Honoring Industry Achievements
The VRMA Excellence Awards is the premier recognition program for the short-term vacation and holiday rental industry. Nominations for the 2026 Excellence Awards are now closed. Winners will be announced at the 2026 VRMA Annual Conference in Nashville.
The awards recognize the vision, dedication, and hard work of individuals and organizations committed to advancing the vacation rental industry. From innovative marketing campaigns to impactful community engagement initiatives, each category highlights accomplishments that help shape and elevate our industry.
Award Categories
Whether you represent an innovative property management company, a supplier bringing new ideas to the industry, or an individual making an impact in your community, the VRMA Excellence Awards recognize achievement across the full spectrum of the industry.
Learn more about this year’s award categories and nominees below.
- Advocate of the Year: Recognizes an individual or company leading the charge in industry advocacy within their community and beyond.
Rebecca Gallagher - Poconos VRO
Rebecca Gallagher, Executive Director of Poconos VRO, has become a leading advocate for responsible vacation rental ownership in the Poconos. Through strategic advocacy, coalition-building, and stakeholder education, she has transformed local industry representation from a reactive effort into a coordinated and respected voice. Rebecca works closely with property owners, local officials, businesses, and community leaders to promote informed decision-making and balanced policy discussions. Under her leadership, Poconos VRO has grown to more than 200 members, engages over 1,200 industry professionals, and reaches a network of 3,500+ subscribers while monitoring issues across more than 80 municipalities. Her commitment to preparation, collaboration, and constructive engagement has strengthened the vacation rental community and elevated advocacy throughout the region.
Michael Lester - Casiola Vacation Homes
Michael Lester has demonstrated significant leadership in advocating for short-term rental owners and operators in Florida. As lead plaintiff in litigation against Pinellas County, he represented a coalition of owners, investors, and managers challenging regulations they viewed as overly restrictive, while also remaining engaged in a parallel effort in Hillsborough County. His involvement contributed to a pause in enforcement and relaxed licensing requirements in Pinellas County while the litigation continues. Michael brings a broad perspective to his advocacy through his experience as a vacation rental owner, vendor, operator, and industry association leader. He also serves as Chair of the VRMA Membership Committee and brings expertise in finance, compliance, and operations to his work on behalf of the industry.
- Best Property Manager Marketing Campaign Award: Recognizes a property management company whose creative campaign achieved clear, measurable results.
Juniper Holiday + Home transformed Chalet on the Lake, a lakefront community of more than 100 A-frame cabins in Stevensville, Michigan, through a comprehensive management and marketing relaunch. In just 16 weeks, 33 chalets were brought online, supported by a new sub-brand, dedicated website presence, professional photography, optimized listings, email and social campaigns, and personalized outreach to 275 past guests. The campaign successfully generated demand for properties with no prior reviews or booking history on Juniper’s platforms, filling most of the calendar before the listings had earned their first reviews. The team also used AI to accelerate research, content development, and campaign production while maintaining human oversight and strategic direction.
Sanders Beach Rentals transformed the traditional welcome basket into a distinctive guest-arrival experience built around custom collaborations with local artists, businesses, and nationally recognized brands. Each arrival features thoughtfully designed products—from custom-roasted coffee and artisan snacks to wine and designer pickleball paddles—creating a memorable introduction to the 30A destination while providing marketing opportunities for partners. The program has contributed to strong guest loyalty, with 47% of reservations coming from repeat guests, while cross-promotional partnerships have generated more than $1.2 million in booking revenue through social media referrals. By connecting hospitality, storytelling, community partnerships, and marketing, Sanders has created an arrival experience designed to leave a lasting impression on guests.
- Best Supplier Marketing Campaign Award: Recognizes a supplier company whose campaign drove results and captured the industry’s attention.
PriceLabs transformed the launch of its MCP AI Connector from a technical product announcement into a practical, user-focused campaign centered on how property managers could use AI with their existing pricing data. Rather than leading with technical terminology, the campaign introduced an “AI Cookbook” of tested, ready-to-use prompts addressing real revenue management tasks, supported by weekly social content, in-app messaging, email, webinars, and multilingual communications. The Connector reached more than 1,000 users in its first week, with weekly active users increasing 53% to 1,533 after the Cookbook launch. Monthly active users reached approximately 2,300, with more than 67% of the launch cohort returning after their first week. The campaign also generated 10 media mentions and sparked interest from other industry technology platforms seeking integrations.
Hospitable earned recognition for its innovative MCP Buildathon, a first-of-its-kind campaign that turned customers into AI creators and advocates. Following the launch of the vacation rental industry's first official MCP server, Hospitable challenged operators to build AI-powered solutions using their own business data. Supported by workshops, training, and hands-on guidance, participants created tools for revenue management, guest experience, operations, and business intelligence. By making advanced AI accessible to hosts and property managers, Hospitable transformed a technical product launch into a community-driven movement that empowered operators, sparked industry-wide engagement, and showcased new possibilities for vacation rental technology.
- Community Impact Award: Recognizes an individual or company creating meaningful, positive change in their local community.
Hospitality Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by vacation rental industry leaders to help hospitality professionals prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Its flagship initiative, the Preparathon, provides free, hospitality-specific preparedness guides covering hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, extreme heat, and drought, with resources organized around teams, guests, property owners, and communities. The organization has expanded its reach through an interactive disaster preparedness website, risk maps, emergency services resources, webinars, podcasts, and firsthand disaster case studies. Its “Share Your Story” video series has generated more than 1,100 YouTube views, while the organization received $35,000 in revenue over the past 12 months to support its mission. By turning trusted disaster preparedness information into practical tools and education, Hospitality Heroes helps hospitality professionals prepare before emergencies occur.
Casiola is being recognized for its Changing Hospitality for Good initiative, a community impact program that reflects the company's belief that hospitality extends beyond the guest experience. Operating across six markets on three continents, Casiola empowers local teams to support causes that strengthen the communities where they live and work. Recent efforts include partnering with Clean the World Global to recycle and donate soap to vulnerable communities, planting 140 trees in Central Florida, and organizing beach cleanups in Aruba that removed 35 bags of trash while promoting environmental awareness. Rather than treating community service as a one-time campaign, Casiola has built giving back into its culture, with employees and leadership working side by side on projects that create lasting local impact. Through Changing Hospitality for Good, Casiola continues to invest in the people, places, and environments that make its destinations special, demonstrating that responsible hospitality starts long before check-in and continues long after checkout.
Humming Host’s company-wide Thoughtful Stay Program integrates sustainability, local partnerships, and community giving into the guest experience across every Humming Host-managed property. The program reduces waste through refillable amenities, reusable coffee systems, and thoughtful linen practices, while supporting Nashville businesses through partnerships with local makers and providing guests with opportunities to give back to the Nashville Rescue Mission. It also connects guests with Nashville culture through local recommendations and curated playlists featuring area artists. The program has diverted approximately 200 cubic yards of waste from landfills annually, repurposed more than 1,000 pounds of linens, and maintained a 4.9-star guest rating across major booking platforms. With 100% implementation across its portfolio, Humming Host demonstrates how sustainable and community-focused hospitality can be integrated into daily operations at scale.
- Property Management Company of the Year: Recognizes a property management company that excels in customer service, innovation, and community engagement. NEW! This award is divided into two size categories this year.
- 1-100 properties managed
Branson Family Retreats and Missouri Haus
Branson Family Retreats and Missouri Haus have built a vacation rental business centered on exceptional guest experiences, community impact, and industry leadership. With 25 properties—including 12 purpose-built homes and 13 historic or rehabilitated properties—the companies have welcomed more than 30,000 guests over nearly two decades while continuing to grow their direct-booking business. Their impact extends beyond their properties, including helping revitalize a small Missouri town where 9 of 12 downtown buildings were once vacant or in disrepair and supporting local foster children through CASA and charitable giving. The companies also invest in the broader vacation rental industry, including creating the Hosting Crash Course, a responsible-hosting education program that generated more than 20 media stories and was developed into an evergreen course. Through innovative guest programs, community partnerships, education, and a commitment to raising standards across the industry, Branson Family Retreats and Missouri Haus demonstrate how a vacation rental company can create lasting value for guests, homeowners, and the communities it serves.
Mountain Laurel Chalets earned recognition this year for its continued leadership, innovation, and commitment to the Smoky Mountain community. In 2026, the company expanded its industry-focused educational podcast, helping raise professionalism across the region's vacation rental industry, while continuing to host its long-running annual gathering that brings together homeowners, business leaders, and community stakeholders. The company also embraced emerging AI technology to enhance guest and owner engagement while maintaining its people-first approach. Beyond innovation, Mountain Laurel Chalets continued to demonstrate exceptional stewardship through property improvement initiatives that have generated more than $12.5 million in owner investment and strengthened long-term relationships with guests and homeowners. With industry-leading guest loyalty, direct bookings, and national recognition as a top 1% vacation rental management company, Mountain Laurel Chalets continues to set the standard for hospitality, community impact, and sustainable growth.
- 101+ properties managed
Casago completed one of the vacation rental industry’s most significant transformations over the past year following its May 2025 acquisition of Vacasa. The combined company now manages more than 40,000 properties across North America, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. Rather than operating these markets through a centralized structure, Casago transitioned 98% of former Vacasa markets into locally owned and operated franchise businesses within 12 months. This approach places experienced local property managers at the center of homeowner and guest relationships while supporting them with Casago’s national technology, operational standards, distribution network, and service culture. The model combines the resources of a large-scale organization with the accountability and market expertise of local ownership. The transition represents a significant shift in how vacation rental management can be delivered at scale. By empowering local operators, Casago supports stronger owner relationships, responsive guest service, and deeper community connections. Today, local franchisees and teams manage day-to-day operations in markets across the company’s portfolio, working with local vendors, supporting local economies, and providing hands-on service tailored to each destination. In addition to completing the integration, Casago maintained operational continuity for homeowners, guests, and employees throughout the transition. The company is also recognized as a Top 1% property management company by Comparent, while many of its local operating partners hold Airbnb Superhost and VRBO Premier Partner status.
CoralTree Residence Collection
CoralTree Residence Collection has quickly become a leader in luxury vacation rental and residential resort management. Since launching in 2024 with more than 1,100 homes and villas, the company has expanded its portfolio by 25% into new markets across Florida, South Carolina, and Utah. Over the past year, CoralTree introduced a unified brand, custom booking engine, and integrated technology platform that helped drive a 42% increase in room nights and a 13% increase in revenue. Combining hospitality-focused service, local expertise, and innovative technology, CoralTree continues to enhance the experience for guests, homeowners, and resort communities nationwide.
- Supplier Company of the Year: Recognizes a supplier company that delivers outstanding service and solutions that elevate the industry. NEW! This award is divided into two revenue categories this year.
- $5 million or less in annual revenue
PMS Pros is a trusted technology consulting firm serving the vacation rental industry, helping operators navigate software selection, migrations, and digital transformation. Founded by Dawn Yeskulsky, the company provides independent guidance without accepting referral fees or commissions. Over the past year, PMS Pros supported 32 management companies and more than 31,000 properties through technology transitions, including major projects with Casago and Arrived. Known for its expertise, accuracy, and client-first approach, PMS Pros has become a go-to advisor for operators managing complex technology challenges at scale.
HostGPO is the vacation rental industry's first group purchasing organization, helping property managers access enterprise-level pricing and products traditionally unavailable to the sector. Over the past year, HostGPO expanded its network to more than 70 vendor partners, including major brands such as Amazon Business, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Samsung, GE, and Ferguson. Beyond negotiating discounts, the company built a technology-driven purchasing platform featuring curated product bundles, AI-powered catalog management, education resources, and expert support. With hundreds of millions of dollars spent through its contracts and average member savings of 30% to 40% off retail pricing, HostGPO continues to help vacation rental operators reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and elevate the guest experience across the industry.
- More than $5 million in annual revenue
SuiteOp helps vacation rental operators simplify operations by connecting guest communications, access management, upsells, damage waivers, and other essential tools into one platform. Serving more than 30,000 units worldwide, SuiteOp helped over 200 management companies generate more than $7.2 million in upsell and damage waiver revenue in the past year. Built by short-term rental operators, the platform automates manual processes, reduces operational workload, and creates new revenue opportunities while improving the guest experience.
Hospitable expanded its platform significantly over the past year, making professional vacation rental technology more accessible and scalable for operators of all sizes. The company launched the industry's first permanent free PMS tier, allowing new hosts to access professional tools without upfront software costs, while also introducing integrated owner payouts, an owner-property manager marketplace, and advanced workflow automation. Hospitable continued to lead in AI innovation as the first short-term rental PMS to launch an official MCP server, enabling operators to connect AI tools directly to their business data. Supporting more than 23,500 operators across 140+ countries, Hospitable processed $5.2 billion in reservation income, automated 108 million guest messages, and completed 44 million AI-powered actions in 2025, reinforcing its position as a leader in vacation rental technology.
Guesty is the vacation rental industry's largest property management platform, supporting more than 500,000 listings worldwide. Over the past year, Guesty delivered 394 new features, 70% of them driven directly by customer feedback, while continuing to simplify operations through an all-in-one platform for reservations, guest communications, payments, owner reporting, pricing, and workflow management. In 2026, Guesty introduced Agent Hub, the industry's first agentic PMS, featuring more than 40 AI-powered agents that automate tasks across revenue management, operations, finance, communications, and owner management. With more than 2,200 operators requesting early access and over 3,100 active AI agents already in use, Guesty continues to help property managers streamline operations, improve efficiency, and scale their businesses through innovation and customer-driven technology..
- Rising Star Award: Recognizes professionals—including interns—who entered the industry within the past two years and have already made a meaningful impact.
Tides to Pines - Rachel Loomis Lee
Rachel joined Tides to Pines less than a year ago and quickly became a driving force behind the company's guest, homeowner, and community engagement efforts. Drawing on her background in hospitality, marketing, and community development, she expanded concierge services through partnerships with local chefs, guides, artisans, and small businesses, helping guests experience authentic Maine while supporting local economies. She also strengthened homeowner communications through educational resources, storytelling, and personalized outreach, while building relationships with nonprofits, tourism partners, and community organizations. During a period of rapid growth that included the integration of more than 400 additional properties, Rachel helped enhance communication, elevate the brand, and foster a culture centered on meaningful connections between guests, homeowners, employees, and the communities Tides to Pines serves.
Coraltree Residence Collection - Hannah Jackson
Hannah, Area Director of Revenue Strategy for CoralTree Hospitality, has quickly emerged as a rising leader in vacation rental revenue management. Through innovative pricing strategies, distribution optimization, technology adoption, and cross-department collaboration, she helped Wild Dunes Vacation Rentals outperform challenging market conditions, achieving a 10% increase in total stay value while the broader market saw only modest growth. Hannah’s ability to align homeowners, operations, marketing, and reservations around a shared strategy has strengthened commercial performance, enhanced guest and owner experiences, and positioned Wild Dunes for continued success. Her data-driven approach, collaborative leadership, and passion for innovation make her a standout emerging talent in the vacation rental industry.
- VRHP Award: Recognizes an individual or team that raises the bar for cleanliness, care, maintenance, and operational excellence. Please note, that this award is chosen by the VRHP Council.
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Ashley Griffin - Tides to Pines
Ashley Griffin is a driving force behind the operational excellence at Tides to Pines. During a period of rapid growth that included the integration of more than 400 new vacation rental homes, Ashley played a critical role in maintaining property quality, supporting homeowners, coordinating vendors, and ensuring exceptional guest experiences. Known for her hands-on leadership, attention to detail, and willingness to step in wherever needed, she consistently solves challenges before they impact guests or owners. Her commitment to high standards, teamwork, and service has helped strengthen operations, support company growth, and uphold the hospitality experience that defines Tides to Pines.
Danny Whelan - CoralTree Hospitality
Danny Whelan, Area General Manager for CoralTree Residence Collection in Snowmass and General Manager at Top of the Village, demonstrated exceptional leadership during one of the most complex operational transitions in the region's history. When the Stonebridge Inn closed for a major renovation, Danny successfully reorganized teams, restructured shared services, relocated guest check-in operations, and maintained service continuity across the Snowmass portfolio without disrupting the guest experience. Under his leadership, Top of the Village achieved outstanding guest satisfaction scores, including a 72.5 Net Promoter Score, a 4.88/5 cleanliness rating, and 88% five-star reviews. He also delivered historic regional profitability in a challenging year while strengthening relationships with homeowners, association boards, and team members. Known for his commitment to operational excellence, mentorship, and continuous improvement, Danny consistently elevates both the guest experience and the people around him.
Logan Campbell - The Dream Clean Team
Logan Campbell, founder of The Dream Clean Team, has built one of the Gulf Coast's leading vacation rental cleaning operations by helping property managers turn a critical operational challenge into a reliable, scalable solution. What began as a family effort grew into a professionally managed company serving more than 300 properties across seven markets, completing over 100,000 turnovers with a 4.9 cleanliness rating. Through trained cleaning teams, commercial laundry facilities, inspection and photo verification processes, and proactive communication, Logan has created systems that help ensure homes are consistently guest-ready. His focus on quality, accountability, and partnership allows property managers to operate with confidence while delivering exceptional guest experiences at scale.
Dave Roberts - Outer Banks/Sandbridge Blue
Dave is a respected operations leader with more than 30 years of leadership experience and over a decade in the vacation rental industry. Known for his passion for continuous improvement, Dave has helped transform organizations by building high-performing teams, improving processes, and creating systems that enhance both homeowner and guest experiences. Through his use of Lean and Six Sigma principles, he has fostered cultures of accountability, collaboration, and problem-solving, empowering employees to drive meaningful change. His influence extends beyond his own organizations through his leadership and volunteer service with VRMA and NCVRMA, where he has shared best practices and helped advance operational excellence across the industry. Whether mentoring leaders, coaching teams, or improving operations, Dave is committed to leaving every organization stronger than he found it.
Andrea Plested, VP of Operations at Casiola, has built an exceptional career in vacation rentals, rising from housekeeper to overseeing operations across six markets on three continents. Combining hands-on experience with her background as an Industrial Engineer, Andrea has developed standardized systems that drive consistency in cleanliness, maintenance, guest satisfaction, and owner care at scale. This year, she successfully led the turnaround of Casiola's Broward operation, earning Airbnb Superhost status within 12 months of taking over a struggling portfolio. Under her leadership, multiple markets maintain Superhost status, guest satisfaction scores exceed an NPS of 80, and operational performance has strengthened owner retention and team stability. Andrea's journey, leadership, and commitment to excellence continue to raise the standard for vacation rental operations worldwide.
Karl Bithorn - The Dream Clean Team
Karl and his team help vacation rental operators keep properties guest-ready through professional cleaning, inspections, and photo verification services. Focused on exceptional service and communication, the company supports hundreds of turnovers each week, including more than 400 guest-ready cleans during peak season on Florida's Emerald Coast. Their rapid growth and commitment to quality earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list, ranking #1 in their local market and among the top 50 hotel and travel companies nationwide.
Ann Marie O'Rourke - Sandpiper Management & Vacation Rentals
Sandpiper Management & Vacation Rentals has built its reputation around one core belief: true cleanliness is the foundation of an exceptional guest experience. The company has developed rigorous vacation rental cleaning standards focused on consistency, attention to detail, and accountability, ensuring every property is cleaned to the same high standard regardless of who performs the work. From laundering all bedding between every stay to thoroughly addressing high-touch surfaces, kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas, Sandpiper prioritizes both cleanliness and guest confidence. This commitment is reflected in its 4.9-star Google rating and guest reviews that frequently describe their stays as some of the cleanest they have ever experienced. By empowering its cleaning teams to help shape best practices and continuously improve operations, Sandpiper has created a culture of pride, quality, and trust that benefits guests, homeowners, and the entire organization.