Recognized Vacation Rental Management Leaders 2025

I graduated from the National University of Singapore, majored in Communications and New Media. I am passionate about marketing, public relations and events planning. Over the past few years, I have been actively looking for opportunities to gain invaluable experience in these fields and took on various initiatives to hone my soft skills. I have experiences in digital marketing, including social media marketing, paid advertising, content marketing, SEO, email marketing and marketing analytics. My portfolio: khanh1610.wix.com/khanhtran

OS: Linux (Ubuntu, RedHat, CentOS), Windows Servers 200x, Mac OS XProtocols: TCP/IP, FTP, DHCP, LDAP, SNMP, SMTP, VPN, DNS, VoIPApplications: Microsoft Office Suite 2003-2013, Active Directory 2003 & 2008, Symantec Backup Exec 2010 & 2012, Symantec Endpoint Protection 12, Microsoft Exchange 2003, 2007 & 2010, Norton Ghost Imaging, Tidal Enterprise Scheduler, Splunk.Continuous Integration: Jenkins, Ansible, Git, SVN.Virtualization: VMware ESXi/ESX 4.1, 5.0, 5.5, VMware Workstation 8, Oracle Virtual BoxArchitectures: Apache, Tomcat, JBOSS, IISLoad Balancers: Netscaler, F5Languages: Python, Bash, Ant, HTML, CSS.Cloud: Azure, 1&1

My name is Chad Phillis. I'm a visionary entrepreneur and seasoned real estate investor, and I'm the founder and CEO of Checkmate Rentals—a premier short-term rental management company focused on maximizing revenue, optimizing operations, and delivering unmatched experiences for both guests and property owners. I built Checkmate Rentals to stand apart in an industry often marked by one-size-fits-all solutions and a lack of transparency. With deep expertise in Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and Google Vacation Rentals, I recognized that most property management companies treat owners like just another number. That's why I prioritize profitability, transparency, and genuine partnerships, treating each owner like family with tailored strategies and clear financial insights. My hands-on experience in dynamic pricing, listing optimization, and operational automation has helped countless property owners turn their rentals into high-performing, passive income streams while providing exceptional guest experiences. As a trusted thought leader in the short-term rental space, I also advise investors on scaling portfolios, navigating industry regulations, and leveraging technology for operational efficiency. By blending market analysis, cutting-edge technology, and a people-first approach, I've redefined what short-term rental management can be—because at Checkmate Rentals, the difference isn’t just in the numbers; it’s in the relationships.

I graduated from the National University of Singapore, majored in Communications and New Media. I am passionate about marketing, public relations and events planning. Over the past few years, I have been actively looking for opportunities to gain invaluable experience in these fields and took on various initiatives to hone my soft skills. I have experiences in digital marketing, including social media marketing, paid advertising, content marketing, SEO, email marketing and marketing analytics. My portfolio: khanh1610.wix.com/khanhtran

Kristan de Graaf is the founder of Elite Rentals Dubai, known for its luxury cars and yachts, including Dubai’s only Lamborghini Yacht. He was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30. Since 2019, Kristan and his brother Julian have built a fleet of 90+ luxury cars and yachts. Kristan also flips Dubai mansions, turning them into top-selling homes. Kristan’s work sets new standards in luxury.

Julian de Graaf is the co-founder of Elite Rentals Dubai, overseeing a fleet of high-end cars and yachts, including Dubai's exclusive Lamborghini Yacht. Since 2019, Julian and his partner Kristan have expanded their collection to more than 90 luxury vehicles and vessels. Julian is also known for transforming Dubai’s luxury real estate, flipping mansions into record-setting properties. Julian’s vision and dedication fuel the success of his luxury ventures.

My name is Humberto Marquez. I am a seasoned real estate investment strategist with a keen eye for spotting high-potential properties and optimizing them for exceptional returns. As the Founder of gethomecash.com, I have redefined property acquisition and management by leveraging innovative Airbnb strategies and a commitment to quality over quantity. My approach ensures that each investment is carefully selected and managed to maximize its full potential. Holding a Texas Real Estate Broker License and backed by five years of hands-on experience in short-term rental management, I have successfully helped over 100 investors secure profitable vacation rental opportunities nationwide. Recognized in numerous publications and trusted by industry leaders, I continue to set new standards in property management and investment excellence.

UsableNet is on a mission to make the web accessible to all people. Considered by many as a pioneer in web and app accessibility, we've been helping companies build highly usable experiences through scalable technology and intelligent processes for 20 years.

Owning and managing businesses since the age of 22, Real Estate has always been a main theme in my life and career. I bring my passion and desire to help others and use it to assist Real Estate needs from purchasing, selling or renting to managing property as a Realtor Long & Foster Real Estate in Doylestown, PA. In addition to being a Realtor, I have embarked on the entrepreneurship road by bringing encouragement and education with Spark Rental and SnapLandlord.com which provides education and resources to the real estate investor! This includes the the creation and management of the Spark Rental Co-investing Club which allows everyone to invest in commercial real estate from apartment communities, mobile home parks to industrial factories and so much more! And a Christian blogger for ten plus years providing my personal experience as I walk with JESUS.

Hassan Morcel is an established specialist in travel and tourism, real estate investment, and interior design for vacation rentals. As the founder of three hospitality brands ('Keys Please Holiday Homes' & 'Dubai Short Stay' and 'Beirut Short Stay'), he runs a range of high performing vacation properties within Dubai. With personal experience in overseeing guest operations, generating rental ROI and producing spaces that generate 5-star reviews, Hassan brings a level of deep practical knowledge about how the three industries intersect.

Organizational Development | Strategic Planning | Operations Development, Management & Organization | Market Analysis & Penetration | Customer Service | Team Development | Service Training | Coaching | Facilitator | Local Business Marketing | Real Estate Marketing | Graphic Design | Social Media Marketing | Brand Management | Website SEO/SEM Activities | Experienced in Abode Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightbox, InDesign, Microsoft Windows, Office, Word, Access, Excel, Power Point, Publisher & Word Perfect, Visual One, Clairvoyix and Clients & Profits, Salesforce | Four years of Spanish Language Exposure | Certified in Steven Covey’s Seven Habits to Highly Effective People Seminar | NC Real Esate License

Real estate investor with a background in technology, specifically commercial real estate and fintech.Currently focused on acquisition of existing self storage facilities as well as putting together new development projects.

I'm an experienced marketing leader with 13 years of proven success in the healthcare, e-commerce, and travel & hospitality industries. Currently, I'm serving as the Director of Consumer Marketing at RedAwning, the industry's leading short-term rental (STR) management company. With a unique hospitality platform, RedAwning leverages technology and AI to help STR owners and managers increase visibility and generate more revenue. Travelers benefit from a seamless travel experience through booking directly on RedAwning.com where they can access 20K+ vacation homes, condos, villas, and more.

Successful and experienced leader in business and government, people leadership and innovation. Something really cool is coming soon. It's time to disrupt!

From selling candy and baseball cards to establishing a painting business as a student at Pennsylvania State University, Martin Orefice’s passion for entrepreneurship grew at a young age. After receiving his degree in Management Science and Information Services, he started working at Fidelity Investments. Three years later, he made the decision to start his own real estate investment business. Since then, Martin has completed hundreds of transactions across several states. His most recent venture was creating All-Star Nutrition, a company whose mission is to help people reach their potential through supplements and nutrition.

Erik Hemingway, Founder of Nomad Capital, has nearly 22 years of experience in all aspects of the construction and self-storage industry. He has been a part of over $100 million dollars of commercial real estate transactions and $60 million in residential real estate since 2006. He built his first self-storage facility from the ground up in 2006, guided that facility through the Great Recession, and has since built a personal portfolio of 4 self-storage facilities using the value-add strategy. He founded Nomad Capital to help others achieve their dream of nomadic freedom and having the ability to do whatever they want, whenever they want.

Full-Stack Digital Marketer in Real Estate, Finance, and Technology Industries.

Energetic, self-starter who is motivated and goal-oriented. A software support engineer andcreative graphic designer with extensive experience in software support, managed print services, DCA management, computer networking, multimedia, marketing, and print design. Exceptional collaborative and interpersonal skills with well-developed written and verbal communication abilities. Extensive knowledge of software, hardware, brand management, campaigns management, graphic design, social media marketing, and computer networking.