Keynotes by Casago

A podcast for Casago homeowners by the Partners of Casago. Learn about our programs, market updates, and the local heroes in your market.

Keynotes by Casago is a business podcast hosted by Steve Schwab, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Steve Schwab hosts Keynotes by Casago, a business show with 25 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #28

  AI, People and Property Management

  Jun 18, 202622 min

  Mike Mears on Extend Team’s Shared Services: Blending AI and Human Support for Vacation Rentals Host Steve Schwab interviews Mike Mears, Extend Team’s global head of revenue, about his shift from OTAs and AI tools into staffing and why he prioritizes a people-first approach. Mears describes building an AI-driven vacation rental education library for newcomers and explains how Extend Team is evolving from traditional staffing (30–45 day hiring) to a shared services, plug-and-play model combining trained human support with AI handling routine guest inquiries for faster response times and better reviews. He argues AI can cover up to 80% of tasks but struggles with high-empathy, high-stakes situations like lockouts at 3:00 AM or emergencies, making human coverage a key differentiator. Extend Team offers shared services packages priced roughly $25–$100 per unit, onboarding in 3–10 days, plus direct staffing for specialized roles; an AI-only model is planned for flexible, seasonal use. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:57 Mike’s Industry Journey 02:43 People First and Education 03:45 Extend Team Shared Services 05:43 AI vs Humans in Guest Service 08:34 When to Use Staffing or AI 10:54 Onboarding and Service Pillars 14:07 Pricing and Scaling Packages 16:09 AI Investment and Margins 17:42 AI Only Model and Risk 20:25 How to Contact Extend Team 21:02 Closing Thanks and Wrap Up

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #27

  Tim Rosolio on SNADs, quality, and fastest way to be de-ranked!

  May 21, 202625 min

  Steve Schwab interviews Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partnerships at Expedia Group, about VRBO’s recent transition to a common Expedia tech stack that expands VRBO inventory across Expedia demand and a growing B2B network (including Uber), enables hotel-style promotional tools, and intensifies a focus on quality and trust to reduce traveler anxiety. Rosolio explains how quality signals—acceptance rate, cancellation rate, and reviews—drive conversion, badges, and search ranking, with last-minute cancellations the fastest way to lose position. They discuss VRBO Care’s protections (accuracy, 24/7 assistance, fraud protection, rebooking support) and common failure points like SNAD and denied entry. Rosolio notes operators delivering consistent experiences are winning as weaker supply exits, and highlights conversion drivers like strong photos, disclosed amenities, and tangible hospitality upgrades. They also cover distribution shifts, upcoming flight-plus-rental packaging, AI features (chatbots, Q&A, review summaries, natural language search), and preparing for AI-based discovery. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:09 Tim as a Host 02:23 Expedia VRBO Strategy 04:41 Trust and Quality Shift 08:14 Vrbo Care Explained 10:13 Ranking and Quality Signals 13:11 Conversion Boosting Amenities 15:37 Distribution Channels Today 18:16 AI Reality Check 21:41 What Works and Whats Next 22:41 OTA vs Book Direct 24:07 Final Tip and Wrap Up

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #25

  Marriott Homes & Villas with Jennifer Hsieh

  Jan 9, 202636 min

  In this episode of Casago Keynotes , host Steve Schwab sits down with Jennifer Hsieh, Managing Vice President and Global Category Leader for Premium and Endorsed Brands at Marriott International. Jennifer leads the strategy behind some of Marriott’s most influential brand extensions, including Marriott Homes & Villas and the broader Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem. In a wide-ranging conversation designed specifically for professional property managers and homeowners, she explains how Marriott successfully entered the vacation rental space without compromising brand trust—or the uniqueness guests expect from private homes. Key Topics Covered Why Marriott Entered Homes & Villas The consumer insight that drove the strategy: nearly 27% of Marriott Bonvoy guests were leaving the ecosystem to book short-term rentals elsewhere—and how that gap became an opportunity. Standards vs. Standardization Why guests do not want cookie-cutter homes, but do demand consistent cleanliness, safety, reliability, and service recovery—and how Marriott enforces that balance globally. What Qualifies a Home (and What Disqualifies One) Jennifer breaks down the “signals of quality” Marriott looks for, from interior design coherence to maintenance details, outdoor spaces, and neighborhood context. The Power of Professional Property Management Why Marriott partners exclusively with professional operators—and how that model protects homeowners, elevates guest experience, and enables scalable quality control. The Role of Reviews, Scores, and Algorithms How guest feedback directly influences visibility, placement, and long-term performance within the Marriott Homes & Villas platform. Loyalty as a Demand Engine With over 45% of bookings involving points usage, Jennifer explains how Bonvoy drives high-quality demand—and why Marriott guests tend to be better, more respectful renters. AI Search and Differentiation What generative AI means for homeowners, why detailed property descriptions matter more than ever, and how features—not price alone—will increasingly drive bookings. Where Hospitality Must Stay Human Why technology should handle transactions—but people still define memorable stays, service recovery, and five-star reviews. Key Takeaway for Homeowners Quality over quantity. Homes that deliver consistent excellence—supported by strong operators and human-led service—will continue to outperform as global brands like Marriott shape the future of vacation rentals. This episode offers a rare, inside look at how the world’s largest hospitality company evaluates homes, partners with operators, and protects long-term value for homeowners in an increasingly competitive market.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #24

  Matt Hope, VP of Revenue, and Andrew Kitchell discuss positive changes at Vacasa

  Nov 6, 202545 min

  Enhancing Revenue Management and Owner Experience with Wheelhouse: An Interview with Matt Hope In this episode, Steve Schwab, founder of Casago, interviews Matt Hope, VP of Revenue Management and Analytics at Vacasa and founder and CEO of Wheelhouse, about the recent implementation of Wheelhouse into Vacasa. They discuss the benefits and challenges of this integration, particularly how it simplifies and improves revenue management for homeowners and franchise partners. The conversation also covers the impact on local teams, the transition process, homeowner satisfaction, and future enhancements. Key points include the significant reduction in support tickets, the importance of clear and owner-centric revenue management, and the role of continuous education and proactive communication in fostering strong relationships with homeowners. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:38 Integrating Wheelhouse into Vacasa 02:31 Challenges with Previous Systems 04:17 Benefits of Wheelhouse for Revenue Management 05:31 Owner Feedback and System Improvements 07:51 Future Plans and Owner Engagement 11:20 Designing Owner-Centric Revenue Management 30:44 Franchise Model and Local Teams 35:50 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #23

  Maximizing Direct Bookings: A Deep Dive into David Angotti's Strategy.

  Oct 2, 202516 min

  Maximizing Vacation Rental Bookings with David Angotti: Strategies and Insights In this episode of Keynote, host Steve Schwab interviews David Angotti, a multifaceted expert in web development, marketing, and property management. David discusses his extensive experience in the industry, which includes pioneering online learning platforms, working as a pilot, and managing properties. The conversation includes insights into the merger between vacasa and Casago, aiming to create a leading vacation rental website capable of competing with major platforms like Airbnb. They explore strategies for increasing website traffic, optimizing user experience, and leveraging relationships to drive bookings. David also emphasizes the importance of an owner-centric approach in decision-making. Together, they look forward to future opportunities and initiatives that will benefit homeowners and enhance the vacation rental ecosystem. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:07 David's Background and Experience 00:52 Property Management Insights 01:39 The Vacasa Opportunity 03:00 Marketing Strategies and Website Optimization 05:34 Conversion Rate Optimization 11:19 Future Opportunities and Content Marketing 12:52 The Orange Reto and Owner-Centric Approach 14:41 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Keynotes by Casago. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.