VRWS Leadership Interview of the Day

1. What inspired you to enter the vacation rental industry?

Drawing from my solid background as a Revenue Manager in the Hotel business industry, my professional journey took an interesting turn when I became Purchasing Manager Italy for Interhome AG. This role gave me a deep dive into the Vacation Rental business, offering a privileged view of its inner workings. It was this experience that significantly shaped my decision to move into business consulting in 2016 and then after some years as member of the board, I become CEO at Trading Estate Service Srl. 

To me, Vacation Rental wasn’t just a different kind of accommodation, but represented a fertile ground for applying my Revenue Management strategies. Coming from a sector where optimizing returns is key, I sensed that the core principles and methodologies could be successfully adapted and implemented within the growing short-term vacation rental market. At that time when I joined Intehome, in the VR Business, if I remember correctly, there were maximum 3 season prices, few promotion types, Airbnb wasn’t born yet, Booking.com was focused on the Hotel business, Homeaway (now Vrbo) had just come to light…………..It was another Era!

2. What sets your company apart in the vacation rental industry, and how do you ensure you stay ahead of the competition?

VRBookings was born in 2004, already Cloud-based, when the others were on premise, and was focused on Property Managers and Agencies needs!

For over 20 years we have been focusing only on Vacation Rental, as we are convinced that specialization is the key to offering solutions and services that can expand our clients’ business.

VRBookings is an All-in-one solution that simplifies the management of all operations for Property Managers.

Our commitment goes beyond technology: we do not define our company simply as a software house which markets a product, but rather a team of technical consultants capable of providing strategic assistance to those who are running a business activity in the tourist industry. Our goal is to provide Property Managers not just a tool, but a partnership that helps them achieve long-term success.  Our attitude will allow our customers to rely on a real partner and not a simple reservation management system or a channel manager.

3. 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?

Attending the 2024 Vacation Rental World Summit in Porto was an extremely enriching experience, especially for the opportunity of networking and comparing visions with a variety of experts from all around the globe. Having the chance to connect with industry professionals, exchange ideas, and discover innovative approaches from different markets was a real added value. These meetings offered valuable insights and a broader perspective on the trends and challenges of the sector at an international level.

Looking forward with enthusiasm to the 2025 edition in Rome, our expectations are focused on meeting an audience of Property Managers specific to our Italian market and to approach new possible ones from other EU Countries. We believe that Rome represents a unique opportunity to connect with professionals who operate in the context we know best and with whom we share specific challenges and opportunities. We expect that the value of our company 100% made in Italy, our ability to offer customized solutions for our Clients needs and the passion we put into supporting the growth of Property Managers who collaborate with us, will be much appreciated.

4. Beyond business, what’s one experience or destination that left a lasting impression on you, and why?

December 2024 turned out to be an unforgettable adventure: a 80km trekking into the heart of Morocco that far exceeded the simple definition of “vacation”. Carrying a backpack and a good dose of adventurous spirit, I joined a group of people never met before establishing a special bond created by this shared experience.

The forced absence of technology, with phones out of signal, proved to be an unexpected liberation, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the present and the surrounding environment.

The evenings spent around the fire were a real treasure. I had the privilege of listening to the life stories of my travel companions, each one different yet incredibly touching. Tales of courage, resilience, dreams realized, and challenges overcome enriched my personal baggage, offering me new perspectives and food for thought. 

This was a real journey, with its hardships, its surprises, and its moments of pure wild beauty. A deep immersion into an environment as harsh as it was fascinating, which allowed me to disconnect from the deafening noise of everyday life and rediscover an authentic connection with myself, with my thoughts, and with my deepest emotions. An experience that left an indelible mark and that I will cherish preciously.

5. 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?

My life has been a kaleidoscope of experiences, a journey through several professional paths that  weave a rich and unexpected tapestry. I would define myself as someone who has had the privilege of embodying “a thousand lives” in one.

• Being a baritone in a musical choir, in my twenties, taught me the importance of expression, the modulation of emotions, and the ability to communicate a message that goes beyond words. 
• The transition to catering, a fast-paced and service-oriented environment, honed my ability to manage stress, work under pressure, and anticipate the needs of others. 
• Managing a hotel, with its complexity and the need to coordinate several teams, further developed my leadership and problem-solving skills. There I learned the art of negotiation, conflict management, and the importance of creating a cohesive and motivating work environment.
• And then, joining a Tuscan Vacation Rental software house – VRBookings –  where  I found a passionate and precious team, really out of the box thinker, able to make my rough ideas come true. This has been the most satisfying achievement of my whole career as I found in VRBookings team and together with them the will to innovate and step with the times.

These “thousand lives” were not watertight compartments, but rather stages of a single great learning journey. The challenges and satisfactions of each experience were crucial in developing my empathy, that ability to comprehend the emotions and thoughts of others. It’s not just about intuition, but about a real understanding that comes from having walked on different grounds and having met many people with unique stories and perspectives.