Recognition for exemplary work, values, and efforts are part of human culture. It’s one of the things that motivate us the most. The notion that being number one means that you are the best at something follows us throughout our lives and into the corporate world.
The difference here is that apart from in-house awards where employees might get the occasional “best employee of the month award,” companies compete as single entities.
This means that it’s every employee’s duty to help the company win big at award ceremonies. Winning means that the brand in question has set itself apart from its competitors as the best player in that category.
This competition can be fierce, and stakeholders in the vacation rental industry are just as competitive, and many win awards for their exemplary innovations, business culture, and customer service.
Why Awards Are Important to a Company
First and foremost, winning the right kind of award can greatly boost a company’s reputation within the vacation rental industry. But that is not the only reason why awards are so important to a company. Here are some reasons why winning can be so critical to the survival of a brand:
- If you are a start-up, winning an award sends a signal to all industry players, including investors, that you have something worthwhile to offer
- For established players, these awards showcase your business heritage and pride
- Winning an award can also be very beneficial to your bottom-line. There is research to suggest that award-winning companies tend to see a 37% boost in their sales as well as a 44% jump in stock price
- Winning will give your employees the kind of encouragement and pride that they need to do their best for the company. This kind of motivation only goes towards making the company better and more innovative
Of course, there are different kinds of awards in the corporate world, and they are all NOT created equal. It, therefore, matters what kind of award you win. However, just winning any award is a good start.
Award-Winning Vacation Rental Software Companies
The vacation rental software space has some big players, and they are all jostling for the opportunity to please the millions of people who go vacationing every year. These players have not only innovative tech but also exceptional customer service skills and social service efforts. Here are some vacation rental software companies and the awards that they have won in the past:
Virtual Concierge Service: Winner, VRMA “Innovator of the Year 2018
Virtual Concierge Services is a company that specializes in “Voice-activation” for the vacation rental space. The company offers vacation rental property owners and vacation rental managers an opportunity to share their local community’s deep knowledge with their guests.
They do this by pairing their services with Alexa, Google Home, Mini, or Echo to help you deliver an interactive voice conversation either to the room or directly to the guest’s phone.
The company won the “Innovator of the Year” award in the VRMA (At the Vacation Rental Management Association International Conference in 2018). This award was for the company’s exemplary service regarding the ease with which they allow vacation rental owners and managers to offer local shopping, attractions, and food recommendation to their guests.
In more recent news, the company also made the Fully Shortyz Awards 2020 shortlist for the Best Home Automation Solution or Product.
The Shortyz represents the first event of its kind in the vacation rental industry and wants to recognize excellence among industry peers, highlight innovation and industry best practices, reward achievement, and celebrate new, start-up technology.
Hostfully: Winner, VRMB’s “Best All-Around Vacation Rental Software” 2019
Hostfully, a very successful vacation rental software, has garnered a wonderful reputation for itself in the industry. It’s so good that it recently won “The Best All-Around Vacation Rental Software” at the VRMB Keystone awards. According to the judges, Hostly won this award because it’s one of the best software in the industry. Period!
According to VRMB, Hostfully is “software to grow with.” They are a second-time Keystone award winner in 2021. They have a strong distribution model and are quickly improving their CRM.
As a small property management software company, Hostly has positioned itself perfectly: it’s the only software that can compete on both sides of the coin (the 1-50 rental property count and the 50+ property count fields).
This makes it a unique player for both ends of the spectrum. To top it all off, Hostly offers such exemplary features for a rather affordable price. This company has the industry figured out.
Track: Winner, VRMB’s “Vacation Rental Software of the Future,” 2019
Track is software that is built on three very stable pillars: it’s a CRM (Customer Relationship Management), it’s a PMS (Property Management Software), and it’s a booking engine all rolled into one neat package. What makes this software company unique is the CRM bit, which allows the vacation rental property owner or manager to better relate with and “own” their guests.
This software allows you to build a better relationship with your guests, thus giving you a better chance of getting repeat business from them. This is the fundamental difference that makes this the software of the future.
As the industry gets ever so competitive, vacation rental property owners and managers will need a way to keep their guests coming back. Track helps them do that and much more.
Track has also gone on to win “Software of the Future” through VRMB in 2021 as well. They have been onboarding new members at a record pace. They have limited their growth speed to maintain full quality control, which is a testament to how superior their service is.
Rent Manager: “Best Workplace of the Year” Award, 2019
Rent Manager is a vacation rental software owned by LCS in Cincinnati. The company specializes in developing cutting-edge business tech that is geared towards transforming the customer experience. LCS says that they can only do this by keeping a happy and highly satisfied workforce.
The Rent Manager property management software is one of their best-performing products. The fact that it was created by highly motivated employees thanks to the wonderful culture at LCS has garnered this company worldwide recognition. The Cincinnati Enquirer named the company one of the “Top Workplaces” for eight consecutive years.
Other Keystone Awards Winners 2021
VRMB wants to recognize standout vacation rental software that helps owners and managers reach new heights.
The rental property management software winners they chose this year were most frequently suggested, verified using data, and demonstrated trajectories upward, adding new partners, releasing new features, and filling the industry’s satisfaction gaps.
Mid to Large Size RPMs
Streamline Vacation Rental Software showed few weaknesses after it was researched. It is straightforward software with a strong new CRM, dependable customer service, and improvements to existing features while still adding new features.
Maxxton is considered superior to all-around software that has a strong following in Europe that has since expanded. The housekeeping and maintenance module through Maxxton is among the industry’s best and is innovating, on the higher end of the spectrum, but still affordable.
Ciirus has won because they are a “software that thinks differently.” They are underrecognized in VRMB’s opinion, but they boast of an ambitious in-house development team. Their level of customer service is also strong.
Small to Mid-Sized RPMS – those with fewer than 100 properties
Avantio is known for its “unprecedented power” and has a best in class website builder, strong CRM, and a unique distribution framework. It does not require a channel manager. They are also good for small companies.
Zeevou is a vacation rental software company that is new to the industry, so they are known as the “New Kid on the Block.” They have a great distribution model that connects directly with various global channels. They also have a CRM that is able to accommodate 1 to 1000 properties.
Third-Party Keystone Award Winners
VRMB also included third-party software companies in this year’s awards and has named a few companies that are considered fan favorites. They also researched whether the company directly impacted profit, direct bookings, safety, good word of mouth, and a satisfaction gap.
Touch Stay has been recognized as one of the best third-party guidebook and guest apps. They are regularly endorsed and are considered a fan favorite.
Evaluating Vacation Rental Software Companies
You might be wondering what exactly is researched when companies award accolades to vacation rental software company winners.
What makes them stand out? What features make them stand out above and beyond the others? Let’s take a look at some things one might consider when choosing what awards or accolades to give to a vacation rental software company.
The best vacation rental software allows you to manage listings across multiple channels in just one calendar, allows you to communicate with guests from a unified inbox, automatically assigns tasks to the property manager, quickly processes payments, and can easily create customized reports for property owners and their short term rental business.
Property Management System
A property management system that is easy to use and affordable is definitely a plus. It helps streamline the check-in and check-out processes and helps one perform tasks with ease while increasing productivity and offering an improved guest experience.
Accounting Software
The right vacation rental and accounting software help to record the cash flow of your vacation rental business while allowing you to assess and monitor your current financial condition.
Guest Communication
Guest communication is what helps distinguish your vacation rental business from the competition. With the best vacation rental management software, you can connect everything and stay in better touch with your guests and improve the overall guest experience for each reservation and booking.
Online Booking
Since a vacation rental business is around the clock work, you want to maximize reservations and increase revenue as much as possible. Online booking software allows a potential guest to pay and book directly through your vacation rental website.
Channel Management
The channel manager effectively distributes and controls listings across all channels, including Airbnb rentals and Booking.com listings. It organizes everything so that you can also avoid double booking.
Automated Messaging
Automated messaging and other automation tools allow for a more efficient way to overcome challenges related to pricing, reviews, messaging, and so much more.
The Power of VRScheduler
VRScheduler is also here if you want to stay on track. We have done away with spreadsheets and wall calendars and are offering more modernized task and employee scheduling software.
The following are some of the awards we have been given in several categories:
Category Leaders 2020 in Hotel Management Software
Software Advice Front Runners 2020
- Featured in Best Value Maid Service Software (2020)
- Best Value Vacation Rental Software (2020)
- Top 20 Hospitality Property Management Software (2020)
- Top 20 Vacation Rental Software (2020)
Software Advice Most Recommended 2020
GetApp Best Functionality and Features 2020
Conclusion
Many other vacation rental software solution companies have gained amazing recognition for the exemplary work within the niche. These companies work tirelessly to push the envelope and bring the customer only the best possible innovation to completely revolutionize their experience.
As an industry player (vacation rental property owner or manager), it pays to keep your ear to the ground to see which companies are making waves in terms of award winnings. These are the companies that will shape the future of your business.
