In this first episode of a special 5-part series on direct booking, Heather Bayer sits down with Louis Andrews, Director at OVO Network, to explore what it really takes to win the battle against OTAs and build a successful direct booking strategy. With OVO Network reaching 75-80% direct bookings, Louis shares the secrets behind their platform, the importance of niche branding, trust-building, and the role of tech and website UX in conversion success. Heather also reflects on her own company's success - CottageLINK Rental Management, which achieved 85% direct bookings by the time it was sold in 2022. This episode is packed with practical tips, real-world insights, and a passionate discussion about the future of the vacation rental industry. 📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community - an exclusive space for short-term rental pros who want deeper conversations, smarter systems, and more collaborative learning. And if you're curious about using AI in your business - whether it's for guest communication, operations, or even marketing - check out our AI Ambassador Program. It's designed to help you learn, lead, and get hands-on with the tools shaping the future of hospitality. 🌐 Learn more and join us at VacationRentalFormula.com/AI Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS630

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