Resources

Good morning!

Wouldn't it be lovely to think that Airbnb and its hosts are partners? After all, we share a common goal: providing travelers with lodging options they didn't even know they needed, creating memorable experiences, and making a little money along the way.

But this week, Airbnb flexed its massive corporate muscles, reminding hosts everywhere who's really calling the shots.

I'm talking about Airbnb's new policies regarding house rules, guest information, and communication. Forget the cleaning requirements (not my biggest concern). The real issues are a double whammy.

First, Airbnb is undermining hosts' ability to protect their properties. Restrictions on rental agreements, guest verification, and house rules threaten the risk-mitigation measures responsible owners have put in place. And let's face it, when something goes wrong, it's YOUR property, YOUR neighbors, YOUR investment, and potentially YOUR rental permit on the line.

Second, Airbnb is making it harder to build relationships with your guests. Restrictions on collecting contact information and temporary phone numbers that expire shortly after checkout make future communication more difficult. Is this really about guest privacy, or keeping guests inside Airbnb's fee-generating ecosystem? I'll let you decide.

And it's not just hosts. Companies like StayFi, TrustAI, Boostly, and others providing valuable guest communication, verification, and marketing tools are affected too.

Which brings me to the golden handcuffs.

Airbnb delivers a substantial percentage of bookings for many hosts. That's the GOLD. But when your business depends so heavily on one company that you're afraid to challenge its decisions, even when they hurt your business... those are the HANDCUFFS.

So what are WE doing about it?

At the Poconos VRO, we're not sitting on our hands!

1. Advocating: We're reaching out to our Airbnb contacts, advocating for you just as we would with an HOA, municipality, or the state.

2. Rallying support: We're circulating a petition to help get Airbnb's attention. Please sign and share!  Also you can consider joining this Facebook Group and LinkedIn page.

3. Finding solutions: We're working with our super-smart partners to identify ways to comply with the new policies WITHOUT sacrificing the protections you need. PriceLabs' analysis of Airbnb's new house rules checker is one example of the work being done.

One point we're emphasizing: Local ordinances and HOA restrictions are NOT optional! Occupancy, parking, noise, and trash requirements aren't suggestions. Hosts MUST be able to communicate and enforce them.

We're pushing back respectfully but firmly, and encouraging our members, partners, and fellow STR associations to join us. There's strength in numbers!

But here's something YOU can do: loosen those handcuffs!

Diversify your bookings. Build your brand. Invest in direct bookings. Give guests a reason to remember YOUR property, not just the platform they found it on. (We've got webinars in our resource library to help!)

And make sure your properties are included in the Poconos VRO Member Property Directory, where travelers can find and book directly with members, without additional booking fees.

Will direct bookings replace Airbnb overnight? Of course not. But wouldn't it be nice to know your business isn't entirely at their mercy?

The bottom line? I want Airbnb AND hosts to succeed. But a healthy partnership requires mutual respect, and hosts deserve a voice.

We can't control Airbnb's decisions, but we CAN stand together, advocate for reasonable policies, and build more independent businesses.

Golden handcuffs are still handcuffs. It's time we started looking for the key.

Have a great week!

~Rebecca

P.S. Need to add properties to our Member Property Directory? Reach out! And if these policy changes are affecting your business, tell us how. Real-world examples will strengthen our advocacy efforts.

Happy Monday!

Have you noticed it? The Poconos VRO has MOMENTUM!

You know that feeling when you're pushing something really heavy? At first, it takes everything you've got just to get it moving. You push, you strain, you wonder if you're making any progress at all. But then, slowly, it starts to roll. And once it's rolling, something pretty amazing happens.

Momentum takes over.

That's exactly how I'm feeling about the Poconos VRO these days. And I have to tell you, it's pretty darn exciting!

Just look at what's happening:

• Membership is booming! We've more than doubled our membership, and one of my favorite things is seeing former members come back into the fold.

• Our programming is growing! More webinars, new county meet-ups, and our first-ever STR Advocacy Summit, bringing owners, operators, industry leaders, and government affairs experts together.

• Member benefits keep getting better! Discounts for owners, exclusive perks for your guests, and our new Member Property Directory helping connect travelers directly with our members' properties.

• And advocacy? We're making things happen! From our work on HB 2303 to successfully pushing Pocono Township to reduce its annual TDU permit fee from $2,500 to $1,500 AND credit owners for previous overpayments toward this year's renewals. That's real money back in the pockets of STR owners! (WATCH the meeting video, it explains everything, and we're the STR "group" the lawyer refers to!)

And then there are the accolades! The Poconos VRO was recognized with VRMA's Advocate of the Year award, and we're finalists for TWO Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association awards: Manager of the Year and Employee of the Year!

But one of my favorite moments happened just this week at the Monroe County Bench Bar Conference. I challenged a room full of judges and attorneys to move away from the "easy button" of banning STRs and instead do the harder work of protecting property rights WHILE addressing legitimate community concerns. [CLICK to see my full remarks]

And they applauded! 

Now, I don't know about you, but getting a room full of lawyers and judges to clap after being challenged feels like a pretty good sign!

All of this tells me something important: We're being heard. We're making a difference. And we're building something that matters.

But here's the thing about momentum.

It only works if we keep pushing.

There's currently an anti-STR petition circulating with nearly 800 signatures. EIGHT HUNDRED.

That got me thinking. If we needed to collect 800 signatures SUPPORTING short-term rentals, how quickly could we do it? Would you sign? Would you share it? Would you encourage your neighbors, friends, guests, and local businesses to sign?

And consider what recently happened in a community near Syracuse, NY. STRs were banned. At the meeting where the decision was made, just THREE people showed up in support of STRs, compared to 15 opponents.

Three.

How many owners assumed someone else would show up? How many figured their right to rent was safe? How many now wish they'd rearranged their schedules for that meeting?

Here's my question: If your township or HOA was considering taking away your right to operate, would YOU show up?

I certainly hope so. But even more importantly, I hope you're paying attention BEFORE that happens.

Look, I know you're busy. You're running businesses, managing properties, juggling guests, employees, maintenance, marketing, and about a thousand other things. You're learning new AI tools, optimizing your pricing, improving your guest experience, and building increasingly sophisticated tech stacks.

And all of that is GREAT!

But here's a little reminder I keep coming back to:

The fanciest tech stack in the world won't do you much good if someone takes away your right to rent.

So I'm asking you to make two small investments.

Invest a little TIME to stay informed about what's happening in your municipality, HOA, and state. Read the updates. Attend a meeting. Respond when we put out a call to action. Don't assume someone else has it covered.

And invest a little MONEY in the association that's on the front lines fighting for you. At $150 a year, a Poconos VRO membership is a pretty small investment in protecting what, for many of you, is one of your largest financial investments.

If you're already a member, THANK YOU. You're part of the reason we have this momentum. And if you're not, what are you waiting for? Get on board! Better yet, bring another owner or operator along with you. (and get a referral bonus!)

Because the truth is, winning an award doesn't protect your property rights. Neither does doubling our membership or getting a round of applause.

What protects our rights is what we DO with the momentum we've built.

We've got the attention of decision-makers. We've got growing numbers, stronger partnerships, better resources, and a community that's finding its voice.

Now we need to make sure that voice is LOUD enough to be heard when it matters most.

Let's keep this momentum going. Together!

~ Rebecca

P.S. Here's a little challenge for the week: Think of ONE STR owner, operator, or industry partner who isn't a Poconos VRO member yet. Forward them this email and encourage them to join us at PoconosVRO.org. Because momentum is powerful, but there's strength in numbers. And we're going to need both!

Good morning!

Well, Kaisha & I are back from the VRMA International Conference in Nashville, and WOW... what a week!

Before I get into what I learned, I have some pretty exciting news to share...

WE WON ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR!!! 

Technically, the award has my name on it, but make no mistake, this is an award for ALL of us. Our members, board members, partners, sponsors, and supporters are the reason the Poconos VRO is making a difference, and I'm incredibly proud that our little corner of Pennsylvania is getting recognized on a national stage!

To everyone who voted, THANK YOU! And to everyone who contributes their time, talents, resources, and encouragement to our association, this recognition belongs to you, too.

I was also thrilled to see so many familiar faces in Nashville! A big shout-out to PASTRA board members: Greg Petrillo, Chad Wise & Heather Schlabach, and Poconos VRO members:  Pocono Mountain Rentals , Awazying Stays, Stay Booked, Three Daughters, ,and Wander Home for investing the time and money to attend, learn, network, and bring home ideas to grow their businesses. I LOVE seeing our members and board members making professional development a priority!

Now, about that conference...

If I had to sum up the educational programming in three words, they'd probably be AI, AI, and... AI.

Okay, maybe throw in a few dozen sessions about Property Management Systems (PMS) and other shiny technology!

There was SO much to learn. Marketing strategies, scaling your business, becoming less dependent on Airbnb and Vrbo, improving operations, safety, housekeeping, legal issues, insurance, interior design... you name it. All the big companies, innovative thinkers, and industry leaders were there sharing ideas about how to run better, smarter, more profitable vacation rental businesses.

But as I looked at the agenda, something else jumped out at me.

There were surprisingly few sessions about ADVOCACY.

And I couldn't help thinking about the irony.

We can invest thousands of dollars in sophisticated technology, master the art of dynamic pricing, automate every guest interaction, and design the most Instagram-worthy property imaginable...

But if your township, municipality, or HOA decides you can't operate your STR, there's not much your snazzy tech stack can do about it!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a HUGE believer in technology, innovation, and continuous improvement. I came home with a notebook full of ideas for OUR conferencce and a renewed appreciation for just how quickly our industry is evolving.

But the contrast was striking.

We're spending so much energy learning how to make our businesses BETTER, while sometimes overlooking the importance of making sure we're still ALLOWED to operate them.

And that brings me to what I think is the biggest lesson from Nashville.

A successful STR business needs more than one kind of investment.

We need to invest in technology that makes us efficient. In design that makes our properties stand out. In marketing that brings guests to our doors. In education that helps us operate professionally and profitably.

But we ALSO need to invest in relationships, community engagement, and advocacy that protect our ability to do business in the first place.[ie: JOIN & Support the Poconos VRO!]

And here's the really good news...

You don't have to go to Nashville to benefit from the ideas being shared there!

That's one of the things I love about the Poconos VRO. We're building a community where knowledge, connections, and resources can be shared. Where a great idea picked up at a national conference can become a session at our Poconos STR Conference, a webinar, a conversation at a meetup, or a tip passed along to another member. Where local suppliers and industry partners can help you solve problems, improve your guest experience, and grow your bottom line.

And where, when the really BIG challenges arise, you don't have to face them alone.

I came home from Nashville with three things: a whole bunch of new ideas, some terrific new connections, and a pretty awesome award.

But more importantly, I came home with an even stronger conviction that our greatest competitive advantage isn't a piece of software, a marketing strategy, or even a beautifully designed property. It's the strength of the community we're building together.

So let's keep learning from the best. Let's embrace innovation. Let's share what works, support each other, and never lose sight of the importance of protecting our right to rent.

Because the future of our industry isn't just about running BETTER businesses.

It's about making sure we HAVE businesses to run.

Have a great week!

~Rebecca

P.S. Did you attend VRMA this year? I'd LOVE to hear your biggest takeaway! And if you didn't, stay tuned. I'll be sharing some of the best ideas, resources, and connections from Nashville with our members in the weeks ahead. That's one of the perks of belonging to a community that believes in lifting each other up!

Good Monday morning!

Have you ever read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch?

If not, I highly recommend it. It’s one of those books that’s absolutely packed with little nuggets of wisdom that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading it.

And there’s one lesson in particular that I’ve thought about many, many times over the years:

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people.”

I LOVE this quote.

Because, boy oh boy, are there some brick walls in the STR world right now.

Remember the good old days of 2020 and 2021, when it sometimes seemed like any idiot with a house and an Airbnb account could make money?

Yeah. Those days are gone.

Today, owners and operators are figuring out how to compete in a much more crowded marketplace. How to control expenses when everything costs more. How to find—and KEEP—good cleaners, maintenance people and staff. How to increase occupancy without racing to the bottom on price. How to keep up with changing technology. How to work with a challenging HOA. How to navigate a township considering new regulations, fees or restrictions.

And our partners & local suppliers have their own brick walls: finding customers (STR owners), standing out from competitors, managing costs, hiring great people and adapting as the STR industry itself changes.

Business in the Poconos isn't getting easier. It's getting harder.

But maybe that's not entirely a bad thing.

Because the brick walls have a way of separating the people who are simply in the business from the people who are committed to getting better at the business.

So when you hit your next brick wall, what are you going to do?

Learn something. Join one of our webinars. Dig into the resources we've created. Learn from people who have already solved the problem you're facing.

Meet someone. Come to an in-person networking event. Ask another owner how they handle something. Introduce yourself to a supplier. Talk to a property manager. Some of the best solutions don't come from Google—they come from someone saying, "Oh! I dealt with that last year. Here's what worked for me."

Look for solutions within our own community. We have partners and local suppliers who solve problems for STR owners every single day—from operations and technology to maintenance, guest services and everything in between. And don't forget about our Local Community Partner Perks! Those guest discounts can help set your property apart, give your guests another reason to choose YOU, and send business to the local attractions, restaurants and businesses that make the Poconos such a great place to visit. That's a win-win-win.

Get in the room. Our annual Poconos STR Conference is coming up April 1, 2027. We're building it around exactly these kinds of challenges: better operations, smarter marketing, stronger businesses, useful technology, advocacy, and learning from people who are doing this successfully every day.

Ask for help. This one can be surprisingly difficult. You don't have to know everything. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of being part of an association is having an entire community of people you can turn to when you DON'T know something.

And when necessary, push back. Sometimes the brick wall isn't a business challenge. Sometimes it's a regulation, fee, restriction or policy that threatens your ability to operate. That's when we organize, educate, advocate and—when necessary—fight.

Here's the thing about Randy Pausch's brick wall:

He never said getting over it would be easy.

The wall is SUPPOSED to be hard.

That's what makes the other side worth getting to.

So whatever brick wall you're staring at right now—occupancy, staffing, profitability, regulations, your HOA, technology, or something else entirely—don't automatically assume it's telling you to stop.

Maybe it's asking you a question:

How badly do you want to get to the other side?

Have a great week!

~Rebecca

P.S. And if one of your brick walls is something the Poconos VRO could help you climb, tell us! Our webinars, resources, partners, local suppliers, networking events and annual conference exist because we're all going to get a lot farther if we don't try to scale these walls alone.

Good morning!

This weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary with a camping trip.

Before you get too impressed with my rugged outdoorsiness, I should clarify: this wasn't that kind of camping. (Although I HAVE done that. It's just been a while.)

We comfortably settled into our Class A RV at a campground in Honesdale—about an hour and a half from home, but still right here in the Poconos.

And somehow, what was supposed to be an anniversary getaway, developed just a tiny bit of a work component.

I planned a few meet-ups with a few Poconos VRO members. I met with some prospective members. We attended the Honesdale Beer & Wine Fest, took a Harry Potter themed train ride, explored the town and generally did the things our STR guests come here to do.

Which got me thinking about the art of combining work and play.

Now, do I believe in vacations where you completely disconnect from work?

HECK YES.

Sometimes you need to turn off the phone, close the laptop and remind yourself that the world will continue spinning without you.

But there are also times when a little bit of "work" mixed into your fun can actually make both better—especially when you own or operate a vacation rental.

After all, we're in the business of experiences. So actually experiencing things occasionally seems like pretty important research.

Here are a few ways for you to give it a go:

Be a guest at your own property.
Actually stay there. Make dinner. Watch TV. Make coffee. Sit outside. Try to figure out the thermostat without using your owner's manual. You may discover that the can opener is terrible, the bedside lamp is impossible to reach, there aren't enough outlets to charge all your gadgets or that the porch is absolutely magical at 7:00 in the morning.

Be a tourist in your own town.
Take the tour. Ride the train. Visit the attraction. Eat at the restaurant everyone recommends, or better yet, the one only the locals know about. When a guest asks what they should do on a rainy Saturday, firsthand experience is infinitely more useful than sending them a link.

Stay somewhere that's better than you.
I love this one!  Book a property that stretches your idea of what's possible. Maybe they nail the welcome experience, have incredible amenities or do something surprisingly simple that makes you think, "WHY aren't we doing this?"

That's not vacation spending. That's research. 

Use a change of scenery to think bigger.
There's something about getting away from your normal surroundings that creates room for ideas. Without the house, laundry, errands and endless honey-do list staring you in the face, you might finally have the headspace to think strategically about your property or business.

And perhaps most importantly...

Remember what it's like to be the guest.

Those of us who live and work in the Poconos can easily forget that people save money, pack up their families, sit in traffic and travel here because they're excited to experience the place we get to call home.

Sometimes it's good for us to experience it through their eyes again.

So this weekend I did a little networking, a little "market research," a little exploring... and a LOT of anniversary celebrating.

Twenty-nine years deserves at least that much.

So for those of you who happened to see Dave and me at the Beer & Wine Fest conducting some particularly enthusiastic "market research"...

We were working! (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)

Have a Great Week!

~Rebecca

Good morning & Happy Monday!

Well… our first STR Advocacy Summit is officially in the books!

And WOW.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—from attendees, sponsors, speakers, panelists and exhibitors. The conversations were thoughtful, the speakers were fantastic, and maybe most importantly, people left feeling more informed, more connected and better equipped to advocate for themselves and our STR community.

And if you couldn’t attend in person, we’ve got good news: we recorded the Summit! We’ll be making the sessions available in our Member Portal so Poconos VRO members can watch—or rewatch—the program.

But here’s something funny that happened during the Summit.

More than once, during networking conversations, I heard some version of:

“Wait… I didn’t know Poconos VRO did that!”

Ouch. 

Kaisha and I have worked really hard over the past year to grow the value that comes with Poconos VRO membership. But apparently, creating great programs is only half the battle.

We also have to make sure you know they exist!

So rather than bury you in a giant list of member benefits this morning, I’m going to highlight just ONE that I think more of you should be using:

Local Community Partner Perks

These are special offers and discounts from local tourism partners that you can share with your confirmed guests.

Think about that for a minute.

Most membership benefits help you. This one helps you provide something extra to the people staying in your property.

Current partners include Kalahari, Pocono Raceway, Camelback, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Pocono Slingshot Rentals and Pocono Living—and we’re continuing to add more.

Using the program is incredibly simple. Members can download our guest QR code and share it after a reservation is confirmed. Put it in your guest manual. Frame it inside your property. Include it in your pre-arrival communications.

And perhaps most importantly, tell prospective guests that you offer access to special local perks.

In a crowded STR market, little extras matter.

You aren't just offering someone a place to sleep. You're helping them experience the Poconos—and giving them another reason to choose your property over the one next door.

There’s also a bigger-picture benefit here.

Every time one of our guests visits a local attraction, books an experience or supports a local business, we're strengthening the connection between vacation rentals and the broader Pocono tourism economy.

That's good for our guests.

It's good for our local partners.

It's good for our members.

And it's good for the Poconos.

So my challenge for you this week: If you're a Poconos VRO member and you haven't started sharing our Local Community Partner Perks with your guests yet, go check them out and put that QR code to work!

Local Community Partner Experiences

And then tell us what you think. Are you using it? Are your guests using it? What other local businesses or attractions would you love to see us add?

Because apparently, Kaisha and I need to get a little louder about all this stuff. 

Have a great week!

Rebecca

P.S. If you were at the STR Advocacy Summit, THANK YOU. The energy in that room reminded me exactly why we created it in the first place. And if you missed it, keep an eye out—we'll let members know as soon as the recordings are available in the Member Portal.

P.P.S. And if you're reading this thinking, “Wait… I'm not a member, so I don't get these guest perks?” Well… you found this week's second lesson. [Click here to remedy that situation!]

Good morning! We’ve all heard the phrase “It takes a village.” This week, with our STR Advocacy Summit just days away, I’ve been thinking a lot about what that actually means. When a township proposes a bad ordinance, an HOA starts restricting STRs, or an owner suddenly finds their livelihood threatened, we rally the troops. We make phone calls. We show up at meetings. We share information. We donate. We advocate. And we absolutely SHOULD. But I think a strong community is built long before the crisis arrives. It’s built in all the little moments when we have an opportunity to help someone else—not because we have to, but simply because we CAN. A guest wants to book your house, but you're already booked. Do you send them back to Airbnb to start searching again? Or do you say, “I know another owner with a great place right down the road. Let me connect you.” A guest asks where they should go for dinner. Do you send them a Yelp link? Or do you tell them, “Go to this place, order this dish, and ask for so-and-so. You’ll love it.” You're a property manager who's at capacity. Do you simply say, “Sorry, we're not taking new properties right now”? Or do you introduce that owner to another property manager you trust? You're a Realtor selling a home to a new STR investor. Do you hand them the keys and wish them luck? Or do you connect them with a great property manager, cleaner, photographer, insurance agent, lender or contractor—and tell them they should join the Poconos VRO? Someone in a Facebook group asks a question you already learned the answer to the hard way. Do you scroll past? Or do you take two minutes and save them two HOURS of frustration? And here's another question: How personal are your referrals? There's a big difference between sending someone a name in black and white and adding a little color. “Here's a cleaner.”  versus...  “Call Maria. She's incredibly reliable, her team has saved me more than once on a crazy turnover day, and tell her I sent you.” THAT is community. It's sharing your relationships, your knowledge, your experience and sometimes even your business with someone else.  And here's the funny thing about helping people when you don't have to: it tends to come back around.  Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not from the same person. Maybe not even in the way you expect.  But strong communities remember who showed up. That matters tremendously in advocacy.  Because when the day comes that you need 50 people at a township meeting...  When your HOA proposes a rule that threatens your property...  When your business needs someone to speak up...  You don't want to start building your village that morning.  You want to discover it's already there. That's the kind of STR community I want us to keep building here in the Poconos.  One where we compete, sure—but we also collaborate.  Where we recommend each other.  Where we share what we know.  Where we celebrate each other's successes.  Where we show up when things are good—and especially when they're not. Because none of us can do this alone.  It really does take a village. Have a great week! Rebecca P.S. Speaking of lifting each other up... I have some pretty exciting news to share! I'm a finalist for a VRMA Excellence Award for Advocate of the Year!  It's an incredible honor, but I see this as recognition for the Poconos VRO and the advocacy work our entire community is doing. To have that work recognized on a national stage is pretty darn cool. And we're not the only familiar names on the ballot! Several of our sponsors, exhibitors, partners and conference friends are finalists too, including HostGPO, SuiteOp, Guesty, Branson Family Retreats (Tyanne Hammond spoke at our conference!), Hospitable and PriceLabs. So please take a moment to VOTE and show some love to the Poconos VRO family and friends... our COMMUNITY! And THANK YOU. Awards are nice—but the village behind the work is what makes it possible & worthwhile.

VOTE HERE

Good morning & Happy Labor Day!

Ahhh, Labor Day.

That wonderful three-day weekend when Americans everywhere celebrate the unofficial end of summer by sleeping in, firing up the grill, floating in the pool, and generally doing as little LABOR as humanly possible.

Unless, of course, you work in the short-term rental industry.

Then Labor Day looks a little different.

While everyone else is squeezing in one last summer getaway, we're answering messages, coordinating cleaners, replacing missing towels, troubleshooting Wi-Fi, explaining AGAIN where the extra trash bags are, and praying nobody decides that 11:47 PM is the perfect time to discover they can't figure out the hot tub.

Happy Labor Day to US!

But you know what?  I think we've earned the right to celebrate a little too.  Because this weekend isn't just the end of summer.  For those of us in the Poconos STR community, it's the finish line of a marathon we've been running since Memorial Day.

Think about everything that happened between then and now.

Thousands and thousands of guests came to the Poconos. Families made memories. Kids learned to swim. Grandparents sat around fire pits. Friends reconnected. Birthday candles were blown out. Proposals may have happened. S'mores were definitely burned.

And behind nearly every one of those stays was an army of people working VERY hard to make it all look effortless.

Owners.

Property managers.

Cleaners.

Maintenance teams.

Landscapers.

Pool and hot tub companies.

Trash haulers.

Pest control companies.

Local restaurants, attractions, shops and countless other businesses that depend on a strong summer tourism season.

Hospitality is funny that way.

Our job is to work really hard so somebody else can relax.

And by September, sometimes we're running on caffeine, leftover welcome-basket snacks and sheer determination.

So as we close out another summer, I hope you'll take a minute—not necessarily TODAY, because let's be realistic—to appreciate what you accomplished.

Take a look at your reviews. Think about the families you hosted. Thank your cleaners and your team. Fix the thing you've been temporarily fixing since June. Replace whatever mysteriously disappeared from the kitchen this summer.

And then give yourself a little credit.

Because another Poconos summer is almost in the books.

We hosted a LOT of people.

We supported a LOT of local jobs and businesses.

We created a LOT of memories.

And somehow, we survived.

To all of you working this Labor Day weekend so somebody else can enjoy theirs…

Happy Labor Day.

Now go answer that guest message.

Have a GREAT week!

~Rebecca

P.S. Want to learn what it takes to effectively advocate for STRs’ right to rent in the Poconos? Sign up for our STR Advocacy Summit on September 17th.

Working hard is rough. Having your “work” taken away from you would be brutal.

Come learn how to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Good morning!

I spend a lot of time hearing about the newest technology that's going to make STR ownership easier.

AI. Smart locks. Noise monitors. Dynamic pricing. Automated messaging. Digital guidebooks. Property management software that can practically tell you when a lightbulb is thinking about burning out.

And I love this stuff! Anything that makes us better, faster and more efficient is worth exploring.

But lately I've been wondering if, in our rush to automate everything, we've forgotten that sometimes old school just works better.

Think about it.

A perfectly timed pre-arrival text is efficient.

But a handwritten note sitting on the kitchen counter saying, "Welcome! We hope you have a wonderful weekend!" feels different.

A digital guidebook can put hundreds of recommendations at a guest's fingertips.

But there's something charming about flipping through a well-done guest book on the coffee table, especially when you've scribbled in a few personal favorites.

You can install cameras and noise monitors to help protect your relationship with your neighbors.

Or you can also walk next door with a plate of cookies, introduce yourself, give them your cell phone number and say, "We're going to be renting our house. If there's ever a problem, please call me."

Which neighbor do you think is more likely to call you before calling the township?

And this goes way beyond guest experience.

We have automated maintenance systems—but there's tremendous value in having a maintenance person who knows your house well enough to notice the loose railing before a guest submits a ticket.

We have Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats and Zoom—but sometimes nothing replaces sitting across the table from another owner and having a conversation.

We can email township supervisors—but introducing yourself, shaking their hand and building a relationship before you need something from them is probably worth 100 emails.

We can even use AI to help us write thoughtful responses to guests.

But when somebody is really upset?

Pick up the phone.

So... Old School or New School?

I think that's the wrong question.

The answer is BOTH.

Use technology to eliminate the repetitive stuff.

Automate the things that don't need a human.

Use software to make your team faster, smarter and more consistent.

Then use the time you saved to be MORE human—not less.

Write the note.

Make the phone call.

Walk next door.

Shake the hand.

Show up in person.

Remember the anniversary.

Ask the guest why they're visiting.

Thank the housekeeper personally.

Get to know the township employee you've been emailing.

Because in a world where practically everything can be automated, the things that aren't become increasingly valuable.

Technology can make you more efficient.

Old-school hospitality can make you memorable.

And maybe the STR owners and operators who really set themselves apart will be the ones who figure out how to be really, really good at both.

Have a great week!

~Rebecca

P.S. What's one "old-school" thing you still do in your STR business that you'll never automate? Hit reply and tell me—I have a feeling there are some GREAT ideas out there.

P.P.S  Have you signed up for the STR Advocacy Summit yet?  What's stopping you?!

Good morning!

As I sit here writing this, it is POURING outside.

Not a gentle little summer shower. The kind of rain that has completely refilled the seasonal pond in our backyard and has me wondering whether I should be finishing my Monday Musing… or looking for two of every animal. 

And lately, it feels like a pretty good metaphor for what's happening in the STR world.

When it rains, it pours.

It seems like hardly a day goes by that I don't get a phone call, email, text, or Facebook message about another STR issue brewing somewhere.

• A township considering new restrictions or a new enforcement officer interpreting the ordinance in an anti-STR direction
• An HOA adopting new rules that make it impossible for STR owners to participate in community decisions.
• Owners wondering what they should do—or what they should have done six months ago.
• Someone frustrated because decisions are being made about their property rights and livelihood, and they don't know how to make their voice heard.

And here's something I've learned from watching these situations unfold:

The best time to learn how to advocate for yourself is BEFORE you're standing in the middle of the storm.

That's exactly why the timing of our upcoming STR Advocacy Summit on September 17th at Camelback Resort feels so important.

We've put together a fantastic group of speakers who aren't talking about advocacy in theory. They've actually done it.

They've worked with/in municipalities. Sat through contentious public meetings. Navigated HOA battles. Organized owners. Built coalitions. Talked with elected officials. Made mistakes. Learned lessons. And, importantly, figured out what actually works.

And I'm especially excited that Airbnb and Vrbo are both Presenting Sponsors of the Summit, with their government affairs representatives joining us in person to speak, answer questions, and network with attendees.

That's a pretty extraordinary opportunity.

Because advocacy isn't just about showing up at a meeting and saying, "I don't like this."

• It's about understanding how decisions get made.
• It's knowing when to get involved.
• It's figuring out who you need to talk to.
• It's learning how to communicate in a way that actually gets people to listen.
• And it's building relationships and organizing your community before the water starts rising.

If there's even a cloud on the horizon where you operate, I want you in that room.

If your township is discussing STR regulations, come.

If your HOA is considering restrictions, come.

If you're already in the middle of a dispute, definitely come.

And if everything is perfectly calm where you operate right now?

Come anyway.

Because if the last few weeks have taught me anything, it's how quickly the weather can change.

Our goal with this Summit isn't to create louder STR advocates.

It's to create better ones.

People who know how to organize, communicate, build relationships, tell our industry's story, and work toward reasonable solutions before disagreements become battles.

The rain outside my window will eventually stop. Our little pond will drain back down. The sun will come out again.

But in the STR community?

I think we're entering a season when knowing how to advocate effectively is going to be one of the most important skills an owner or operator can have.

September 17th. Camelback Resort.

If you care about the future of STRs in your township, your HOA, or the Poconos as a whole, you really need to be in the room.

 Summit details & registration:
Poconos VRO STR Advocacy Summit

See you there!

~Rebecca

P.S. Don't wait until you're standing in three feet of water to start wondering where they keep the sandbags.