Skills Lab

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or already experimenting with advanced tools, this interactive Skills Lab will cut through the hype to show you what AI really is—and how to use it effectively in your vacation rental business. Bring your laptop and roll up your sleeves: this is a hands-on session focused on practical application, not theory. This is the first in a three-part AI series, designed to equip you with actionable tools you can implement right away. While each session stands on its own, attending this one will give you a strong foundation and the confidence to explore more advanced topics throughout the conference. We'll provide a real-world scenario to work through, but you're welcome to bring your own use case. Whether you're a beginner or a budding AI pro, you’ll walk away ready to turn insight into impact.

Ready to turn revenue management from a buzzword into a competitive advantage? In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to operationalize your pricing strategy—starting with one of the most overlooked yet powerful metrics: pacing. We’ll show you how to extract the right data from your pricing tool, identify trends early (before your competitors do), and make confident, data-informed decisions around pricing, promotions, and stay rules. Using real examples from Freewyld’s portfolio, we’ll walk you through the exact process that helps us consistently outperform the market. Bring your laptop and your data—this is a working session. You’ll plug your numbers into a guided worksheet and leave with a clear, repeatable revenue management system you can start using immediately. Less guesswork. More growth.

Every mature industry runs on standardized KPIs—but in vacation rentals, we’re still working with fragmented benchmarks and guesswork. It’s time to change that. With competition intensifying, owner expectations rising, and better data at our fingertips, aligning on the right performance metrics is no longer optional—it’s essential. In this session, top operators and analysts come together to define the core KPIs every property manager should be tracking—regardless of market or model. Your numbers may vary, but the indicators shouldn’t. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for evaluating your performance, tracking progress over time, and benchmarking against industry standards using today’s data tools. If you’re still leaning on instinct or outdated metrics, this session is your call to action.

Your next guest is already on Instagram or TikTok—are you meeting them there? In today’s crowded vacation rental market, social media isn’t just a marketing channel—it’s a booking engine. If your brand isn’t showing up, you’re leaving revenue and market share behind. In this dynamic, hands-on Skills Lab, you’ll learn how to harness the power of organic social media to drive direct bookings, build guest loyalty, and differentiate your brand. We’ll break down real results—including how one vacation rental company generated over $600,000 in direct bookings in 2025 using nothing but Instagram and TikTok—and share the lessons we wish we knew when we started. You’ll also explore the growing influence of social media creators, how they can impact your brand, and whether influencer partnerships make sense for your business. Come ready to work: bring your laptop, dive into your own social strategy, and leave with a plan you can implement immediately—while your competitors are still trying to figure it out.