Vacation Rental Success

VRS639 - Optimizing for AI: What Short-Term Rental Brands Need to Know About GEO and the Future of Search with Neely Khan

This week I'm welcoming back one of my favourite guests, Neely Khan, founder of the storytelling agency Artwork Creative. This is her second time joining me in less than six months - and there's a good reason for that. Neely is at the forefront of one of the most important shifts we're seeing in vacation rental marketing: the rise of AI-powered search. If you're still trying to wrap your head around terms like SEO, GEO, and AEO, you're not alone. But understanding these isn't optional anymore - it's essential if you want your business to remain visible and relevant in today's evolving digital landscape. Neely breaks things down beautifully. We talk about the difference between Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and how Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) fits into the mix. More importantly, she shares how vacation rental professionals can start optimizing their content for AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot - without losing the soul of their brand. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community [https://community.vacationrentalformula.com/communities/groups/short-term-rental-ai-technology/private-group] - 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 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai]. 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 [https://vacationrentalformula.com/] Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS639 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/vrs639-optimizing-for-ai-what-short-term-rental-brands-need-to-know-about-geo-and-the-future-of-search-with-neely-khan]

VRS638 - Democratizing Genius: How Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh Uses AI to Supercharge Short-Term Rental Success

In this episode, Heather sits down with Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh from Short Term Gems to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the way short-term rental businesses operate. Rachel shares how she moved from being a pharmacist to building a real estate education company focused on medical professionals, and how AI is now a core part of that mission. They discuss how AI is helping hosts get more done with less effort, speed up onboarding, reduce mistakes, and support team members in delivering better guest experiences. Rachel gives examples from her work building hundreds of GPTs, creating custom tools, and teaching property managers how to automate without losing the personal touch. Whether you're just curious or already using AI, you'll walk away with practical ideas to try in your business. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community [https://community.vacationrentalformula.com/communities/groups/short-term-rental-ai-technology/private-group] - 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 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai]. 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 [https://vacationrentalformula.com/] Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS638 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/vrs638-democratizing-genius-how-dr-rachel-gainsbrugh-uses-ai-to-supercharge-short-term-rental-success]

VRS637 - AI in Action: What STR Hosts Can Learn from the AI for Business Summit

In this packed episode, Heather Bayer shares her biggest takeaways from the AI for Business Summit in Las Vegas - and how short-term rental hosts and property managers can take immediate, practical steps to adopt AI tools in their business. Heather reveals how she used a Plaud NotePin to record and summarize every session, giving her powerful insights on AI avatars, automated guest journeys, direct-response video, personal branding, and more. If you're ready to get ahead of the curve and use AI to save time, elevate guest experiences, and stand out in a competitive market, this is a must-listen. 📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community [https://community.vacationrentalformula.com/communities/groups/short-term-rental-ai-technology/private-group] - 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 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai]. 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 [https://vacationrentalformula.com/] Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS637 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/vrs637-ai-in-action-what-str-hosts-can-learn-from-the-ai-for-business-summit]

VRS636 - Scaling Smart: How to Spot the Owners Who'll Sabotage Your Growth

Dennis Goedheid is back on the show, and we dive deep into one of the most overlooked yet mission-critical aspects of running a property management company - identifying and saying no to the wrong owners. We also chat about his journey with Casiola's international expansion, his team's DEI award win at VRMA, and why scaling means getting crystal clear on your homeowner criteria. Whether you're just starting out or managing hundreds of properties, this conversation is packed with real-world insights from someone who's learned the hard lessons - and is still smiling! 📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community [https://community.vacationrentalformula.com/communities/groups/short-term-rental-ai-technology/private-group] - 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 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai]. 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 [https://vacationrentalformula.com/] Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS636 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/vrs636-scaling-smart-how-to-spot-the-owners-wholl-sabotage-your-growth]

VRS635 - From Tinkering to Transformation: Building an AI Adoption Strategy for Your Vacation Rental Business

While everyone's been playing around with AI tools like ChatGPT, few in the short-term rental industry have taken the next step - turning experimentation into strategy. In this episode, Heather shares a clear, step-by-step framework to help you move from random tinkering to thoughtful implementation, drawn straight from her AI Ambassador Program [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai]. Whether you're a property manager overwhelmed by AI options, or a team leader unsure how to get your staff onboard, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you start small, think big, and bring AI into your business in a human-centered, hospitality-first way. 📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community [https://community.vacationrentalformula.com/communities/groups/short-term-rental-ai-technology/private-group] - 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 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai]. 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 [https://vacationrentalformula.com/] Are you listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/VRS635 [https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/podcast/vrs635-from-tinkering-to-transformation-building-an-ai-adoption-strategy-for-your-vacation-rental-business]