The Vacation Rental Show, Hosted by Lynell Gordon

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Welcome to The Vacation Rental Show hosted by Lynell Gordon where we dive into the latest hot topics, technology and strategies, to help you take the vacation rental world by storm.

  1. What Success Beyond Revenue Actually Looks Like for Vacation Rental Owners with Hunter Harrelson of Beach Ball Properties

    3D AGO

    What Success Beyond Revenue Actually Looks Like for Vacation Rental Owners with Hunter Harrelson of Beach Ball Properties

    Hunter Harrelson returns for part two of his conversation on The Vacation Rental Show, picking up where the systems and hiring discussion left off to go deeper into the org structure, brand philosophy, and leadership principles behind Beachball Properties. Hunter is the owner and CEO of Beachball Properties, a family-owned vacation rental company serving more than 350 properties across the Alabama Gulf Coast. In this episode, Hunter walks through the funnel-based org structure he built to step back from daily operations, the COVID refund decision that took Beachball Properties from 100 to 250 properties almost overnight, and why branding should be the first investment any new property manager makes. He also shares the leadership lesson he keeps relearning about holding on to the wrong people, and what success genuinely means to him beyond revenue and property counts. This episode is sponsored by Streamline

    29 min
  2. How to Build Real AI Tools That Transform Your Vacation Rental Operations with Hunter Harrelson of Beach Ball Properties

    MAR 24

    How to Build Real AI Tools That Transform Your Vacation Rental Operations with Hunter Harrelson of Beach Ball Properties

    Hunter Harrelson is the owner and CEO of Beachball Properties, a fast-growing family-owned vacation rental company serving the Alabama Gulf Coast with more than 350 properties. Before founding Beachball Properties in 2016, Hunter spent over two decades in financial services at Merrill Lynch and Regions Bank, and he and his wife Ginger bootstrapped the business from scratch by selling their home, their boat, and cashing in their retirement plans. In this episode, Hunter shares the operational systems and people frameworks behind the company's growth, including how he built a custom AI tool using Google's Gemini platform and his own SOPs to transform customer service, why his processes break at every 50 properties and what he does about it, and how Culture Index drives every hiring decision at Beachball Properties. He also reflects on the 2022 VRMA tech buying frenzy, the consolidation that followed, and why staying focused on core strengths is what separates operators who scale from those who stall. This episode is sponsored by Streamline.

    21 min
  3. Testing Everything and Scaling Smart with Derek DeCesere of Sand Stays

    MAR 17

    Testing Everything and Scaling Smart with Derek DeCesere of Sand Stays

    What does it actually take to grow a vacation rental business without losing your sanity or your profit margin? In this episode, Lynell Gordon sits down with Derek DeCesere, CEO of Sand Stays, a Maine-based property management company that has managed more than 200 properties, hosted over 25,000 reservations, and earned more than 10,000 five-star reviews. Derek shares the unfiltered truth about scaling, from the shiny object trap that cost him thousands per month, to why more units do not automatically mean more profit. He talks through the operational systems he built to protect guest experience, why speed is the single biggest driver of five-star reviews, and how he uses AI without losing the human touch that guests expect. He also pulls back the curtain on what is next for Sand Stays, including a flexible, a la carte service model built around technology support. This episode is sponsored by RentalGuardian.

    26 min
  4. Building Property Management Companies That Scale with Merilee Karr of Under the Doormat

    MAR 10

    Building Property Management Companies That Scale with Merilee Karr of Under the Doormat

    In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon sits down with Merilee Karr, founder and CEO of Under the Doormat Group and former chairperson of the UK's short-term rental industry association. Merilee brings a rare mix of operational, technological, and advocacy expertise to a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to grow a property management business. The episode covers the importance of building systems for the company you want to be—not the one you are today—and why technology integration is critical to avoiding what Merilee's COO calls "death by Chrome tab." Merilee also unpacks the AI strategies property managers can adopt now, from data centralization to owning your supply, and explores how the industry can professionalize without losing the authenticity that makes short-term rentals special. This episode is sponsored by RevMax

    55 min
  5. Fire Prevention Equipment Every Property Manager Needs with Justin Ford

    MAR 3

    Fire Prevention Equipment Every Property Manager Needs with Justin Ford

    In Part 2 of this two-part episode, safety expert Justin Ford returns to The Vacation Rental Show to continue his conversation with host Lynell Gordon — and this time the focus is on fire prevention, emergency equipment, and the documentation habits that protect operators from costly liability. Justin tackles one of his most controversial positions yet: why fire blankets don't belong in US vacation rentals. He breaks down the difference between adequate and inadequate fire extinguishers, explains exactly where they should be placed for maximum effectiveness, and reveals why unattended cooking fires remain the leading cause of residential fires. He also digs into the growing threat of lithium battery fires from e-bikes, scooters, and aftermarket chargers — and closes with a powerful case for geo-tagged, time-stamped documentation as an operator's best legal defense. If you missed Part 1, go back and listen — and then come straight back here for the practical fire safety guidance every property manager needs to hear. This episode is sponsored by Rental Guardian.

    22 min

  6. FEB 25

    Help the Show Grow: Follow & Review

    📣 Quick favor for the vacation rental community: If The Vacation Rental Show has delivered value—whether it's a strategy you implemented, a connection you made, or insight that changed your perspective—we'd love your help spreading the word. Here's what makes the biggest impact: Follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Leave a 2-minute review sharing what the show means to you Share episodes with colleagues who'd benefit Lynell Gordon and our team are committed to bringing you the best conversations in the industry. Your follow and review help us reach more vacation rental professionals who need these insights. We've got incredible guests lined up. Don't miss what's next. Apple - https://apple.co/3lYc2gU Spotify - https://bit.ly/46nrFDO #PropertyManagement #VacationRentals #CommunityGrowth

    1 min
  7. The Most Common Safety Mistakes Property Managers Make with Justin Ford of Breezeway

    FEB 25

    The Most Common Safety Mistakes Property Managers Make with Justin Ford of Breezeway

    In Part 1 of this two-part episode, safety expert Justin Ford joins host Lynell Gordon on The Vacation Rental Show to tackle the safety blind spots costing property managers money, guests their wellbeing, and operators their businesses. Justin is the Director of Safety and Certification Programs at Breezeway and the industry's foremost authority on short-term rental safety — having trained over 10,000 professionals and personally inspected thousands of properties worldwide. In this episode, Justin breaks down why the home is statistically the most dangerous place a guest will ever stay, and why complacency is the real enemy of safe operations. He covers EV charger installation risks, how guests use properties in ways operators never anticipate, the alarming deck failure rate across the US, federal standards for bunk bed construction, and why he would ban lofts entirely if given the chance. This episode is sponsored by Rental Guardian. Tune in for a conversation that could change how you operate and protect the lives of the guests you serve. This episode is sponsored by Rental Guardian.

    22 min

  8. FEB 20

    A message from your host, Lynell Gordon

    🎙️ Quick message from Lynell Gordon, host of The Vacation Rental Show: If these weekly conversations with industry operators, innovators, and leaders are helping you grow your business — here's how you can help us reach more vacation rental professionals like you: ✅ Follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify ✅ Leave a 2-minute review (seriously, it's the #1 way others discover the show) ✅ Share with your network Your follow and review help us understand what's working so we can bring you more of the content you actually need. Whether you're managing properties, growing your portfolio, or serving this industry — this show exists to help you succeed. Take a quick minute today. Your support makes all the difference. #VacationRentals #PropertyManagement #PodcastCommunity

    1 min
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Welcome to The Vacation Rental Show hosted by Lynell Gordon where we dive into the latest hot topics, technology and strategies, to help you take the vacation rental world by storm.

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