January 25, 2021
Why Rented is Proud to Sponsor the 2021 Vacation Rental Women’s Summit
By Karen Fleck, Rented CFO
Being a woman in the vacation rental industry is incredibly rewarding, but not always easy. Our community is tight-knit and supportive, but let’s be honest, occasionally old-fashioned.
As the Chief Financial Officer for Rented, I know firsthand the kind of assumptions that can be made about the positions women are expected to hold in our field—maybe HR, housekeeping, or marketing, but not necessarily leadership. The vacation rental industry is not unique in this way, but as more well-funded tech companies share space with legacy hospitality businesses, it can sometimes feel like an uphill climb for our talented female leaders to stake their claim as trusted authorities in this industry. (And, as is almost always the case, doubly so for women of color.)
It can be frustrating, because we have so many amazing women in our industry, with so much wisdom to share. But that’s precisely why I’m thrilled to announce that Rented has partnered with VRM Intel to sponsor this year’s Vacation Rental Women’s Summit, taking place in New Orleans December 1-2, 2021!
I consider myself fortunate to work alongside supportive male executives who share my commitment to elevating female voices in our industry, and with this sponsorship, we’re putting our money where our mouth is.
This event is special. As Talia Lockard, our Director of Business Development, wrote after attending 2019’s inaugural summit, “We came with the goal of doing what we do at every conference: learn, teach, buy, sell, network, repeat. But we received so much more…From our perspective, the VRWS committed to inclusion, engagement, and empowerment. Like many vacation rental conferences, it was a great place to network and meet new people, but it stands out due to its collaborative environment. It felt comfortable to chat with others, and the conversation was always uplifting, without any power struggles.”
I can’t wait to attend this year’s Vacation Rental Women’s Summit in New Orleans. I know it will be an incredible opportunity to connect with, learn from, and support other women in my industry. I’ve also taken a sneak peek at the fabulous plans Amy Hinote and her powerhouse team at VRMIntel have in store—and trust me, you won’t want to miss this one.
Tickets are limited—part of what makes this intimate event so unique—and early bird spots are available now at vacationrentalwomen.com. I hope you’ll join me in New Orleans this winter.
And please rest assured that we will be following the COVID-19 protocols recommended by national and local health authorities at the time of the conference. Safety is our utmost priority, and we’re hoping we’ll all be able to raise a glass to a successful vaccine!
Back to Blogs
