This vacation rental owner got the best parts of local management—and then some

Shannon Y. knows what it takes to be a good host.

After decades of observing her husband manage luxury hotels across the country, she can spot all the hallmarks of great hospitality. Her exacting standards are how she chose her first vacation rental manager—and why Shannon stayed on after that manager sold her business to Vacasa.

Somewhere, beyond the sea

“I live in a cool place—but it's really cold part of the year,” Shannon says of her home base in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

To escape the harsh winters in the Tetons, Shannon and her family bought a home on the Big Island of Hawaii. But owning and renting a second home 3,000 miles away presented obvious (and not-so-obvious) logistical problems.

Chief among those concerns was personalized care for her home and guests. It’s why she initially worked with a small, local vacation rental manager. She loved the direct connection she had to her home’s caretaker, and felt her manager could deliver on little details that were important to creating the luxurious feel Shannon was after in her rental.

When her manager chose to sell their business to Vacasa, Shannon was a little skeptical. Could a big company provide the hands-on care she came to expect? Shannon did her research and decided to stick with Vacasa, believing that their local team and national brand could offer both exceptional home care and additional benefits she hadn’t experienced before. And to her satisfaction, Vacasa has delivered time and time again.

“For example, we had a crazy wind storm. The table, chairs, and barbecue on the patio were flung onto the golf course,” Shannon recalls. “Our guest called Vacasa, and the local team got on it. My manager assessed the damage, and told me the barbecue needed to be replaced. The maintenance guy not only went and bought it, but put the whole barbecue together because the home improvement store couldn’t.”

Shannon trusts her local Vacasa team to not only cover the day-to-day care of her home, but also update her on improvements and carry out her instructions with thoughtfulness and precision.

“My team’s not going to leave something that isn't in good condition. They actually pay attention to the details and let me know when there's something wrong,” Shannon says. “None of my guests ever complain that my home’s not clean. That's so amazing.”

And that meticulous care goes beyond cleaning and fixing the things, too.

“Our guests stay for a while, and have spent a lot to be in our home. So it's not too much for me to give them a gift when they get there,” Shannon tells us. “I asked my local team to put together a welcome basket with local items for each of my guests. It’s something they do extra for me. That's the difference: they know I want to do something special for my guests, and they make it possible.”

The tide is high

Shannon’s been happily surprised by Vacasa’s hands-on approach to earning her more, too. And considering Hawaii’s 2020 travel restrictions, a powerful income-generating system has been a welcome change of pace to drive more bookings.

“Vacasa sold almost every day of the summer, and almost all of December before summer even started,” she says. “That's a big difference with Vacasa: they can do things that small companies can't.”

Shannon understands that Vacasa’s dynamic pricing technology helps her generate better returns and drive demand for her home.

“Dynamic pricing is crucial. Every single hotel in the country does dynamic pricing—and it totally works,” she explains. “There are high times and low times for bookings in the area. Vacasa knows the market, and knows how to price and when to do it.”

“It's supply and demand. And if you want to maximize your rentals, then dynamic pricing is the way to go.”

But Vacasa takes this approach a step further, pairing our advanced pricing tech with powerful distribution of Shannon’s listing. As a trusted vacation rental manager, we’ve given her the opportunity to list her home on an additional high-profile booking platform, Homes & Villas by Marriott International.

“I know not all properties can be on there, but my listing on Homes & Villas by Marriott International has been huge. Their distribution and program to let people book with points has made an impact. I would not expect that from a small company—there's no way,” she reports.

Thanks to Vacasa’s sophisticated marketing efforts, Shannon’s enjoyed incredible returns since she’s been with Vacasa. Within the first seven months of 2021, her home out-earned her gross income for 2019*—by an incredible $25,000.

Smooth sailing

It’s no secret to Shannon that her home is doing well—she can access real-time earnings reports from her homeowner account, anytime. She loves how she can always get the information she needs to keep her business running smoothly from afar, without getting tangled up in the details.

“The owner account works for me: it’s simple and nicely done. I can go in there and see what the calendar looks like, get the statement I need for the month, and see some really cool reporting,” she says.

“The best thing is the email I receive when my home gets a booking. That is such a positive for an owner—I have a full-time job, and don't want to monitor things constantly. This makes it easy,” she continues.

With key information in her pocket, a trusted support team on the ground, and tireless marketing experts working online, Shannon feels that she can enjoy all the benefits of renting—and do it without worry.

“Vacasa and I both work toward the same goal. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and now we're seeing the rewards of what we do together,” she tells us.

“I don't want to be the management company. I know that some other property owners do this stuff themselves, but I don't have time for that,” she continues. “I found the right partner with Vacasa because they do everything that I would want to do myself and can’t.”

Shannon sees a fruitful relationship ahead with Vacasa, because she trusts us to be the “good host” when she can’t be.

“Anybody can buy nice towels and nice sheets, but what do you do differently to make it better? Honestly, it comes down to people who care. And Vacasa cares.” ⧫