women in vacation rental industry heather m. brown
November 17, 2021

Meet the Women of the Vacation Rental Industry: Heather M. Brown

Meet Heather M. Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of StayLuxe Properties

Leading up to the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit, we’re catching up with the women in our industry to learn more about their journey and passion for the vacation rental space, let’s learn more about Heather!

About StayLuxe Properties…

StayLuxe Invites You to Experience the Beauty of Park City Summer! Whether you’re looking to stay in Deer Valley, near Historic Main Street, or want easy access to the new Woodward Park City and Utah Olympic Park, we have a place for you…

 

Heather’s thoughts on knowing your value:

Too many times, I and others (specifically women) doubt our value and shrink in order to avoid the judgments of others. I have learned that more often than not, it is actually my own judgments of myself that hold me back from my greatest potential. 

How did you begin your career in the vacation rental industry?

I stumbled into my career in the vacation rental industry almost by accident. My partner answered a Craigslist ad for a position at a vacation rental management company in Park City. A few months later they hired me as a content writer. I was quickly handling most of the administrative duties for the Park City market, which became the most profitable in the company’s portfolio. In 2020, I made the risky decision to start my own asset management program. It was very scary, but equally exciting and liberating. I spent a month preparing for our launch in July of 2020. With the help of some key individuals, we have been extremely successful and experienced exponential growth. We opened our doors with 15 properties, and in the past 15 months have grown to 23 homes. We were profitable within six months and our year-over-year profitability has seen an increase of 133%.  

What was your experience as a female-identifying person (FIP) then vs now?

I feel more empowered and respected today as a woman in the industry, especially now that I am the owner of my own company.

Who mentored you and your career? Were there FIP’s in leadership roles around you?

There was a female consultant who helped me understand the inner workings of the vacation rental company in Park City when I first started. I was also very blessed to make friends with Jessica Singer, who worked for Rented at the time. She was instrumental in my success when putting together the basic structure and building blocks of StayLuxe Properties. I will forever be in her debt. 

What is your advice for FIP’s looking to grow their career in the VRM industry? 

First, do whatever you can to rid yourself of imposter syndrome. Recognize and be confident in the value that you and you alone can bring to any given situation. Be grateful—always! Be kind and keep an open mind, and never stop learning.

 

Rented is proud to sponsor the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit this December 2-3 in New Orleans. There’s still time to register here, and join us for an amazing conference different from any other!

Related Blogs

Data and revenue management

September 2, 2022

3 Dynamic Pricing Takeaways for Vacation Rental Experts from DARM 2022

Data and revenue management have never been more important to the vacation rental industry. That’s why, every year, experts from

Read More
Vacation Rental Management Industry Conferences 2022

January 27, 2022

2022 Vacation Rental Industry Conference List
If you're a professional in the vacation rental industry, then it's important to stay on top of the latest news
Read More
Meet Michelle Marquis

December 14, 2021

Meet the Women of the Vacation Rental Industry: Michelle Marquis

We’re still feeling all the positive vibes from the Vacation Rental Women’s Summit, and we’ll continue to catch up with

Read More