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.
FEDERICO ARCH
- What inspired you to enter the vacation rental industry?
I have been with Trip.com now for just about 4 years and before than at Expedia. When I started at Trip, I put together the acquisition team in Southern and Eastern Europe in order to grow our presence in those markets on the hotel side. In January I was presented with the vacation rental project for Europe and did not think twice. Being a father I believe this is definitely an important part of the tourism industry, to be able to be comfortable during holidays. It is a part of the business that needs attention and has a lot of potential for growth, so that is why I accepted to move forward and build a team to grow the vacation rental space for Trip in Europe.
- What sets your company apart in the vacation rental industry, and how do you ensure you stay ahead of the competition?
Our niche market is China and growing rapidly in the rest of Asia as well. There are many Chinese and Asian tourists that come to Europe and prefer to stay in an apartment where they can cook their own meals if needed. We are deeply focused in growing this part of the business and have also differentiated listings on our app to make it easier for our customers to find the exact type of property they are looking for. Also with AI helping to show our customers the right properties based on their past bookings. Not to mention our customer service which is top notch and is one of the main reasons why our customers come back to book on Trip. We are also a one-stop shop being able to book not only accommodation, but flights, train, car rental, attractions & tours, airport transfer plus much more from one single app.
- 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?
Unfortunately I did not attend the 2024 VRWS in Porto but definitely looking forward to Rome with my team. Can’t wait!
- Beyond business, what’s one experience or destination that left a lasting impression on you, and why?
Wow, there are so many but if I have to stick with one, it is definitely going to Croatia. I visited Croatia in 2012 with my girlfriend(who is now my wife!) and for me it was the first time visiting Eastern Europe. I was very skeptical at first but was absolutely amazed with the beauty of the country and the gastronomy. Believe it or not it was also my first taste of vacation rental, staying at apartments in Dubrovnik and Split for example. So many beautiful destinations from Dubrovnik to Split, to Zadar, Makarska and Zagreb, as well as the unforgettable Plitvice National Park…it was an experience I will never forget.
- 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?
Believe it or not, I was born and raised in New York before moving to Spain where my family is from. During my time in New York(almost 30 years) I was very involved with the Spanish expat community and had a lot of friends from the Galician social clubs. I got involved in DJ’ing at the parties at Casa Galicia in New York and also DJ’ed at weddings, baptisms and other events. One of the most eventful was DJ’ing a dinner party on the USS Intrepid….absolutely amazing!
You’ll have the opportunity to meet Federico at VRWS in Rome
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