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VR Mastered

Passionate and powerful education in the vacation rental industry

Passionate and powerful

You are passionate.

You want your guests to experience your country, your city, your neighborhood, and your property in such a way that they will smile broadly with every memory of their stay with you.

You are powerful.

You have the power to create an experience for your guests that is beyond wonderful or that is horrifically deplorable.

You can use your passion and power to touch the lives of your guests

VR Mastered will teach you:

  • how to harness your passion and power
  • how to market your delightful experience
  • how to deliver your enchanting experience to your guests

Next event:
2023 | TBD

VR Mastered Boot Camp

#vacationrentalbootcamp

Get it done

Come with questions.
Leave with things done.

This is not your normal conference or meet up where the presenters present and the attendees attend.

You will learn.
You will make a task list.
We will do - together.


You will learn and do

We know it is tough to navigate the vacation rental industry as an owner and property manager.

We have been through it ourselves and are still doing it, making our way through the changes, adapting and pivoting with the industry.

We have made our mistakes and our successes.

Now you can take advantage of our experiences.

testimonial photo

I attended with the goals of shortening my learning curve in a new industry and ensuring a strong start for my budding business.

No question, those goals were met.

I would highly recommend boot camp for any host, new or seasoned, who wants to create some serious momentum in their vacation rental business.


Vacation Rental Boot Camp

Get the FULL Vacation Rental Boot Camp

2023 TBD

The first one SOLD OUT in Mexico, the second one was near capacity in Nashville, Tennessee, the third one in Santa Cruz was a blast, and the St. Louis one was the biggest yet…you will NOT want to miss the next boot camp. Our alumni are might be addicted to #vacationrentalbootcamp and several will be there to help guide you.

What we cover (adding new advanced sessions for 2023):

  • Marketing
  • Storytelling
  • Keywords
  • Canva (Beginner and Advanced)
  • Instagram (Beginner and Advanced)
  • Branding Voice
  • Organic Search
  • Hospitality
  • Bed Making
  • Towel Folding
  • Best practices
  • Photography and Video
  • Facebook Live
  • Using your smartphone
  • Video clips for social media
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Facebook biz page
  • Facebook groups
  • Paid Search
  • Google Adwords
  • Social media
  • Newsletter
  • Best practices for newsletters
  • Create your first newsletter in MailChimp
  • One on one with instructors
  • Drip email campaigns
  • Workflow
  • Answering Inquiries
  • Booking
  • Digital Welcome Books
  • Key Correspondence
  • Reviews
  • Websites
  • Ask us Anything
  • Tools for productivity
  • Q&A
  • Open workshop hours and one on one time

Agenda and times are subject to change as we tweak the schedule.

We will have eight (8) industry experts this year!

Vacation Rental Boot Camp
- 2023 | TBA
- 2024 | TBA

Alumni Jacqui

Why she is coming back to boot camp again

Marketing

Marketing

Travelers are demanding an experience, not just a bed to place their head. Stand out from the crowd of properties with your marketing.

As a small business owner, you may not have a cohesive marketing plan and are one who relies on listing sites to fill your calendar.

It is time to pivot - to truly master your business.

Marketing is key to getting your vacation rental in front of people who want to experience your place and your area.

With the VR Boot Camp, you will begin to see yourself as a “set director” for a vacation, adding vacation to your home.

Marketing may feel scary to you.

We will walk you through each step of marketing in the VR Boot Camp:

  • Create a marketing plan
  • Refine property descriptions and headlines
  • Set up social media accounts
  • Write your first email newsletter

Travelers are looking for experiences, not 2 beds/2 baths.

And you will deliver an unforgettable experience to your guests, one that they will talk about for years to come.

People are eager for a vacation. You will learn how to lead them to the vacation of their heartfelt desires, step-by-step, through their internal objections, until they feel compelled to give you their credit card number.

testimonial photo

We would not be on this successful venture-journey without your expert guidance. Boot Camp was the turning point. And you can quote us!

We are sticking on message with little flail-moving to more independence in this fun, exciting world of vacation rental, Mahalos to you!


Listing sites

You will learn how to write a compelling headline and words that trigger powerful emotions in future guests.

Your copy is really a love letter to your guests’ weary souls.

Listing sites are not evil and should still be an important part of your business plan.

We will cover a 10 point checklist so you can see where you excel and what areas you need to give some more attention to.

Then, we will tackle those areas together.


Websites

The average vacation rental sold in 2015 in the United States for $192,000. If you spent nearly $200k on a coffee shop, I bet one of the first things you would do is to get a website.

Yet websites is an area where many owners fail.

Guests see you as a professional if you have invested the time and funds into a website. In addition, you have unlimited space to talk up not only the experience you offer, but the experience your area offers.

There are only a few options we highly recommend for personal websites, depending on your needs as an owner.

We will cover the benefits and the disadvantages of each choice, helping you decide what the right fit is for your business.


Social Media

You will spend focused time in small groups, with laptops out, to finally crack the code to Facebook and YouTube marketing, the two highest ROI social media platforms for travel.

We will also touch on Pinterest and a free tool to make your own memes.

What’s a meme, you ask? No worries, we have got your covered!

Because movement captures eyes, you will learn how to use a free tool to create movies out of your photos, and we will build a campaign directed at your ideal guest using highly targeted Facebook tools.

Since Facebook knows everything about everyone already, you will harness that power to get your vacation rental property in front of interested future guests for a fraction of the cost of those who go at it alone, with much better results.


Email newsletters

Simply the most effective marketing campaign around, email marketing will become part of your marketing plan.

After this session, you will come away with a free MailChimp account and a newsletter template. In just a few easy steps, you will gather all of the email addresses from those who have inquired about your property from listing sites as well as those who have booked through your HomeAway account.

You will also leave the VR Boot Camp armed with future email newsletters that you simply tweak for your own property, send to your email list, and enjoy their beautiful effectiveness.

testimonial photo

This vacation rental boot camp exceeded my expectations.

It was jampacked with helpful information taught by successful vacation rental owners with complimentary expertise.

The opportunity to devote time to learn and network with just a few other owners was well worth the cost.

Photography and Video

Photography

Important and elusive.

We will show you how to conquer one of the most important aspects of your marketing plan.

And bonus, you will get a professional head shot done by Tyann Marcink ($200 USD value).


Video

Travelers are drawn to video.

We will teach you how to make short video clips perfect for your social media posts that will engage travelers looking to become your guests.

But not just record them on your smartphone. We will sit down and do quick edits to add music and text to engage viewers.

Hospitality

Hospitality

Guests will remember how you make them feel.

Are you heaping on the warm fuzzies or treating them like unwelcome houseguests?

With our toolkit of hospitality “must-dos” and live demonstrations, you can ensure your guest’s first word when they step through the door is “Ooooo!” and not “Oh.”

At the VR Boot Camp, we will not only tell you how to be hospitable, but we will show you hospitality.

You will love learning by immersion.


Linens

Do you speak linens? After our VR Boot Camp, you will!

We will talk about the best sheets, towels and blankets in the biz, and how to tuck and fold like a hospitality professional. Follow our tips and we guarantee guests will mention your attention to detail in their reviews.


Amenities

The “little things” are the next frontier of successful vacation rentals.

Learn which amenities should you make standard at your property…and which you can skip to save some money.

We may even send you home with a certificate of excellence.

Get first dibs on the limited spots

FAQ

FAQ

We know you have questions.

We have answers.

When is the next VR Boot Camp?
2020 was cancelled due to Covid. 2021 we were hustling with our properties. 2022 is a planning year so we can bring back Boot Camp in 2023.

How much does it cost?
Early registration will be the best rate once we open registration

SPECIAL RATES FOR COUPLES AND TEAMS

Do you have an early registration discount?
Yes, we do! Register early for a huge discount!

Where will VR Boot Camp be held at?
We choose a venue that inspires us each time.

Is there a reserved room block at a special rate for VR boot camp attendees?
Yes! There will be a special rate as well.

We encourage you to add a few extra nights to your stay to explore the area.

May I bring my spouse/significant other/best friend/teammate?
Yes! If they plan to attend the VR Boot Camp, we have a special price for spouses and teams. If they want to just hang out as a tourist while you are at the Boot Camp, they don’t need a Boot Camp spot. Basically, bring someone with you for more fun at a low cost!

Can I stay longer in the location for a little vacation?
Absolutely! We encourage you to do so.

What is the best way to get to Vacation Rental Boot Camp?
Drive, fly, walk, bike, ride the train…whichever is easiest for you!

Do you have industry companies who believe in you enough to sponsor the education at VR Boot Camp?
Yes, we do! Please visit them and let them know we sent you over. We will be teaching the advantages of using these companies at our boot camp as well.

The Distinguished Guest

Vacation rental and boutique hotel supplies
Check it out now

Natty Media

Abandon boring…
Photography, websites, social media, and all things marketing for your vacation rental
Read more

Proper Insurance

Vacation Rental Insurance For Homeowners
Get a quote now

OwnerRez

A comprehensive booking engine, built by people who own and know vacation rentals. Manage all your properties from one dashboard, from 1 to 100’s.

Noiseaware

We’re giving people the power to know the noise level at their property anytime, anywhere.
See how it works

Vrolio

The easiest place to research, find, or sell short-term rental investment properties.
See it now

Touch Stay

Digital guidebooks to make your guests happy. Use code VRM10 for 10% off.
See it now

Home Sweet Anywhere

A memoir by Lynne Martin
Get your copy now

We know you may have even more questions, and we have more answers.

Please send us an email:

About

the industry experts who are teaching

Press

Read about #vacationrentalbootcamp in industry news articles:

VRM Intel

Read the story

Our Co-founders

Alanna Schroeder

Happiness is a well-made bed.

That’s my mantra as founder of The Distinguished Guest, a hospitality supplier for vacation rentals. Your guests want a hotel-quality experience…and yep, it starts in bed!

(The Distinguished Guest also supplies bath amenities, swimming pool goodies, and more.)

I’m also a property owner: I have been managing two 5-star vacation rentals for 10 years in Tahoe and Kauai.

My mission is to share deals I have found on simple, quality products that make turnovers a little easier for managers and travel a little more beautiful for guests.


Tyann Marcink

My favorite adventures took me down the face of a slippery cliff off the Na Pali Coast in Kauai and into a secret cave with 20 sleeping sea turtles, dangled my feet from the edge of the Waimea Canyon, and kayaked into the bio luminescence in Grand Cayman.

I am co-creator of VR Mastered vacation rental boot camp for hosts, the worldwide Community Ambassador for Touch Stay digital guidebooks, as well as teach the vacation rental niche to photographers.

My passion for photography and the vacation rental industry truly makes my eyes sparkle, and I love speaking on photography and the guest experience at vacation rental conferences.

Considered the industry leader in vacation rental photography, I also have the advantage of the property owner’s viewpoint, as I have 5 properties in Missouri: 2 large homes in Branson, 1 small home in Union, and 2 unique homes in Marthasville. I have hosted over 10,000 guests since 2007.

I have written two books and created a video course on vacation rental photography, have a team of photographers at Natty Media as well as teach workshops on the subject and presented at industry conferences and podcasts, including:

  • Vacation Rental World Summit
  • Vacation Rental Success Summit
  • VRMA International
  • Florida VRMA
  • HomeAway Summits

See the articles I have written for HomeAway and other industry companies and magazines here.

Follow my adventures, photography tips, and vacation rental insights at tyannmarcink.com.


Our 2019 Guest Industry Experts

Jessica Vozel

I am a writer and travel marketer who has worked with vacation rental owners and managers on every continent but Antarctica (someday!). My copywriting agency, Guest Hook, helps vacation rentalists with their copy, content marketing, branding and marketing strategy. Before Guest Hook, I worked as a college writing instructor.


Conrad O'Connell

I am the founder of BuildUp Bookings, a digital marketing agency that creates winning digital marketing campaigns for travel & accommodations brands.


Nancy McAleer

I am a self-managed vacation rental owner, a vacation rental consultant, a faculty member and contributing writer at the Vacation Rental Marketing Blog (VRMB), regular speaker at Vacation Rental Success Summit (owner’s panel), and have recently launched an independent regional listing website for the state of Florida (FLARBO.com).

With 3 successful vacation rental properties on Anna Maria Island, Florida I have had the pleasure of hosting over 4,000 guests through our doors while remotely managing from my home base in Montreal, Canada.

I’m a self confessed vacation rental geek that has been called upon to share my insight with the Vacation Rental Formula and Airbnb Success podcasts. This will be my second year training at the VR Mastered and I’m excited to share my latest insights, strategies and newest automated campaigns to gain more bookings and work less!

Contact

Contact

Have a question about VR Mastered, the educational boot camp, or video courses that is not covered in our FAQ?

Please contact us whichever way is easiest for you:


testimonial photo

Attending the Boot Camp took my vacation rental knowledge to a whole new level.

No matter where you are in the process, you will come away with a whole new tool box to play with.

You have made it all the way through the entire website…here is what’s next:


The vacation rental industry companies who sponsor the VR Mastered Boot Camp and the education and success of vacation rental owners and hosts like you:

Your time is valuable.

Learn how to be the best owner and host in hospitality and workflow.

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