In this episode of the Hospitality Breakroom, the discussion revolves around the history of hotels and how it informs the future of vacation rentals. Rachel Alday is joined by Ashley Ching and Meaghan Meyers from Inhaven join to discuss the evolution of hotel standards and their relevance to the vacation rental industry. They cover how hotels in the 1970s faced similar challenges to today’s vacation rentals regarding guest certainty and quality standards. The discussion delves into how technological and policy advancements in the '70s and '80s allowed for the mass production of affordable cars and the development of the U.S. highway system, respectively, leading hotels and motels to proliferate along these routes. The inconsistent quality of these early hotels mirrors the current state of vacation rentals. They recount how hotel industries improved guest standards by adopting uniform features, like Westin's 'heavenly bed,' eventually leading to higher guest satisfaction and industry professionalization. The parallels are drawn to vacation rentals needing similar standardization in areas like kitchen, bath, and bedroom essentials. Service levels, particularly the people-to-property ratio, are also highlighted as a significant differentiator between economy and luxury accommodations. Guest experiences in hotels, defined by consistency and service quality, are portrayed as a model for vacation rentals to aspire to, hinting at a potential framework for future industry standards. Throughout, the importance of understanding roles, like property managers and brand standards within the hotel industry, is emphasized. The episode concludes with a call to action for further professionalization and standard setting in the vacation rental industry, drawing inspiration from how the hotel industry evolved over the last 40 years. rachel@abodeluxuryrentals.com meaghan@inhaven.com ashley@inhaven.com 00:00 Welcome to the Hospitality Breakroom 01:19 The Evolution of Hotel Standards 02:06 The 1970s: A Turning Point for Hotels 04:51 Westin's Revolutionary Heavenly Bed 05:38 Challenges in Vacation Rental Standards 08:00 The Need for Standardization in Vacation Rentals 16:08 The Role of Professional Supply Chains 28:12 The Structure of Hotel Management 32:37 Understanding the Correlation Between Standardization and Industry Impact 33:59 Ownership and Management in the Hotel Industry 36:26 The Role of Property Managers and Distribution Channels 39:00 Comparing Hotels and Vacation Rentals: Standardization Challenges 49:22 The Importance of Service Levels and Staffing Ratios 58:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions