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Creative Counter-intuitive Messaging

UPDATED: March 14, 2024 This past week Miami came out with the following commercial to dissuade partiers from choosing it for their Spring Break shenanigans. It was a brilliant example of the "Why our destination is NOT for you" messaging we've explored before... **** "7 Reasons Casco Viejo is NOT For You" (original blog post from 2010 attached) was the single most impactful piece of content I ever created as a vacation rental marketer. In a way that affirmative marketing can not, this...

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Recent Activity Member Digest Unlocked Podcast Curated News Matt's Events

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Will Franco
Oct 24, 2023

Efficiency Manager, VRMB

Staff member

What I learned about Matt Landau from a $4 billion AI

Pi is an AI developed by InflectionAI. It's the most natural and human-like AI I've interacted with, capable of performing tasks comparable to other AIs, all at no cost.

Pi is designed as a companion AI to assist you throughout the day. I chat with Pi so frequently that even...

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SScurlock
May 13, 2024

Loved this. Way to go @Matt Landau - you have certainly been my Pied Piper and Obi wan kenobi!

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Matt Landau
Feb 22, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

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Keystone Retreat

Big Ideas Storytelling

Tell A Quick Story [Challenge]

Big Ideas Storytelling

Challenge: Creativity is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the more it strengthens your story and your vision for the future. I'd like to challenge members to share one short story that moved them emotionally (reference the feelings wheel for inspiration) in the last few weeks. It can be short. Or long. Great or lame. The mere act of sharing your quick story is the creative act in and of...

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SScurlock
Mar 4, 2024

When we started living in our vacation house in Mexico for six months a year, I never suspected our dog would open the door to our becoming a part of our village. This is one of many of his stories...

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Matt Landau
Dec 23, 2022

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

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Keystone Retreat

Big Ideas

Re-allocate Your Marketing Dollars Towards Creative Hospitality in 2024

Big Ideas

Back in 2009, with the listing sites (and our category in general) starting to gain momentum, the members of this community and myself predicted that "listing site independence" (ie. marketing diversification for vacation rental pros) would be the north star to follow. In the years that followed, plenty of direct booking movements spawned and a legitimate trend was formed.

The theory of "Limited...

Latest reply by
StacyW
Feb 22, 2024

We are reading the book as a company and have our first meeting this Friday to discuss the first 8 Chapters! We will discuss what it means to deliver Unreasonable Hospitality at every level of our business. We are also doing a...

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MeganM
Feb 13, 2024

Owner & Hostess

Premium Member

Big Ideas

Looking for positive articles/ stats for Florida Vacation Rentals

Big Ideas

I am at it again - after moving from Nashville where I ran the local Advocacy group for over 5 years, I am started efforts in my new hometown (Cocoa Beach, Florida). This is a MUCH smaller area than Nashville so I am working with a lot less resources (ie Airbnb and Vrbo...

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MeganM
Feb 15, 2024

Did you see my post on this other thread? Take a look, especially at the articles I linked to. Thanks, Rob. I hadn't seen your post. I did already have a link to the UCF article but since it was pre-COVID was trying to find something more current.

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MikeH
Dec 1, 2021

Premium Member

Keystone Retreat

Big Ideas

Contrarian Perspective: Is there a VR Industry Bubble?

Big Ideas

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Contrarian Perspective: Is there a VR Industry Bubble?.

If you're a vacation rental nerd like me, you probably follow every media site, blog (like VRMB!), Facebook group, etc. just to glean what you can about...

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Matt Landau
Feb 8, 2024

I wanted to revisit this discussion as it appears to me that we have definitely "burst" or at least is not...

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Matt Landau
Feb 2, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Big Ideas

$10,000 to go without your smartphone for 1 month

Big Ideas

One of the big shifts I've made over the last year is in recognizing creativity is THE muscle all homerunners need to start exercising more consistently and pronto -- said another way, it is the LACK of outside-the-box thinking that gets even the most innovative companies stuck in their old/comfortable ways and in some cases sunk.

Side Note: I've become so enamored with creative pursuits that I have begun to...

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JPrugh
Feb 6, 2024

For several years I worked with a printer for big jobs as well as small jobs. He was easy to work with, reliable, and his pricing was competitive. As digital communications began to reduce his clients' print jobs, he'd bemoan the loss of revenue. "Peter," I...

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Matt Landau
Mar 24, 2023

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Conversion Storytelling

Leading With Your Personal Story

Conversion Storytelling

My mother is a brain scientist who has earned an incredible array of accolades over the last few decades. Becoming a scientist wasn't common for women in her generation so (with the help of great mentors) she chose to blaze her own trail.

My father was a shopkeeper whose family business served as a keystone to the community of Princeton, New Jersey his entire adult life (he has since retired and the shop...

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AFirmani
Jan 27, 2024

From the young age of two, my family begin hosting exchange students from all over the world. My...

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Matt Landau
Jan 4, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Big Ideas

Little Improvements vs. Big Change: Can We Have Both?

Big Ideas

How do you consider whether you want lots of little improvements or one much bigger change? Is it possible to both simultaneously? Does it depend on the particular phase of growth?

Years ago

ROster introduced his formula for continual improvement and many members have shared examples of this thinking in all aspects of the business (and life). The gist? Continual improvement always.

If you are on...

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ToonTownRob
Jan 21, 2024

If I could challenge this idea...I think inherent to the big changes is the understanding that there is no going back. For me, it's...

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Kitty
Dec 1, 2015

Technology

Screening Guests, blacklists, screening with booking software

Technology

Not sure if this thread has been suggested, but how do you screen your guests? We live on-site and our villas/apartment are not suitable to guests under the age of 8. We also are wary of inappropriate guests or large groups turning up, or guests inviting families to join...

Latest reply by
JPrugh
Jan 19, 2024

May have posted this previously: Finally got through to Airbnb’s Trust and Safety Adminstrator who is looking into this...

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VRMB Team
Oct 11, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

Guest Reviews, RMS Solutions, Website Creation, Service Animal Policies

Oct 11, 2024

Member Digest

The following discussions are part of our VRMB Community. If you're not a member become a member and log in to engage with the material. Characterized by lots of slower, more nuanced topics that aren't being discussed elsewhere.

+ How to convert guest satisfaction surveys to reviews? A new company offering "Advanced Guest Review Solutions for the Modern Vacation Rental Industry" As well as Christophe's company which automatically consolidates your reviews from different listing...

VRMB Team
Sep 27, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

Vacation Rental Management: Protection, Policies, Presentation, and People

Sep 27, 2024

Member Digest

Facebook groups and whatsapp chats are noisy and chaotic: VRMB's community is forward-thinking and objective. The following discussions are for Premium Members. If you're not a member, come join us and stop trying to navigate complex decisions amidst the noise.

+ I received a question this week about the right VRM insurance stack. Michael is looking to crowdsource some wisdom re: insurance and general coverage/protection for the VRM business. He includes the starting...

VRMB Team
Sep 20, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

The Rise of Experiential Travel

Sep 20, 2024

Member Digest

The following insight is part of our exclusive VRMB community discussions. To engage with this material and join the conversation, you'll need to become a member and log in. Discover unique perspectives on experiential travel that you won't find elsewhere.

+ Desire for experiences is reshaping travel demand according to a report from Skift and McKinsey. The global marketplace for travel experiences offers a more than $1 trillion opportunity.

+ Hotel loyalty programs often...

VRMB Team
Sep 13, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

Farm Stays, TripAdvisor Shutdown, Politics, Airbnb Questions

Sep 13, 2024

Member Digest

The following discussions are part of our private community. You will need to become a member and log in to engage with the material. Plenty of topics that aren't being discussed elsewhere.

+ Farm stays are a niche that Sheron has been doubling down on for years. In overly-saturated markets where it's really over-development that's causing problems, consider farm stays as a slower, self-sustaining and mostly untapped market ripe for pickin!

+ "The times they are a...

VRMB Team
Sep 6, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

STR School of Hard Knocks: Lessons, Laughs & Lightbulb Moments

Sep 6, 2024

Member Digest

Vacation rental management is very nuanced and complex. Which is why playbooks and formulas don't tend to work. Instead of trying to invent the wheel solo, tap the collective wisdom of premium membership. We're a community inventing new wheels together!

+ What's the difference in responding to an unhappy guest, team mate, or homeowner with pride as opposed to responding with courage? As markets change it's important to know how to navigate hard conversations and get what you...

VRMB Team
Aug 23, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

Affiliate Relationships, Property Naming, Video Management System, Revenue Management Tools, QuickBooks Comparison

Aug 23, 2024

Member Digest

These discussions are private to VRMB Community where we're discussing more nuanced vacation rental innovation. If you're not a member, come join us here.

+ Tarkan and Julia are thinking about building out some affiliate relationships with other companies in their market of Istanbul! Rob jumps in with some qualifying questions. Read and share your affiliate experiences however fruitful or frustrating LOL.

+ Vacation rental names are one of life's great pleasures...

VRMB Team
Aug 16, 2024

Staff member

Member Digest

Outdoor Fun, Counter-Intuitive Messaging, Guest Relations vs. Homeowner Relations

Aug 16, 2024

Member Digest

Outdoor Fun...We need some ideas!

Back in April 2023, Michelle shared she was reimagining the outdoor space at one of her Shift vacation rentals.

What ensues is the magic of community...

Matt Landau
Jul 24, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

Big Announcement from Matt

Unlocked Podcast

We’re in between seasons of Unlocked, which means something new must be brewing!

In this episode, Matt shares details about his new business creative community Here Goes Nothin.

You can sign up at www.heregoesnothin.com and learn more about the upcoming retreat at www.heregoesnothin.com/costarica.

Matt Landau
Jun 21, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

Shifting To Unlimited with Pamela Quinn

Unlocked Podcast

This episode features Pamela Quinn, the Chief Experience Officer at LakeDays.Rentals. Pamela and Matt talk about purpose and vision, and how to align your team with them. They talk about how to get things done and the role of creativity in the process.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management software that...

Matt Landau
Jun 14, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

The Next Big Leap with Dixie Taylor

Unlocked Podcast

This episode features Dixie Taylor, Director of Operations at Current Tides Vacation Rentals in Alabama. This episode discusses the significant leap Dixie took when she left her old "gig". The episode emphasizes recognizing when to step into the unknown, into something new ...

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property...

Matt Landau
May 31, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

Conway’s Law featuring Paul Waldschmidt

Unlocked Podcast

This episode features Paul Waldschmidt, the co-founder and CEO of OwnerRez, a property management software that serves both small homeowners and large property managers. OwnerRez is also the sponsor of this season of Unlocked.

Paul and his team were part of the reason Matt decided to create this 12th season of Unlocked. In this episode, Paul and Matt talk about the OwnerRez...

Matt Landau
May 24, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

Force Majeure with Sean Breuner

Unlocked Podcast

This episode features Sean Breuner, the founder and CEO of AvantStay. Today's interview focuses on innovation and includes discussions about intuition and risk-taking. Necessities that are needed to create and differentiate in the Vacation Rental Industry as we know it.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OwnerRez, www.ownerrez.com, a property management...

Matt Landau
May 16, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

How To Get What You Want with Julie Marks

Unlocked Podcast

This episode features Julie Marks, who is the co-owner of Homestead Hospitality and the Founder & Executive Director of the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance.

This episode is marked as one of Matt's favorite interviews to date. Matt and Julie talk about advocacy, helping, and connecting with people, which comes with a challenge: drawing boundaries. This interview is all...

Matt Landau
May 2, 2024

Founder, VRMB

Staff member

Premium Member

Mile High Hosts

Ambassadors

Keystone Retreat

Unlocked Podcast

Poetry vs. Plumbing with Henrik Kjellberg

Unlocked Podcast

Today's episode features Henrik Kjellberg, CEO of Awaze. In this conversation, Henrik and Matt dive into "the new world". A world that requires adapting to change in more than just the Vacation Rental Industry, which is interesting but can be scary...

Henrik shares his take on innovation and creativity and how discipline, consistency, and leadership contribute towards growth...

VRMB Team
Oct 18, 2024

Staff member

Creative Visionaries Share Insights on Here Goes Nothin' Podcast

Matt Landau's podcast "Here Goes Nothin'" features successful creative business leaders discussing their biggest breakthroughs. Recent guests include:

Steve Hafner (Founder & CEO, Kayak)

The Art of Storytelling 🎧 Spotify | 📺 YouTube

Navigating Intuition 🎧 Spotify | 📺 YouTube

Chasing Authenticity 🎧 Spotify | 📺 YouTube

From Habit to Innovation 🎧 Spotify | 📺 YouTube...

VRMB Team
Sep 19, 2024

Staff member

Airbnb Revives Experiences with a Local Touch

Airbnb is breathing new life into its experiences division. CEO Brian Chesky aims to offer a product that stands out from typical tourist activities by emphasizing local authenticity.

Source: Skift - 09/18/24

VRMB Team
Sep 19, 2024

Staff member

Marriott’s New Era of Emotional Loyalty

Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, believes the company's loyalty platform can go far beyond traditional expectations. His idea: one-of-a-kind experiences that shift loyalty from transactional to emotional.

Source: PhocusWire - 09/19/24

VRMB Team
Sep 17, 2024

Staff member

Exploring the $1 Trillion Opportunity in Travel Experiences

Desire for experiences is reshaping travel demand, according to a new Skift and McKinsey report. The global marketplace for travel experiences now offers a more than $1 trillion opportunity.

Source: McKinsey & Company - 09/17/24

VRMB Team
Sep 9, 2024

Staff member

Outdoor Activities Lead Viator's Experience Trends

Nearly half of Viator's top 20 experience categories in 2024 involved open-air pursuits like kayaking and mountain biking. Nature tours and safaris proved particularly popular among American travelers, highlighting a growing preference for outdoor adventures.

Source: Skift - 09/09/24

VRMB Team
Sep 9, 2024

Staff member

Viator Sees Surge in Hands-On Travel Experiences

Viator, an online travel agency, reported double-digit year-over-year growth in summer 2024 bookings. Hands-on experiences like cooking classes, photography tours, sports lessons, and painting classes all grew over 50% compared to the previous year, signaling a strong appetite for immersive, skills-based activities.

Source: Skift - 09/09/24

Matt's first Here Goes Nothin' retreat is slated for THIS NEW YEARS. This retreat is all about the ability to create new ideas/solutions as an advanced leadership technique -- it's designed for anyone seeking more creative risks in their business (and life!) Simply reach out to [email protected] to hear more details...

Please join our Mailing List or reach out about attending our upcoming events. Any/all styles of business leaders are welcome...

Dinner Party - Oct 3, 2024 in Porto, Portugal (RSVP)
Dinner Party - Oct 15, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona (RSVP)
Here Goes Nothin' Learning Vacation - Dec 26-Dec 30, 2024 in Dominical, C.R.
Here Goes Nothin' Learning Vacation - Dec 30 - Jan 3 in Dominical, C.R.

***DUE TO DEMAND WE'RE ALSO NOW BOOKING MAY 2025***

Here Goes Nothin' Learning Vacation - May 2-6 (2025) in Dominical, C.R.
Here Goes Nothin' Learning Vacation - May 6-10 (2025) in Dominical, C.R.

Latest Activity

Featured Content

Creative Counter-intuitive Messaging

Recent Activity Member Digest Unlocked Podcast Curated News Matt's Events

Recent posts

Gain fresh insights and stay connected with our Social Feed Bar. This new feature makes it easier for you to navigate conversations and find content within the community.

Social Feed Bar

Outdoor Fun...We need some ideas!

Welcome to VRMB!

Here Goes Nothin'

Upcoming Retreats

Latest Activity

Featured Content

Creative Counter-intuitive Messaging

Recent Activity Member Digest Unlocked Podcast Curated News Matt's Events

Recent posts

Gain fresh insights and stay connected with our Social Feed Bar. This new feature makes it easier for you to navigate conversations and find content within the community.​

Social Feed Bar​

Outdoor Fun...We need some ideas!​

Welcome to VRMB!

Here Goes Nothin'

Upcoming Retreats

Gain fresh insights and stay connected with our Social Feed Bar. This new feature makes it easier for you to navigate conversations and find content within the community.

Social Feed Bar

Outdoor Fun...We need some ideas!