How Alma Bair Went From 1 to 50 Luxury Villas in Puerto Rico

How do you go from managing a single vacation rental to 50? Alma Bair got her start renting out her family’s luxury villa in Puerto Rico. Before long, neighbors in Dorado Beach asked her to take on their properties, and the business grew organically by word of mouth from there. So, what challenges has she faced in scaling up? How does she market and manage her listings remotely? And how is she working to customize the guest experience?Alma is the founder and Chief Joy Officer at Paradise Villas & Vacations, a short-term rental management company based in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Today, she joins me to explain how her own vacation in Puerto Rico 16 years ago grew into a vacation rental management business. She shares the challenges she has faced in scaling up, from finding a sufficient reservation management system to working with owners who cancel bookings.Alma also discusses her goal to be less dependent on third-party platforms for marketing her business and her luck in finding an outstanding hospitality professional to handle guest services. Listen in for Alma’s insight on delighting guests with a unique experience and learn why it’s beneficial to partner with a local destination management organization!Topics CoveredHow Alma got into managing vacation rentalsBought own vacation home on Dorado BeachDonated to local charity 6 weeks/yearBusiness grew from outside inquiriesHow Alma grew from 1 to 50 vacation rentalsNeighbors ask to manage their villasOrganic growth by word of mouthHow Alma gets paid for her management servicesTake percentage of revenue in most casesExperimenting with fixed income modelThe challenges Alma faces in scaling her businessScaling reservation management systemWorking with ownersHow Alma manages her calendars without softwareProcess to update manually on other platformsRemote support assistant in Philippines to helpHow Alma markets her vacation rentalsMonthly newsletter to database of 8KThird party platforms + own websiteHow Alma manages her vacation rentals remotelyGuest services professional on call 24/7Locally networked and bilingualAlma’s insight on the value of becoming a local expertMatch expectations with reality of vacationProvide offerings in related activities (e.g.: extreme adventures)Partnering with a destination management organizationAccess to analytics about marketplacePR, media outlets and social mediaConnect with AlmaParadise Villas & VacationsAlma on LinkedInResourcesKeys to BaliRené of Keys to Bali on GPFYP EP215STR Legends Live Retreat in Puerto RicoDiscover Puerto RicoVRMA International ConferencePROSTATE 1000Donate to Jasper’s PROSTATE 1000 Bike RideConnect with JasperEmail: [email protected]: @GetPaidForUrPadInstagram: @GetPaidForYourPad Facebook: www.facebook.com/getpaidforyourpadAirbnb News Facebook GroupTo subscribe to the podcast, please use the links belowClick Here to Subscribe via iTunesClick here to Subscribe via Stitcher (Android users)If you like the show, please consider leaving the show a review in iTunesor Stitcher. A couple minutes of your time can help the show immensely! Thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.