Can Vacation Rental Owners Really Compete With Big Dogs?

Single property owners and small property management companies often ask me “Jay, how can a little guy like me compete with those big vacation rental companies?” I explain to owners that it isn’t about the size of the vacation rental companies that are out there or how much competition there is in their market.

I’ve personally helped owners and managers both, excel in some of the absolute toughest markets in the V.R. industry. To help owners understand my philosophy I tell them this short story to get the idea across to them. I find it put things in perspective and the story gets a chuckle, while helping to motivate and encourage small property companies.

The little guy can take on the big vacation rental business by beating the competition at their own game.

It’s a Jungle Out There

Two hikers in the jungle startled a very large gorilla, and it began to chase them.
As they were fleeing, one hiker said to the other, “We must be crazy. There is no
way we can outrun the gorilla.” The other hiker replied, “I know I can’t outrun the
gorilla, but I only have to outrun you.

The gorilla in the joke represents the ever changing and challenging field of the vacation rental industry; the hiker represents the competition. Today’s vacation
rental market is becoming more competitive than ever. But let’s face it, you will have competition in any field where there is income to be earned and the vacation rental industry is no exception. As the joke , business is “eat or be eaten,” and the competition can be ferocious. However, we don’t need to battle the gorilla. All we have to do is outrun the person next to us.

You don’t have to be the best in the vacation rental game to win, you just have to better at it than the guy next to you.

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” – Mark
Twain