06 | How AI is Revolutionizing Vacation Rentals: With Heather Bayer

What does AI actually mean for vacation rental managers, property owners, and hospitality teams? Today we’re joined by one of the most influential voices in our industry — Heather Bayer, founder of Vacation Rental Formula and host of the long-running Vacation Rental Success Podcast.With 30+ years in short-term rentals and more than 600 podcast episodes, Heather has witnessed every major shift in our industry — and now she’s helping hosts understand one of the biggest yet: AI.In this episode, we explore how AI has been quietly shaping vacation rentals long before ChatGPT, where it truly belongs inside your business, and where the human touch still matters most. Heather breaks down how to choose the right tools without chasing every new shiny app, how to train AI to match your brand voice, and when it makes sense for AI to write your listings, blogs, guest messages, etc.She also shares practical examples from her work analyzing reviews, building prompts, and training teams, along with surprising ways AI can actually elevate hospitality rather than replace it. We wrap with a look at the future of AI in vacation rentals, insights from her AI Skills Lab at VRMA, and why she believes the right use of AI frees teams to offer more empathy — not less.Connect with Heather:Vacation Rental Formula – https://www.vacationrentalformula.comVacation Rental Success Podcast – https://www.vacationrentalformula.com...STRAIT Chat AI Community – https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/ai===========================Do you want to get more direct bookings? We can help! Schedule a free discovery call now:https://ankerpoint.marketing/Sponsored by - BrightSide Short-Term Rental SoftwareDo more. Work less.™https://bookonthebrightside.com/===========================Connect with us! LinkTree: ➡︎ https://linktr.ee/ankerpointIG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/ankerpoint/