Episode #40
The Untapped Distribution Channel for Vacation Rentals
Travel advisors have long been a major source of business for luxury hotels—but vacation rentals have struggled to tap into the same channel. In this episode of Hospitality Breakroom , Rachel Alday sits down with Joe Bartolomé, a longtime luxury hotelier and founder of The Joes, to explore why travel advisors could represent one of the biggest untapped opportunities for professionally managed vacation rentals. With 25 years of experience operating the highly acclaimed Farmhouse Inn, Joe brings a hotelier’s perspective to the vacation rental industry. He explains why trust, consistency, curation, and service matter so much to travel advisors—and why advisors are increasingly looking beyond traditional hotels for unique, high-end experiences. For vacation rental operators, the opportunity isn't simply about paying a commission; it's about becoming a trusted partner who can reliably deliver an exceptional experience for the advisor's client. Rachel and Joe also break down the practical steps vacation rental companies can take to become travel-advisor ready. From establishing clear commission and cancellation policies to creating easy-to-share property materials, protecting advisor relationships, and training teams on how to handle advisor bookings, they make the case that getting started doesn't have to be complicated. The bigger challenge, they argue, is changing the mindset around travel advisors and recognizing them as a valuable, relationship-driven distribution channel. Key Takeaways Why luxury travelers are increasingly looking for unique, curated experiences Why trust is the foundation of travel advisor relationships How vacation rentals can learn from the hotel industry's approach to advisors The basic policies every vacation rental company should establish before working with advisors Why clear commission and cancellation policies can make or break a booking How to create property information that advisors can easily share with clients Why protecting the advisor-client relationship is critical How one successful advisor relationship can lead to exponential referrals Why travel advisors can provide access to high-net-worth travelers How vacation rental companies can start building relationships with advisors Why the industry needs better technology and infrastructure for advisor distribution How longer stays and professionally managed vacation rentals can unlock inventory in restricted markets Connect With Rachel: rachel@abodeluxuryrentals.com https://www.instagram.com/aldayrachel/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelalday/ https://abodeluxuryrentals.com/ Please Do Disturb Preorder – https://promo.porchlightbooks.com/pages/promotions/pleasedodisturbps Here is the Amazon pre-sale: https://a.co/d/00ymhj33 Rachel's first book, Please Do Disturb, is now available for preorder. Co-written with leadership experts Linny Jones and Harte Logan, it shares the leadership principles Rachel has used to build Abode Luxury Rentals through practical stories, actionable tools, and a simple three-question framework. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to preorder your copy. Thank you for your support!
