Jay William

Jay William did not enter hospitality through a polished corporate path.

He became a father at 17. By 19, with two children to support and no safety net, he worked wherever he could — fast food, day labor, construction, and any job that helped keep the family moving forward.

After a construction accident left him rethinking the future, Jay made a decision: he would build with his mind, not just his hands.

That decision led him into sales, where he quickly became one of the top producers in nearly every company and market he entered. He worked in luxury real estate, vacation ownership, and hospitality in Orlando, including time with Island One Resort and Parkway International. He sold, trained, led, and learned firsthand what makes people trust, buy, book, and invest.

Eventually, Jay saw a major gap in the vacation rental industry. Owners had beautiful properties but weak brands. Managers had inventory but poor marketing. Websites were often afterthoughts. Search visibility was inconsistent. Guest trust was fragile. Owner acquisition was underdeveloped. And before Airbnb became a household name — before “direct bookings” became the industry's favorite phrase — most vacation rental operators had no real marketing system.

So in 2005, Jay built one. Villa Marketers became one of the early full-service marketing companies focused specifically on vacation rentals, helping owners and property managers with branding, SEO, direct booking websites, paid advertising, content, conversion strategy, and owner acquisition.

Jay later founded and exited a vacation rental agency in Orlando, served as TripAdvisor’s exclusive vacation rental marketing expert, contributed to host-facing campaigns, and was featured in PhocusWire. Industry peers began calling him “The Father of Vacation Rental Marketing” in 2018 — a title connected to his early role in helping define the space.

Today, Jay is the founder of Villa Marketers and co-founder of Knokx, where he continues building direct booking systems, AI-powered tools, and growth strategies for vacation rental owners and property managers. His work centers on one belief: vacation rental businesses should not have to rely on hope, platforms, or guesswork to grow.