Are you feeling overwhelmed by the tech and cost of managing your direct bookings? Without the right system in place, you risk lost revenue, double bookings, and a frustrating guest experience. In this episode, we break down exactly what you need—from secure payments to owning your brand—to make direct bookings effortless and profitable.
Jamey King, Senior Marketing Manager for North America at eviivo, joins us to share his expertise in streamlining technology and helping property owners take control of their bookings. With years of experience working with brands like VRMA, Point Central, and Safely, Jamie offers valuable insights into building a strong foundation for direct booking success.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The key systems every property manager needs for seamless direct bookings
- How to increase revenue by maximizing control over pricing and promotions
- The power of guest relationships and how personalization enhances the experience
- Why owning your brand is crucial for standing out in a competitive market
- How to access and leverage guest data to drive repeat bookings
- The importance of reducing overbooking risks and keeping operations smooth
Jamey emphasizes the significance of having a reliable property management system (PMS) to help automate and optimize direct bookings without excessive costs or complexity. He also highlights how eviivo provides an all-in-one solution designed to keep direct bookings simple, secure, and profitable.
“The goal is to capture guest dollars while maintaining control over pricing, guest experience, and your brand. When you own the booking process, you own your success.” – Jamey King
Connect with Jamey King
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/james-king-bb4842b
Email: Jamey.King@eviivo.com
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
- Eviivo website: https://eviivo.com/us/
- Book a Demo with eviivo: https://eviivo.com/us/book-an-appointment/
Show notes are available at: https://directbookingsuccess.com/podcast/
Work with Jenn to maintain consistency in your marketing and boost your direct bookings without spending so much money on it: https://directbookingsuccess.com/apply/
The ULTIMATE all-in-one marketing platform for short-term rentals – Check it out: https://bookdirectpro.com/
FREE GUIDE – 10 Ways to Drive Guests to Your Website Instead of Airbnb: https://directbookingsuccess.com/10-ways-to-drive-guests-to-your-website-instead-of-airbnb/
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Join Jenn’s free Facebook group – the Marketing Hub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strmarketinghub
Transcript
Feeling overwhelmed by the tech and cost of managing your direct bookings? Without the right system in place, you risk lost revenue, double bookings, and a frustrating guest experience.
In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly what you need—from secure payments to owning your brand—to make direct bookings effortless and profitable.
📍📍📍📍
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Direct Booking Success Podcast. I’m Jenn Boyles, your host.
Today, we’re diving into a topic that is crucial for every short-term rental owner and property manager out there: how to set up direct bookings without the overwhelm or high costs.
And I couldn’t have a better guest for this conversation than Jamey King.
Jamey is the Senior Marketing Manager for North America at eviivo. He brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked across the space with companies like VRMA, PointCentral, and Safely. He’s been instrumental in building partnerships, streamlining technology, and helping property owners take control of their bookings.
We’re going to be talking about the essential systems every property manager needs for seamless direct booking.
So, Jamey, welcome to the show.
::Thanks for having me, Jenn. Very excited to be here.
::Wonderful. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into the vacation rental space?
::It’s been quite the journey! I started my career in consumer electronics with Sony, working my way up from trainer to national trainer and then into sales.
Then, one day, Sony said, “You’re doing such a great job, and you’ve got a great personality. We need some help in hospitality.”
At first, I was like, “Sounds exciting, but what does that even mean?”
They explained that Sony had this little niche industry—hospitality tech—that no one had really been maintaining, and they needed someone to build those relationships. So, I stepped into that world, working with national brands like Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn.
Fast forward through a great career at Sony, I started looking for my next challenge. And that’s when I discovered the vacation rental space.
::And that changed everything, didn’t it?
::Oh, completely. Moving from consumer electronics into hospitality tech was a big shift.
One of my first projects in this space was with VRMA (Vacation Rental Management Association), where I was tasked with creating a TV show called “Getting Away Together.”
It was an amazing experience—working with destinations, a film crew, and really learning what made vacation rentals special. The show is still airing today, which is wild!
Then, my main role at VRMA was creating non-dues revenue programs—helping vendors connect with property managers and giving them the education they needed to succeed.
Over time, I moved into smart home tech with PointCentral, insurance tech with Safely, and now property management software with eviivo—always focused on helping property managers streamline operations and increase their direct bookings.
::Wow, that is an incredible journey.
And I know you’re not finished yet—you’re still on the path, growing and evolving!
But hospitality really is a different industry than most, isn’t it? It’s a space full of hospitable, kind, and generous people. But also, there are a lot of quirks, right?
::Absolutely! And one of the biggest eye-openers for me, especially at eviivo, has been just how important direct bookings are.
::Yes! And that brings me to my next question.
A lot of property managers, owners, and hosts hesitate to start with direct bookings because they feel overwhelmed by the tech, the costs, or just not knowing where to start.
What advice do you have for those who are hesitant?
::Yeah, this is such a common concern.
A lot of vacation rental businesses start organically—people buy a second home in a place they love, and then they think, “Hey, why don’t we rent it out?”
But when that first guest is about to arrive, panic sets in.
How do we take bookings?
How do we get more guests?
How do we keep them coming back?
This is where the right technology and strategies can make all the difference.
I always break it down into five key elements property managers need for seamless direct bookings:
📌 1. Increased Revenue – Keeping more money in your pocket instead of paying 15-30% in OTA commissions.
📌 2. Guest Relationships – How to keep guests happy and get them to rebook.
📌 3. Owning Your Brand – Building YOUR business, not Airbnb’s.
📌 4. Access to Guest Data – Understanding your guests and marketing to them directly.
📌 5. Reducing Overbookings – Avoiding the nightmare of double bookings.
::That is such a great list!
Let’s go through them one by one, starting with increased revenue.
::Absolutely! The key to maximizing revenue is having a user-friendly direct booking website with a strong booking engine.
When you own your bookings, you control:
✅ Pricing & promotions – You set your rates based on demand, rather than relying on Airbnb’s algorithm.
✅ Your guest experience – You communicate with guests directly, instead of filtered OTA messages.
✅ Your brand’s reputation – Your guests associate their experience with YOUR business, not an OTA.
A lot of people think direct bookings are expensive to set up, but the truth is—not having direct bookings is what’s expensive!
::That is so true!
And that leads perfectly into guest relationships.
(Transcript continues covering all five key points in detail, followed by an in-depth discussion of how eviivo helps with automation, secure payments, and reducing overbookings.)
::Jamey, this has been such a fantastic conversation.
If someone wants to learn more about eviivo and how it can help with direct bookings, what should they do?
::Absolutely! You can visit eviivo.com to book a demo and learn more.
Or, feel free to email me directly at jamey.king@eviivo.com.
::Amazing! I’ll put all the links in the show notes so no one has to scramble to write them down.
Jamey, thank you so much for being here today!
::Thanks for having me, Jenn. This was great!
::If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message, share it with a fellow host, or leave a review. It really helps more people discover the podcast.
And if you’re ready to grow your direct bookings, visit directbookingsuccess.com.
Until next time, take action towards your Direct Booking Success!