Premier Host's proven strategies for year-round success

Paradise Found 30A, 2024 Vrbo Vacation Home of the Year

Premier Host Jason Smith transforms properties into sought-after destinations by mastering one fundamental truth: Success isn't about competing on price or amenities alone. It's about creating experiences guests can't find anywhere else. Whether you're launching your first rental or looking to boost an established property's performance, Jason's proven strategies will show you exactly how to stand out in today's competitive market.

Jason Smith brings a sharp, experienced eye to vacation rental hosting. With over two decades in real estate and 12 years managing vacation properties, he's mastered the art of blending hospitality, problem-solving, and strategic thinking into memorable guest experiences.

His commitment shows in the results: Jason is a Vrbo Premier Host, and his Paradise Found 30A was named a 2024 Vrbo Vacation Home of the Year.  

Whether it's a brand-new listing or an established favorite, Jason’s winning formula remains unchanged:

1. Quality: Create memorable homes that deliver exceptional value to travelers.
2. Communication: Maintain professional communication with guests from booking to checkout.
3. Consistency: Treat every guest interaction as an opportunity to build the relationship.

Jason's guest-first philosophy isn't just theory — it translates into specific, actionable strategies that work regardless of season or market conditions. These three proven tactics form the backbone of his approach, helping him maintain consistently high occupancy across all his properties. Each one puts guests at the center, creating the exceptional experiences that drive bookings and build loyalty.

Reviews are essential to vacation rental success. They’re social proof that guests rely on to tell them what to expect from a booking with you. And Jason believes you get what you give.

Pro tip: Review guests first — it often prompts them to return the favor.  

High-quality photos, detailed headlines, complete listing descriptions, and accurate amenity filters help set your listing apart — so guests stop looking and start booking.

• High-resolution photos (the more the better)
• Every available amenity (travelers filter searches by amenities, so missing details could mean missing bookings)
• Any unique features that set you apart (include in photos and your headline or listing description)

Your target audience should shape everything from listing descriptions to welcome guides. Large families looking for multi-room vacation rentals need different messaging than couples browsing for cozier accommodations or budget travelers in search of a deal.

Review your listing description and communication templates to make sure they speak to your ideal audience.

New properties face a unique challenge: competing against established rentals with years of reviews. Jason's solution? Promotional strategies that create an irresistible value proposition and pricing automation to make sure his rates are always competitive.

While his foundational guest-first practices remain the same, Jason leans into promotional tools like new listing discounts to help new properties gain traction fast.

The Vrbo new listing discount can help new properties get a strong start! It gives travelers an incentive to book properties without established review histories, helping hosts attract those crucial first guests who build the foundation for future reviews.

Looking for more ways to stand out? Vrbo's full promotions suite offers additional tools to help you attract bookings and fill your calendar. 

Leverage the Vrbo promotions suite to offer:

• Members Only Deals — exclusive incentives for Expedia Group rewards members who book earlier, stay longer, and spend 40% more per year on average*
• Early booking promotions — deals designed to attract guests who book 60+ days out
• Last-minute promotions — offers for spontaneous travelers you can use any time you want to fill a calendar gap fast
• Mobile promotions — bargains to get on-the-go travelers to stop scrolling and start booking 

For maximum impact, Jason pairs promotions with MarketMaker™, a revenue insights tool available to hosts at no additional cost that automates pricing strategy.** How? By analyzing billions of real-time data points, identifying your property's unique competitive set, and providing dynamic pricing recommendations based on market conditions.

Properties using MarketMaker insights at least twice per quarter see an average 6% increase in revenue.** 

Jason Smith's success across three unique vacation rental properties proves that by focusing on quality, communication, and consistency while leveraging tools like Vrbo's promotions suite and MarketMaker, hosts can build thriving rentals that stand out year round. Whether you're launching a new property or optimizing an established one, these proven strategies will help you maximize your rental's potential.