VRWS Leadership Interview of the Day
In approaching the 12th edition of the Vacation Rental World Summit, we’re releasing a series of interviews to leaders, key players and highly motivated people in our industry whose companies make a deep impact in our space and will be present at VRWS.
The aim is to get you some insight into these leaders and the company they founded, manage or work for, as well as getting some behind the scenes on their thinking, their motivation and their drive.
Sergio Aguado Machuca
- What inspired you to enter the vacation rental industry?
It started with a realisation of frustration that hosts feel all the time by wasting hours manually registering guests. One of our co-founders was managing a property and realized there had to be a better way. That’s when the idea for Chekin was born — to solve a very real problem that many property managers faced every day.
- What sets your company apart in the vacation rental industry, and how do you ensure you stay ahead of the competition?
We focus on what most overlook — automating non-revenue tasks that drain time and energy. Compliance, guest registration, identity verification… It’s all crucial but monotonous and long. Our job is to make those things effortless, reliable, and invisible for property managers. That’s how we help them focus on what really matters — the guest.
- If you attended the 2024 Vacation Rental World Summit in Porto, what was the most exciting or valuable takeaway for you? And looking ahead to the 2025 edition in Rome, what are you hoping to gain or experience this time?
An amazing experience at the round tables! A unique format where professionals from all over the world share insights and real-world solutions. The connections are dynamic and collaborative. It’s the opposite of passive conferences, you never stop learning.
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition in Rome, we want to keep the conversation going — especially with property managers who are thinking seriously about how to future-proof their business. Regulations aren’t going away, and manual processes won’t cut it anymore. We want to connect with professionals who are ready to turn compliance from a headache into a competitive advantage — and show them how Chekin helps make that shift possible.
- Beyond business, what’s one experience or destination that left a lasting impression on you, and why?
Japan, without a doubt. The blend of tradition and technology, the attention to detail, and the deep sense of hospitality were incredibly inspiring — both personally and professionally.
- What’s one fun fact, hidden talent, or little-known secret about you that other attendees should know to spark a great conversation with you?
I’ve always found it fascinating how many of us at Chekin, before diving into guest check-in technology, started out as property managers back in the early days of Airbnb. I’ve watched the industry grow from just a handful of listings into a global phenomenon. Every challenge hosts have faced, from late-night check-ins to broken boilers, we’ve faced too. That hands-on experience is what drives us to be part of the solution today with Chekin.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet Sergio directly at VRWS in Rome
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