Why Reviews Are the New Revenue Engine for Short-Term Rentals

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Sep 11, 2025

Eric Breon, CEO of Fairly and former founder of Vacasa, dives into the pivotal role of reviews in short-term rentals. He argues that a stellar review average can significantly boost revenue and visibility. Join him as he shares insights on combining centralized tech with local care to enhance guest experiences. Breon also reveals how AI can streamline operations while maintaining crucial human touchpoints. Discover his strategies for optimizing yield management and building strong relationships with guests and real estate agents.

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INSIGHT

Reviews Drive Ranking And Revenue

Reviews now determine visibility and conversion more than photos or yield tools.
Achieving 4.9+ lifts ranking and RevPAR through a compounding flywheel.

INSIGHT

Operations Don't Scale Linearly

Managing more homes creates diseconomies of scale rather than efficiencies.
Larger teams add layers, overhead, and worse guest experience according to Eric Breon.

ADVICE

Centralize Software, Localize Hospitality

Centralize automation for back-office tasks and decentralize guest-facing care.
Empower local caretakers to deliver hospitality while software handles distribution and accounting.

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Former Vacasa founder and now Fairly CEO, Eric Breon, joins Jamie Lane to unpack what’s actually driving bookings today—and why reviews now beat everything but rock-bottom pricing. Eric explains how the playing field shifted: pro photos, yield tools, and channel distribution are table stakes; sustained growth comes from a flywheel of 5-star guest experiences that boost ranking, conversion, and RevPAR. He also makes a provocative case that vacation-rental operations suffer diseconomies of scale—and outlines a model that blends centralized automation with hyper-local caretakers who know each home inside and out.

You’ll hear how Fairly separates “guest care” from “back office” to keep teams small, responsive, and review-obsessed while still benefiting from sophisticated distribution, accounting, and pricing. Eric shares candid lessons from scaling Vacasa, why they’re building tech in-house (despite the cost), and where AI helps today (automation, comms assist) versus where human judgment still wins (on-the-ground knowledge and onboarding).

Here are the practical takeaways you can use now:

• Treat reviews as your core growth channel: a 4.9+ average materially lifts RevPAR and ranking, creating a compounding advantage.

• Centralize what software does best (pricing rules, taxes, distribution, smart locks, messaging templates) and localize what guests feel (cleanliness, quick fixes, clear answers).

• Price strategy should reflect owner goals: “hold high” for personal-use homes vs. “fill Tuesdays” for pure investments—your system should support both.

• Start strong on launch: design, amenities, and first-wave reviews set your long-term trajectory.

• Direct vs. OTA is a balance: repeat guests lock in future seasons, but channel conversion still matters for momentum.

Don't miss this episode!

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Connect with Eric on social media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericbreon/
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Connect with Jamie on social media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane

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Connect with Scott on social media