Breakout Sessions

Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Property Prep & Listing Optimization
  When preparing a vacation rental property for guests, first impressions are everything. A consistent, welcoming appearance is essential for maintaining high guest satisfaction and ensuring your listings stand out. In this session, attendees will review all of the elements required to launch a new property including ideal listing photos, writing compelling property descriptions, and tips and tricks for working with the OTAs. Additionally, we will discuss key elements of Standard Property Appearance Guides - a vital tool to ensure every property is consistently presented at its best, every time, for every guest.
   

Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.

• Capturing Content to Build your Brand
  Office staff play a key role in shaping the guest experience and can also be valuable contributors to your property's social media presence. In this session, we’ll explore how front office staff can capture engaging content that resonates with potential guests and boosts the property's online presence. From behind-the-scenes moments and guest interactions to local area highlights and team activities, you’ll learn how to identify and create content that social media teams can use to tell a compelling story. We’ll discuss the types of images and videos that perform best, tips for capturing spontaneous moments, and how to align content with brand messaging. By the end of this session, you’ll feel confident in your ability to contribute creative content that supports your property’s marketing efforts, helping drive engagement and bookings through authentic, shareable social media posts.
   

Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• HR Basics for Frontline Managers & Supervisors
  Frontline managers shape the daily employee experience, and most HR challenges start or end with how supervisors lead. This 90-minute HR Basics session equips managers with the practical people-management fundamentals they need to lead confidently, reduce risk, and develop stronger teams. The session focuses on five core HR essentials: role clarity and expectations, coaching and feedback, compliance and risk awareness, employee engagement, and conflict management. Workforce development and talent identification are intentionally woven throughout, helping managers recognize the difference between performance issues and development opportunities. Through real-world examples and guided discussion and breakout sessions, managers learn how everyday conversations drive capability, retention, and culture.
   

Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.

• Onboarding and Training That Delivers
  This session focuses on how to attract, evaluate, and select the right candidates for your organization. Participants will explore what to look for in strong applicants, how to assess skills and fit during the interview process, and how to make confident hiring decisions that support long-term success. The discussion emphasizes building a reliable team by getting the hiring process right from the start. We’ll also discuss how clear expectations, structured onboarding, and practical, on-the-job training help both new hires and existing team members perform consistently and stay engaged over time.

Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Back of House, Front of Experience: Elevating Guest Service & Safety
  This session is designed for the professionals who keep properties running every day. We’ll treat back-of-house as the business itself, focusing on practical systems, real-world decision making, and cross-team alignment. The goal is to move from reactive operations to repeatable, scalable standards that reduce chaos, support field teams, strengthen vendor and leadership relationships, and clearly communicate the value of this work while helping you present your best self and your best operations.

• Foundations of a Professional Clean
  A professional clean is more than speed. It’s about standards, safety, and consistency. This session focuses on the core foundations of high-performing vacation rental housekeeping, with an emphasis on clear SOPs, proper cleaning chemistry, and risk-aware practices. Attendees will explore how the right products, processes, and documentation support efficiency, protect staff, and elevate the guest experience. Designed for frontline housekeepers and supervisors alike, this session reinforces best practices while establishing a shared understanding of what “professional clean” truly means across a portfolio.
   
• Essential Maintenance Practices for Safer Better-Performing Homes
  Preventive maintenance is the backbone of reliable operations and guest satisfaction. This session provides maintenance professionals with practical guidance on core property care responsibilities, including a focused look at pools and hot tubs - two of the highest-risk and highest-visibility amenities in vacation rentals. Attendees will discuss routine checks, safety considerations, communication with housekeeping teams, and how proactive maintenance reduces emergency calls and downtime. This session emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and consistency to keep properties safe, compliant, and guest-ready.

Time: 10 a.m. -12 p.m.

• The Art of Sales & Service
  Every guest inquiry is an opportunity to make a lasting impression and secure a reservation. This session is designed for frontline office staff who handle calls, emails, and social media inquiries, helping you master the skills needed to turn inquiries into confirmed bookings. We’ll focus on how to incorporate storytelling into your conversations to make the property experience come alive for potential guests. You’ll learn how to use your brand's voice consistently across all touchpoints, whether you're communicating over the phone, via email, or on social media. Additionally, we'll cover the importance of providing excellent customer service during the booking process and beyond. By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with the techniques and strategies to not only increase reservations but also provide a seamless, memorable experience for guests from inquiry to checkout.

Time: 2-3:30 p.m.

• Beyond the Booking: Elevating your Guest Experience
  Creating memorable experiences is key to building lasting relationships with guests and ensuring they return again and again. This session is designed for front office staff who are the first point of contact for guests, offering practical insights on how to elevate each guest’s stay and deliver a truly 5-star experience. You’ll learn how to incorporate concierge services into your daily interactions, from helping guests with dining recommendations to arranging local activities and special requests. We’ll discuss how to personalize each guest’s experience, adding thoughtful touches that make them feel valued and appreciated and leaving them with lasting memories that encourage them to book again.

Time: 10 a.m. -12 p.m.

• Fostering Accountability Through EOS
  In this EOS-focused session, Elisabeth Yoho and Daniel Galbraith of Harris Vacations will share how the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS) can be applied to build accountable, engaged, and high-performing teams in vacation rental operations. Learn how to use EOS tools such as the Vision/Traction Organizer, Accountability Chart, Rocks, Scorecards, and Level 10 Meetings to create clarity, strengthen ownership, and keep teams aligned. The session will address real-world challenges unique to vacation rentals, including managing remote and field-based staff, setting clear expectations, and ensuring follow-through. Attendees will walk away with practical ways to use EOS to improve accountability, reduce burnout, and create a consistent, results-driven team culture.

Time: 2-3:30 p.m.

• Work Hard, Play Harder: How to Infuse Fun into Your Organizational Culture
  End the conference on a high note with this inspiring session focused on celebrating success and fostering a team culture of fun. Discover creative ways to recognize achievements and milestones, ensuring your employees feel valued and motivated. Learn how to incorporate fun and engaging activities into the workplace to build camaraderie and strengthen team bonds. By prioritizing recognition and enjoyment, you’ll create an environment where employees thrive and contribute their best.

Time: 10 a.m. -12 p.m.

• A Day in the Life...
  What does a typical day really look like behind the scenes of a vacation rental operation? In this candid, boots-on-the-ground session, walk through a full day in various roles including maintenance, housekeeping and laundry. From morning prep to last-minute guest issues, attendees will gain firsthand insight into daily workflows, common challenges, time pressures, and the decisions that keep turnovers on track.
  
  By hearing directly from each role, this session highlights how closely connected these teams are, where handoffs succeed or break down, and how better communication and understanding can reduce friction, rework, and stress. Designed for frontline staff, supervisors, and operational leaders, this session builds empathy, improves coordination, and reinforces the value each role plays in delivering clean, safe, guest-ready homes every single day.
   

Time: 2-3:30 p.m.

• From Chaos to Consistency
  This closing session will include time to openly discuss your biggest personal challenges and gather insights from both peers and experts in the VRHP community.