Live From VRMA's Exec Summit: What the Smartest Operators Are Really Thinking About Right Now (Part 1)

Welcome to a special two-part series of Behind the Stays — recorded live at the VRMA Executive Summit in Miami. I brought my mic to the halls of one of the vacation rental industry’s most intimate and influential gatherings — and instead of long-form interviews, I asked a handful of sharp operators and thought leaders three punchy questions: What’s a contrarian belief you have about what today’s travelers actually want from a vacation rental? What’s something happening in the industry that not enough people are talking about — but should be? And finally, what’s one travel trend you’re bullish on, and one you’re a little bearish on? In Part One, you’ll hear from Steve Trover — founder of Better Talent and a veteran of the industry with nearly three decades of perspective. Steve drops a spicy take on why guests don’t want high-touch hospitality, makes a strong case for why more PMs should be thinking about business travel, and shares his experience with purpose-built homes long before it was cool. In Part Two, I sit down with Jacob Mueller, co-founder of Renjoy — and trust me, if you geek out on tech, systems, or data sovereignty, this one’s for you. Jacob breaks down why most property managers are being held hostage by their PMS, how owning your data is the key to unlocking real AI leverage, and what it takes to build tools that actually serve both your owners and your ops teams. And finally — in Part Three — you’ll hear from Michelle Marquis. Michelle’s worn just about every hat in this space — from property manager to tech exec to connector-in-chief. She offers a clear-eyed take on where standardization is falling short, why guest basics still matter more than we’d like to admit, and what she’s seeing when it comes to group travel, pet-friendly stays, and the growing demand for better experiences. These are fast, fun, and unfiltered convos with folks who are deep in the game — and I think you’re going to walk away with a few new questions to ask yourself… and maybe even a few answers you didn’t see coming. Stay tuned for Part Two of this special series — featuring even more industry voices and insights — dropping Friday, June 13th.

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