Of mice and being 95% book direct with Heather Bayer

Today we speak with serial entrepreneur Heather Bayer who has been immersed in the vacation rental industry for over 25 years. In this episode, Heather shares her story and also what is coming up for her since selling her 95% book direct, 20-year-old company in Canada earlier this year.

Hear how the idea was born for her to leave the UK and head to Cottage Country in Ontario, Canada. And how the direct booking landscape looked in 2003, what’s changed and what the future may hold. Heather also shares another terrible Airbnb shut down story and gives some top reasons to take direct bookings.

Topics discussed:

• The other residents in the cottage
• Buying our first property six weeks after the idea
• Marketing Ontario cottages to the UK
• Started with direct bookings as there was nothing else in 2003
• Then came HomeAway, Trip Advisor and finally Airbnb
• Selling a 95% book direct company in 2022 and it’s future
• Another Airbnb shut down story
• Top reasons to take direct bookings
• What Direct Booking Success means to Heather

CONNECT WITH Jenn Boyles:

Website: https://directbookingsuccess.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/directbookingsuccess

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directbookingsuccess/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennboyles/

CONNECT WITH Heather Bayer:

Websites: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/vacation-rental-success/id599200191

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cottageguru/?hl=en

Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/business.of.str.property.management

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-bayer-8773986/?originalSubdomain=ca

Join me at the virtual Direct Booking Success Summit (27-29 September 2022). Get on the waitlist – https://www.directbookingsuccesssummit.com