Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jeff Iloulian, the CEO of HostGPO, a game-changing buying group for short-term rentals. Discover Jeff's remarkable journey from lawyer to successful vacation rental operator. He founded HostGPO to solve the challenge of sourcing high quality, affordable products for vacation rentals. By leveraging collective buying power, HostGPO transforms the industry, making it easier for operators to access top-notch products at discounted rates.
In this episode, discover how HostGPO helps vacation rental owners save money in the long run by sourcing durable, commercial-grade furniture. We explore the challenges of dealing with property managers and homeowners, along with the valuable consulting and design services offered by HostGPO.
Dive into the delicate balance between standardization and uniqueness in unit aesthetics. We also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the vacation rental industry and how GPOs, like HostGPO, help alleviate decision fatigue for owners. Furthermore, we delve into the advocacy work for industry safety in vacation rentals. Tune in for insightful discussions on these topics and more, providing valuable insights for vacation rental owners!
Highlights of the Episode:
00:08 - Guest Intro: Jeff Iloulian
00:35 – Jeff and the company
03:57 – Company size and its operators
04:51 – Working with hosts big and small
06:01 – The process
07:45 – Dealing with property managers and homeowners
12:06 – Consulting and design service
15:29 – Homeowners upgrading their units
19:38 – Balancing standardization of units and uniqueness
22:45 – Going to the all-white model
26:19 – Covid exposed vacation rentals’ weaknesses
28:09 – Conversation with parents about transitioning
from practicing law to short term rentals
35:27 – Solving the decision fatigue
38:43 – Advocacy work for industry
39:55 – People are sleeping on safety
46:28 – Closing
This episode is brought to you by Casago, Guest Ranger, and Good Neighbor Tech.
Visit AlexAndAnniesList.com to view our top picks for the best suppliers in vacation rental technology and services.
Special thanks to Rev & Research for being the presenting sponsor of Alex & Annie’s List.
Connect with Jeff:
Website: https://hostgpo.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-iloulian-bb0b6829/
Connect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:
Alex Husner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-o-husner-%F0%9F%8C%8E-1844306/
Annie Holcombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-holcombe-vrgal/
AlexAndAnniePodcast.com: https://www.alexandanniepodcast.com/
If you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don’t forget to subscribe!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alexandanniepodcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDiSTUvfCrrgnNQwifonhjQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandanniepodcast
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alexandanniepodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexandanniepodcast
#GroupPurchasing #VacationRentals #PropertyManagement
