureNet, and TrustCommerce. All affected users have been emailed multiple times with instructions to configure to another payment method.

Remove Deprecated Worldline (Bambora) Authentication Fields. Bambora (Worldline) no longer accepts username and password credentials, and connections using the old authentication have been deactivated. Affected users have been emailed multiple times with instructions on providing the required API Access Passcode to continue using Bambora (Worldline) as a payment method.

Restore Airbnb Room Types: Darkroom, Sunroom, Library, Game Room. Following our June 4th Airbnb Channel Integration release, we realized that Airbnb had restored some previously removed room types, so we have restored the following room types: Darkroom, Sunroom, Library, Game Room.

Strip More Invalid Special Characters From Property URLs. This edge case arose when a user used an invalid special character in their property URL, causing their hosted website to go down. OR has resolved this issue by stripping more invalid special characters from property URLs.

• Fix Unread Message Count for Limited Access Users. Users with limited team access noticed that incorrect unread message counts were shown, but they could not access those messages. We fixed this bug to ensure that users with limited team access can access unread messages correctly.

June 18th Release With 9 Bug Fixes

Add Additional Error Message for SMS. SMS messages that exceeded the content size (e.g., too many characters or bytes) did not return a helpful error message to the user. OR resolved this issue by adding a more friendly error message to users when their SMS messages exceed the allowed content size.

Add Error Message When a Lock is No Longer Available in a Schlage Account. When Schlage connected door locks were no longer found, OwnerRez did not return helpful error messages to the user. We fixed this bug to return clear error messages to users when a door lock is no longer found in their Schlage account.

Fix Airbnb Tax Calculation When Having Multiple Taxes in the Same Category. Occasionally, users with multiple taxes configured in the same category had some Airbnb tax calculations performed incorrectly due to rounding issues. OR corrected this glitch to ensure that Airbnb tax calculations for users with multiple taxes configured in the same category will be calculated correctly. 

Fix Broken URLs of Hosted Sites. Some property URLs that contained special characters, such as emojis, caused broken URLs. We resolved this issue by improving how special characters are handled in property URLs.

Fix Error on Guest Activity Grid. The guest activity grid experienced errors due to a formatting issue. OR corrected this formatting issue to ensure the guest activity grid functions correctly.

Fix In-app Links to Support Articles. In-app links to OwnerRez support articles encountered intermittent "Support Article Not Found" errors. We fixed this bug so that in-app links to support articles will work correctly.

Fix Showing Rates in the Rate Widget for Past Seasons. This edge case occurred when a user's Booking/Inquiry Widget inadvertently displayed rates from past seasons. OR corrected this glitch so that the Booking/Inquiry Widget now only shows rates starting from the current day forward.

• Fix Error When Exporting Expanded Owner Statement to Excel. Users encountered errors when attempting to export expanded owner statements to Excel. We fixed this bug to ensure users can export expanded owner statements to Excel correctly.
• Fix Showing Payments After the Statement Date on the Owner Statement. Even though the option to only include payments made before the statement generation date was selected, users encountered incorrect owner statements that included payments scheduled to occur after the owner statement date. OR resolved this issue, and owner statements will display the correct payments as configured.

June 25th Release With 17 Bug Fixes

Add "Has All of These Tags" Filter Option to Ribbon Calendar and Booking, Inquiries, Quotes, and Contacts Grids. OwnerRez added the "Has All of These Tags" filter option to the ribbon calendar, booking list, inquiry list, quote list, and contact list views, providing more precise filtering capabilities when working with multiple tags.

Correctly Un-suppress Blog and Forum Notifications When Reactivating Emails. The blog and forum notification email stream was not correctly suppressed when reactivating emails for login accounts, resulting in an unintended re-suppression on all streams when a notification was sent. OR fixed this bug so that login email notifications are not re-suppressed when blog notifications were sent.

Display "Sourced By Expedia" on Vrbo Bookings That Originate From Expedia in Booking Overview Tab and in Notifications. Due to channel messaging limitations for Expedia bookings, OwnerRez has added a "Sourced By Expedia" label on the Vrbo originating from Expedia to the bookings overview tab, along with any booking notifications.

Display a Warning When Attempting to Collect a Security Deposit on a Booking That Already Has an Active One. Users were not warned correctly when attempting to collect a refundable deposit on a booking that already had an active security deposit, creating a new refundable damage deposit instead of collecting against the currently active security deposit hold. We resolved this issue by adding a pop-up warning for users when they attempt to collect a refundable deposit on a booking with an active security deposit.

Don't Display Less Than 24 Hours Before Arrival Booking Window as Blocked on Rates Calendar. Properties with a booking window configuration of less than 24 hours were incorrectly displayed as blocks on the rates calendar. We corrected this glitch to ensure properties with a booking window configuration of less than 24 hours are correctly displayed on the rates calendar.

Enhance "Not yet released" Note in Transactions Grid and Secdep View to Clarify Re-authorization Status, Auto-refunding, and Hold Expiry Timing. For clarity, OwnerRez added a "Not yet released" note in the booking transactions grid and security deposit view to explain and display the security deposit hold re-authorization and auto-release date status and timing.

Ensure Clickable Links in SMS and Channel Messages Work Properly. Some links in SMS and channel messages did not function correctly. OR corrected this glitch, and links in SMS and channel messages function correctly.

Fix Airbnb LQA Error for Multiple Cleaning Fees and Clarify Guidance for Short Stay Cleaning Fee Configurations. The Listing Quality Analyzer (LQA) incorrectly generated errors when both Airbnb regular and short-stay cleaning fees were configured. We fixed this bug, so the LQA no longer generates errors for multiple correctly configured Airbnb cleaning fees.

Fix Airbnb LQA Errors for Supported Guest Surcharge Configurations and Improve Messaging for Unsupported Fee Categories. Even though the surcharge multiplier configured was supported, Airbnb surcharges with "1 above 0" guest multipliers received incorrect Listing Quality Analyzer (LQA) errors. OR resolved this issue by correcting the LQA and improving the error message wording for unsupported Airbnb fee categories.

Fix Calendar Modal Scrolling to Keep Date Picker Anchored During Page Scroll. On some in-app pages, the calendar pop-up was not correctly anchored to the date picker, resulting in a floating calendar pop-up. We fixed this bug to ensure the calendar pop-up is anchored correctly to the date picker.

Fix Errors When Pushing Photos Linked to Deleted Airbnb Rooms. Airbnb sync errors were generated when users deleted rooms directly on Airbnb. OR resolved this issue by gracefully handling missing room errors when pushing photos to Airbnb.

Fix Formula Errors in Excel Statement Exports When Opened in Google Sheets. Formula errors occurred when users opened Excel statement exports in Google Sheets. We corrected this glitch so Excel statement export formulas are correct when opened in Google Sheets.

Fix Issue Where Rule Selection Changes From Gap Required Weren't Visually Updating in the Rate Calendar. This edge case occurred when a changeover rule was updated on the rate calendar, but did not visually refresh the rate calendar. OR resolved this issue to ensure that the changeover rules made on the rate calendar will visually refresh the rate calendar.

Fix PM Statement Excel Export to Stop Summing Non-numeric Columns Like Recorded and PM Account. PM statement Excel export files incorrectly contained sum formulas in non-numeric columns, such as the Recorded and PM account columns. We fixed this bug so that PM statement Excel export files do not contain sum formulas for non-numeric columns.

Improve Invoice Printing via Firefox Browser by Removing Dark Print Overlays. OwnerRez invoice printing via the Firefox browser contained dark print overlays, making them difficult to read.  OR resolved this issue to ensure invoice printing does not include dark print overlays.

• Fix Issue Where New Vrbo Booking Threads Sometimes Showed the First Guest Message Twice in the Inbox. Occasionally, duplicate Vrbo guest messages were incorrectly displayed in the Unified Inbox for the initial message from new bookings. We corrected this glitch, and initial Vrbo guest messages will be displayed correctly in the Unified Inbox.
• Fix Issue Where Property Names Didn't Appear in the Inbox Template Selector When Multiple Quotes Existed for the Same Guest. When multiple quotes existed for the same guest, property names were not correctly displayed on the Unified Inbox template selector. OR fixed this bug to ensure property names are correctly displayed on the Unified Inbox template selector.

Thank you Jeff, I would like to know more.

Anna

blueridgedreams18@gmail.com

From tax hikes and protests to new platform tools and funding rounds, this week’s vacation rental news highlights how the industry is evolving under pressure ahead of peak summer travel.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed a bill raising hotel and vacation rental taxes by 0.75%, effective January 2026, aiming to generate $100 million annually for climate change projects. This increase brings the combined visitor tax rate to nearly 19%, one of the highest in the U.S., and will also extend an 11% tax to cruise ship bills. Funds will support initiatives like beach restoration, wildfire prevention, and climate resilience, despite industry concerns about impacts on tourism.

An Italian court overturned the government’s ban on remote check-ins for short-term rentals, ruling it overly burdensome and ineffective for security. Host associations welcomed the decision, but officials in cities like Florence and Rome plan to maintain local restrictions on key boxes and rental caps amid ongoing tensions over tourism impacts.

Over 23,000 residents in Spain’s Canary Islands recently protested overtourism, blaming it for rising housing costs and environmental strain. In response, the government is cracking down on illegal rentals, ordering Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 unlicensed listings and introducing a 21% VAT on short-term stays under 30 days.

Vrbo has introduced a new Promotions Suite aimed at helping hosts increase bookings and revenue by offering tailored discounts to various traveler segments. The suite includes tools for early booking and last-minute promotions, with dedicated search filters to enhance visibility. Upcoming features will allow hosts to target Expedia Group loyalty members and mobile users, and provide advanced settings for new listings. These initiatives respond to traveler preferences for competitive pricing and aim to improve calendar occupancy and reduce booking risks for hosts.

Wander, a luxury vacation rental platform, has secured $50 million in Series B funding to expand its network of smart, remote work–friendly properties. The company aims to combine the consistency of a luxury hotel with the personalized experience of vacation rentals, positioning itself as a trusted brand in the short-term rental market. This investment follows previous funding rounds, including a $100 million raise to establish Atlas, the industry’s first vacation rental REIT.

Miami-based vacation rental startup Roami, formerly known as Sextant Stays, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing debts of up to $50 million. Despite raising significant funding and having two leaders featured on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list, the company faced financial challenges leading to this development.

As the season heats up, expect more shifts in regulation, strategy, and innovation across the vacation rental landscape. Stay tuned for next week’s highlights.

This will work with any bookings you have integrated into your OwnerRez account. If you contact us at Pet Screening, we would love to demo how it works and answer any questions you may have.

How does this work with Airbnb bookings -- or is it only applicable to direct bookings?

I clicked the link to go to the document and it says it no long exists?

Thanks, Jeff!  Great info.

Hi everyone—Jeff Manheimer here, CEO of Stay. First off, thanks so much for sharing your feedback and ideas. Your questions around traffic, awareness, scale and pricing models are exactly the sort of input we need at this stage, so I’d like to address each point:

The way we drive traffic & build awareness is a well-proven strategy we have deployed for multiple STR sites we’ve launched. Some aspects include: 

1. Paid Search, Custom-Tailored Local Campaigns

Every new property manager partner kicks off with a dedicated marketing call to map out your seasonality and targets. From there, we build a fully tailored paid search strategy targeting geo-specific terms to drive traffic to travelers showing intent for your area. It ramps spend at peak times and conserves budget during slower months.

2. Dynamic Paid Social and Email Retargeting

Once a traveler views properties on Stay, we retarget them with eye-catching ads and emails featuring the exact properties they viewed on our site. For the next ~6 weeks, as they scroll their feed and open their inboxes, we keep your properties top of mind through the booking journey.

3. Dedicated Newsletters

We email our growing audience of over 100,000 engaged subscribers with curated property spotlights, market insights, and special offers—so your listings land right in front of qualified travelers’ inboxes.

4. Social Media & Scott McGillivray Collaborations

We regularly post on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, featuring standout properties alongside Scott’s team. This gives your listings an extra boost across Scott’s loyal HGTV-follower base. We also handpick "Scott Stay" properties to highlight unique homes that get shared on our various social media channels. 

5. Customer Service

This week we are training our customer service team with regard to OwnerRez and the overall partnership. Most of the folks who call in are travelers looking for vacation homes, but we will make sure they are prepared to speak to our PMS partner integrations (like OwnerRez) if owners or management companies reach out. 

Our scale, experience & roadmap

• We’re a newer company with fresh funding, but our core team are vacation-rental veterans who’ve built and scaled multiple marketplaces from zero up to 5 million+ unique visitors per month.
  
  
• While our current SEO footprint is modest (as one comment pointed out), we’ve scaled traffic from 0 to hundreds of thousands of monthly sessions multiple times. This is a top priority herein Q2 and Q3. We have a robust, modern content strategy to turbocharge our organic reach.
  
  
• As we add more inventory through our OwnerRez integration and other PMS partners, you’ll see listing counts grow rapidly in markets like the Gulf Coast and beyond.
  
  

Flexible pricing & hybrid model options
We currently offer:

• 20% off subscription rates (starting at $159/year) for OwnerRez users, plus
  
  
• An additional 20% volume discount for 10+ properties.
  
  

We’re happy to be an open book and can share our volume-based discount table if you contact us directly. 

That said, we love the hybrid plan ideas you’ve outlined (Plan A/B/C)—and are evaluating how to incorporate a performance-based or revenue-share option alongside our annual model. Our goal is to give you the flexibility to choose the approach that best aligns with your business, with the ability to switch at each renewal anniversary.

We’re committed to making Stay the most effective, transparent and partner-friendly platform in vacation rentals. If you’d like to dive deeper into traffic metrics for your specific market or explore a custom pricing structure, please reply here or email partnerships@stay.com—we’ll set up a one-on-one session right away.

Thanks again for your input—looking forward to proving our ability to scale together!

Warm regards,

Jeff Manheimer
CEO

STAY

I just added them to my channels and I reached out to Stay via 833-782-9277. Unfortunately, they have no clue who OR is. At least the person I spoke with had no clue. Tried to look up properties and found 1 not close La Marque, Texas.

From global crackdowns and price surges to platform safeguards and event-driven policy shifts, this week’s vacation rental headlines reveal how external pressures are reshaping the industry ahead of the busy summer season.

In anticipation of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Airbnb is once again activating its “anti-party technology”, now in its fourth year. The system blocks high-risk bookings such as short local stays by young guests, helping to prevent disruptive gatherings. In 2024, Airbnb reported a 50% drop in party incidents across the U.S. during similar blackout periods.

Spain is intensifying its efforts against short-term rentals amid a worsening housing crisis. The government has ordered Airbnb to remove over 65,000 listings that lack proper licensing or ownership disclosures, following a court ruling backing the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Madrid alone accounts for over 15,000 illegal listings. In parallel, a new legislative proposal seeks to impose a 21% VAT on short-term rentals under 30 days, double the rate applied to hotels. The bill also includes taxes on vacant properties and foreign buyers from outside the EU, aiming to prioritize housing for residents over tourism.

Anticipating an influx of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Parkville’s Board of Aldermen voted to relax short-term rental regulations for a three-month period. The temporary measure aims to accommodate players, staff, and fans, reflecting how major events can influence local housing policies.

A new Bankrate study using AirDNA data highlights significant seasonal price surges in short-term rental markets across the U.S. Focusing on single-family homes with at least two bedrooms, the study identifies 20 vacation hotspots where rental prices can more than double during peak seasons. For instance, Augusta, Georgia, experiences a 178% increase in average daily rates during the Masters Tournament in spring, while Oxford, Mississippi, sees a 125% hike in the fall, coinciding with college football season. Other notable summer destinations with substantial markups include Long Island, New York (117%), and Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri (92%).

As summer kicks into gear, the vacation rental landscape continues to evolve. Check back next week for more news on the vacation rental industry!

I suppose every new platform must start from zero...

How does Stay draw potential guests to their website?  I went out and performed multiple searches on Google (Stay, stay with stay, stay property rental.......) and could not get their website to show up.  That along with the fact that there is only one listing on their site for the entire Gulf Coast tells me they are very unlikely to draw business for my rental properties and would most likely be a waste of money.  OwnerRez needs to look at forming an integration with Furnished Finders which is also aimed at mid-term rentals and has a similar operating model as Stay but has a much larger presence on the internet with a more established following of guests that use the site.  I have several friends and family who are travelling nurses that all use Furnished Finders and have told me to go list my rentals on the site.  The only reason I haven't signed up with Furnished Finders is because I don't want to manually update their availability calendar every time one of our rentals gets booked via a different channel.

 

R/

Butch

Furnished Finders is not going in this direction anytime soon.  I had calls with the CEO, (former VRBO executive) and he has a lot of other tech stack things he needs to fix and doesn't have the bandwidth (or see the opportunity) to flood furnished finder with STR inventory.  Strange because STR inventory is turn key and more hospitality based.  Happy to share his contact info with you privately if you would like.  Maybe some more people reaching out would help.

1000% agree on Stay, they need inventory and exposure.

How does Stay draw potential guests to their website?  I went out and performed multiple searches on Google (Stay, stay with stay, stay property rental.......) and could not get their website to show up.  That along with the fact that there is only one listing on their site for the entire Gulf Coast tells me they are very unlikely to draw business for my rental properties and would most likely be a waste of money.  OwnerRez needs to look at forming an integration with Furnished Finders which is also aimed at mid-term rentals and has a similar operating model as Stay but has a much larger presence on the internet with a more established following of guests that use the site.  I have several friends and family who are travelling nurses that all use Furnished Finders and have told me to go list my rentals on the site.  The only reason I haven't signed up with Furnished Finders is because I don't want to manually update their availability calendar every time one of our rentals gets booked via a different channel.

R/

Butch

Without knowing the kind of traffic stats and performance metrics they have in specific luxury markets, a revenue split would be preferred. They are already doing better than Furnished Finder  by having an integration, however we have no problem paying a good sales agent (ie them) for their performance.  Why can’t both an annual model and a PPB commission exist?  Would also support pay for search placement.

Maybe even a hybrid model of picking plan a or plan b or plan C.

Plan A = Annual Fee, no percentage.

Plan B = 5% of rent capped at 2x annual fee.

Plan C = 5% of rent capped at 3x annual fee and priority search placement.

You can only switch plans on renewal anniversary.

We would pick an C all day.

 

 

 

 

100% that’s why I believe stay will never be big 

Without knowing the kind of traffic stats and performance metrics they have in specific luxury markets, a revenue split would be preferred. They are already doing better than Furnished Finder  by having an integration, however we have no problem paying a good sales agent (ie them) for their performance.  Why can’t both an annual model and a PPB commission exist?  Would also support pay for search placement.

Maybe even a hybrid model of picking plan a or plan b or plan C.

Plan A = Annual Fee, no percentage.

Plan B = 5% of rent capped at 2x annual fee.

Plan C = 5% of rent capped at 3x annual fee and priority search placement.

You can only switch plans on renewal anniversary.

We would pick an C all day.

We are pleased to announce our integration with Linkbase, offering users a way to enhance the guest journey.

About Linkbase

Linkbase is the all-in-one tool vacation rental managers have been waiting for. Packed with best-in-class features, Linkbase gives property managers everything they need to handle guests, from check-in to check-out and everything in between. Automate lock and lobby access, verify guest IDs, collect damage deposits, send step-by-step check-in instructions, and offer upsells like boat rentals or wine tours—all through a simple, branded link. It even captures guest emails via Wi-Fi to help drive repeat direct bookings. Linkbase isn’t just a tool—it’s your digital co-host.

With a background in real estate, interior design, and property management, Caroline Jordan has worn many hats in the industry. However, her passion for the Gulf Coast and connecting with people led her to build Coastal Link Properties, where she helps create unforgettable stays for travelers.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I’m Caroline Jordan, the owner of Coastal Link Properties, and I’ve been in the vacation rental industry for over 10 years. My journey started in Gulfport, Mississippi, where I grew up, and after high school, I spent a lot of time visiting the Alabama coast with my pseudo-parents, Jimmy and Sheila Stewart. We’d stay on their boat at SanRoc Cay in Orange Beach, and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the area. I moved to Orange Beach and started working for RE/Max, where I met my future mother-in-law, Debbie Freund. After a few years, in 2014, I took over Rental Link, the vacation rental business my husband had started in 2009. That’s when Coastal Link Properties came to life. I’ve been running the business ever since, blending my love for human connection with real estate and property management.

What is your background?

My background is a bit eclectic. I’ve done everything from pressure washing houses to interior design, the mortgage industry, working at UPS, appraisals, sales, and running for RE/Max. I’ve dabbled in just about every facet of the industry over the years, which has led me here to vacation rentals and property management.

Were you always in VR or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?

I started in property management in 2007 and moved through various roles like advertising, interior design, and real estate. However, property management was the one area that truly stuck with me. It’s what I returned to and made my career, especially once I took over Coastal Link Properties.

If a later career, what did you do before?

Before entering property management, I worked in advertising, sales, appraisals, real estate, and interior design. I’ve tried my hand at various jobs, and they all helped shape my current business approach.

Are you from that geographical area, or did you move there later?

I am originally from Gulfport, Mississippi. After graduating high school, I moved to Orange Beach, where I began working for RE/Max. Following that, I relocated several times—first back to Ole Miss, then to Atlanta, Biloxi, and finally Pensacola. Now, I have settled in Pensacola, where Coastal Link Properties continues to grow.

What do you love the most about the VR business?

What I love most about the vacation rental business is the people involved. It’s incredibly rewarding to create beautiful getaways for our guests, but what I find even more fulfilling is the relationships I build with both property owners and guests. I enjoy connecting with everyone and making their experiences memorable.

What do you dislike the most about it?

The only downside for me is dealing with people who are simply unpleasant. It’s rare, but it’s the aspect of the business I don’t enjoy. I much prefer establishing positive, helpful connections.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

I use OwnerRez for literally everything. It’s a crucial tool in my daily operations and helps me keep everything organized and running smoothly. From booking to communication, it’s my go-to platform.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The calendar is undoubtedly the most useful feature for me. It is a game-changer in terms of managing bookings, and the communication tools with guests are incredibly efficient and user-friendly. It truly helps streamline everything.

It’s inspiring to see how Caroline Jordan has built Coastal Link Properties with passion and dedication! Wishing her continued success as she grows her business and creates unforgettable experiences for guests and homeowners alike.

Hi I have updated info on this --the promo code is working now. It will expire 6/30/2025 and it is good for the monthly subscriptions.  The annual subscription is already discounted 10%.

This promo code was unrecognized by Hello Guest Screen upon sign up.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Topkey to offer users a powerful financial automation solution tailored for vacation rental managers. This collaboration simplifies bookkeeping, automates expense tracking, and streamlines payments, giving you complete control over your financial operations with minimal manual effort. 

About Topkey

Topkey is the leading financial automation platform built specifically for vacation rental managers. Integrating directly into your PMS and accounting software, Topkey provides a single, unified system that automates expenses, bookkeeping, receipts, banking, corporate cards, AP/bill pay, and more.

With over 130 property managers using Topkey, we help you increase profitability by eliminating cash leakage and automating time-consuming financial workflows. As the only expense platform in the property management industry with direct integrations to Visa, American Express, and Mastercard, Topkey delivers unmatched accuracy, flexibility, and confidence over your expenses.

See what customers say about using Topkey at topkey.io/customers.

Features

• No more wild cards - Create and control as many company cards as you need, physical and virtual.
• Spend wisely - See every transaction as it happens and take advantage of intel that reveals opportunities to save even more.
• Spare no expense - Upload receipts and assign expenses to properties on the go, so every purchase is 100% tracked and reimbursed.
• Bank* with confidence - Utilize one solution for business checking and owner deposit accounts to gain a clearer financial picture.

Spend More Time Investing in Your Properties

• Consolidate Systems: Manage credit cards, banking, expenses, and bill pay all in one place and all integrated w/ your PMS and accounting software—no more juggling systems.
• Save Time: Use Topkey's PMS integrations to save time on manual data entry by automating work order and owner charge creation.
• Cut Leakage: Catch every expense and protect your margins.
• Automate Processes: Your team should focus on scaling, not admin work.

Pricing

For pricing details, email info@topkey.io or visit topkey.io.

Happy Friday! From regulatory reforms and real estate restrictions to platform overhauls and pop culture throwbacks, the vacation rental world is buzzing with change.

Airbnb unveiled its 2025 Summer Release this week, marking a significant shift from a home-sharing platform to a comprehensive travel and lifestyle marketplace. The updated app now offers “Airbnb Services,” allowing users to book amenities like private chefs, spa treatments, and personal trainers in over 260 cities. Additionally, “Airbnb Experiences” have been reintroduced, featuring curated activities hosted by locals, including celebrity-led events under the new “Originals” category.

In a move to enhance consumer protection, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has implemented a new rule requiring all short-term lodging businesses, including vacation rentals and platforms like Airbnb, to disclose total prices upfront in advertisements. This regulation targets hidden fees, such as resort or destination charges, ensuring travelers are aware of the full cost before booking. While government taxes are excluded, all mandatory charges known to the business must be included in the listed price.

Australia has enacted a ban on foreign investors purchasing established dwellings from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027, aiming to increase housing availability for residents. This policy restricts temporary residents, including international students and contract workers, from buying existing properties unless they plan to significantly increase housing stock. The ban is anticipated to reduce the number of properties available for short-term rentals, potentially affecting platforms like Airbnb and impacting local economies reliant on tourism.

Fans of the “Twilight” series can now stay at Bella Swan’s iconic house, featured in the film saga, by booking it on Airbnb. Located in St. Helens, Oregon, the five-bedroom, 1930s whitewashed home served as the filming site for Bella’s residence and is now dubbed the “Twilight Swan House.” Accommodating up to eight guests, the rental boasts a near-perfect rating of 4.99 stars from over 580 reviews, with many guests praising its authenticity and nostalgic value.

That’s a wrap for this week’s updates. Check back next Friday for more news and trends shaping the vacation rental world!

before going through the process of answering a bunch of questions and taking a quiz, I’d like to understand what’s in it for us.

To put it bluntly, if you have to ask this question, the CA program probably isn't for you. 🙂

The broader answer... There are many OwnerRez advanced users (ie. power users, experts) who sell consulting services to others like setting up accounts, giving accounting advice, optimizing rules, setting up websites, etc.  These experts want to show that they are certified by OwnerRez to sell these services, so that they stand out from the crowd. A lot of people claim to understand how OwnerRez works, but do they really? As a new customer, how do you know who to trust before you send someone money. 

A close analogy would be the Microsoft MVP certification or Cisco CCT and CCDA certifications. Oracle, Apple and many other companies offer certifications to show the world who is a tested tried-and-try export at using their software. That's what we are setting up with our new OwnerRez CAP.

If this all sounds like a bunch of pointless testing with no value, then you probably aren't running a consulting business.

Hi, Sam - If you are an OwnerRez user who assists other users by setting up their accounts or answering questions, the Badge is one more way for you to promote your services. Since not everyone will qualify for certification, it is a way to set yourself apart from others.

I would like to be a certified advisor, but before going through the process of answering a bunch of questions and taking a quiz, I’d like to understand what’s in it for us. 

right!

Hi, JRS1!  We have a helpdoc in our Support Center with info on the Certified Advisor program. As you will see, we have a section on Program Policies which defines things a little more. The Badge is a recognition of the Advisor's knowledge but does not cover anything related to the services they offer, their pricing or any agreement an OwnerRez user may make with them. Each Advisor is asked to provide a link to their personal website where you should be able to find more information. I hope that answers your questions. 
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/certified-advisor-program

Hi, ATA:  I know the learning curve can be a bit much with OwnerRez, but we hope you've found it's well worth it. That's one of the reasons we're excited about offering another resource for new users. Appreciate your being a client for over two years!